Triangle TRACKS Blog

Triangle TRACKS Fall Membership Drive Kicks Off Oct. 1

2010-09-29T13:22:00.001-04:00

It's that time of year again! The Triangle TRACKS Fall Membership Drive is Oct. 1- 22. Beginning Oct. 1, you'll have three weeks to send invitations to your friends suggesting that they join Triangle TRACKS. Let them know that as a member they'll have inside access to contests and special deals, and be able to post blogs and calendar events relating to children's resources and activities in the area.

The Triangle TRACKS member whose invitations return the most joined new members wins a fantastic 1st-place prize package including the following:

4 tickets to Carolina Ballet's presentation of "Pinocchio" Nov. 24-28

A family 4-pack of tickets to Marbles Kids Museum

A family membership to the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences

2 single-admission passes to BounceU of Apex

1 "Parents Night Out" pass to BounceU of Apex

1 $25 gift certificate toward a BounceU of Apex birthday party

1 Laura Kelly Designs 16-month "Mom" calendar and $25 worth of Sharpies
Value: $350

The 2nd place prize package includes:

A $99 membership to Sitter Connection

1 "Parents Night Out" pass to BounceU of Apex

1 $25 gift certificate toward a BounceU of Apex birthday party

Willow House Santos Angel provided by Consultant Karyn Wolf
Value: $200

Photo of the Santos Angel

The 3rd place prize package includes:

1 "Parents Night Out" pass to BounceU of Apex

Laura Kelly Designs stationery
Value: $75

This fall, I'd love for Triangle TRACKS to reach at least 1,000 members. I'm so excited about the possibility of this, I've arranged for the 1,000th member of Triangle TRACKS to win a prize as well:

2 single-admission passes to BounceU of Apex

Laura Kelly Designs Stationery
Value: $50

This contest is open ONLY to Triangle TRACKS members who have joined prior to Oct. 1. Members who join after the beginning of the membership drive will not eligible to participate in this membership drive, but will be eligible to participate in future membership drives and contests. Members can send out invitations up until midnight on Oct. 22. The winners will be announced Oct. 23 at noon.

Please let your friends know about the 1,000th-member prize! You'll receive a contest reminder just before it begins. Good luck!

Triangle TRACKS Marketplace NOW Open for Business!

2010-08-01T11:02:00.004-04:00

As editor of Triangle TRACKS, I'm excited to announce the launch of Triangle TRACKS Marketplace, a new online shop featuring a small, exclusive collection of products created by members of our online community.

Items being sold in the shop include Cary Heise's "Stay at Home Rock Star" T-shirt, available in black and gray, and three products created by Heather Figueroa, owner of Lily Bloom: Tooth Fairy Pillows, Flower Cupcake Sets, Reversible Double Bubble Skirts and Kidkins cloth napkin sets. All Lily Bloom products are made to order. As the holidays approach, a line of Laura Kelly Designs products will also be sold on the Triangle TRACKS Marketplace website.

If you have unique, handmade product you would like to sell on the Triangle TRACKS Marketplace website, please email me about it. I look forward to adding more unique products in the future!

How Losing a Library Book Forced Me to Grow Up - a Little

2010-06-21T09:44:00.001-04:00

Not every 10-year-old experiences stress, debt and employment all at once. I was one of the lucky few.

It happened the day I lost a library book. My mother walked into my spotless, organized half of the bedroom I shared with my sister, put her hands on her hips and stated, quite calmly, "If you can't find it, you'll just have to pay for it."

This sort of thing did not happen to me.

I turned the entire bedroom inside-out looking for that stupid book. I searched the car. Nothing. My desk at school. No luck. My grandparents' house. Nada. The book had simply vanished, and with it went my methodical, orderly world.

Stress at age 10 is enough to transform the most practical child - and I was - into a psych patient. But debt, too? My allowance consisted of $2 a week, so at that rate, it would take me 8 weeks to save up enough money to pay the $15 I now owed the Athens Regional Public Library. I knew my mother would keep her word about paying for the book. She didn't change her mind about stuff like that.

But, she must have sensed my anxiety because she promptly picked up the phone to call my uncles, who operated a landscaping nursery in town, and asked if they had any work for a debt-laden 10-year-old. They kindly offered me a job: to plant ivy in 11-by-21-inch propagation flats. At $.75 per flat, how could I refuse? I earned the money back in one weekend - and learned a good lesson while I was at it.

This memory sticks with me as the years go by because I lost a little of my childhood that day - even though the very next week I returned to my carefree life of playing kickball after school and catching fireflies at night. That's just the way it was - back then.

But today? Stress doesn't fade as quickly. Our kids face routine activity-packed weeknights and academic pressures we never encountered. There are Internet safety concerns to consider as well. More and more children live with divorced parents, blended families, two working parents and the absence of nearby extended family (which contributes to stressed out, overworked parents, as well).

To be fair, I grew up with divorced parents, as many in my generation did. But my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins lived in the same town. I enjoyed larger than life Christmas mornings with 20 stockings hung across the mantle, and family dinners at least once a week. My kids have married parents, but no extended family in town, no larger than life Christmas mornings and maybe a big family dinner once a year, if we're lucky. I realize that no matter how hard I try, I'll never be able to replicate my childhood for my children. I should probably stop trying.

But reducing the amount of stress my kids experience is something I'll never stop trying to do. While we may look back at one or two stressful childhood scenarios that "forced" us to grow up a little, our kids may recall four or five.

Stress will continue to arrive in many colors, shapes and sizes - often without warning. So, we must raise confident, considerate and adjustable children who can weather whatever storm breaks. And while we're at it, we must enjoy each moment we have with them by creating a fun, peaceful and secure environment. The memories we make with them and self-esteem we instill in them now will someday shape the way they raise their children.

In the meantime, old-fashioned remedies still work. When your organized, methodical 10-year-old accidentally deletes an e-book off your iPad, tell her what my mother told me. "You'll just have to pay for it." The lessons she'll learn will make her stronger, more accountable and more adjustable to the future stresses that will surely come her way.

What are some of the stresses your children deal with and how do you manage or overcome these concerns?

PHOTOS:

1st photo: Me, my cousin and my sister with my dad right around the time of the lost-library-book incident.

2nd photo: This photo shows me doing what I did best - instructing my sister on exactly which present she should open first during my 9th and her 7th birthday party (we both have September birthdays and celebrated together for many years). Add "bossy" to my "organized, methodical" personality description.

And the Laura Kelly Designs Sharpie 'Doodle It Up' Winners Are ...

2010-05-29T17:21:00.003-04:00

The Laura Kelly Designs Sharpie "Doodle It Up" contest, which took place May 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Common Grounds Coffee Shop in Downtown Apex, was a huge success and loads of fun!

Triangle TRACKS is announcing the winners for Laura here, and we'll also post the winners' names on Laura's Facebook page and the Triangle TRACKS Facebook page. It's important to note that Triangle TRACKS did not have any input on the winners. Ultimately, neither did Laura. She selected the top 10 drawings in both categories and asked a panel of judges to choose the first, second and third place prize winners in each category. We've included jpgs of the prize-winning images below.

The winners are ...

KIDS
1st – Sam Canney
2nd – Ben Shugg
3rd – Mackenzie Wolf

ADULTS

1st – Nicole Dozier
2nd – Beth Mullenburg
3rd – Karyn Wolf

1st Place - Kids
Sam Canney

1st Place Adults
Nicole Dozier

2nd Place Kids

Ben Shugg

2nd Place Adults
Beth Mullenburg

3rd Place Kids
Mackenzie Wolf

3rd Place Adults
Karyn Wolf

CONGRATULATIONS to all of the winners! Your prizes will be available for pickup at The Rusty Bucket in downtown Apex anytime after June 9. If you have any questions, email Laura.

Triangle TRACKS Featured on NBC 17's "My Carolina Today"

2010-04-03T22:40:00.002-04:00

I nervously sat down with "My Carolina Today" co-host Page Crawford last week to discuss the best way for parents new to Triangle TRACKS to use the site. I also talked about how I came up with the idea for it and the process of creating the site. If you're interested, you can view the interview here.

HALO Passes Now Open to the General Public - Only 8 Passes Remain!

2010-03-09T15:07:00.003-05:00

Beginning Monday, March 8, Triangle TRACKS extended its HALOs for Haiti's Littlest Angels fundraiser to the general public by offering non-members/non-newsletter subscribers access to the remaining HALO passes. (At the time this post was written there were only 8 passes left - 2 Golds, 3 Silvers and 3 Bronzes.)

If you are interested in purchasing a HALO pass in support of God's Littlest Angels orphanage in Haiti, please click here to read a description of what is on each pass, then email Triangle TRACKS with your name and the pass you would like to purchase. Upon receiving your email, we will list your name and the time we received your email in the comment field under that pass. If no one else has claimed that pass prior to the time we received your email, it's all yours!

Learn more about HALOs for Haiti's Littlest Angels here.

Triangle TRACKS and 14 Local Businesses Sponsor Fundraiser for Haitian Orphanage

2010-02-23T11:05:00.006-05:00

Triangle TRACKS, a social network for Triangle parents, is sponsoring a fundraiser for God's Littlest Angels (GLA) orphanage southeast of Port Au Prince, Haiti. This orphanage is located southeast of Port Au Prince in the mountains above Pétion-Vill near the village of Fermath, and serves children as young as newborns up to around 7 years of age. Since the orphanage is not located directly at the earthquake’s epicenter, its primary damages were financial, because it has stretched its resources thin to care for its orphans on a day-to-day basis, and to assist the surrounding community with clothing, medical needs, toiletries and other necessities incurred as a result of the earthquake’s damage. There are even more orphans now, as a result of the earthquake, and many of the staff members also need help paying for home repairs and funeral expenses.

Triangle TRACKS created the HALOs for Haiti's Littlest Angels project to "Help Accommodate and Love an Orphan." Fourteen local businesses have agreed to help raise funds for GLA by kindly donating services and/or fun stuff for kids to do that we have divided into 25 HALO Passes. These passes are categorized into four levels and price ranges: Platinum ($150), Gold ($115), Silver ($75) and Bronze ($27). Each pass is priced at 50 percent of its total value and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to GLA. Click on the links below to see a description of each pass.

Platinum HALO Passes
Gold HALO Passes
Silver HALO Passes
Bronze HALO Passes

* We just received a donation from the Carolina Hurricanes: a team-signed stick and 2 signed pucks and autographs. We will create a special pass for the team stick and apply the pucks and photos to some of the existing passes.

Participating businesses include:

The Durham Bulls

The Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Ballet
North Carolina Theatre
Marbles Kids Museum
Classy Kids Cook
Triangle Rock Club
BounceU of Apex
Pump It Up of Raleigh
Laura Kelly Designs & Licensing
Wee-Create (Creative Art for Kids)
Sitter Connection
Erica Anne Design + Photography
Social Butterflies

Here's how it will work. Beginning March 1, Triangle TRACKS will offer its members first rights to purchase the passes. Any remaining passes will be offered for sale to the general public March 8. Due to the low prices and number of items on each pass, we anticipate they will sell quickly. Stay tuned for more details later this week!

Triangle TRACKS would like to thank Social Butterflies for assisting in the promotion of this fundraiser. Subscribe to Social Butterflies’ monthly e-newsletter at www.socialbutterfliesnc.com for information on upcoming children's activities and family events.

Learn more here.

Announcing Our 'Tweet, Post or Join for Tickets' Contest!

2010-01-31T14:17:00.001-05:00

Triangle TRACKS and the Durham Performing Arts Center have joined forces to give away 30 sets of 4 tickets to Princess Katie and Racer Steve’s “Revved Up & Ready to Rock” Feb. 6 shows at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. That’s right, we’re talking FREE tickets! This contest is only open to MEMBERS of the Triangle TRACKS social network.

The contest also features an exciting bonus! One of the 30 winners will be randomly selected to win two tickets to Carolina Ballet’s 8 p.m. Feb. 20 performance of “Cinderella.”

To automatically win a set of 4 tickets for your crew to see Princess Katie and Racer Steve, and to be included in the drawing for the “Cinderella” tickets, be one of the first 30 people to TWEET, POST or JOIN between Jan. 25 and Feb. 3. Here’s what that means:

TWEET: Do you have a Twitter account? Be one of the first 30 people participating in this contest to “tweet” the following information between Jan. 25 Feb. 3 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and you’ll qualify for 4 tickets to the show:
@TriangleTRACKS Order reserved seats to Princess Katie & Racer Steve’s Feb. 6 DPAC show for $10-$15/ticket. http://bit.ly/7wpFia.

POST: If you have a Facebook account and are one of the first 30 people participating in this contest to post this statement as your Facebook status between Jan. 25 and Feb. 3 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., you’ll automatically win 4 tickets to the show:
Triangle TRACKS has announced that reserved seats to Princess Katie & Racer Steve’s “Revved Up & Ready to Rock” show at DPAC are now available for $10-$15/ticket. Details here: http://www.dpacnc.com/default.asp?dpac=19&objId=208. Become a fan of Triangle TRACKS' Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Triangle-TRACKS/61147979949?ref=ts
If you don't allow your status posts to be viewed publicly, please email us a screen shot of the post so we can verify that you posted it, as well as the date and time it was posted.

JOIN: If you have yet to join Triangle TRACKS and are one of the first 30 people participating in this contest to join the social network between Jan. 25 and Feb. 3 – and your membership is approved by Triangle TRACKS – you’ll automatically win 4 tickets to the show. New members who join Triangle TRACKS during this contest may also “tweet” or “post” the above statement, but they can only win one set of tickets.

Winners will be able to pick up their tickets at DPAC’s Will Call booth before the show.
Time-stamping of Twitter tweets, Facebook posts and Triangle TRACKS membership registrations will help us determine the 30 winners. Each winner will be assigned a number of 1 through 30 so an online Random Number Generator can be used to determine the winning number of the Carolina Ballet tickets. We'll announce all winners Feb. 4 at noon. Good luck, and please email us if you have any questions!

Triangle TRACKS Now Offers Groups for Parents in Each Triangle Town

2010-01-14T23:14:00.000-05:00

Triangle TRACKS now offers individual groups to parents in 16 different towns or cities across the region. If you live in Apex, for example, and want to meet other Apex parents or just discuss topics relating to children in Apex, Apex TRACKS Connections is the group for you. Maybe you live in Raleigh but operate a children's business in Chapel Hill. If so, why not join the Raleigh and Chapel Hill Tracks Connections groups? It's easy to join. Just go to this link, find your town, then click on "join." We think you'll find the "Groups" feature ian effective way to reach out to and share ideas with your community.

Before Forecasters and Satellites, Surprise Snowfalls Made for the Most Magical of Mornings

2010-01-14T09:47:00.002-05:00

Once again, we're featuring a column written about childhood by Tom Poland. This one is sure to hit home with all of you - especially those of you who grew up in the south.

Once Upon A Time Magic Was Literally In The Air
By Tom Poland

My childhood days unfolded in a remarkable manner. They were as simple as a hammer. My family and I were, in a way, cut off from civilization. Woods surrounded our home out in the country, and we had a rudimentary phone: a party line that rarely rang.

The Information Age had yet to materialize and in those uncomplicated days, we had no Weather Channel to tell us days in advance that snow was coming. It either came or it didn’t, and most of time, living in eastern Georgia and far from the mountains as we did, it didn’t. But when it did, well, it provided joy like no other weather can.

Magical mornings. My parents would wake me up. “Look out the window.”

There it was! A winter wonderland rare and sublime. There it was, that crystalline miracle, snow. Gold dust might as well have fallen during the night. Adrenalin surged through me. Mere sleeping had transported me to the land of the midnight sun and ice and snow. An altogether new architecture redefined all that was familiar into white lines and soft, glistening curves. It was as if a milky species of kudzu had carpeted the county.

Soon my sisters and I were marring the perfect surface with our tracks. (I always hated making tracks on that smooth, crystalline surface. I was ruining the only perfect thing I’d known. But out the door we went.)

On those rare, snow-blanketed mornings I awakened first, I could tell something was different. The world seemed muted, and a strange, soft silence muffled morning. A distant car seemed to slush down the Augusta Highway. And then I’d notice that the light seeping around the blinds and curtains seemed bluish. Peeking through the window jolted me. Snow had softly fallen throughout the night.

Memories of childhood snows live within me still. Rare happenings rarely fade. Those snows of childhood held magic. Few things rival the spellbinding beauty of quarter-sized flakes tumbling through the air. Mesmerized by their fall, I knew that nothing but good could come from flakes like that. No school. A snowman. A friendly snowball fight. Snow ice cream! Just skim a layer off the car roof into a bowl, mix in sugar, vanilla extract, and milk and, voilà, ice cream!

Freshly fallen snow meant a chance to walk through muffled wintry woods that seemed more like Vermont to me, though I had never been to Vermont. But there with the boughs crusted white, limbs sporting a meringue of white and creaking a bit and the ground softly cloudlike, the woods behind home seemed Vermont-like. As I walked through the trees, my boots crunched and squeaked, a deafening noise in that muffled winter wonderland.

Suddenly the creatures of the woods revealed themselves in a way like no other. Tracks galore. Dad and I once tracked a rabbit down until we found it sitting as still as stone, melding into a patch of brown leaves so perfectly seeing it came as a total shock. Raccoon tracks and birds of all types did their part to stencil wintry wildlife patterns onto the snow. A snowfall reveals evidence of the denizens of woods and fields like no other time. It’s a powdery lab where biology refuses to be ignored.

A snowfall made for a time of adventurous survival too. Those rare days of childhood snow sometimes knocked out the power. That meant tomato soup warmed over gas space heaters, wet clothes, and freezing hands and toes. And even that misery held its own peculiar brand of joy.

All those magical winter moments live in a place called recollection. To this day, snow unleashes a medley of memorable experiences in childhood and the remarkable thing is those memories retain their magic forever. As I write, I see a nine-year-old boy, Tommy, donning a cheap parka and gloves. Soon his fingers will burn from snow’s icy flames, but he won’t care.

Photo: "Tommy" around age 8 or 9

My Dad, as many dads did in the ’50s, bought a Bell & Howell 8 millimeter camera and made home movies. To this day, I can see the snowfall he captured on film; I want to say it’s the winter or late spring of 1958. I do believe it’s April. Our dog, Duke, romps in the snow. Mom holds up a handmade sign giving the date and I believe the snow’s depth of eight inches. The film jerks and swings wildly. Suddenly someone else is filming and my father runs into the camera: red from the cold, his heavy 5 o’clock shadow evident. Closer he comes, his face near the lens. Mom always said that shot made him look like an escaped convict. He was but 32 years old. He was a boy playing in the snow. Snow made children of us Southerners. That’s its true beauty.

—

Snow today? It means a hassle for those who drive to work. Over here in the city, as traffic snarls and fender benders break out like some metallic rash, area body shop owners anticipate a windfall of sorts.

Well before the snow arrives (it usually doesn’t), schools start giving notice that there’ll be a three-hour delay the next morning or even better to the kids, no school at all. But generally all that happens is a huge front of disappointment moves through. You could say a depression moves in ’cause every kid’s spirit plummets when snow fails to materialize.

It’s just a fact of life. Southern weathermen today are no good at predicting snow. Whenever a weatherman says it’s a certainty snow is coming, I know it’s not. But that doesn’t stop people from making a run on bread, milk, and soup at all the grocery stores. As soon as weathermen, those new celebrities born of clouds and climate, predict snow, people rise up like a horde of locusts and strip the shelves bare.

I can’t speak for you, but I much prefer the old days when a blanket of snow, thin though it may be, caught us by surprise. You wake up and there it is covering the land like an unanticipated veneer of confectioner’s sugar.

The allure of the exotic and the magic of discovery I guess is where the joy of snow came from in my youth.

Things changed, sadly. Now it’s unwise to eat snow ice cream. The air is filled with toxic particles, pollution, and other particulates that put snow ice cream on the “do not eat” list. Thanks progress. And driving in the snow amounts to a demolition derby down here where it doesn’t snow enough to justify snow plows. When it does snow, some northern transplants like to make fun of us, both our unbridled glee and our traffic troubles. “My Gawd, it’s just a little snow.” (Perhaps some of you recall the July 1995 heat wave that struck up North. In Chicago, 525 people died. “My God, it was just a little heat.” Of course I write that tongue in cheek. Well, not really.)

So, here we are deep into January with the coldest month of all, February, yet to come. Is there a chance we’ll have a record snow like the one that hit in 1973? I don’t know and I am doubly sure weather forecasters don’t know. Here’s hoping the so-called weathermen get it right just once this winter. Give the kids some snow, but do us a favor. Don’t predict snow. If you and your leaned ways and satellites know for sure snow is coming, don’t forecast it. Let a new generation of children experience the magic of a surprise Southern snowfall.

For your children’s’ sake, I hope they go to bed one night soon dreading a test at school the next day. And then throughout the night, here they come: fluffy alabaster flakes tumbling onto Georgia earth, a soft whispering accompanying their fall. Early the next morning, the world seems bluish and quiet.

And then dad or mom or both come into the bedroom. “Look out the window.”

A day of magic, one the kids remember the rest of their live, is about to unfold.

Photo: Tom's granddaughter, Katie, enjoys the snow in January 2009.

Triangle TRACKS Hosts Facebook Fan Page Contest

2010-01-08T23:02:00.001-05:00

Are you a Facebooking Triangle TRACKS parent? If so, you may already be a fan of our Triangle TRACKS Facebook Fan Page. If you aren’t yet, we have a few good reasons for you to "fan" us on Facebook today.

Any Triangle TRACKS member who is also a fan of our Facebook page will be automatically entered into a random drawing to win some great prizes not one time, but TWICE. That’s right, your name will be entered TWICE into a random drawing to win these great prizes.

- 1 Nick Jr. show family 4-pack for “Nickelodeon Storytime Live” Sat. May 15 show at 2 p.m. at Progress Energy Center for the Perfoming Arts in Raleigh.

- 1 Family Pass to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham

- 3 Bounce Back BounceU Reward Passes (to be used during Open Bounce sessions)

- 1 Sitter Connection Premium Annual Membership (enables you to contact Sitter Connection up to five times/month to request a sitter. They do the legwork to find a sitter for you; you pay the sitter directly.) The names of Facebookers who become fans of our Facebook page but have not become members of Triangle TRACKS will be entered into our random drawing one time only.

We use our Facebook page to post links to fun events and interesting topics, so these posts will appear in your Facebook feed once you become a fan of our page. We think you'll find it convenient and helpful.

We’ll close the contest Jan. 21 at midnight and announce the winner Jan. 22 at noon. Good luck!

Homeschool Resources on Triangle TRACKS

2010-01-03T11:52:00.001-05:00

We've heard from several parents who are interested in connecting with homeschool parents and resources. You may have already visited our Homeschool resource page, which links off our Education TRACKS page. There are quite a few resources there for parents interested in learning more about homeschooling, and connecting with other homeschoolers. If you know of a homeschool resource we don't have on our page, please post a comment here or email us to let us know about it.

Triangle TRACKS has Laura Kelly Holiday Activity Sheets for Kids

2009-12-21T15:56:00.003-05:00

We've posted links to download each activity sheet on our home page. You can also view images of each sheet on our home page photo slideshow.

50 Fun Things for Track 3 Families to Do During Their Break

2009-10-19T22:22:00.002-04:00

Hey Track 3 families in Wake County, there's no shortage of things to do when you're tracked out during Halloween. Here's our looong and spooky list of stuff for you to do while you're on your track-out break!

1. Hill Ridge Farms Fall Pumpkin and Harvest Festival (through Oct. 31)
2. Tweetsie Railroad Ghost Train (through Oct. 31)
3. October ZooFEST at the North Carolina Zoo (through Oct. 31)
4. Museum of Life and Science Presents Halloween Village (through Nov. 14)
5. North Carolina State Fair (through Oct. 25)
6. Town of Apex Pumpkin Decorating Contest (through Oct. 31)
7. Classic Productions Presents "Junie B Jones" (Oct. 19)
8. Educational Concert by the North Carolina Symphony (Oct. 20)
9. Come See the #6 Con-Way Freight NASCAR "Show" Truck at BounceU of Apex (Oct. 20)
10. Double Author Night at Quail Ridge Books (Oct. 20)
11. The Durham Bulls Celebrate Their Triple A National Championship With a Party at DBAC on Oct. 21
12. Wild Things (Chapel Hill Author Clay Carmichael) book discussion and signing (Oct. 22)
13. "Astro Boy" Movie Releases Oct. 23
14. TheatreworksUSA Presents "Seussical" Oct. 23
15. Witches’ Tea, Oct. 23
16. New Hope Valley Railway Pumpkin Party, Oct. 23
17. Halloween Boo Bounce at BounceU of Apex, Oct. 23, 30 and 31
18. The Durham Jaycees and American Tobacco District Present the 37th Annual Haunted House, Oct. 23-31
19. North Carolina Symphony Presents "Fantastique", Oct. 23
20. BOO at the ZOO, Oct. 24-25
21. Raleigh Wide Open/City Plaza Grand Opening, Oct. 24
22. Halloween Storytime at Barnes & Noble, Oct. 24
24. Kids Halloween Spooktacular at Borders, Oct. 24
25. 2009 Raleigh Jaycees Terror at Possum Creek: Kids Day, Oct. 24
26. Magic of Michael Creech and Jeff Lloyd, Oct. 24
27. Halloween Train at New Hope Valley Railway, Oct. 24
28. Tricks & Treats Halloween Bash, Oct. 24
29. Broadway Series Youth Presents the Vienna Boys Choir, Oct. 25
30. Children’s Pumpkin Carving at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, Oct. 25
31. Museum of Life and Science Presents Science Spooktacular with a ChemMystery Show, Oct. 28-29
32. Free music and movement class for tots at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro, Oct. 29
33. Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Presents "Scare-o-lina Skies", Oct. 29, Nov. 1
34. Darkside Haunted Estates Low Scare Night for Kids, Oct. 29
35. Trick or Treat at Crabtree Valley Mall, Oct. 30
36. New Hope Valley Railway Ride Day: Steam Spectacular, Oct. 31
37. BATOLOGY at the North Carolina Zoo, Oct. 31
38. Chapel Hill Creamery hosts Plow Day with the NC Percheron Horse Association, Oct. 31
39. HollyFest 2009, Oct. 31
40. 7th Annual Day in Downtown Fuquay-Varina, Oct. 31
41. The Phantom of the Orchestra! Oct. 31
42. Natural History Halloween at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, Oct. 31
43. NC Museum of History Presents "Make It, Take It: Make Your Own Fun", Oct. 31
44. Fright Night '09 at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro, Oct. 31
45. Free Family Day at the Nasher Museum of Art, Nov. 2
46. N.C. Museum of History Presents Time for Tots: American Indian Life, Nov. 3
47. NC Museum of History Presents History Corner: Aw Nuts! Nov. 5
48. Raleigh Little Theatre Presents "Snoopy!!! The Musical", Nov. 6-22
49. PAGE Super Saturday is Nov. 7 at NCSU's Talley Student Center, Nov. 7
50. NC Museum of History Presents Make It, Take It: Army Dog Tags, Nov. 7

Track 4 Track-Out Fun: 40+ Fun Things To Do!

2009-09-28T10:45:00.002-04:00

The weather is cooling and kids' activities are mounting up like piles of leaves! Track 4 families: check out all of the fun things you can do while your kids are on their fall break. For more, visit our calendar!

1. Carolina Ballet Presents "Swan Lake" (through Oct. 4)
2. Hill Ridge Farms Fall Pumpkin and Harvest Festival (through Oct. 31)
3. NC Museum of History Presents History Corner: An Apple a Day (Oct. 1)
4. ANIMALIA Golden Rod Puppets - by Hobey Ford (Oct. 1)
5. Fall/Winter Kidz Stuff Consignment Sale - Hayes Barton Baptist Church (Oct. 1-3)
6. Wild Rumpus Teacher Celebration at Borders (Oct. 2)
7. NC Museum of History Presents First Friday at the Movies: “The Pirate of the Black Hawk”
8. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Meet Josefina at Barnes & Noble (Oct. 2)
9. Tweetsie Railroad Ghost Train (Oct. 2-31)
10. Iron Man Tournament at Dreamsports Center (Oct. 3-4)
11. October ZooFEST at the North Carolina Zoo Begins Oct. 3 (through Oct. 31)
12. Raleigh Author Tisha Duncan Reads From Her Book "My Dirty Cat Mutt" at Quail Ridge Books (Oct. 3)
13. Fox 50 Family Fest at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham (Oct. 3)
14. PETER AND THE WOLF- with face painting and crafts! $5 for performance; $2 combined for crafts and face painting (Oct. 3-4)
15. Celebration of Children in the Arts at the Cary Ballet Conservatory (Oct. 3)
16. New Hope Valley Railway Ride Day (Oct. 4)
17. Carolina Kids Consignment Sale at Smithfield National Guard Armory (Oct. 4-5)
18. Meet Author Angie Sage and New Septimus Heap Book (5th in Series, "Syren") (Oct. 5)
19. "Grease" Comes to the Durham Performing Arts Center (Oct. 6-11)
20. N.C. Museum of History Presents Time for Tots: Down in the Pumpkin Patch (Oct. 6 and 13)
21. Just 4 Kids Fall/Winter Consignment Sale at LifeSpring Community Church in Fuquay-Varina (Oct. 6-9)
22. Great Pumpkin Contest at the NC State Farmers Market (Oct. 8)
23. N.C. Transportation Museum Will Host "Disney's A Christmas Carol" Train Tour (Oct. 9-10)
24. Parent's Night Out at BounceU of Apex (Oct. 9)
25. Family Fun Night -- Curious George (Oct. 9)
26. Readers Theater: Design, Create, Perform for Your Family and Friends! At Eva Perry Library in Apex (Oct. 10)
27. Raleigh Dance Theatre's Storybook Tales (Oct. 10)
28. Cary Diwali: Festival of Lights at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary (Oct. 10)
29. Wolf Awareness Week at the Museum of Life and Science (Oct. 11-17)
30. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Book Release party! (Oct. 12)
31. Author Event: Katie Kazoo KATIE KAZOO: GOING BATTY at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh (Oct. 12)
32. Museum of Life and Science Presents Halloween Village (Oct. 14-Nov. 1)
33. North Carolina State Fair (Oct. 15-25)
34. Town of Apex Pumpkin Decorating Contest (Oct. 15-30)
35. DPAC Presents "Imagination Movers National Tour" and Buy-One-Get-One-Free Kids Night (Oct. 15)
36. "Where the Wild Things Are" Movie Releases Oct. 16
37. Taste of the Market at Wake Forest Farmers Market (Oct. 17)
38. The Second Annual Hillsborough Handmade Parade (Oct. 17)
39. NC Museum of History Presents "Government Matters!" (Oct. 17)
40. Haunting at Harris: Land of Oz (Harris Lake Park) (Oct. 17)
41. Battle of the Books Club and Graveyard Book Party at Quail Ridge Books (Oct. 18)
42. In advance of the June 18, 2010 release of "Toy Story 3," Disney Digital Studios will release a double feature of "Toy Story 1" and "Toy Story 2" in 3D Oct. 2 at theaters nationwide.

The Triangle TRACKS Fall Membership Drive is Sept. 14-30

2009-09-14T06:34:00.005-04:00

It's time for another Triangle TRACKS membership drive, and our 1st place prize package is worth over $700! We've also got 2nd and 3rd place prizes to give away, and we've listed all of them below the rules.

Here are the rules for participating.
1. You must have become a member of Triangle TRACKS before Sept. 14, 2009 in order to participate.
2. You may invite as many friends as you would like to join Triangle TRACKS between now and Sept. 30. Just use the "Invite" tab at the top of this page.
3. When you send the invitation, ask your friends to put YOUR name as the answer to the profile question "How did you hear about Triangle TRACKS?" This will help us track how many of your friends end up joining the site.

That's it! The member with the highest number of joined friends wins! We'll announce the winner Oct. 2 in order to provide a additional time for friends who were invited toward the end of the contest to decide if they would like to join Triangle TRACKS. Questions? Email us and we'll try to clear everything up.

Here are the prize package descriptions. (Click here to link to each of the businesses providing prize donations.)

1st PLACE:
1. Four tickets to the Carolina Ballet's presentation of "Swan Lake" Oct. 3 at 2 p.m.
2. Two tickets to the "Imagination Movers National Tour" at the Durham Performing Arts Center Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
3. A Polar Ice House birthday party package.
4. Two BounceU Apex Parents Night Out admissions, one BounceU Teen Bounce Night admission, two BounceU Open Bounce admissions, and one BounceU gift set (water bottle, bag, socks and wrist band).
5. A family fun pass to Marbles Kids Museum and an IMAX documentary film (admission for up to four people).
6. Premium membership (worth $199) to "The Sitter Connection." (This consists of five one-time placements per month, which are $15 each. So throughout a full year, this is a $900 value. The client pays the sitter their hourly pay rate of $10 to $12 per hour.)
7. Two adult and two children's passes to Phillips Corn Maize and Family Fun in Cary.
8. Five passes to Winterpast Farm in Wake Forest.
9. A signed copy of the parenting book, "Ships Without a Shore" by Anne R. Pierce.

2nd PLACE:
1. A Southern Living Green Bountiful Bowl from Consultant Karyn Wolf.
2. Two BounceU Apex Parents Night Out admissions, one BounceU Teen Bounce Night admission, two BounceU Open Bounce admissions, and one BounceU gift set (water bottle, bag, socks and wrist band).
3. A signed copy of the parenting book, "Ships Without a Shore" by Anne R. Pierce.

3rd PLACE:
1. Two BounceU Apex Parents Night Out admissions, one BounceU Teen Bounce Night admission, two BounceU Open Bounce admissions, and one BounceU gift set (water bottle, bag, socks and wrist band).
2. A signed copy of the parenting book, "Ships Without a Shore" by Anne R. Pierce.

Triangle TRACKS’ Fall Membership Drive Kicks Off Sept. 14

2009-09-01T09:03:00.000-04:00

This just went out to the local media:
Triangle TRACKS’ Fall Membership Drive Kicks Off Sept. 14
More Than $600 Worth of First Place Prizes Await Winner

Apex, N.C. (Sept. 1, 2009) Triangle TRACKS, a social network for Triangle parents located at http://www.triangletracks.com, will host its fall membership drive Sept. 14-30. All members of Triangle TRACKS who join the site before Sept. 14 are eligible to participate. Leading up to and during the fall membership drive, Triangle TRACKS members are encouraged to invite friends to join the site by Sept. 30. The member who produces the highest number of joined friends wins a first place prize package currently worth more than $600. Second and third place prizes are also awarded.

First place prizes currently include tickets to the Carolina Ballet’s presentation of “Swan Lake,” a family fun pass to Marbles Kids Museum and an IMAX documentary film, a premium membership to The Sitter Connection, passes to BounceU in Apex, passes to Phillips Corn Maize and Family Fun in Cary, passes to Winterpast Farm in Wake Forest, and a signed copy of “Ships Without a Shore” by Anne R. Pierce.

Triangle TRACKS’ content focuses on education, museum exhibits, parks, youth sports, camps, music lessons, art lessons, performing arts studios, birthday party venues, amusement centers, restaurants, childcare facilities, healthcare resources, children’s trends and much more. The Triangle TRACKS calendar is updated daily and offers the Triangle’s most comprehensive accumulation of children’s events in the region. A team of Triangle TRACKers blog regularly about education, sports, trends, health, food, technology and travel destinations. You can learn more about them at http://www.triangletracks.com/notes/Triangle_TRACKers.

Triangle TRACKS hosts a page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Triangle-TRACKS/61147979949?ref=ts, and a Twitter account at http://twitter.com/triangletracks.

Let the Triangle TRACKS Blog Carnival Begin!

2009-08-25T07:25:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Triangle TRACKS first blog carnival! We have eight participants who manage their own blogs. Some of their posts are extremely insightful, others incredibly creative! But ALL of them focus on kids and parenting. We've listed excerpts from each below with a link to the rest of their posts on their blogs. If you like what you're reading, post a comment and let these talented ladies know!

The top three posts that generate the most discussion (in the form of comments or questions) will be awarded their own promotional box on the Triangle TRACKS home page for two weeks, and include a link to the winning blogs’ RSS feed or subscription page. We'll announce the winners Sept. 4. Here we go...

Where My Heart Rides Away
By Janel Bunten from her “Dandelion Dayz” blog

Tinted windows make it hard for me to see the faces inside.
The driver waits for the activity to die down before she pulls away from the curb.
I'm just staring and waving at faces I cannot see. Hoping for a couple just to see me.
Then I see him.
He must be on his knees because I see his whole face now.
He is waving to me. Smiling.
My heart leaps out of my chest.
I wave back. Smile back. Blow some kisses.
He blows some back.
He waves again.
Suddenly, I only see the top of his head. I'm sure the driver has told him to sit down now.
Then, she pulls off and just like that my heart rides away in a big yellow bus.
Read the rest of Janel’s blog here.

You Might Be Cute, But Your Sh*t Still Stinks
By Cyndi Soter O'Neil from her “Junius and Pippi Take the Cake” blog

When Junius was about 10 weeks old, we took him to my cousin's wedding. Because he was prone to spitting up in quantities that defied his tiny body, I didn't dress him in his fancy clothes until we were in the church parking lot -- didn't want to ruin the look. It was one of those beautiful white, pintuck oufits that requires ironing and has impossibly tiny buttons up the back -- one that my husband had worn when he was a baby and his mother saved for us. Completely impractical, but Junius looked so sweet.

So sweet, that is, until his enormous pooplosion leaked out all over the fancy clothes (did I mention it was white?) and onto my husband's suit.
Read more of Cyndi’s post here.

2009 Raleigh-Area Consignment Roundup
By Holly Ross from her “Holly’s Golden Twig” blog

It's that time of year again... back to school shopping will start all too soon and parents will be sorting through clothing & toys to decide what still fits and what needs to be replaced. Almost a year and a half ago I discovered a new favorite hobby in bargain shopping called Children's Consignment Sales. I posted a blog last summer about my initial experiences with consignment shopping. Since then I can easily say that I've been to more than a dozen sales total, which are kind of like giant cooperative yard sales. I'm still by no means an expert, but do eagerly look forward to the chance to get nearly-brand-new clothing and toys for my child for about 25% of the original retail cost. Even toys or "play clothes" that look a little worn work fine for a toddler... she doesn't care or know the difference!
Read more of Holly's post here.

Creepy Toys and Mommy Guilt!
By Lindsey Hignite, from her “Mama Sews: Random Goodness from a Mama Who Sews…” blog

So I've been going through all our old toys and clothes for an upcoming consignment sale.
(BTW, if you're in the Cary/Apex, NC area, you simply must stop by the Twice as Nice sale this Friday and Saturday to pick up great deals on children's toys and clothing. And make sure you follow them on facebook or twitter so you know about upcoming sales. Fabulous!)
As I was going through my daughter's toys, I ran across some that I find truly creepy. And, no, I'm not talking about plastic snakes which my kids love to hide in my bed in hopes of hearing me scream.
The newest is the Polly Pocket dolls and pets with interchangeable heads and bodies.
Then there's the Barbie dog that was gifted to my daughter by my oldest brother.
First, Barbie feeds the dog a treat. And then, you guessed it, the dog poops the treat out. But what's so disturbing is that Barbie is to scoop the poop into the doggie trash like a responsible pet owner. But look what is on the other side of the trash can. The doggie treat box! All the poop is diverted from the can into the food box. The poor dog has to eat his own poop.
There is something wrong with that.
Read more of Lindsey's post here.

Fresh Air
By Janice Dusseau Jones from her “Jan About Town” blog

Last year, I left a 14 year career in television- to get some fresh air.
I am now a stay-at-home mom.
A write-at-home mom?
Professional mom?
Domestic engineer?
Bon-bon eater?
I don’t mind “good wife” either.
Why did I leave?
One January day, I admitted to myself that I no longer liked my job.
In fact, the normal stresses of being a broadcast meteorologist now seemed unbearable.
But, specifically, I could not think of what was really wrong. What needed to be fixed? Why was I unhappy?
That’s when I admitted it. I WAS unhappy. As soon as I admitted it, it got worse.
Read more of Janice’s post here.

S.O.A.P. Episode One – All My Children
By Jackie Bedard from her “North Carolina Wills and Trusts" blog

Welcome to the first episode in our series, Soap Operas About Planning. I thought I’d try out something a little different to show how taking the time to prepare today can be a huge gift to your family and loved ones. Through a series of stories, I will compare and contrast the lives of families that have not adequately planned and those that have. Although thinking about one’s own demise is a scary and uncomfortable prospect, I hope you’ll find the stories (and my attempt at fiction!) interesting and educational. This post is also part of the blog carnival being hosted by Triangle TRACKS, a website full of resources and ideas for parents in the Triangle area. Finally, be sure to see our raffle details at the bottom.
Read more of Jackie’s post here.

Do Your Children Have Goals?
By Eileen Batson from her “Batson Group Marketing and PR Blog”

A friend of mine sent me an email describing what she has been up to and I thought it very useful to pass the content on.
She has been delivering a series of workshops to school kids for several years. One of the questions she asks them to to is to write down their goals in life.
Sadly, more than once, she found herself surprised when a child said he has no goal. They come to school because that's what kids do or because their parents will be angry with them if they don't. They go through the day suffering because they are forced to do things without any understanding, and without having any idea as to how it will really contribute to their lives.
After working with thousands of children, adults and businessmen, she observed that when a boy/girl, teenager, or an adult has no goals in life - they get bored easily. From this point on, the person's interest declines and the individual begins to look for games and "interesting" things to occupy themself.
With the lack of goals and without encouragement and guidance in their life about how to set worthwhile goals, the person - feeling emptiness - goes hunting for excitement. And this is the shortest road to violence. It starts with teasing others, using dirty words and cursing and moves on to strikes, alcohol, drugs, stabbing and worse.
Read more of Eileen’s post here.

Let’s Shop! Tips for Shopping at Consignment Sales
By Kelly Rives from her "The Divine Children’s Show" blog

Well, we have discussed the details of selling your children’s outgrown clothing, but now we need to get to the important stuff! SHOPPING! There are several things that you can do that will make you shopping experience super efficient.
Know your kid’s sizes.
Spend some time before the sale trying last falls clothes on your children. Have they really gone up a size, or are they still about the same? What size do you think they will be wearing next February/March at the end of the winter season? It is much easier to shop if you do not have your kids with you. However, this can make the “size” question tough. But we have seen several people come up with some clever ideas.
Read more of Kelly’s blog here.

A Touching Father-Daughter Book Based on "King of the World" Song

2009-08-24T13:38:00.001-04:00

A beautiful song by the Christian rock band Point of Grace titled "King of the World" has direct ties to a new children's book titled "Dance Me Daddy." Barnes & Noble's synopsis of the book states the following:

“If I am your princess, then you are king of the world.” Singer and songwriter Cindy Morgan celebrates the love God blesses between a girl and her father in this picture book that families will treasure from childhood to wedding day. Includes a CD of the song King of the World performed by Point of Grace and author Cindy Morgan reading the book. (Source: Barnes & Noble)

You can watch Point of Grace sing this song via YouTube here. The song, sung in the sweetest harmony by the band's three women with one guitar in the background, features the following lyrics.

Spinning around on the tops of his feet
smile of the angels can not be so sweet
wide blue eyes and piggy tail swirls
shes her daddy´s girl
cuz he knows the jokes that always make her laugh
takes her for ice cream instead of her math
at the end of the day by the light of the moon
they turn up the music in their living room
and she yells

dance me dance me around till my feet dont ever touch down theres nothing better than being your girl and if i am your princess then daddy you are the king of the world

its funny how life moves in circles of time to think so long ago that face was mine houses get smaller we take different names but some things in life stay the same

dance me dance me around till my feet dont ever touch down theres nothing better than being your girl and if i am your princess than daddy you are the king of the world

some day she go off and find a life of her own and marry a good man and make a happy home until she comes back and sees with those same eyes what time can not disguse she walks through the door with that look on her face cuz daddy´s brown hair has all turned to gray they talk for hours they cry and they laugh watchin old movies and thinking back, just as she turns to go she says hey dad how bout one for the road

dance me dance me around till my feet don´t ever touch down

dance me dance me around till my feet dont ever touch down cuz theres nothing better than being your girl oh theres nothing better than being your girl and if i am your princess than daddy you are the king of the world
king of the world
Spinning around of the tops of his feet
smile of the angels could not be so sweet

Source of book image: Amazon.com

The Blog Carnival Submission Deadline Has Been Extended to Monday!

2009-08-22T10:05:00.000-04:00

Due to a very busy weekend, I'm extending the Blog Carnival submission deadline to Monday. This will also give our members more time to submit a link to their blogs.

The BLOG CARNIVAL will link to one blog post from each participating blogger. If you have a blog and would like to drive traffic from Triangle TRACKS to your blog, consider participating in this blog carnival. Here are our rules:

1. You must be a member of Triangle TRACKS to participate. To join, click here.
2. Your post—but not necessarily your overall blog—must be related to children in some way. It could cover a topic relating to or combining topics focusing on parenting, child development, children’s trends, childhood memories or other related topics.
3. Your blog must allow comment-posting so our members and visitors can post their thoughts and/or questions.
4. You must link to Triangle TRACKS somewhere in your blog entry or on your blog’s front page.

Email your blog post link to epshugg@triangletracks.com by Monday, Aug. 24. We’ll review the entries then post the blog carnival on the Triangle TRACKS home page Aug. 25-Sept. 4. The top three posts that generate the most discussion (in the form of comments or questions) will be awarded their own promotional box on the Triangle TRACKS home page for two weeks, and include a link to the winning blogs’ RSS feed or subscription page. This is a wonderful way to use your blog to reach out to other Triangle parents. We can’t wait to read your posts! Got questions? Email them to epshugg@triangletracks.com.

Triangle TRACKS Hosts Its First Blog Carnival

2009-08-13T15:15:00.001-04:00

Many of Triangle TRACKS’ members run wonderful blogs covering a variety of topics. We’d like to share some of their posts with you, so we’ve decided to host a BLOG CARNIVAL, which will link to one blog post from each participating blogger. If you have a blog and would like to drive traffic from Triangle TRACKS to your blog, consider participating in this blog carnival. Here are our rules:

1. You must be a member of Triangle TRACKS to participate. To join, click here.
2. Your post—but not necessarily your overall blog—must be related to children in some way. It could cover a topic relating to or combining topics focusing on parenting, child development, children’s trends, childhood memories or other related topics.
3. Your blog must allow comment-posting so our members and visitors can post their thoughts and/or questions.
4. You must link to Triangle TRACKS somewhere in your blog entry or on your blog’s front page.

Email your blog post link to epshugg@triangletracks.com by Friday, Aug. 21. We’ll review the entries then post the blog carnival on the Triangle TRACKS home page Aug. 24-Sept. 4. The top three posts that generate the most discussion (in the form of comments or questions) will be awarded their own promotional box on the Triangle TRACKS home page for two weeks, and include a link to the winning blogs’ RSS feed or subscription page. This is a wonderful way to use your blog to reach out to other Triangle parents. We can’t wait to read your posts! Got questions? Email them to epshugg@triangletracks.com.

Maximize—Don’t Waste—Those Little Spaces of Time With Your Kids

2009-08-09T09:06:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine looked at my calendar one day and said, “How in the world do you fit all of that into each week?” I replied that sometimes I simply don’t, but I always try my best!

As my children grow older, we grow busier. New interests sprout, and the only way to find out if these interests will blossom is to dig a little deeper. That often means adding another sport, hobby or club to our garden of activities. For many parents who face these same challenges, we find ourselves making quick trips here and there filled with little spaces of time as we wait for an activity to end. Or we sit in not one, but two carpool lines at two different schools, two times a day!

Since there is no end in sight to this haphazard schedule for our family anytime soon, I’ve decided to maximize—not waste—those little spaces of time throughout my family’s day.

My 10-year-old son wakes up early every morning—early enough to see his big brother off to middle school. Meanwhile, my 7-year-old daughter sleeps in as late as possible. This is the time of day my younger son shares his thoughts with me—about a story he’s writing, a book he’s reading, a sport he enjoys or friends he hangs out with. This is time well spent that we will never get back.

My 10-year-old is also on the safety patrol team at his elementary school, so we drop him off 15 minutes before the carpool line starts rolling. That’s 15 minutes I have with my daughter alone. Lately, I’ve used that time to read aloud to her. Other times, I fix her hair or we just have a good mom-daughter chat.

In the afternoon, I wait in a long, winding carpool line to pick up my 12-year-old at middle school. I often work on a freelance writing project or read a book before the line starts moving—and get quite a bit done during this time. But when my son gets in the car, the real quality time begins. We spend the drive home talking about his day. Sometimes he complains about his homework or a bully, other times he boasts about a good grade or funny experience. I wouldn’t trade these talks for the world. After all, I have only six years left with him before he heads off to college.

During my oldest son’s weekly viola lesson, my younger two bring books, markers and paper so they can spend this time working on stories or drawings. My only rule: no electronics. I don’t mind if they bring them in the car, but we use the 30-minute lesson to have quality creative time.

And just this morning, I wrote the first half of this blog in the carpool line, and the second half awaiting the arrival of my husband’s flight at the airport. I guess making good use of my time often involves having a laptop on hand!

It’s so easy to make a phone call during the drive home from school, or turn up the radio as you drive to an activity. Why not embrace the little spaces of time throughout your day to enhance the relationships you have with those who matter most to you. It really makes a difference, even when you don’t think it does. I asked my oldest if he liked our “quality time” together after school each day. He just rolled his eyes and said “Sure, Mom.” But when I glanced over at him to see if his expression matched his tone, I saw the same smile on his face he used to get when he was 3 years old, driving trains around his train track. And that was all the confirmation I needed.

Here's How We Celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11's Landing on the Moon

2009-07-21T20:41:00.001-04:00

We never timed a family vacation so perfectly.

Photo: Original Apollo 11 Lunar Landing Module

Just four nights in Orlando with tickets to Sea World, Universal Studios and Kennedy Space Center meant we would be running from park to park nonstop, and we did. But the most amazing moment was when we learned that Endeavor's launch had been rescheduled for July 15, a day after we were to arrive in town! (See my previous post for details on that.)

Photo: Launch Pad 39A

And then, to visit Kennedy Space Center just two days before the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11's landing on the moon transformed a typical vacation into one we would never again experience in our lives. Our day at Cape Canaveral turned out to be more fun than Sea World and Universal Studios combined. We took the bus tour, climbed atop the viewing tower to see pad 39A (where Endeavor launched from) and watched a super cool movie in the old control room, which featured the launch of an early rocket, complete with original audio, control panels that lit up to authenticate what the control room looked like during the launch, and an amazingly loud, window-shaking reproduction of the actual launch.

Photo: Original NASA control room before the show.

Photo: Original NASA control room during the show.

Then, we walked underneath an Apollo rocket strapped to the ceiling of a very long building (check out the photo of its engines), and watched another very cool movie about the Apollo 11 moon landing. This presentation also incorporated original audio and video footage from July 20, 1969, and featured a landing pod and astronaut prop standing next to an American flag planted into the moon's surface. I admit, the writers of this presentation got me. I felt what may have been the same emotions people all over the world experienced as they listened to the landing report on their AM radios. Truly unbelievable!

Photo: Check out the size of these Saturn V engines -- and there are 5 of them!

Photo: Back of Saturn V rocket.

Photo: Middle of the Saturn V rocket, where the third stage is located.

Photo: The world's largest building: the Vehicle Assembly Building. This is where the shuttles are assembled. Three empire state buildings can fit in there!

Five T-shirts, a handful of Apollo 11 commemorative Christmas ornaments, two robotic hands, 6 ounces of Galactic Ooze, a moon rock, a 500-piece NASA puzzle and a package of astronaut ice cream later, we exited Kennedy Space Center $183 poorer, but rich with awe-inspiring experiences and memories of NASA's many accomplishments.

Photo: We had to get one of these for each of the kids!

I do hope our next space adventure will be a rendezvous with history. We walked on the moon 40 years ago. Why shouldn't we attempt this again? The incredulous among us have only to look at the giant leap Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and many other astronauts took for mankind.

Photo: The cockpit of Shuttle Explorer

Photo: Exterior of Shuttle Explorer

Frozen Coconut Bars, MTV Videos and Creek Explorations Set the Scene for My Greatest Summer Traditions

2009-07-10T10:13:00.002-04:00

Favorite childhood memories drift into my mind as the scents and sounds of summer arrive each June.

I used to walk across that log as a child. It's still there!

Banana Boat Coconut Oil summons memories of sunbathing with my mother in our backyard, the radio blaring ’80s tunes from my bedroom window. During the summer my mother, a special education teacher, would earn extra cash working at my uncles’ nursery. She would take my sister and me with her several days a week to split an hourly wage cutting ivy stems and planting them into 12-by-16-inch flats of fertilized soil. I fondly remember break time, when my sister and I would purchase a cold, glass bottle of Mello Yello for a quarter from the Coca Cola vending machine. Nothing tasted better than that.

My beautiful mom in the 1980s

The first hint of chlorine takes me beyond infinite memories of summertime swimming to a favorite treat: the coconut “FrozeFruit” bars my sister and I enjoyed poolside in Columbia, S.C. during our month-long July visit with our dad. Remember those? Delectable frozen blocks of all natural goodness filled with real pieces of fruit … I typically chose coconut, though I tried strawberry and banana once or twice.

Becky and I would swim for hours at the St. Andrews Fitness Center swimming pool while Daddy worked out at the gym, then we would quickly dive underwater when we saw him sneaking back to play “Turtleheads” with us, a game that required holding our breath for as long as possible, knowing that when we finally popped up, he would nail us on the head with a tennis ball. (This is the same man who taught us how to accurately fire a lit bottle rocket at his best friend across the parking lot.)

Consistently, we returned home with tired limbs and hungry bellies, turned on MTV and settled on Daddy’s totally ’80s black velvet sofa with a bowl of Sunchips to watch the latest videos. “Jump” by Van Halen, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cindy Lauper and “Thriller” by Michael Jackson ranked among our favorites. (“California Girls” by David Lee Roth shockingly revealed to me what I could only hope to look like someday, after growing out of my figureless pre-teen frame.) These were the days of Cookie Crisp cereal for breakfast every morning and Breyer’s chocolate chip ice cream for dessert every night. Putt Putt, bowling and Vectrex games held our attention during the day. Chicken wing dives and TV dramas won our attention at night. (Will there ever be a better police drama than “Miami Vice”?)

Becky, me and Daddy in 1988

Exposing my kids to another favorite old-fashioned summer tradition requires something I don’t have here in North Carolina: acres of pristine, family-owned land. In 1910, my great-great-grandfather bought several hundred acres in Athens, Ga. along the Atlanta Highway. He built a beautiful summerhouse on the property overlooking a wide, burbling creek.

My grandparents later moved into a home on the other side of the creek that once served as a meeting facility for my great-grandfather’s Presbyterian ministry retreats. We spent many days—and nights—in both houses, eager to burn a trail down to the creek the very next morning—no shoes necessary. Our feet were as worn as a hobbit’s.

It was, and is, a perfect creek. We even named the sections of it we frequented most the log bridge, the waterslide, the swimming hole, the minnow pond and the “foot washer.” This was a rectangular groove of smooth slate over which a steady stream of ice-cold creek water ran. We could neatly slide our feet into that small space whenever we determined they needed a wash—which was often!

Further up the creek, we reverently climbed the Cinderella steps, so-named by my grandmother when she was a little girl, to a cluster of large, flat rocks where we would sit and talk, soaking up the sun and reclaiming our energy for more fun. Sometimes, when our adventurous uncles accompanied us, we would walk all the way to Eagle’s Nest, the furthest point of the creek on our property. It was marked by a large, high stone jutting out from a bank of Georgia clay.

We do have a small trickle of a creek behind our home, and my children have developed an intense love of it. They say to my husband and me, “Don’t ever move. We don’t want to leave our creek.” I know exactly how they feel.

Just west of my childhood creek was a golden meadow edged with blackberry bushes. Becky, my cousins and I would eat them right off the bush every July. We held family picnics under a large Beech tree in the middle of the field, and later, as teenagers, Becky and I sunbathed there with our battery-powered boom box and a cooler full of cold cokes.

Climbing the towering magnolia tree next to the goldfish pond behind my great-grandparents’ house was simply majestic. I climbed so high I felt invincible, as if nothing could ever change. But it has. I recently took my children back to see the creek, the meadow and the magnolia tree that serve as icons of my childhood. The creek seems lonelier, and is quieter. The golden meadow is now owned by the City of Athens, which thankfully has no plans to develop the land, but will instead preserve it as part of a greenway. The magnolia tree is enormous—much too tall to climb to the top of anymore. But those icons are all still there. And now my children can experience them, too.

The now very tall magnolia tree I climbed as a girl.

My sister and me on our great-grandparents porch, just above the magnolia tree. There's a nursery flat just behind us!

My kids, enjoying my creek.

I took some photos of my kids playing in the creek and watched them climb the magnolia tree. It was more for me, then them. Surreally, I felt as though a cycle had completed, and indulged in a memory of myself at my daughter’s age: 57 pounds of bliss and bounce twisting through branches down the path to the creek. A soft landing on the sandy banks and splash! Into the cool fresh memory of my childhood. Hours later, the Georgia sun sets and I fall into a deep, sound sleep, ready to do it all over again in the morning.

When I take the time to really think about those days, I realize I may have already experienced heaven on earth. Now, I just need to make sure my kids have an opportunity to do the same.

Check Out Our Old-Fashioned Summer Fun Blog Contest!

2009-07-02T18:33:00.003-04:00

UPDATE: we have 8 wonderful blogs on our home page that our Triangle TRACKS members are voting on today. Check them out here!

Triangle TRACKS would like to kick off summer with an “Old-Fashioned Summer Fun” blog contest. What were your favorite old-fashioned summer fun activities and how are you keeping those traditions alive for your children? Did you operate a lemonade stand? Love grandpa's homemade ice cream? Catch fireflies? Build creek dams? Post your story on the Triangle TRACKS blog by Wednesday, July 8 and we’ll feature all entries on our home page July 9. Then, we’ll ask members to vote for the old-fashioned summer fun activity they identify with the most from their own childhood by the end of the day July 10.

The writers of the top two winning blogs will each get a four-pack of tickets to an outdoor concert performed by Grammy winner Dan Zanes and Friends at the North Carolina Museum of Art July 18. They’ll also get a Dan Zanes CD! Writers of the third- and fourth-place winning blogs will each get a four-pack of tickets to the North Carolina Museum of Art’s outdoor showing of “Kung Fu Panda” July 11. Both events will be held in the 2,700-capacity open-air theater Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in the Museum Park.

Read more about the concert here, and the movie showing here. Good luck!

Introducing our Book TRACKer, Aylin Regulski!

2009-06-16T10:46:00.000-04:00

Aylin lives in Apex with her dear husband, 10-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. Her background is in science and law, so this blog is clearly a deviation from her prior writing experience. She does, however, have a passion for reading, as do her husband and children. Sometimes she tries to sneak in reading during the day but just as often ends up taking her book out for a ride and some fresh air while watching her children at their many arts and sports activities and talking with other parents (some who are also airing their books or doggedly trying to read the same page for an hour). Sometimes the discussion turns to the books they aren’t reading. However, bedtime reading is an unwavering ritual. Her family enjoys many activities the Triangle has to offer, including hiking the local greenways and trails, visiting the museums and zoo, and attending outdoor events. Aylin and her husband also help teach church school at their church and do their best to squeeze in an occasional date night together.

They still find time to take care of Beauty and Flipper, their two long-lived and demanding (for fish) female Betas, and to feed most of the squirrels of Apex with their “squirrel-proof” bird feeder. However, there is another plan being hatched to keep the squirrels at bay. It has become clear that squirrels don’t actually care if one dashes out the door in pajamas with a squirt gun to excitedly shoot water at them. They’ve got nothing but time and people eventually need to get on with their lives. Send Aylin a blog idea here and check out her debut blog here.

Win 4 Tickets to North Carolina Theatre's Premiere of Disney's "High School Musical 2" on Stage!

2009-06-04T11:24:00.001-04:00

Triangle TRACKS is excited to offer our members and visitors in the Triangle region another awesome contest opportunity. This time, we're giving away 4 tickets to the North Carolina Theatre's regional premiere of Disney's "High School Music 2" on stage at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium June 13-21!

To enter, have your child dress up as his or her favorite "High School Musical" character, take a picture and submit it along with your child's name, age and the character he or she is dressed up as by Wednesday, June 10 at midnight. We'll ask all of our Triangle TRACKS members and newsletter subscribers to vote for their favorite photo, then email it to epshugg@triangletracks.com or via the Triangle TRACKS messaging system by midnight Thursday, June 11. We'll announce the winner at noon on Friday, June 12. Good luck to all the Gabriellas, Sharpays, Troys, Ryans and other HSM characters out there!

We Found Belle's Biggest Fan!

2009-06-01T07:13:00.001-04:00

Visit www.triangletracks.com to see our winner and her 68 Belle items! The prize: two tickets to the Carolina Ballet’s premiere performance of “Beauty and the Beast.”

Here is why this is the only "Jon & Kate Plus 8" blog post you'll see on Triangle TRACKS

2009-06-01T07:12:00.001-04:00

We've received emails from several Triangle TRACKS members and/or visitors asking if we will be addressing the "Jon & Kate Plus 8" drama. We will not for the simple reason that we believe Jon and Kate need to put their children first, and their show last. At this time, they do not appear to be doing that. Since Triangle TRACKS exists to improve the life of children, we do not feel posting information about the current direction of the "Jon & Kate Plus 8" show is within our mission. Feel free to post your own comments about the show here, but keep in mind that this is the only time we will address this topic until and unless we see the children's best interests being put first.

Triangle TRACKS Contest Seeks Belle’s Biggest Fan

2009-05-28T07:33:00.004-04:00

How much does your little girl love Belle? Does she have more Belle paraphernalia than a Disney store? If so, she could win two tickets from Triangle TRACKS to see the Carolina Ballet’s premiere performance of “Beauty and the Beast” the night of either May 29, 30 or 31.

If you would like to participate in the contest, just itemize and photograph all of your daughter's Belle stuff (dolls, jewelry boxes, necklaces, clothes, etc.), then email your list and photo documenting the items to epshugg@triangletracks.com by noon on May 29. Triangle TRACKS will announce the winner that day at 2 p.m., in time for the first show.

Triangle TRACKS is a social networking site for local parents that links to almost 2,000 resources for local kids. To visit the site, go to http://www.triangletracks.com.

Check Out Our New Discount TRACKS Page

2009-05-26T10:38:00.003-04:00

Everyone is looking for ways to save money these days, so we've added a
Discount TRACKS page. Please email us your discount sites so we can add them to our list.

"The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" Inspires Young Writers

2009-05-17T16:37:00.000-04:00

My son's 4th grade teacher recently introduced her class to "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick." Have you heard of these? My son loves to write so he really got into this project. The students were asked to look through the book, select one of Burdick's drawings and descriptions, then write a story to go with the picture. What makes this book so interesting and mysterious, is the manner in which the images came to be published. Here's an excerpt from the book's official website describing how "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" came to be. Keep in mind, this was written in 1984, so the meeting he is describing actually took place in 1954. The meeting involved Peter Wenders, who once worked for a children's book publisher, and Harris Burdick himself.

Thirty years ago a man called at Peter Wenders's office, introducing himself as Harris Burdick. Mr. Burdick explained that he had written fourteen stories and had drawn many pictures for each one. He'd brought with him just one drawing from each story, to see if Wenders liked his work.

Peter Wenders was fascinated by the drawings. He told Burdick he would like to read the stories that went with them as soon as possible. The artist agreed to bring the stories the next morning. He left the fourteen drawings with Wenders. But he did not return the next day. Or the day after that. Harris Burdick was never heard from again. Over the years, Wenders tried to find out who Burdick was and what had happened to him, but he discovered nothing. To this day Harris Burdick remains a complete mystery.

So, if you are a public, private or home school teacher--or if you're a parent who likes to offer your children inspiring writing assignments--this is the book for you. You can find it at most bookstores and public libraries, so be sure to check it out!

Photo source: www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com

Disney Star Wars Weekends Scheduled for May 22-June 14

2009-05-17T16:36:00.000-04:00

The force is with Hollywood Studios in Florida May 22-June 14, as Disney continues its tradition of Star Wars Weekends. Star Wars fans of all ages come out to celebrate the saga with Star Wars celebrity guests. Join hosts Jay Laga'aia and Ashley Eckstein during the first Star Wars weekend, as they welcome Ray Park, Warwick Davis and James Arnold Taylor. Go to http://www.starwars.com/fans/events/news20090515.html for a schedule and map of activities.

Track 2 in Wake County Schools: 21 Very Cool Things to Do During Your Break!

2009-05-12T10:38:00.000-04:00

Track 2 is tracked out May 13-June 2. Triangle TRACKS, a local social networking website for Triangle parents that links to over 1,800 resources at www.triangletracks.com, has posted a list of local events planned for kids and families that fall into track 2's break. Check it out:

1. Go to an IMAX movie at Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh:
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is back in IMAX as a prelude to the release of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" July 17. "Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian" opens May 22 at IMAX and in theaters nationwide, and NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience IMAX® film opens May 29. "Up” also debuts May 20 in theaters nationwide, but it won’t be in IMAX.

2. Check out the N.C. Museum of Natural Science Presents "Chocolate" exhibit. Yum!

3. Peruse the Town of Cary Presents the 15th Annual Children's Art Show May 4-29: http://www.triangletracks.com/events/town-of-cary-presents-the-15th
Or check out Durham Public Schools Spring Art Show at Northgate Mall, May 13-27: http://www.triangletracks.com/events/durham-public-schools-spring-1

4. Applause! Cary Youth Theatre Presents "The Beeple" May 14-16.

5. Go to a Durham Bull’s game. Spongebob's friend Patrick returns to Durham Ballpark May 15-17.

6. Broadway Series South Presents "Thomas and Friends Live! On Stage" May 15-17.

7. Kids Rock! at Marbles Kids Museum May 16-17.

8. Shop the Carolina Kids Expo May 16-17 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.

9. Watch “The Blue Grass Blues” at the Halle Cultural Arts Center in Apex May 16.

10. May 16 is Fishing Fun Day at Harris Lake Park.

11. Head out to Bat Day with Rob Mies at the Museum of Life and Science May 16.

12. Check out Artsplosure 2009's Kidsplosure May 16-17.

13. Kids, Kids Everywhere! at Womble Park May 16.

14. Broadway Series South Presents Bob the Builder Live! May 22-24.

15. Watch the Bread & Puppet Theater present "Cardboard Celebration Circus” May 22-24.

16. Teen Bounce Night at BounceU of Apex is May 22.

17. Carolina Ballet Presents World Premiere of "Beauty and the Beast" May 28-31.

18. Check out “Sesame Street Live: When Elmo Grows Up” May 28.

19. LEGO Master Builder Event at Crabtree Mall: Help Build 8' Tall Yoda! May 29-31.

20. "Buggin' Out" is at Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs May 29.

21. Get Into the Driver's Seat IMAX® Film Opening Event is May 30.

Indulge in the N.C. Museum of Natural Science’s Delectable Chocolate Exhibit Beginning This Weekend

2009-05-08T12:09:00.002-04:00

I wanted to post a May Triangle TRACKS newsletter article here for you all to see. Check out this exhibit! (I get hungry just reading about this.)

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh will open its doors to a very delicious special exhibit May 9 through Sept. 7. “Chocolate” offers a deliciously unforgettable journey through the sumptuous treat’s history.

The story begins in the rainforest with the unique cacao tree, whose seeds provide the foundation for making chocolate, which has served as gifts for the gods and a symbol of wealth and luxury.

It continues with a presentation of how the ancient Mayans in Central America used chocolate nearly 1,500 years ago, and how the Aztec civilization of 16th-century Mexico valued cacao seeds as though it was money. Upperclass European society’s discovery of chocolate helped transform chocolate into a mass-produced world commodity.

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, $5 for members of the military, $5 for students, $4 for children age 5-11, and free for children under age 5 and museum members. This national tour was developed by The Field Museum in Chicago. For more information, visit http://naturalsciences.org.

The Birds and Bees Text Message Service for Teens

2009-05-05T06:58:00.002-04:00

The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina has launched the Birds & Bees Text Line enabling teens to text questions about "the birds and bees." An excerpt from the home page:

How It Works: You text us a question to (919) 699-0911. Within 24 hours, we text you back with an answer. It’s that simple. We won’t judge you or preach to you; you get the best advice and information that we can offer free of charge. All questions are welcome and no question is too outrageous. We’re here to help.

What's your take on this? Should teens have access to something like this or should parents provide the answers?

We Have a Winner!

2009-05-01T19:10:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Janel Bunten, who also happens to be the Triangle TRACKS Trend TRACKer, for winning 1st place in our Spring Membership Drive contest! Her invitations resulted in 20 new members joining Triangle TRACKS between April 6 and 27, and now she gets to enjoy a prize package valued at $463. Overall, we had 90 new members join during our membership drive!

We'd also like to congratulate our 2nd place winner, Lisa Christensen, and our 3rd place winner, Heather Vansteenbergen. We greatly appreciate all the work these ladies did to help spread the word about Triangle TRACKS. You can view a list of the prizes they won at this link.

We'll do it all again next fall, so continue sending your invitations out. Any invitations sent out after April 27 will count toward your overall fall total!

Tolkien Returns With "The Children of Húrin"

2009-04-23T07:25:00.001-04:00

Legendary author JRR Tolkien (1916-1973) charged his third son, Christopher Tolkien, with the job of serving as his literary executor after his death. Christopher's first job was to organize the huge volume of papers that JRR Tolkien generated during his lifetime. This lead to Christopher publishing "The Silmarillion" in 1977, which condenses the creation and mythology of Middle-earth, elves, men, dwarves and other creatures. Christopher went on to publish "Unfinished Tales" (1980), and the 12-volume "The History of Middle-earth" (1983-1996).

Christopher might be a more prolific author than many who create their own stories. According to The Tokien Estate website, JRR Tolkien ranked the completion of three of his stories higher than any other: "Beren & Lúthien," "The Fall of Gondolin," and "The Children of Húrin."

According to the website, Christopher "succeeded in assembling the multiple variants, unfinished pieces, and outlines of the tale to produce a standalone and complete version, entirely in the author's original words. The work therefore is accessible both as a new and complete version of the text for the Tolkien scholar, and as an entirely new tale from Middle-earth for the Tolkien reader who is not overly familiar with the great tales and mythology that are the roots of The Lord of the Rings."

"The Children of Húrin" takes place long before "The Lord of the Rings" and is set in an area of Middle-earth that was to be drowned thousands of years before the story of the One Ring. At this time, Sauron was only a lieutenant of Morgoth, the fallen Vala. The story focuses on a man, Húrin, who dared to defy Morgoth. It tells the story of Húrin and his family's tragic destiny by following his son Túrin Turambar's adventures in Beleriand. Renowned artist Alan Lee created the book's illustrations, and readers will appreciate the map of Beleriand, drawn by Christopher, himself.

It's as though JRR Tolkien has returned to us. We now have this wonderful book to enjoy with our children and to remind us of Tolkien tales we may have read as children ourselves. The book is available at most bookstores and online. We've got ours and can't wait to begin reading it! If you've read it, let us know what you think.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" Movie Split Location Hinted at by Producer Heyman and Actor Radcliffeh

2009-04-22T12:02:00.001-04:00

Many of you Harry Potter fans may have heard that the movie of the final book in JK Rowling's series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," will be split into two movies. How will they do it? Rumors continue to circulate, but the actor who stars as "Harry," Daniel Radcliffe, and franchise producer David Heyman, are slipping out a few details about this. According to Ace Showbiz, an entertainment news website, Heyman says the split will occur in a "place that we think is very exciting, and I think quite bold, in that it's not necessarily where one might expect." This place will impart what Heyman calls a "sense of completion" but allude to the fact that there's more to come. Nineteen-year-old Daniel Radcliffe calls the split's location a "very tense cliffhanger."

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I" is due for a November 19, 2010 release in both the U.S. and U.K., and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II" has been set for July 15, 2011 release.

Don't forget, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," book six, will hit theaters July 17. View the trailer here.

Source of clip art: FreeClipArtNow.com.

Talk to Your Kids About the Choking Game

2009-04-15T23:32:00.001-04:00

Please, do it. Even if you think he or she is a tad too young, or that it might create temptation. The parents of Breanna Anderson, the smart, beautiful Holly Springs High School teen who died of this horrible game March 22, want as many parents as possible to communicate with their children about what the choking game is and how it can kill.

I read about this today in the Southwest Wake News, but heard about it originally in March just after the news broke. Out of respect to the Anderson family, I chose not to address this here right after it happened. But now, Jay and Susan Anderson are working on creating a website and canvassing local schools to get the word out about the dangerous game, so I felt it was appropriate to extend their mission here, at Triangle TRACKS. We'll inform you of the Andersons' website once it has been created. For now, you can learn all of the facts about the Choking Game at www.stop-the-choking-game.com.

My oldest child is in 6th grade. I sat down with him today and read the Southwest Wake News article to him. I told him it kills between 250 and 1,000 kids between 9 and 16 years old each year, answered his questions, made sure he understood the seriousness of this dangerous game and told him to talk to us if he ever is exposed to the game, or is around people who are playing it. Keep the doors open (literally!), look for the signs and stay on top of what many call "the smart kids' high." Here is a video explaining how the choking game works (source: Games Adolescents Shouldn't Play, GASP.com). Warning: this is VERY difficult to watch, but that isn't stopping me from showing it to my 10- and 11-year-old sons first thing tomorrow:

http://www.stop-the-choking-game.com/en/flash_vid.html

Introducing Charlotte TRACKS, a New Website for Charlotte Parents

2009-04-12T12:20:00.006-04:00

First of all, Happy Easter and Happy 1st Birthday to Triangle TRACKS! One year ago today, on April 12, 2008, Triangle TRACKS burst onto the Triangle region's Internet scene. Today, in addition to enjoying a beautiful Easter, we're also celebrating the launch of our sister site, Charlotte TRACKS! Here is a press release with more details that will go out to Charlotte's media today.

Charlotte, N.C. (April 12, 2009) Apex, N.C. mom and former magazine editor Elizabeth Shugg has launched Charlotte TRACKS at http://www.charlottetracks.com, a social networking website for Charlotte parents that consolidates 1,500-plus links to local resources for children in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region. TRACKS is an acronym for “Tools, Resources and Activities for Carolina Kids.”

Charlotte TRACKS enables members who register for a login to the site to post blogs, forums, calendar entries and other helpful information for local families. It links to children’s businesses and resources in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Union, Iredell, Lincoln, Lancaster and York counties. The site’s content focuses on schools, museum exhibits, parks, youth sports, camps, music lessons, performing arts studios, birthday party venues, amusement centers, restaurants, childcare facilities, healthcare resources, clothing stores and more.

“There are thousands of wonderful resources just for children in the Charlotte region, and now they are all consolidated on one website,” Shugg says. “Charlotte TRACKS simplifies the process of locating the resources families are looking for, and members can help generate the website’s content by posting blogs, forum discussions and calendar events to share information.”

Those interested in joining Charlotte TRACKS can visit http://www.charlottetracks.com and click on “sign up.” Members will receive mid-month and end-of-month emails listing links to accumulated blogs, forum discussions and calendar events posted during that part of the month. “It’s like getting a biweekly newsletter created by all of Charlotte TRACKS’ members,” Shugg says.

Charlotte TRACKS displays whimsical art created by internationally renowned artist Laura Kelly, and follows Shugg’s launch of Triangle TRACKS exactly one year ago, on April 12, 2008. Shugg came up with the idea and name for Triangle TRACKS in January 2008 during her children’s winter break. “I started thinking about how nice it would be to rely on one website that consolidates all of the resources for children in the Triangle. I did this as much for my family as everyone else’s, and was excited to share it with other parents. Now I can do the same for Charlotte parents.”

Happy Easter from Triangle TRACKS!

2009-04-08T10:17:00.003-04:00

Still need photos with the Easter Bunny? Here's where you can find him:

Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh
March 21-April 11

The Streets at Southpoint Mall in Durham
March 28-April 11

The Commons at North Hills in Raleigh
April 4 and 11
10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Most of the region's egg hunts took place last weekend, but there are still a few left this weekend:

Raleigh’s Biggest Easter Egg Hunt: April 11; kids can hunt for 4,000+ eggs at Moore Square Park during age-specific hunts starting at 8:30 a.m.

Morrisville Egg Hunt:
April 10 at 10 a.m. in Cedar Fork District Park.

Fun Stuff to Do During Spring Break Week

2009-04-05T23:39:00.001-04:00

1. Go to the North Carolina Zoo.
2. Visit a local farm.
3. Sample the fresh spring produce at a local farmer market. Click here and scroll down the Farmers Market section to access them online.
4. Enjoy nature and a good story with Trail Tails on the American Tobacco Trail: "Jump, Frog Jump!" April 9.
5. Go to a movie! Don't forget, "Hannah Montana: the Movie" hits theaters April 10!
6. Create something unique during the Scrap Exchange One Bag Workshop at University Mall in Chapel Hill
April 11.
7. Visit a local museum. There are so many to choose from!
8. Read a good book. Now's the time to catch up on Harry Potter's adventures in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which hits theaters in July.

Visit the Triangle TRACKS calendar for even more ideas!

Wake County Public Schools' new school schedules add 10 minutes to the school day and provides one hour early dismissal on Wednesdays

2009-03-31T23:27:00.001-04:00

From the WCPSS Press Office:

In its meeting today, the Board of Education approved the 2009-10 bell schedule including a change for the use of time to support learning and teaching, developing techniques for strengthening and enriching students’ skills.

2009-10 Bell Schedule

The new school schedules add 10 minutes to the school day and provides one hour early dismissal on Wednesdays. On six of those Wednesdays, school will release 2.5 hours early.

2009-10 Early Release Days

The new school schedules add 10 minutes to the school day and provides one hour early dismissal on Wednesdays. On six of those Wednesdays, school will release 2.5 hours early.

This will provide time for teachers to meet for an hour on Wednesdays in professional learning communities, or learning teams. In these teams, teachers meet across grade level or subject area to review instruction and look at ways to better meet the needs of individual students. Schools will continue to use the six 2.5 hour sessions for schoolwide faculty professional development.

The schools that have the earliest start times have added the additional ten minutes at the end of the school day. The schools with the latest start times have added the additional ten minutes at the start of the school day. You can check the bell schedule here to see school bell schedules for 2009-10.

The board established the six 2.5 hour sessions as common early release days. The school system had been providing four early release days for schoolwide faculty professional development.

School administrators and representatives of the Time Committee say the changes will provide the desired status of:
Common understanding and expectations for professional learning teams;
Consistent, structured time for all WCPSS K-12 educators;
All staff participating in professional learning teams; and
Community understanding of the value of the learning teams’ work.

Representatives of the 40-member Time committee that includes school administrators, principals, teachers and parents told the school board’s Student Achievement Committee that they’ve been studying the issue for two years as schools have worked individually to figure out ways to create time for teacher learning teams to meet. Schools are at different stages in putting learning teams to use across grade levels and across subject areas.

The Time committee representatives recommended the school system provide a more uniform system that provided all schools the time for learning teams to work.

Superintendent Burns said learning teams will allow educators the time to collaborate that will help the school system improve student academic performance. He said the school system has already been studying the implementation of learning teams and will continue to look at ways to use learning teams effectively.

Time committee members said the drivers for their recommendation were the Board of Education goal for all students to graduate from high school; the need to provide time for collaboration; the need to increase student achievement; the opportunity to close academic achievement gaps among groups of students; the chance to provide job embedded professional development; and the need to provide equal opportunity for all teachers to participate in learning teams to help students achieve.

More on Time Discussions

TV’s Golden Era Was Black & White

2009-03-31T23:12:00.001-04:00

Thought I'd share another column from writer Tom Poland, aka my dad. Wouldn't it be fun for our kids to see some of these old TV shows?

Across the Savannah
TV’s Golden Era Was Black & White
By Tom Poland

Remember the first TV you saw? I do. A small, boxy TV that had a pink cabinet. It just caught two stations ’cause that’s all there were back then. For a long time, we caught just two stations through a rickety antenna strapped to the chimney: WRDW 12 and WJBF 6. TV was pretty simple back then. No color to adjust and just three knob functions: on, off, and channel changer.

We’ve come a long ways since then what with color, UHF, cable, satellite, digital TV and high definition. No more test patterns on all night but no more “Star Spangled Banner” either as stations signed off. Maybe that’s when patriotism began to wane.

Yes we’ve come a long ways but it’s a downright shame the quality of programs hasn’t progressed as much. It seems to me the programming geniuses went for volume instead of quality. The Time Warner programming guide for my area lists an astounding 1,234 channels. Not programs but channels! Thousands and thousands of shows are out there but few worth my time. I feel like the parched Ancient Mariner on Coleridge’s ship.

“Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.”

I see shows and shows everywhere and most make my brain shrink. Thousands and thousands of shows but few make me think. For solid programming, I watch “National Geographic,” the “Discovery Channel,” and “The History Channel.” That’s it.

I am no fan of reality shows. My life is reality show enough for me. And those marathon infomercials hyping diets, real estate, and get-rich-schemes disgust me. It makes me long for the good old days. I can’t speak for you but it’s hard to beat the TV shows I grew up with. They seemed genuine in ways today’s shows do not. They resurrect memories today’s shows will not.

Here are but a few I loved to watch growing up, shows whose characters seemed real. Remember “Lost in Space?” That stowaway, Dr. Zachary Smith, was quite the cad wasn’t he. And even now I can see Chuck Connors, “The Rifleman,” spinning his Winchester Model 1892 rifle.

“Leave It To Beaver” brought the naïve Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver and his idealized suburban family into our homes. Eddie Haskel and his fawning ways were always good entertainment. “You certainly look nice today, Mrs. Cleaver.”

“Captain Kangaroo” brought the mischievous Bunny Rabbit into our lives. That rabbit always managed to trick the Captain into giving him carrots. Mr. Moose would pose riddles to the Captain and a wrong answer brought hundreds of ping-pong balls cascading down on his head. I never could figure out that Green Jeans guy, though. He probably deserved a lot of space. I mean what kind of guy would call himself Mr. Green Jeans?

Bob Keeshan who played the Captain was the first Clarabelle the Clown on “Howdy Doody,” yet another memorable show. Our childhood stars were human. Keeshan left Howdy Doody, by the way, over a salary dispute and later became Captain Kangaroo. Any of you remember how Buffalo Bob would ask, “Say kids, what time is it?” And the kids in the Peanut Gallery would resound, “It’s Howdy Doody time!” Howdy, a marionette, had 48 freckles, one for each state. If he ever comes out of retirement, he’ll need two more freckles.

“The Patty Duke Show” aired from 1963 to 1966, the heart of my high school years. The show featured two identical cousins. One was from Scotland and worldly; the other was a New York City innocent, if that’s possible. The two cousins clashed, setting a tone and many a plot. Patty Duke became a star but suffered a troubled adulthood. I met her in December 2006 and was immediately struck by her short stature, five feet even. I told her I watched her show as a kid. She thanked me and told me she found Southerners “warm, accommodating people.”

My family and I vacationed in Florida once and one of our destinations was Silver Springs, a shooting locale for “Sea Hunt.” This program followed the adventures of scuba diver, Mike Nelson, played by Lloyd Bridges. An ex-Navy frogman, Nelson rescued people from drowning and salvaged things such as a missile from beneath the sea.

What great shows we had in the days of grainy black and white TVs, rickety antennae, and no remote controls. (If you wanted to change the channel, you could make junior do it or get up off the sofa.) We had “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “I Love Lucy,” “The Twilight Zone,” and later on “The Flintstones,” a cartoon version of Jackie Gleason’s “The Honeymooners.” “The Flintstones” made history as the first prime-time show with two people of the opposite sex in bed together. Fred and Wilma, hang your heads in shame!
The Western thrived back then. We had “The Cisco Kid,” “Gunsmoke,” and “Zorro,” starring Guy Williams who later starred in “Lost In Space.” And “Rawhide” gave us the consummate cowboy, Clint Eastwood, who parlayed his role as Rowdy Yates, a hotheaded ramrod, into the “Dollars Trilogy/Spaghetti Westerns” and superstardom. Frankie Laine, you’ll recall, sung the theme song, later made infamous by the Blues Brothers (John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd).

“Cheyenne,” starred Clint Walker, a twin by the way. His good looks caught the eye of Cecil B. DeMille who cast a part for him in The Ten Commandments. Soon, he had a show of his own.

The list goes on ... “Andy Griffith,” “Flipper,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Dr. Kildare,” “The Outer Limits,” and others. I suppose the young people of today could argue their shows are just as good but I don’t think so. The difference is simple but huge. We, the babyboomers, not only grew up with TV but more to the point, TV grew up with us. We were part of TV’s Golden Era. The fact that it was black and white is part of the glory to me.

Progress marches on and sometime it’s ruthless. All across this country landfills hold the remnants of bent and broken TV antennae that once sprouted from every rooftop. Someone said the TV antennae of yesteryear looked like the product of a wild night between a towel rack and a steam radiator. They ruined the looks of neighborhoods but no one cared for those skeletal-like contraptions snatched the signals from WRDW 12 and WJBF 6 right out of the air. They brought us laughter, entertainment, and legends. They brought us a lifetime of memories and there’s not a landfill on Earth that will ever hold those.

Email Tom with feedback and ideas for new columns.

Track 4 Families: Here are 45 Things You Can Do During Your Track-out Break!

2009-03-27T19:21:00.001-04:00

Track 4 are you ready for this? You've got 45 different activities taking place for kids across the Triangle to choose from during your track-out break. Here's our list of fun track-out activities through April 19. We'll add more as we come across them.

1. There are 11 different Easter egg hunts in the Triangle starting this weekend and extending through April 11. Click here to see the list.
2. There are 20 different museum events taking place between March 28 and April 19, from pirate craft-making to musical performances. Click here for the list.
3. Raleigh Little Theatre Presents "Wiley and the Hairy Man"
Through March 29
4. Town of Cary Annual Kite Festival
March 28, 2009
5. Triangle Mothers of Twins and Triplets Spring/Summer Clothing & Equipment Sale
March 28, 2009
6. The Sandbox Kids and Family Fun Band Performance
March 28, 2009
7. Chatham Kids Consignment Spring/Summer Sale
April 3, 2009
8. Home Depot Kids Workshops: Window Birdhouse
April 4, 2009
9. "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"
March 31, 2009 at 8pm to April 5, 2009
10. Spring Break Cooking Camp at C'est si Bon!
April 6, 2009 at 9am to April 8, 2009
11. Trail Tails on the American Tobacco Trail: "Jump, Frog Jump!"
April 9, 2009
12. Scrap Exchange One Bag Workshop at University Mall in Chapel Hill
April 11, 2009
13. "Happy Days" Musical
April 14, 2009 at 8pm to April 19, 2009
14. North Carolina Symphony Announces Auditions for the 2009 North Carolina Symphony Youth Concerto Competition
April 18, 2009
15. Wake County PAGE Super Saturday
April 18, 2009
16. Family Fun and Fitness Walk
April 18, 2009

Triangle TRACKS Spring Membership Drive Kicks Off April 6!

2009-03-27T07:03:00.001-04:00

Last fall, we kicked off our first membership drive. As a result, our membership increased by more than 50 percent and we were able to share our content and mission with even more Triangle parents. Now, we’re ready to do it all over again! Our Spring Membership Drive is April 6-27. All members who join before April 6 are eligible to participate. It’s easy! Just invite all your friends to join Triangle TRACKS and the top three members who yield the most joined invited members will win great prizes. Members who have been with Triangle TRACKS since our fall membership drive can also count any friends who have joined as a result of invitations sent after Nov. 12, when our fall membership drive ended. View a list of the prizes here. Good luck, and thanks for being a part of Triangle TRACKS!

Hurricanes Open Practices: Free Fun for the Kids!

2009-03-27T07:01:00.003-04:00

Check out our Sports TRACKers' post on the Carolina Hurricanes' open practices, which are free to the public and give fans the opportunity to see the guys practice up close and personal! Click here to read it!

Shorter Day Once a Week for Wake Schools Being Considered

2009-03-25T07:25:00.000-04:00

The N&O published an article today summarizing the Wake County School Board's preliminary show of support Tuesday for releasing schools early once a week to give teachers more planning time. The proposal would allow ALL schools to dismiss an hour early one day a week, and elementary and middle schools would also add two more half-days a year. The board will take a final vote on this issue March 31, and the changes could be implemented in July. Read the full story here.

Of course, this could be an expensive problem for working parents whose children attend after school care. What do you think?

"Summer Days Gone By," by Tom Poland

2009-03-23T11:44:00.005-04:00

Tom Poland, age 8

I'm posting a column written by a professional writer based in Columbia, S.C., who also happens to be my dad. His "Across the Savannah" column appears regularly in his hometown newspaper, "The Lincoln Journal," the newspaper for Lincolnton, Ga. This particular column caught my eye because, like my dad, I spent every waking hour playing outdoors during summer vacation. Whether in my grandparents Athens, Ga., creek swimming or catching minnows with a strainer and bits of bread, climbing the magnolia tree behind my greatgrandparents home, or spending hours at the pool with my dad and sister, I was brown as a berry by summer's end and stocked with a fresh supply of summer memories to carry me through the school year.

My kids attend year-round school here in Wake County, and I often wish they could have a long summer break filled with carefree, schedule-free outdoor fun like my sister and I did. We fortunately have a small creek behind our house that the kids have made my husband and me promise never to move away from, and we spend a great deal of our track-out time visiting family so our kids can experience the outdoors we grew up loving. As a matter of fact, our kids have all climbed the same magnolia tree I used to climb, and have visited the creek I used to enjoy. The only difference is their feet aren't worn enough to scurry down the creek path barefoot from my grandparents' house, like mine used to be. And you know, that's really too bad.

So here is "Summer Days Gone By" by Tom Poland. I hope you enjoy it.

Across The Savannah
Summer Days Gone By
By Tom Poland

With winter’s end near, some nostalgia might get us through the last few cold days. Was there a more exhilarating high than school’s last day? Stepping off the school grounds for the last time, you felt weightless. The trees seemed greener, the air fresher, and the sunshine more liberating than ever. You faced a summer of freedom, sunshine, and adventure.

Back then, we didn’t have malls, fun parks, and electronic games galore. We were left to our own devices. When I wasn’t reading The Hardy Boys and Reader’s Digest, the summer break meant green, leafy days exploring the woods behind home. Sure there were trips and vacations to look forward to but the long summer days with time to burn were the best. Every day was a Saturday and every day was an adventure.

Back then, a boy’s best friends were his bicycle, BB gun, and slingshot, and I was no exception. So armed, I could conquer most anything, especially a Campbell’s tomato soup can. Hearing a BB ding against a can was music to my ears and popping a Coke bottle? Well, that was big game, though that broken glass was not good.

Armed with packs of copper-clad BBs, my Daisy, and a pouch of gravel for my slingshot, I roamed the woods. The ultimate quarry were the red-and-white fish bobbers hung in trees along the banks of the old manganese mine pond on the property. I’d try my luck fishing, too. Some of my best moments as a boy took place with an old Zebco reel and a fiberglass rod in my hands.

I spent a lot of time alone as a boy, but I don’t recall being bored. There was always plenty to do. Making a fort from saplings and boughs provided a base camp from which I’d wander into deeper woods. Quietly exploring the banks of the old manganese mine pond provided glimpses of Wood Ducks and Great Blue Herons, and shiny, slithering snakes. I explored with caution.

There were days when my explorations turned up finds worthy of the Discovery Channel. One day I stumbled across a strange box with wires and gizmos unlike anything I’d seen. A crashed UFO? No. Turns out it was the business end of a weather balloon, fallen from the heavens. On another occasion I came across the crumbling remnants of an old still. Whether it had been abandoned or raided, I never knew.
Some days I found real treasure: arrowheads. Even as a boy, I could grasp the fact that the last hand touching these chiseled, symmetrical stones belonged to the true Native American. Pottery shards, too. I was reaching back in time and walking in Cherokee and Creek Indian’s footsteps. About lightning bug time, I’d ease back home, clutching a newfound arrowhead like it was a $100 bill.

Watching fireflies at dusk never proved less than enchanting, and catching them and putting them in a mayonnaise jar was not some myth dreamed up by a writer. Handling lightning bugs gave my hands a strange musty, though not unpleasant, smell.

Insects played a big role in my summer entertainment. During those sun-splashed days, I’d catch June bugs and tie sewing thread to their legs and let them buzz around my head, like some airliner waiting its turn to land. Down on Granddad Poland’s farm, I’d search for wasp nests to knock down. One careless moment, and a red wasp would nail me good. For a small boy in Lincoln County, that kind of danger provided a thrill akin to hunting Cape Buffalo in Africa.

Up near Pistol Creek at Granddad Walker’s place, my cousins and I would cut bamboo and fashion peashooters from bamboo sections. We were never bored and nothing we did required batteries. Heck, if it had, we’d been out of luck. Money was short but the best thing about summers back then was the fact that you didn’t need the green stuff.

Looking back, I guess I’m lucky to be alive and have both eyes. Today’s kids have to wear all kinds of safety gear. Riding a bike means you need one of those helmets that makes you like those magpies, Heckle and Jekyll. Shooting a BB gun means protective goggles, making you look like the creature from the Black Lagoon, and catching lightning bugs and June bugs probably requires an environmental permit, as would damming creeks.

What danger I was in. I was lucky to survive those golden summer days, but I was even luckier for another reason. The summers between the first grade and the ninth grade were some of the best days of my life. The grueling two-a-day football practices had yet to arrive, and I’d never heard of a place called Vietnam. I was green and innocent.

Had I been able to look forward into time, I’d seen the sad day coming when I no longer had time for the woods of my youth. Nor, it seems, would many of today’s boys. The modern brand of boy prefers to watch TV and play high-tech games. How many boys today, I wonder, can make slingshots from an old inner tube, a shoe tongue, and a forked Dogwood limb? Not many I’d wager. Maybe woods and slingshots are considered toxic in these sterile times when people are all agog about eliminating risks from life.

Not long ago, the wooded days of my youth returned by proxy. I was thrilled to see my grandsons playing in the creek and trees behind their home. They even had a small cave to explore though going into it is off limits, their dad’s wise rule.

No, we didn’t have Gameboys, Nintendos, and a summer beset with planned activities when I grew up in Lincoln County. We did have Zebcos, BB guns, slingshots, woods, fishponds, and creeks. We had to find our own entertainment as best we could, and looking back, I’m convinced we’re better off for it. We were connected to the land and nature in ways most kids today are not.

Email Tom with feedback and ideas for new columns.

TRACKers cover this year's WCPSS School Board Reelections and High Fructose Corn Syrup

2009-03-20T07:22:00.001-04:00

Check out the latest from our TRACKers here and here.

Triangle TRACKS Covers New Dora Doll and "Raggs" TV Show

2009-03-18T09:22:00.003-04:00

Check out our latest blogs on toy trends. We focus on the new Dora doll here and "Raggs TV" here. We've also discovered the official Star Wars blog.

Should Sex Ed Classes Change for 7th and 8th Graders in North Carolina Public Schools?

2009-03-13T10:54:00.002-04:00

On March 11, 2009, the News & Observer reported on a House committee proposal that would enable schools to let parents of 7th and 8th graders choose between letting their children take a comprehensive sex education course, or attending classes that focus on abstinence. The bill still has to travel through another House committee before it goes to a full House vote, then, if it passes in the House, it will go to the Senate.

In 1995, the NC legislature passed a law requiring a focus on abstinence until marriage in NC schools, but the classes also covered information on the effectiveness and failure rates of various forms of birth control. Read the full story here. You can read Wake County's Healthful Living Education policy here. What do you think? Should the policy change to encompass both choices or should the government stay out of this issue? Take our poll on the Triangle TRACKS home page to weigh in.

TrendTRACKer: Bella Sara Releases New Series

2009-03-12T07:04:00.002-04:00

Our Trend TRACKer, Janel Bunten, reports on the new series of Bella Sara cards at this link. This card series inspires imagination for little girls and the price is right. Check it out!

Students Can Submit Questions for STS-119 Astronauts

2009-03-12T07:02:00.002-04:00

From NASA for Students' Website:

Channel One News is thrilled to offer students the opportunity to pose questions to astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during their upcoming mission, STS-119.

There are two ways to have the chance to get your question answered: submit a text-only question or send us a video of your question to play on the show. The questions are due to be answered on the show during the mission which is set to launch on March 11th.

Just go to http://www.channelone.com/news/space-station-q-a to submit a text or video question!

Track 1 Families: Here are 24 Fun Things to do During the Next 3 Weeks!

2009-03-08T23:08:00.002-04:00

1. Lemony Snicket Comes to Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, March 9.

2. Consignment sales!
Upsale Resale Spring/Summer Consignment Sale, March 13-14.
Just for Kids Consignment Sale, March 15-20.
Carolina Kids Consignment Spring/Summer Sale, March 16-23.
Kids Everywear Consignment Sale, March 24-27.
Triangle Mothers of Twins and Triplets Spring/Summer Clothing & Equipment Sale, March 28.

3. Raleigh Little Theatre Presents "Wiley and the Hairy Man", March 13.

4. N.C. Museum of Art Presents Family Fun Saturday: From the Eiffel Tower to Ireland, March 14.

5. Robot Rumble Event Spectacular at the Museum of Life and Science, March 14.

6. Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade, March 14.

7. A World of Music from the North Carolina Symphony, March 14.

8. Marbles Kids Museum Year-Round Camp: Water World (for Track 1), March 16-20.

9. Attention Dancers: Be a part of the Carolina Hurricane's first ever Jr. Storm Squad! March 16

10. "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Durham Performing Arts, March 17-22

11. Trail Tales on the American Tobacco Trail: “Owly” by Mike Thaler, March 19.

12. Museum of Life and Science Presents "A Visit to Lilypad Pond", March 19, 26 and 28.

13. American Girl Fashion Show, March 21-22.

14. Marbles Kids Museum Presents Wild Water Weekend, March 21-22.

15. Easter Portraits with chicks! March 21

16. N.C. Museum of Art Presents Family Fun Saturday: Creative Birds, March 21.

17. Cary Ballet Company Spring Gala, March 21-22.

18. Free Family Day at the Nasher Museum, March 22.

19. Go to a movie. "Monsters vs. Aliens" IMAX® Film Opens at Marbles Kids Museum, March 27. Visit Movie TRACKS for more info.

20. The Sandbox Kids and Family Fun Band, March 28.

21. Spring Fling Egg Hunt at Womble Park in Holly Springs, March 28.

22. N.C. Museum of Art Presents a Children’s Performance: Sounds Crazy with Al Simmons; Drop-In Crafts Follow, March 28.

23. Town of Cary Annual Kite Festival, March 28.

24. Easter Egg Hunt at Holding Park in Wake Forest, March 28.

Local Cary Mom Uses Music to Heal Hospital Patients

2009-03-07T22:29:00.002-05:00

Dawn Graff, a wonderful musician and good friend of mine who has two beautiful daughters and lives in Cary, has been involved with UNC Hospitals' Door to Door program for 5 years. She knows music can heal. Nevermind the fact that hundreds of articles support it. She has seen the proof herself.

UNC-CH's Daily Tar Heel recently reported on Dawn's many contributions to the Door to Door program--and to the lives of sick children and adults. She is quoted in the article as saying: “I have this great faith in the power of music and the arts. But to actually witness it with such a dramatic transformation was very moving.”

People like Dawn who take the time to help make a sick child's day a little brighter, make this world a little nicer. I couldn't be prouder to call her my friend. Thanks for all you are doing, Dawn!Read the full story here.

Attend the 2nd Annual Peak of Fashion Show March 13 in Downtown Apex and Help End Violence Against Girls and Women

2009-03-06T18:23:00.003-05:00

This effort could help girls and women who are victims of abuse and/or assault. Please read this and attend if you would like to help the cause. Here is the press release with all of the details:

Six Apex businesses have joined forces to host the 2nd Annual Peak of Fashion Show March 13th at Hair, Body & Sole Salon and Spa at 106 W. Chatham Street in Apex. The event is free and kicks off with 6:30 p.m. cocktails before the fashion show starts at 7 p.m., which will highlight spring’s vibrant fashion trends, harmonious hair blends and fresh makeovers. Sponsors include Hair, Body & Sole Salon and Spa, Nativa, My Girlfriend’s Closet, Laura Kelly Designs & Licensing, Pure Expressions Photography and Anne Clay Photography.

But this is much more than a fashion show. It also honors V-Day 2009, a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler’s award winning play, “The Vagina Monologues,” and other artistic works. Fantastic door prizes will be offered and donations for V-Day will be accepted.

The funds raised will be used by the Apex Police Department to build a safe house and comfortable retreat for local women who have been abused or assaulted. Currently, the Apex Police Department does not have a private safe house. Since the Apex police station is undergoing remodeling, owners of businesses hosting the Peak of Fashion Show feel this is the perfect time to raise funds for the construction of this room.

Cheri Kinney, owner of Hair, Body & Sole Salon and Spa, is excited about this year’s show and encourages anyone planning to attend to bring all of their friends. A DJ will be there, and tents and heaters will be on hand in case of bad weather. “As part of this fashion show, we’re proud to support V-Day 2009. We had a great show last year, with over 150 attending,” Kinney says. “We look forward to a huge crowd again this year so people can see what’s going to be hot in fashion, hair and makeup. We’re very excited to help further the Vagina Monologue’s cause and encourage others to do the same.”

Learn more about V-Day at http://events.vday.org/2009/Community/Apex_(TVM).

###

Learn more about the sponsors of the 2nd Annual Peak of Fashion Show at these links:
Hair, Body & Sole Salon and Spa: www.hairbodyandsolespa.com
Nativa: www.nativaboutiquepr.com
My Girlfriend’s Closet: www.mgcboutique.com
Laura Kelly Designs & Licensing: www.shoplaurakelly.com
Pure Expressions Photography: www.pureexpressionsphotography.com
Anne Clay Photography: www.anneclay.com

Erik Cole is Back! Popular Carolina Hurricanes Player Returns to the Triangle

2009-03-05T07:27:00.006-05:00

I don't normally blog about sports, but I couldn't resist the chance to post my family's excitment about the return of a very popular Carolina Hurricanes player so many local kids loved: ERIK COLE. That's right, he's back! The News & Observer reported the following in today's paper:

In a deal that took some by surprise Wednesday, the Canes used a three-way trade involving the Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings to obtain Cole. In exchange, Carolina dealt away oft-injured forward Justin Williams, another fan favorite who has been sidelined 33 games this season with a torn Achilles tendon and more recently a broken hand.

I met Erik in June 2006 after the Stanley Cup win when the magazine I was editor for at the time, Wake Living, featured Erik in an article written by our very own Sports TRACKer, Kurt Dusterberg. I even got to hold on to his hockey sticks during the photo shoot (see below photo). I also met his lovely wife, Emily, when I interviewed her and some of the other Hurricanes' wives for an article in the following issue of Wake Living. They are both warm, wonderful people and I'm certain our community will welcome them back with open arms.

Read more from the N&O here.

Above: Stu Weiss (CEO of Weiss & Hughes Publishing), Erik Cole and me!
Below: Me holding Erik's famous hockey sticks.
Photos taken by Gregory Georges.

Triangle TRACKS Snowman Photo Contest

2009-03-02T14:41:00.005-05:00

We've received several adorable photos of snowmen and other snow creations our members' kids built. Therefore, we've decided to hold a Snowman Photo Contest!

Submit photos of your snow creation to epshugg@triangletracks.com for a chance to win a family pass to the Museum of Life and Science, offering admission for up to 5 family members. We'll set up a slideshow and voting system for all Triangle TRACKS members to participate in after we've received the entries. We can't wait to see the snow creations you and your kids made during this rare March snow day!

Our Sports TRACKer Writes: Love those video games! (to a point)

2009-02-26T17:24:00.005-05:00

Can Wii Sports help children improve real sports skills? Click here to read Kurt Dusterberg's most recent blog, which addresses that very subject.

Dangerous Texting Involving Wake County, NC Middle School Students

2009-02-26T08:00:00.002-05:00

Did anyone read this story in the Cary News? It involved Salem Middle students but did NOT happen on school property.

How about this one? This concerns a 14-year-old girl in Wisconsin.

Texting offenses range from a group of 6th grade boys new to cell phone technology texting "HI" to each other 4 times in a row, to indecent messages containing even more indecent photos! Scary world, but one we all must deal with sooner or later. Having two boys and a girl, I'm not quite sure how to handle this if it becomes an issue for my family. Anyone have any ideas or advice they can share on this?

While I did not explain the details of the texting offense at Salem Middle to my son, I did tell him I read an article involving the Salem Middle students' use of their cell phones and that the school had to get involved. I also explained to him that if he abused his cell phone privileges he would most certainly lose his phone. So I think this can be used as a teaching opportunity for those of us who have allowed their children the use of a cell phone.

This also opens up the question of whether providing a middle schooler with a cell phone is a good idea. I certainly respect those parents who have chosen not to provide their middle schooler with a cell phone. However, our society is not as safe as it was when our generation was in middle school. It appears middle and high school crime is on the rise. (See http://www.newsobserver.com/138/story/1415646.html and http://www.newsobserver.com/news/orange/story/1344743.html for just two local examples.) That was the main reason my husband and I provided our son with a cell phone. We also feel this is a good way to encourage and teach responsibility.

I hope parents who have provided their children with cell phones are taking the time to educate their children about how to use their cell phones responsibly. It appears some are not.

Child Auditions for Broadway Series South's "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "Wizard of Oz" Scheduled for Feb. 26 and April 4

2009-02-25T07:20:00.001-05:00

Do you have a rising Broadway star in your family? Broadway Series South will hold auditions for "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" for children 4’10 and under TOMORROW, Feb. 26 at 4-7 p.m. in A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater.

From the Broadway Series South website:

Each child will be asked to sing acappella 16 bars from one up-tempo song of choice. Children should be prepared to learn and execute simple choreography as part of the audition process. No decisions will be announced at any time during the auditions.

Six children will be selected for the ensemble, and they will appear as orphans in Act 2 of every performance. Two alternates will also be chosen. Approximate ages should be between 8 and 12 years old – and have the appearance of children, NOT young adults. Professional experience and headshots are not required.

The local children cast in the production and their parents or guardians will be provided rehearsal and performance information. The children will not receive any compensation, however this is a wonderful opportunity for children from RDU area to perform onstage with professional actors without having to ever leave town.

Auditions for "Wizard of Oz" will be held April 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Kennedy Theater.

From the above link:

The company is choosing 12 children ONLY - no alternates. They all must be 8-13 years of age. Due to wardrobe limitations they cannot exceed 5’ or 100lbs. No Exceptions.

Click here to download audition applications for both plays. GOOD LUCK!

Meet Janice Jones, our Travel TRACKer

2009-02-21T20:31:00.005-05:00

We've added another Triangle TRACKer to our line-up. Meet Janice Jones, our Travel TRACKer, and check out her debut blog! What better time to have an "American History" lesson sink in than on President's Day, which happens to be Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday, and is just weeks after a new President has been inaugurated! Read all about it at this link.

Education TRACKer - Haves and Have-Nots: What does lack of education cost us?

2009-02-16T15:02:00.003-05:00

Our Education TRACKer, Anne Woodman, writes that even though the North Carolina high school dropout rate fell from 5.24 percent in 2006-07 to 4.97 percent last year, it still leaves 22,434 former students with no high school diploma. What will their plight be and how will it impact their community. Read Anne's blog to learn more.

Hair, Body & Sole Salon and Spa in Apex Releases Edgy ‘Teen Angst’ Photography Collection Showcasing More Than Just Hair Trends

2009-02-11T12:42:00.003-05:00

This press release from Hair, Body & Sole Salon and Spa in Apex unveils the secret culture many of today's teens live in. If you have a teenage daughter, or will soon have one, I feel this article is important to read. You can access the photos referenced in the press release at www.hairbodyandsolespa.com.

Apex, N.C. (Feb. 11, 2009) Apex, a sleepy little town in North Carolina is known for its southern hospitality, slow pace and Money Magazine’s 2007 14th-place ranking of it as the best place to raise a family. It’s not necessarily a place one would associate with fashion—or controversy. But Cheri’ Kinney, Owner of Hair, Body & Sole Salon and Spa, has brought both to her latest photo shoot.

Splitting time “behind the chair” and running a day spa keeps this feisty redhead busy enough, but Kinney also likes to release a collection of photos at least once a year. She says it “keeps the creative juice flowing.”

Kinney’s latest collection focuses on what she believes will be in style during the coming season. “Fashion always reflects what is happening in the world. We are dealing with a lot of unknowns right now with the conflict in the Middle East, the war in Iraq, a new president, and the economy—all of which create uncertainty,” Kinney says. “I believe people will be trying to simplify their lives and will seek out fashion and hairstyles which are simple and subtle.”

“Spring and fall always usher in the blondes, but I believe this year will be a more harmonious blend of shades—a little removed from the color blocking we have seen in recent years or the overly contrasting looks that can appear striped and bold,” she says. “Brunettes will have shades of warm browns and reds next to cooler shades, which would seemingly contrast but actually make the jewel tones stand out more. Bright and edgy colors are always in fashion, but this year they will probably be contained to a focal point instead of being all over color. And finally, colors not usually found in nature will become more mainstreamed but in subtle and blended ways.”

But Kinney’s recent photo shoot also showcases more than just upcoming hair color and style trends. All of the models are teens, and all of the photos convey a somewhat shocking message.

“I see teenagers and their mothers all the time,” Kinney says. “The mothers think their kids are not getting into any ‘real trouble’ and the kids think their parents do not know [that they are]. Popular television shows like ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’ along with the recent increase of teen violence in schools are a clear indication that we do not always know what our children are involved in.”

“I wanted to do a photo shoot that carried the message that teenagers are dealing with a world that moves much faster than it did in previous generations. The issues teens have to deal with are complex and frightening. The ‘situational’ photos deal with prescription drug trafficking, cutting, body image, teen pregnancy and living in a culture of excess. These are not by any means all of the problems facing kids today, I just wanted to use my photos to highlight a handful of them. The pictures can be disturbing. These issues are raw and real, and it is not just happening to someone else’s child.”

Kinney says she in no way wants to romanticize the issues these pictures represent, just bring attention to them and create a common ground to perhaps start a conversation. “These are the things that are happening that we don’t like to talk about,” she says.

So what do these photos have to do with hair? And why release something so controversial? Fashion mirrors culture. “In 2001, after the World Trade Center towers were attacked, almost every designer released something that included camouflage,” Kinney says. “The late 1980s and early 1990s revealed numerous signs of the drug culture during that time—with models showing visual characteristics of heroin addictions and other issues.”

Teenagers are struggling to find their own identity. Pop culture is where they look for role models. Parents have less impact than their peers. Singer Lily Allen’s song “The Fear” speaks directly to the pressure many teens feel to achieve both independence and perfect bodies, as referenced in these lines: “Life’s about film stars and less about mothers ... Now I’m not a saint but I’m not a sinner. Now everything is cool as long as I’m getting thinner.” (You can listen to the entire song at http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-fear-lyrics-lily-allen.html.)

“What I do is hair, but I see these things playing out in the lives of many families,” Kinney says. “Even if kids are not involved themselves, they have a friend or know someone who is. These issues cross all racial and socioeconomic boundaries. I have some personal experience with more than one of the scenarios depicted and felt compelled to bring attention to them.”

It’s important to note that the models in these photos do not engage in the scenarios they depict, with the exceptions of the pregnant teen, who is actually pregnant, and the cutter, who does in fact cut herself. An expanded collection of ‘Teen Angst’ images will be displayed in the upstairs gallery at the Halle Cultural Arts Center in Historic Downtown Apex beginning in April.

To view additional photos from this collection, visit www.hairbodyandsolespa.com or www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=2014639&id=1489107284. All photos were taken by photographer Anne Clay, whose work can be viewed online at www.anneclay.com. To request a higher resolution image, email Anne at anneclay@mac.com. Makeup was done by Ashley Bromirski, who can be reached at smashart@gmail.com. None of these photos would have been possible without their collaboration.

Introducing our Health TRACKer: Jennifer Goodall

2009-02-09T10:48:00.004-05:00

During the last month, Triangle TRACKS has introduced TRACKers who blog about children's education, health, sports, food and trends. We've already introduced Anne Woodman, our Education TRACKer; Janel Bunten, our Trend TRACKer; Tyler Wright, our Food TRACKer; and Kurt Dusterberg, our Sports TRACKer. Now meet Jennifer Goodall, our Health TRACKer.

Jennifer is a mom to two little girls: 2-year-old Dylan and 4-year-old Kennedy. She and her husband are building a home in Apex. Jennifer works as a program manager for a networking company in RTP and is an active board member of le Tour de Femme, which is a charitable all-women bicycling event that takes place in Cary. She enjoys running and is hoping to get back into triathlons in 2009. Jennifer has a special interest in health issues due to the fact that her oldest daughter had quite a few health problems during the first few years of her life. Although those years were painful, she learned a lot and is hoping to share her knowledge with other parents in the Triangle area. Read Jen's debut blog below or at this link.

Wake County Public Schools' Magnet and Year-Round Application Period is Feb. 9-28

2009-02-03T22:39:00.001-05:00

If you're planning to apply to a WCPSS magnet or year-round school, the application period runs Feb. 9-28 and can only be done online. Visit www.wcpss.net during this time period to apply. Applications will NOT be accepted on paper or after Feb. 28. All applicants will receive written notification via U.S. Mail Service in the middle of March. If your application is not accepted it will remain in the applicant pool through the first 10 days as vacancies occur.

Introducing Kurt Dusterberg, our Sports TRACKer

2009-01-31T09:01:00.003-05:00

Kurt is a writer and father of two: a 9-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son. He has spent most of his career involved with sports as a writer and television sportscaster. He recently published his first book, "Journeymen: 24 Bittersweet Tales of Short Major League Sports Careers." He is eager to see if his own children develop a love for sports in the coming years. Kurt has coached his daughter's soccer team for three seasons and claims he has learned more about the kids than he taught them about soccer! Click here to see his debut Sports TRACKer blog.

Wake County Public Schools Assures Parents That Peanut Butter Recall Does Not Affect Child Nutrition Services

2009-01-29T22:25:00.000-05:00

From Wake County Public School System's web page:

WCPSS Child Nutrition Services has been assured by our Commodity Distributor and our Grocery Distributor that WCPSS has not received any King Nut Peanut Butter. To be overly cautious for our customers, the cafeterias will no longer serve peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or Little Debbie Nutty Bars until the recall is complete.

Updated Information on Peanut Butter Recall

2009-01-29T07:34:00.002-05:00

Click here for the most updated report on the peanut butter recall.

Info copied directly from the FDA's website (at above link):

January 23, 2009: A combination of epidemiological analysis and laboratory testing by state officials in Minnesota and Connecticut, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have enabled FDA to confirm that the sources of the outbreak of illnesses caused by Salmonella Typhimurium are peanut butter and peanut paste produced by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) at its Blakely, Georgia processing plant.

Peanut butter is sold by PCA in bulk containers ranging in size from five (5) to 1,700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35-pound containers to product sold by the tanker container. Neither of these products is sold directly to consumers.

However, through its investigation, FDA has determined that PCA distributed potentially contaminated product to more than 70 consignee firms, for use as an ingredient in hundreds of different products, such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream. FDA's report on its inspection of the PCA facility is available at this link: http://www.fda.gov/ora/frequent/default.htm. Companies all over the country that received product from PCA have issued voluntary recalls of their products. FDA has created a searchable database for these products, which can be found at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm, Identification of products subject to recall is continuing and this list is updated frequently.

Product recalls now include some pet food products that contain peanut paste that was made by PCA. While the risk of animals contracting salmonellosis is minimal, there is risk to humans from handling these products. It is important for people to wash their hands--and make sure children wash their hands--before and, especially, after feeding treats to pets. Further information for consumers is located in the Frequently Asked Questions section located on this web site. The pet food products are also included in the searchable data base of recalled products.

Major national brands of jarred peanut butter found in grocery stores are not affected by the PCA recall.

FDA and CDC recommendations for consumers include:

* Do not eat products that have been recalled and throw them away in a manner that prevents others from eating them.
* To determine if commercially-prepared or manufactured peanut butter/peanut paste-containing products (such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream) are subject to recall, consumers are urged first to visit FDA’s website and check the searchable database of recalled products.
* For information on products containing peanut butter from companies not reporting recalls, consumers may wish to consult the company’s website or call the toll-free number listed on most packaging. Information consumers may receive from the companies has not been verified by the FDA.
* If consumers cannot determine if their peanut butter, peanut butter/peanut paste-containing products or institutionally-served peanut butter contains PCA peanut butter/peanut paste, FDA recommends that they do not consume those products.
* Persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter are advised to consult their health care providers.

Here are products currently being recalled:

Peanut Butter Product Recalls
GRANDE GOURMET
King Nut
POCO PAC
Parnell's Pride
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride
Unbranded for further distribution

Peanut Paste Product Recalls
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride

20 Things Track 3 Families Can Do During Track-Out

2009-01-29T07:25:00.002-05:00

1. N.C. Museum of Art Presents Family Fun Saturday: Family Emblems
2. Make Valentine's Day Cards at Michael's
3. LEGOPalooza
4. Divine Consign Show
5. Marbles Year Round Camp (for track 3)
6. Circus Fit® with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Marbles Kids Museum
7. Trail Tales on the American Tobacco Trail: “Gregory’s Shadow” by Don Freeman
8. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Comes to Town
9. First United Methodist Church of Cary Children's Consignment Sale
10. Opening of Power-2-Play! – A New Gallery at Marbles Kids Museum
11. N.C. Museum of Art Presents Family Fun Saturday: Trees by Design
12. Free Bead Make-It Take-It and Michael's
13. Town of Cary Presents Daddy-Daughter Dance
14. Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy at the Durham Performing Arts Center
15. Under the Sea 3D IMAX® Film Opens at Marbles Kids Museum
16. The Museum of Life and Science Presents "LEARNING OUT OF THE BOX"
17. N.C. Museum of Art Presents Family Fun Saturday: I Love That!
18. The Knack: Science Fair Demo at Michael's
19. N.C. Museum of Art Presents Highlights of the American Collection
20. Go to a movie! Click here to see access local movie theaters.

Move Over Disney ... Harry Potter Tours Just Topped My Vacation List!

2009-01-28T12:20:00.001-05:00

I just came across a wonderful vacation resource for Harry Potter fans. Harry Potter Tours will take you and your family to majestic castles, quaint villages and other locations used in the Harry Potter movies. The tours also include visits to some of England's most historic cities, such as Gloucester and Oxford. The longest tour is 9 days and 8 nights, while mini-tours are just 3 days and pack in visits to film locations, medieval villages, a fairy tale castle and a prehistoric stone temple. You can also take a steam train ride, explore castles and enter fun family competitions! If you're looking for an unforgettable family vacation, be sure to check this out. We've included this link our our Travel TRACKS page. If you know of other fun family vacation destinations or packages, please email them to me.

Introducing Tyler Wright, our Food TRACKer

2009-01-26T15:10:00.002-05:00

Tyler Wright lives in Apex with his wife and four children, who range in age from 2 to 9 and are homeschooled. With such a large family, Tyler is always looking for a good bargain when dining out and wants to share his findings with you. He has never blogged before, but is giving it a shot for us! Read Tyler's first blog at this link, and send Tyler a blog idea here.

Introducing Another Triangle TRACKer

2009-01-24T10:01:00.007-05:00

Over the next month, Triangle TRACKS will introduce TRACKers who will blog about children's education, health, sports, food and trends. We've already introduced Anne Woodman, our Education TRACKer. Now we'd like for you to meet Janel Bunten, our Trend TRACKer. Janel is a local stay at home mom who doesn’t seem to stay at home much. She lives in Holly Springs with her husband and two kids: a second grader who wants to rule the world and a preschooler who wants to grow up to be a superhero. A couple of years ago she started to blog as a way to clear her very cluttered mommy brain. She is still clearing her mind on a daily basis at Dande lion Dayz, and her journey in writing has just begun. Janel is active in several leadership roles at her church and finds great joy in coaching other leaders. An extravert through and through, she enjoys staying connected to and volunteering in her community. Read Janel's debut blog below, or click here to see it. Learn more on our TRACKer page.

Track 4: Just 3 Days Left of Track-Out ... Here are 3 Activities!

2009-01-24T10:00:00.001-05:00

Visit the Triangle TRACKS calendar for details on all of these events.

1. Check out Monday's Carolina Hurricanes team practice at 2 p.m. at the RecZone. It's free! View the practice schedule here.
2. Marbles Museum and IMAX are open for the Teacher Work Day Jan. 26.
3. Go to a movie! “Hotel for Dogs” opened Jan. 16, and "The Tale of Despereaux" and "Marley and Me" are currently in theaters. (Please see reader comments on "Marley and Me" at this link before you take the kids to this movie.) IMAX is currently showing a great selection of movies, and Blue Ridge Cinemas is showing "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and "The Dark Knight."

Trailblazers Math Will Blaze a Trail OUT of Wake County Public Schools Starting Next School Year

2009-01-20T15:39:00.002-05:00

The News & Observer reports that starting next school year, Wake County Public Schools will no longer use the Trailblazers Math program, a controversial math program many parents AND teachers disliked. Read more here.

Introducing Triangle TRACKers

2009-01-16T12:15:00.005-05:00

Over the next month, Triangle TRACKS will introduce TRACKers who will blog about education, health, sports, food and trends. To kick things off, we'd like to introduce Anne Woodman, our Education TRACKer. Anne is a freelance writer and mother of two elementary schoolers. She lives and writes in Morrisville, and has a background in education and healthcare public relations. In addition to writing for local publications The Cary News and magazines Wake Living and Fifteen 501, she works on short stories and a novel-long-in-progress. You can find more information about her writing at www.agwoodman.com. View Anne's debut education blog by at this link.

Peanut Corporation of America Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Peanut Butter

2009-01-16T12:14:00.002-05:00

From the FDA:

Contact:
Peanut Corporation of America
1-877-564-7080

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Lynchburg, Va. (January 13, 2009) – Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), a peanut processing company and maker of peanut butter for bulk distribution to institutions, food service industries, and private label food companies, today announced a voluntary recall of peanut butter produced in its Blakely, Georgia processing facility because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

All product affected was produced on or after July 1, 2008, specific to the lot numbers and descriptions listed below.

The peanut butter being recalled is sold by PCA in bulk packaging to distributors for institutional and food service industry use. It is also sold under the brand name Parnell’s Pride to those same industries. Additionally, it is sold by the King Nut Company under the label King Nut. PCA customers who received the recalled product are being notified by telephone and in writing.

None of the peanut butter being recalled is sold directly to consumers through retail stores.

“We deeply regret that this has happened,” said Stewart Parnell, owner and president of PCA. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are voluntarily withdrawing this product and contacting our customers. We are taking these actions with the safety of our consumers as our first priority.”

PCA initiated this recall after an open container of King Nut brand peanut butter in a long-term care facility in Minnesota was found to contain a strain of salmonella. King Nut brand peanut butter is produced by PCA.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota laboratory analyses on the contamination in the already-opened container of peanut butter have the same genetic fingerprint as the cases in the national outbreak that has sickened almost 400 people in 42 states.

The voluntary recall of 21 lots of its peanut butter, in containers ranging from five to 50 pounds, is being taken immediately. PCA is notifying its institutional customers and has set up a toll-free hotline number 1-877-564-7080 to answer questions.

PCA is continuing to work closely and cooperating with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state officials as part of this ongoing investigation.

According to a CDC update issued on their website today (January 13, 2009), preliminary analysis of an epidemiologic study conducted by CDC and public health officials has suggested peanut butter as a likely source. The CDC and other public health officials are continuing to conduct surveillance for cases of infection with the outbreak strains, and to gather and analyze data or exposures that may be associated with illness. To date, no association has been found with common brand names of peanut butter sold in grocery stores.

Customers are asked to take all peanut butter manufactured with the lot numbers listed below out of distribution immediately. Customers can call the following toll-free 24-hour number 1-877-564-7080 for further instructions on what to do with the product or visit the company website at www.peanutcorp.com for additional information.

Eating food contaminated with Salmonella can result in abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and fever. Most people infected with Salmonella develop the symptoms 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses. For more information on the salmonella bacteria, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Website at http://www.cdc.gov.

Click here to see the lot numbers and descriptions of items being recalled.

Kidzu Museum in Chapel Hill Open for FREE every Sunday for Through Sept. 2009

2009-01-14T15:55:00.001-05:00

From the Kidzu News Page:

Sponsored by Durham Regional Hospital and New Caregiver Resource Program funded by the Orange County Partnership for Young Children.

Beginning on Sunday, Sept. 21, Kidzu will be open for FREE every Sunday for the next year. Durham Regional Hospital is generously underwriting admission fees on Sundays.

And, beginning in October, free Sundays will get even better with free child development and child health resources for families at Kidzu. With generous funding from the Orange County Partnership for Young Children, Kidzu will offer free dental health screenings, guidance on raising healthy children, information on finding and affording quality childcare and much more. Program partners will include Durham Regional Hospital, the Orange County Health Department Dental Health Services Division, Child Care Services Association, the Chapel Hill Public Library, and many more.

This grant will also allow Kidzu to offer free field trips to local children from low-income backgrounds. And, it provides funding to hire an Outreach Coordinator to ensure that children in need throughout Orange County have access to Kidzu's playful learning experiences.

Thanks to our generous sponsors and partners, Kidzu will have even more to offer you, your family and our entire community.

13 Things Track 4 Families Can Do Before Heading Back to School July 28

2009-01-14T09:18:00.003-05:00

Visit the Triangle TRACKS calendar for details on all of these events.

1. "The Greatest Places" IMAX® Film Opens, Jan. 6.

2. Check out an open Carolina Hurricanes practice. They're free! View the practice schedule here.

3. Marbles Kids Museum Can Opener, Jan. 17

4. N.C. Museum of Art Presents Family Fun Saturday: Envelope Book, Jan. 17.

5. Check out a track-out camp, like the one at Dreamsports Center in Apex.

6. N.C. Museum of Art Presents Family Fun Saturday: Clay-Relief Workshop, Jan. 24.

7. N.C. Symphony's Young People's Series: "Bugs Bunny on Broadway," Jan. 24 and 25.

8. N.C. Museum of Art presents "Family Fun Saturday: Clay-Relief Workshop"" Jan. 24.

9. Marbles Museum and IMAX Open – Teacher Work Day, Jan. 26.

10. Go to a movie! “Hotel for Dogs” opens Jan. 16, and "The Tale of Despereaux" and "Marley and Me" are currently in theaters. (Please see reader comments on "Marley and Me" at this link before you take the kids to this movie.) IMAX is currently showing a great selection of movies, and Blue Ridge Cinemas is showing "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and "The Dark Knight."

11. Check out Kidzu Musuem's Carolina Creations Workshop: Sock Snow Friends, Jan. 22.

12. Shop the Kids Exchange Sale at the N.C. State Fairgrounds Jan. 23.

13. Stop by the grand opening of BounceU in Apex Jan. 24.

The Circus: Tons of Fun--or Controversy?

2009-01-14T09:16:00.000-05:00

Going to the circus is viewed as a fun family event, but reports of cruelty to animals have damaged ticket sales and viewpoints toward this time-honored tradition. I did a Google search and found countless reports and comments on Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Baily's alleged animal cruelty violations, and just wonder what our Triangle TRACKS visitors think? Here is a link to some of the reports and blog posts about this, as well as a link to our calendar posting of the event (in case you want to order tickets) and a link to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey website. Let us know what you think about this controversial topic.

Whew! Consignment Stores Can Still Sell, as Long as They Meet Lead Limit Requirements

2009-01-14T09:15:00.001-05:00

We already know new requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) take effect Feb. 10. Under this new law, children’s products with more than 600 ppm total lead cannot lawfully be sold in the United States on or after Feb. 10, even if they were manufactured before that date. On Aug. 14, the restrictions tighten as the total lead limit drops to 300 ppm.

But the really good news is this new law will NOT shut consignment shops down, since resellers will NOT be required to test children’s products for lead before they are sold. However, those who do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is therefore advising that resellers avoid accepting products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have proof that those products have less than the new limit. Read more at this link.

Will We Lose Children's Consignment Stores Feb. 10?

2009-01-06T10:25:00.003-05:00

The Consumer Product Safety Commission may have just put an end to children's consignment sales. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) passed in August changed the lead standard for all children's products, from clothes to toys. The purpose of this new law, which takes effect Feb. 10, is for every children's product to be made lead-free. This means anything made prior to the new law will have to be removed from store shelves, which heavily affects consignment stores. Read more at this link, and let us know what you think.

Pure Expressions Photography in Apex Wants to Photograph the Cutest Kids in the Triangle for the National Charity Model Search

2009-01-04T20:40:00.000-05:00

Pure Expressions Photography is participating in the National Charity Model Search to select “America’s Cutest Kid” and to raise funds for their favorite charity, "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep."

Portrait subjects must be 18 months to 14 years old to participate in the contest. Since this search is for charity, Pure Expressions Photography has a very special entrance fee and will be using fundraiser pricing for any additional purchase customers choose to make. Learn more at this link!

Duke Talent Identification Program Enrollment Open to Qualifying 4th and 5th Graders

2009-01-03T20:40:00.001-05:00

The Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP) enables qualifying 4th and 5th graders to take the 8th grade Explore Test in 5th and/or 6th grade, and the SATs or ACTs in 7th grade. Currently, enrollment is open to 4th and 5th graders through March 20 who have scored at least a 95 on one of the accepted nationally standardized tests (in Wake County this would be the CogAT and Iowa Test of Basic Skills). Duke TIP accepts composite scores or subtest scores, and I believe scores of 95 or higher on the End-of-Grade (EOGs). Here is the link to the 4th and 5th grade Duke TIP enrollment page: http://www.tip.duke.edu/talent_searches/grades_4-5/

These students also qualify to enroll in the 7th grade Duke TIP, which allows you the option of exposing your child to the SATs or ACTs in 7th grade. Enrollment for this year has ended, but will resume in September for students who will be in 7th grade next year. The SATs or ACTs are typically taken in December and January of their 7th grade year. Here is the link to the 7th grade Duke TIP enrollment page:
http://www.tip.duke.edu/talent_searches/grade_7/

The fees for both TIPs are well worth every penny, since WCPSS provides no other nationally standardized test scores to compare your child to during elementary school other than the CogATs and ITBS in 3rd grade. Remember, EOGs measure progress based only on state standards. The Explore test scores and explanations actually helped me understand my son's academic progress better than the EOGs did. (I recommend the Explore Test in 5th grade as opposed to 6th grade so your child has a year off before he/she has to take the SATs in 7th grade.) Hope this info helps.

To parents who have experience with Duke TIP, please feel free to post your comments about this here.

Kids Trends Weekly Magazine Posts "Our Favorites of 2008" List

2009-01-02T22:43:00.002-05:00

From Tinseltown dresses to the "I Am My Own Hero Cape & Mask," get the latest on kids trends from Kids Trends Weekly Magazine's "Our Favorites of 2008" list. (My personal favorite is the crocheted vintage style hat with pink ribbon rose from Petite Fleur Designs.)

14 Things TRACK 4 Families Can do Jan. 5-28

2009-01-02T22:41:00.003-05:00

Visit the Triangle TRACKS calendar for details on all of these events.

1. "The Greatest Places" IMAX® Film Opens, Jan. 6.

2. Check out "Birdapalooza" with Birdman Dave at the Museum of Life and Science, Jan. 10.

3. "Canstruction 2009 – Build Out Day" at Marbles Kids Museum, Jan. 10.

4. N.C. Museum of Art Presents Children’s Performance: Celebrating African Dance, Music, and Song, Jan. 10.

5. Participate in Hoop Shoot at Bond Park Community Center in Cary, Jan. 10, 1-4 p.m.

6. Marbles Kids Museum Year Round Camp (for track 4), Jan. 12-16.

7. Rags to Riches Theatre for Young Adults Presents "Handsel and Gretel," Jan. 14 at 10 a.m.

8. Marbles Kids Museum Can Opener, Jan. 17

9. N.C. Museum of Art Presents Family Fun Saturday: Envelope Book, Jan. 17.

10. N.C. Museum of Art Presents Family Fun Saturday: Clay-Relief Workshop, Jan. 24.

11. N.C. Symphony's Young People's Series: "Bugs Bunny on Broadway," Jan. 24.

12. Marbles Museum and IMAX Open – Teacher Work Day, Jan. 26.

13. Go to a movie! “Hotel for Dogs” opens Jan. 16, and "The Tale of Despereaux" and "Marley and Me" are currently in theaters. (Please see reader comments on "Marley and Me" at this link before you take the kids to this movie.) IMAX is currently showing a great selection of movies, and Blue Ridge Cinemas is showing "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and "The Dark Knight."

14. Go for a hike, hit a playground or take a bicycle ride. North Carolina's mild winters enable plenty of outdoor activity this time of year! Check out Outdoor TRACKS for ideas.

27 Things Track 1 Can Do During the Next 2 Weeks

2008-12-12T07:35:00.002-05:00

Visit our calendar for details on all of these events.

There are about 17 holiday events posted on our calendar at this link.

1. Go to the movies! Visit Movie TRACKS for more information.
Now showing:
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" Movie Released at IMAX® and Theaters Everywhere, Dec. 12
"Bolt" Movie Released Nov. 26
"Madagascar: Return 2 Africa." Released Nov. 7.
"The Tale of Despereaux" Movie Releases Dec. 19
"Marley and Me" Movie Releases Dec. 25

The following $1.50 movies are currently showing at Blue Ridge Cinemas in Raleigh:
"The Dark Knight"
"Journey to the Center of the Earth"
"WALL-E"
"Igor"

2. Drawing for Kids at Ackland Museum of Art in Chapel Hill, Dec. 13.

3. Family Fun Saturday: Making Artist Trading Cards at N.C. Museum of Art, Dec. 13

4. 'GERBO's GRAVITY RACER WORKSHOPS With Artist/Sculptor Steve Gerberich', Dec. 13

5. Year Round Camp D-Three (Track 1) at Marbles Kids Museum, Dec. 15-19

6. Mommy & Me Fitness Fun at Jump!Zone, Dec. 18

7. Carolina Ballet Presents "Nutcracker", Dec. 19-28

8. Storytime Science at Morehead Planetarium Dec. 20

9. Music With Mom at Booda Beans in Apex: Featuring Dawn Graff, Dec. 23 and 30

10. Marbles Kids Museum's Camp Fun Days for K-5, Dec. 29-30

Wake County Kindergarten Eligibility Date Changes for the 2009-10 School Year

2008-12-12T07:02:00.001-05:00

This is probably old news to you by now, but just in case you haven't heard, here's the information (taken from the WCPSS website):

The State of North Carolina has made changes to the eligibility dates for children entering kindergarten. Beginning with the 2009-10 school year, students attending kindergarten must be 5 years of age on or before August 31, 2009.

This is a change to the current Oct. 16 cut-off date. Gov. Mike Easley signed House Bill 150 last year, which modified G.S. 115C-364 to become effective with the 2009-10 school year.

Information about kindergarten registration is available on this Web site: http://www.wcpss.net/newcomer/getting-started/registration/kindergarten.html.

Provisions are available for Kindergarten Early Entry for academically gifted students who are 4 years old by April 16 and demonstrate an extraordinary level of academic ability and maturity. Please be aware the guidelines for Kindergarten Early Entry are very stringent: http://www.wcpss.net/isd/elementary/lang_arts/kindergarten/.

Discovery Toys "Give Back Hostess" Program Aims to Donate $350,000 in Learning Products

2008-12-05T21:43:00.003-05:00

(Raleigh, NC), December 2, 2008 -
When the 30-year-old direct-selling company heard that donations to Toys for Tots were down this year, and that the charity organization would be hard-pressed to deliver gifts to thousands of needy families on their rosters, Discovery Toys quickly mobilized to help fill this shortfall by leveraging the efforts of the thousands of individuals across the country who host Discovery Toys parties in their homes and workplaces.

Shoppers looking for quality educational toys, books, and games for the children in their lives can contribute to families in need by making a purchase at a Discovery Toys party. Explains Cindy Franco, Discovery Toys Vice President of Sales, “When someone hosts a Discovery Toys party, she earns free products based on the level of sales from that party. A party generating $550 in total sales, for example, earns the hostess $100 in free products. Discovery Toys will match this earned free product value and make an equal donation to Toys for Tots.”

The matching donation program runs through December 12. The toy company hopes to contribute upwards of $350,000 in new toys to help bring some joy to families who find themselves in need during these difficult economic times. The program affords individuals the opportunity to assist these children without having to trade off dollars spent on holiday gifts. The more someone spends, the higher the contribution. Shares Rich Newton, Discovery Toys President, “With our distressed economy, so many families have taken a hit financially. Many are eager to help, especially children, but their resources are limited. Our Give Back Hostess program allows customers to contribute to our Toys for Tots donation without having to sacrifice gift purchases for their own loved ones.”

To learn more about hosting a Discovery Toys fundraiser or party, contact Andria Lake Independent Discovery Toys Consultant in the Raleigh area at 919-612-4782 or visit www.discoverytoyslink.com/andria
# # #

Help a Local Paralyzed 6-Year-Old Get an Adaptive Bike

2008-12-05T21:40:00.001-05:00

Dream-2-Reality is trying to help grant a holiday wish from a paralyzed 6-year-old boy who would like to have an adaptive bike. These are specialized bicycles for people with limited mobility.For a boy with his special needs, this one present would make a world of difference to him. These are quite expensive, so if lots of people donate even $1 or $2 dollars, we can make this child's dream come true and help him feel more like a normal child.

Please help us make this extra special dream a reality.

Make checks payable to:
Dream-2-Reality, Inc.

Mail to
Dream-2-Reality
PO Box 1996
Apex, NC, 27502

Thank you and Happy Holidays to All,

Rod Graff
President, Dream-2-Reality

11 Things Track 2 Can Do Through Dec. 5

2008-11-30T18:33:00.001-05:00

Visit the Triangle TRACKS Calendar to get the details on all of these events.

1. Visit the Museum of Life and Science in Durham and get your Santa Train tickets, which go on sale Nov. 12.

2. CHECK OUT MARBLES NEW EXHIBIT, "WORLDTREK"
Marbles Kids Museum
Exhibit opened Oct. 8. Guests are transported to several exciting locales around the world to engage in hands-on exploration of commerce, culture, arts, music and more.

3. GO TO THE MOVIES
"High School Musical 3: Senior Year." Released Oct. 24
"Madagascar: Return 2 Africa." Released Nov. 7.
"Bolt" Movie Releases Nov. 26
You can also see "Madagascar: Return 2 Africa" at the IMAX Theater and Marbles Kids Museum Nov. 7-Dec. 11.
**Check out "Kung Fu Panda," "Star Wars: the Clone Wars," "Wall-E" and "The Longshots" for $1.50 at Blue Ridge Theater in Raleigh.

4. Gerberich's Gadgetry: Art That Moves and Holiday Springs and Sprockets, began Nov. 15 at the Museum of Life and Science.

5. A NIGHT AMONG THE WOLVES WITH HELEN THAYER, Museum of Life and Science; Dec. 1, 7 to 9 p.m.

6. Adventures of Helen Thayer, Marbles Kids Museum. Dec. 2, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

7. Time for Tots: Let It Snow! N.C. Museum of History, 10-10:45 a.m.

8. 31st ANNUAL SANTA TRAIN begins running, Museum of Life and Science; Dec. 3

9. TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH 3rd ANNUAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST, Dec. 5

10. An Evening With Elves, Marbles Kids Museum. Dec. 5, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

11. Magic Tree House Track Out Camp, Dec. 1-5

Thanksgiving Week Activities for the Kids!

2008-11-23T09:19:00.003-05:00

15 Things Track 2 Families Can do Through Dec. 5

2008-11-23T09:17:00.000-05:00

Visit the Triangle TRACKS Calendar to get the details on all of these events.

1. Visit the Museum of Life and Science in Durham and get your Santa Train tickets, which go on sale Nov. 12.

2. CHECK OUT MARBLES NEW EXHIBIT, "WORLDTREK"
Marbles Kids Museum
Exhibit opened Oct. 8. Guests are transported to several exciting locales around the world to engage in hands-on exploration of commerce, culture, arts, music and more.

3. GO TO THE MOVIES
"High School Musical 3: Senior Year." Released Oct. 24
"Madagascar: Return 2 Africa." Released Nov. 7.
"Bolt" Movie Releases Nov. 26
You can also see "Madagascar: Return 2 Africa" at the IMAX Theater and Marbles Kids Museum Nov. 7-Dec. 11.
**Check out "Kung Fu Panda," "Star Wars: the Clone Wars," "Wall-E" and "The Longshots" for $1.50 at Blue Ridge Theater in Raleigh.

4. Gerberich's Gadgetry: Art That Moves and Holiday Springs and Sprockets, began Nov. 15 at the Museum of Life and Science.

5. "Music with Mom” at Booda Beans in Apex, Nov. 25, 10 to 10:30 a.m.

6. THE CAROLINA BALLET PRESENTS "MESSIAH", Nov. 26-30

7. COMMUNITY DAY AT ACKLAND MUSEUM OF ART, Nov. 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

8. CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP: ANNUAL THANKSGIVING MAKE AND TAKE, N.C. Museum of Art: Nov. 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

9. A NIGHT AMONG THE WOLVES WITH HELEN THAYER, Museum of Life and Science; Dec. 1, 7 to 9 p.m.

10. Adventures of Helen Thayer, Marbles Kids Museum. Dec. 2, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

11. Time for Tots: Let It Snow! N.C. Museum of History, 10-10:45 a.m.

12. 31st ANNUAL SANTA TRAIN begins running, Museum of Life and Science; Dec. 3

13. TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH 3rd ANNUAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST, Dec. 5

14. An Evening With Elves, Marbles Kids Museum. Dec. 5, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

15. NEW HOPE VALLEY RAILWAY HOLIDAY TRAINS. Begins Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

New Triangle Nonprofit, ‘Dream-2-Reality,’ Reinvents the Giving Tree Program

2008-11-18T13:05:00.000-05:00

Cary, NC (Nov. 18, 2008) A new Triangle-based nonprofit is reinventing the former Giving Tree organization, which in years past provided holiday presents to at-risk children throughout the region. Dream-2-Reality (D2R) will pick up where Giving Tree left off by collecting “Dream Tree” holiday presents for at-risk children in the Triangle region and beyond. The organization also plans to eventually provide additional assistance to these children throughout the year.

“We want to give the dreams of these individuals a chance to become reality, thus came our name, Dream-2-Reality,” says D2R President Rod Graff. “Currently, we are going to focus solely on the Giving Tree effort, but when we get the infrastructure and support, we would like to expand our efforts.”

“I've been doing this for a decade and a season doesn't pass where I hear real life stories from these children that tug at your heart,” states D2R Vice President Laurie Mann. “It matters. It does make a difference when there is a real something brought to a child that the child believed was just a dream.”

Graff and Mann are employed by John Deere, a local company that supported the former Giving Tree project. They will direct the new non-profit and are currently accepting holiday gift sponsors for at-risk children referred by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Graff and Mann welcomed the opportunity to reinvent the Giving Tree program when they learned it had never formalized into a non-profit corporation and consequently disbanded. They accepted the request to help keep the effort going and keep the holidays alive for the hundreds of kids it helped annually in the Triangle area. The first discussions were focused on the holiday wish lists of the children, but organizers soon realized they have the opportunity to keep this effort going all year through. “Need doesn’t end when the holidays are over,” Mann says.

To learn more about D2R, visit www.dream-2-reality.com. Companies, organizations and groups interested in supporting the D2R holiday gift drive by collecting presents for at-risk children, can contact the organization via the website.

Triangle TRACKS Membership Drive Winners to be Announced Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

2008-11-17T06:55:00.002-05:00

We'll email the winners and announce them on our home page Wednesday afternoon. Click here to see a description of the prizes they will win. Thanks to everyone who participated!

'Gerberich's Gadgetry: Art That Moves and Holiday Springs and Sprockets' Kicks Runs Through Jan. 5

2008-11-14T10:32:00.001-05:00

The Museum of Life and Science welcomes the return of one of its most popular exhibits. Gerberich's Gadgetry: Art That Moves and Holiday Springs and Sprockets opens Nov. 15 and runs through Jan. 5. Artist Steve Gerberich presents an all new artful exhibit of holiday-themed mechanical sculptures made from old-fashioned kitchen appliances, machine parts and pop culture collectibles cleverly transformed into motorized reindeer, candy cane making machines, mobile holiday cookie bakers, egg nog makers, Santa, his reindeers and more. Click on the museum's ad on our homepage or on this link to learn more about this event and to download a "buy-one-get-one-free" ticket admission coupon.

Image provided by the Museum of Life and Science.

Santa Comes to Town

2008-11-14T10:30:00.003-05:00

Santa arrived at several local malls this weekend and will arrive at others soon. Here's a list of where you can find him this holiday season!

RALEIGH
Crabtree Valley Mall
Triangle Town Center
North Hills
Cameron Village
Brier Creek Commons

CARY
Cary Towne Center
Crossroads Plaza

DURHAM
The Streets at Southpoint
Northgate Mall
Brightleaf Square

CHAPEL HILL
University Mall

“What I Love About Apex” Art Contest Extended Until Jan. 15

2008-11-13T17:08:00.005-05:00

Enter the “What I Love About Apex” Youth Art Contest!

Contest Categories:
Paint*
Pencil*
Photography*
*Must be < 16x20 (paper or canvas w/ frame or hard backing)
Video - 3 minutes max

Works must be original and from entrants in
Age Categories:
6 and under
7-12
13-18

Entries must be delivered to 104-B N. Salem St. by 5pm Jan. 10. Voting ends at 5pm Thursday Jan. 15!

View/Vote on Entries In person: Downtown Apex at 104-B N. Salem St. or Online at www.ApexGoodLiving.com/Artcontest

People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice Awards and Auction date and location TBA.

Original Art entries may be displayed in various locations in downtown Apex. They will then be donated to the Apex Arts Council to be sold at auction with proceeds toward starting a new Apex Youth Theater Group. Digital copies will also be displayed online.

Click here to view the contest flier.

Click here to download the registration form.
If you aren't able to access the registration form, you can copy and past the information below and fill it out.

ENTRY FORM

Entrant’s Name:______________________________________ Age:___________
Parent’s Name:_________________________________________________
Medium/Category: (circle one) Pencil Paint Photography Video
“Name of Entry”:_________________________________
Date Submitted:_________________
I (parent)_____________________________________________ understand that all original art work will be displayed in downtown Apex businesses during the contest period and will then be donated to the Apex Arts Council to be sold at auction at Halle Cultural Art Center)with proceeds to benefit the “Apex Youth Theater”. It is also understood and agreed that digital copies can/will be displayed online by contest sponsors and beneficiaries, with proper credit given.

Parent Signature:______________________________________________ Date:________
For contest details and to view entries online visit: www.apexgoodliving.com/artcontest
Sponsored By:
Heather O Real Estate Together with the Town of Apex