Category: Day to day

For blogs on the day to day activities

CNN Heroes – 2010

CNN nominates every year top heroes who have made a difference in the society. These are normal people who care for the community around us. You can nominate before August and the voting closes by November 18th. The winner is shown on Thanksgiving night.


This year the top ten heroes are:

  1. Narayanan Krishnan
  2. Aki Ra
  3. Harmon Parker
  4. Evans Wadongo
  5. Dan Wallrath
  6. Anuradha Koirala
  7. Linda Fondren
  8. Susan Burton
  9. Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow
  10. Guadalupe Arizpe De La Vega

I think that Narayanan Krishnan and Anuradha Koirala do a great job in protecting the powerless. My vote is for Narayanan Krishnan as he devoted his life for feeding the hungry people in his community and within his own capacity.

You can select and vote the most inspiring accompishment at CNN.

Freeze Tonight

Bring in the plants you want to keep during the winter. It is going to be freezing tonight. The temperatures are going to be between twenty to twenty five and your plants may die.


Due to the bad weather after so many years and accompslishing storms nation wide, the outdoor plants tend to lose their lives. So, bring in the plants tonight to save them. 🙂

Moline Public Library Programs

October Events


 

Monday, October 25 – 7:00 PM.  Spanish language edition of Fahrenheit 451 book discussion facilitated by Luz Upegui and Adult Services librarian, Bob Conklin. Register for this event.

Monday, October 25 – 7:00 PM.  Pajama Story Time.  Wear your p.j.’s and bring your favorite stuffed animal to hear new stories. Bring the family and enjoy the fun! This free program does not require registration.

Tuesday, October 26 – 6:30 PM.  Ghosts and Goblins.  You and your ghoul friends are invited to listen to fun and scary stories and activities. Come in costume for a night of thrills and chills at the library. This free program is for children ages 4 and up. Registration is required by calling 309-524-2480 or register online.   

Tuesday, October 26 – 7:00 PM.  Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion facilitated by Adult Services librarian, Jennifer Christiansen.  Register for this event.

Wednesday, October 27 – 6:30 PM.  Big Read Dystopian Film series facilitated by Erskine Carter, Black Hawk College. Fahrenheit 451 will be shown. Register for this event.

Thursday, October 28 – 10:00 AM.  Preschool Story Time.  Stories, finger plays and hands-on activities for children ages 3-5 not yet in kindergarten. Registration is required for this free program by calling 309-524-2480. Register for this event.  
 

 
November Events  
       
 
Tuesday, November 2 – 6:30 PM.  Book Bunch Club.  Book club with activities for children ages 7-9. Children receive book on the first night. Registration is required. Program made possible with a grant by the Bi-State Literacy Council. Register for this event.Tuesday, November 2 – 7:00 PM.  Pageturners Book Discussion Group. Moline Public Library’s Pageturners Book Discussion Group will meet on Tuesday, November 2nd to discuss Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. Discussion begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Gold Meeting Room. Copies of the book will be available to borrow for those who register. To sign up, visit the Moline Public Library or call 524-2470.

Wednesday, November 3 – 6:30 PM.  Music, Books and Movement.  Music, Books and Movement is a fun program with instruments for children ages 5 and older. registration is required. Register for this event.

Thursday, November 4 – 10:00 AM.  Preschool Story Time.  Stories, finger plays and hands-on activities for children ages 3-5 not yet in kindergarten. Registration is required for this free program by calling 309-524-2480. Register for this event.

Thursday, November 4 – 3:30 PM.  Teen Advisory Group. Teens in grades 6 through 12 are invited to join the Teen Advisory Group of the Moline Public Library. Join us on the first Thursday of each month at 3:30 in the Platinum Room to help plan teen events, recommend books, and have fun! For more information call 309-524-2440.

Saturday, November 6 – 2:30 PM.  Concert by Quad City Arts Visiting Artist Series.  Multi-instrumentalist, Todd Green will perform in the library’s meeting rooms.  Visit Todd Green’s website for his biography, music samples, and details on the instruments he plays – http://www.toddgreen.com/.

Monday, November 8 – 7:00 PM.  Teen Writers Group.  If you are a teen who loves to write, this is the group for you. Join us on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Platinum Room of the Moline Public Library. This is a great opportunity to learn new skills, get feedback, and share your writing. This event is free. For more information call 309-524-2440.

Tuesday, November 9 – 6:30 PM.  Book Bunch Club.  Book club with activities for children ages 7-9. Children receive book on the first night. Registration is required. Program made possible with a grant by the Bi-State Literacy Council. Register for this event.

Tuesday, November 16 – 6:30 PM.  Book Bunch Club.  Book club with activities for children ages 7-9. Children receive book on the first night. Registration is required. Program made possible with a grant by the Bi-State Literacy Council. Register for this event.

Wednesday, November 17 – 6:30 PM.  Harry Costume Potter Party. The Moline Public Library is celebrating the release of the seventh Harry Potter movie with a Harry Potter Costume Party. Join us in your favorite Harry Potter costume or just dress like a muggle. Well have food, games, activities, and prizes. This event is free and open to all ages, but registration is required. Call 309-524-2470 or 309-524-2480 to register. For more information call 309-524-2440.  Register for this event.

Thursday, November 18 – 10:00 AM.  Preschool Story Time.  Stories, finger plays and hands-on activities for children ages 3-5 not yet in kindergarten. Registration is required for this free program by calling 309-524-2480. Register for this event.

Thursday, November 18 – 6:30 PM.  Building with Books Lego Club.  Buildwith Lego blocks while listening to stories. Blocks are supplied. Ages 6-12. Registration is required. Register for this event.

Saturday, November 20 – 3:00 PM.  Zombie Survival Club.  The Zombie Survival Club of the Moline Public Library will meet and watch the first zombie movie ever filmed, enjoy snacks, and prepare for the apocalypse. For more information call 309-524-2440.

Monday, November 22 – 7:00 PM.  Pajama Story Time.  wear your p.j.’s and bring your favorite stuffed animal to hear new stories. The whole family is welcome to come and enjoy the fun!

 Tuesday, November 23 – 6:30 PM.  Book Bunch Club.  Book club with activities for children ages 7-9. Children receive book on the first night. Registration is required. Program made possible with a grant by the Bi-State Literacy Council. Register for this event.

Saturday, November 27  – Take and Make Craft. Looking for something to do? Drop in at the library any time during open hours to make a craft! No registration is required. All ages.

Monday, November 29 – 9:30 or 10:45 AM.  Wee Wiggler Toddler Time.  Stories, songs, finger plays and hands-on activities. Registration is required. Program for children 18-36 months with an adult. Register for this event.

 

Be sure to visit our calendar of events for program information for upcoming months.Adult Library Tours Contact:               Children’s Department Tours:

Lisa Powell Williams                            Christina Conklin
309-524-2473                                   309-524-2485
lwilliams@molinelibrary.org                   cconklin@molinelibrary.org

 

Halloween – Tips and Best Practices

With Halloween fast approaching children and adults are already preparing for the occasion with variety costumes and parades. Local schools and businesses arrange Halloween parties to pep up the children and adults in the community. It is fun watching children in pretty costumes. However, here are some safe practices during Halloween.

Costumes

The costume is a great deal about the Halloween. So, it is better to select and arrange for a costume well in advance. All the local stores are selling costumes but Walmart has the ones in affordable ranges. Halloween Express store has some of the scary ones and Kmart has the common ones.


Parades

Different businesses and cities have Halloween parades in different dates. So, find the dates nearest to you and make sure you visit them to have more fun before the Halloween on October 31st. Different communities have Halloween parties too and you can participate in them. Some of the Haunted houses and forest adventures are thrilling and must be watched for overcoming the fear. 🙂

Trick or Treat

The following Trick or Treat rules must be emphasized with children for their own safety:

  • Never go alone
  • Never accept goodies from strangers
  • Never eat the candies right away
  • Take parents permission before eating anything outside
  • Walk in well inhabited and well lighted areas
  • Check with parents before changing the plans
  • Report to the nearest adult in case of any suspicion
  • Take care of self and friends
  • Never imitate or mimic others
  • Stay away from bullies

Finally, enjoy your Halloween while getting scared. 🙂

Disney Magic Show – iWireless Center

The Disney’s magic show at the iwireless center was a hit among the children but the adults did not like it much though. May be the show is good for toddlers as even the seven year olds can guess what is happening behind the magic. The show was not as good as the other ones of the Disney’s such as last year’s Disney on Ice. 🙂

Disney’s Magic Show at the iWireless center last friday started at 6.30 pm. The commentators participated in the magic show and were good. The characters Mickey, Minnie, Donald duck, Goofy, Aladdin, Snow white, Jasmine, Cindrella and other team members worked very hard to make the show a success. The commitment of the staff in entertaining the audience was commendable. The team coordinated well and performed the tricks.


The magic tricks included locked rings, vanishing things, flying objects, changing objects among others. The best one I thought was when the performers put two girls in separate boxes. Then, swapped them in the boxes, cut them in to half and then even the dresses of the girls swapped too!

They let two children from the audience participate in the magic show and it was engaging.  Occasionally, the audience had to shout  ‘Abracadabra’  to let the magic work. The Disney characters were fun to watch. 🙂

The iWireless center offers group discounts for a group of 20 or more. This time due to security concerns none of the food items from outside were allowed inside including water! The store had a collection of Disney’s characters and accessories. Some of the children took pictures with the Disney’s characters after the show. Overall, the show was money consuming along with a bit of entertainment. 🙂

Movie Review – Brindavanam

Brindavanam is a over hyped movie with songs and fights merged in to a senseless story and is a pure waste of time and money. 🙂 The star cast is capable enough but I thought they are wasted in this movie.

Brindavanam is a story about two college girls. One of the girls lands in to a trouble of early marriage. So, her friend lets her boy friend to go as her friend’s lover. The story is all about hoe the hero saves the family woes of the heroine. Meanwhile, he falls in love with the second heroine as well as continues the friendship with the first one.


Totally the story is baseless and is weaved with unnecessary emotions, dances and fights along with needless comedy. The movie is a total waste of money and time of the makers as well as the viewers. It is one of the worst movies I watched in the recent past. 🙂

Movie Review – Robot

Superstar Rajinikanth starring ‘Robot’ met its expectations with winning combination of director Shankar, beautiful Aishwarya Rai and melodiful A.R.Rahman. The movie is a pure entertainer along with stunning graphics and cute Chitti, the Robot.

Rajinikanth plays a scientist who invents a super robot which can perform several mechanical tasks along with dancing and fighting. His senior, played by Danny Dengzonpa, becomes jealous of him and wants to steal the technology to use it for destructive purposes.


The Robot, called Chitti, also played by Rajinikanth, performs super tasks which are sometimes funny and some times lead to disasters in the story. To overcome the shortcomings of a mechanical robot, the scientist induces feelings in to the robot. The senior scientist takes advantage of the disasters caused by Chitti and tries to manipulate the robot. The Robot, meanwhile, after being induced feelings like human beings, falls in love with Aiswarya Rai, who is the girlfriend of Rajinikanth. Finally, the story is all about how the original scientist overpowers Chitti robot and saves the people.

Overall, the songs and super graphics were commendable. The action of Rajinikanth in both scientist role and as the robot are superb. Director Shankar has a social message for the future generations to develop sophisticated machines but not to entirely depend on them for survival. The movie is a must watch for all the fun loving and graphic loving viewers. 🙂

Cannot stop shopping? Buy used..

Recent studies show that in the past year, new product sales have increased by 2 per cent. Whereas used product sales increased by 35 per cent. Despite the recession, people cannot stop holiday shopping. So, it is better to buy used products instead of shedding money on brand new ones when you can get away with the used ones.

Used Products

Garage sales, yard sales, flea market, Craigslist, Goodwill store, friends and family are some of the sources for buying used products. Or, you can buy used products online at eBay, Amazon, Meritline or similar websites. Some products such as jewelery, work-out equipment, musical instruments, seasonal clothing, and musical CDs and games are better to buy used. Some of these products may not lose their value over time and some may require prior testing before we buy.


Most people buy bigger items such as furniture, cars, kitchen accessories, laundry equipment from used dealers. You may have to pay some money for minor repairs or modifications. Yet, some products have longer life and do not change much over a period of time. Sometimes it may be riskier to buy used sophisticated electronic equipment.

Holiday Shopping

During the holidays, it is becoming mandatory to shop and buy cloths and gifts. While we may not compromise on some items such as gifts, it is better to postpone until Thanksgiving when our stores will be raining discounts, offers and coupons. Further, it is suggested to set aside some amount monthly for buying gifts and other items planned.

Some stores have an option of accumulating points or amount or offer interest free credit. If you have enough time it is always better to approach a retail outlet for better deals and products. Sometimes we even end up buying the product we already have!

Overall, it is becoming increasingly prominent to curb the urge to stop spending and think ahead before buying anything new. 🙂

Is money the only method to maintain relationships?

Yes. It seems in the current recession era, money is the only way which can help maintain relationships. If you have money, I can be friends with you. Or else, you are not my friend. If I give a gift to you, only then, you know I love you. Why money is the only predominant factor in relationships?

Any relationship, be it wife and husband, parent and child, brother and sister, cousins, or  friends, is currently being evaluated with how much one is spending in it. One is able to maintain relationships only if capable of spending enough in a relationship. Most relationships are getting commercialised. The importance a person gives us is being decided based on the money or gifts being exchanged.

Communication and not spending enough time may be some of the reasons for such trends. Most family members or friends may not communicate often. Due to which it is extremely difficult to decide whether a person has changed a lot or remained same with time. So, in order to compensate this gap, exchanging gifts or spending money is essential. With which, you are establishing that things have not changed much and you still value the other person.

In addition, living distantly and not meeting often, is another reason for the trend. The thirst to work and earn more leaves less time for family and freinds. To compensate this gap again, spending money is essential. Working parents do not get enough time to spend time with their children and so they keep on buying gifts for their kids. On the other hand, working people do not get time to spend  with their aged parents. And again resort in spending money to compensate the gap.

Finally, what has begun voluntary money spending has become mandatory in relationships. Now, the current trend is, only if you have money, you can talk to me about anything. Or, else the relationship is not smooth. Watch out people. 🙂

Unity Fest International – 2010

One of my friend told that she was contributing to the dance festival. So, I went to the Unity Fest International at the Putnam IMAX. I was thrilled to see the perfromances along with some free goodies and a chance to see Davenport Mayor, Mr. Bill Gluba!!

Unity Fest International

Unity Fest International is a partnership between QC United and Putnam Museum. It  is a cultural festival that celebrates diverse cultures and people residing in the quad cities. This year, the event was held in the Putnam IMAX, Davenport. The performances included dances by Indians, African Americans, Phillipines, Scottish, Latin Americans, Vietnamese, Hispanics, and other international and local singers. It was amazing to see the performances that reflect international cultures and dances.


The entry was free but the organizers encouraged to bring food packets to donate to the local churches. Davenport Mayor, Mr. Bill Gluba spoke at the festival. He said that, America is of diverse origin and it appreciates the diversity and unity among the international workforce residing in the Quad Cities. He added that it is intersting to find that the local schools enrolled students in about 57 dialects.

Putnam Museum

Putnam museum contributed for this great event which included many arts and crafts for children. The children got to understand which craft originated in which country and were assissted by the volunteers to make the crafts on their own. Some of the arts and crafts included were face painting, rangoli, bead threading, paper flowers, mask painting, rock painting, and others. The children also could visit some of the local animals such as rabbits, goose, turtle, turkey and dogs. Cockroach races entertained the children as well as the adults.

Apart from the event, visitors got free entrance to some of the exhibits in the museum. Organizers say that the event is to celebrate the differences in the community and to appreciate and learn from each other.

Quad City Kite Festival – 2010

The second annual Quad city kite festival was a hit on Sunday due to the perfect weather for kite flying. The sponsors along with the IPTV guys made the show a big hit this year. 🙂

Quad City Kite Festival

Quad City Kite Festival is an annual kite festival hosted by the Quad City Kite Club. The kite club along with the local sponsors such as the IPTV, Happy Joes, Davenport Fire Department, Bettendorf family museum and others hosted this year’s event on last Saturday and Sunday at the Centennial Park, Davenport.


Owing to the weather the festival was good on Sunday. Many local residents visited the park for the kite flying fun. Professional kite fliers performed kite stunts which had amazing synchronization. Betendorf family museum stall had some activities to make their own rockets, parachutes, pin wheels and kites. Davenport fire department allowed kids and families to get in to the fire truck and experience the kite festival from inside the truck and at an elevated height. Visitors could buy kites, or supplies, and T-shirts at the stalls.

The riverside park along with the beautiful view of the Mississipi river and the Centennial bridge was good. Centennial park had ample parking space, play areas and open spaces for the visitors.

Overall, the event is perfect for a get-together or picnic along with the kite flying!! I took a picture with IPTV’s Dan Wardell. Our kite was the highest in the sky, though it took a lot of time in pulling it down. 🙂

CRY Walk – Naperville, IL

My husband was keen on the walk so we set off last Sunday morning to the CRY Walk. The 5 KM or 3.1 mile walk was a good experience along with the satisfaction of contributing for a social cause and the fun of family walk and nature study. 🙂

CRY

Child Rights and You (CRY) is a non-profit organization driven by its vision of a just world in which all children have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential and realize their dreams. The following are the achievements of CRY in 2009-10. 

  • Covered over 13089 villages and slums across India
  • 728,799 children were impacted through our programmes
  • 30427 children were mainstreamed into government schools
  • 14433 government schools retained 100% of the children mainstreamed into the schools
  • 17076 of births were registered
  • 1288 ICDS Centres (anganwadis)/ Primary Health Centres (PHCs) were revived/ retained
  • 351 Panchayat Village Education Committees were activated
  • 315 villages were made 100% child labour free
  • 3254 children’s groups were formed and strengthened

    • You can join the CRY as a member or volunteer and donate or contribute toward the cause.

    Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve

    Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville is a natural area that has reaped the rewards of conservation. The conservation teams take care of the natural vegetation and wildlife. The forest area is a perfect place for sightseeing, nature study, jogging, walking and biking. The trails are long and peaceful with beautiful trees around.

    You will not feel the tiredness of the walking or biking as you will be immersed in the beauty of the surroundings.:) Further, the forest has additional facilities such as golfing, boating, horseback riding, hiking, picknicking, fishing, camping and other activities for your recreation.

    While walking is best for your health, it is also better if your family accompanies you. Overall, the CRY walk was fun and am glad we could make it. Further, my seven year old completed the five kilo meter walk that surprises and makes me even more happier. 🙂

    Boy Scouts Popcorn Sales

    The Boy Scouts of America are a self supporting organization which earn through popcorn sales. Scouts sell yummy popcorn online and face to face to earn money for their troops.

    The Boy Scouts of America

    The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.


    For nearly a century, the BSA has helped build the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes — and, through nearly a century of experience, knows — that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.

    To buy popcorn and support your local scouts visit Trail’s End.

    CRY 2010 Walk – Let’s make a difference

    Dear Readers,

    It would be great if you can make it for this event or even donate for this cause.
    Take few minutes to go through some of the numbers on children in India and in America

    http://america.cry.org/site/know_us/cry_america_and_child_rights/stat…
    =============================================================

    CRY America Chicago Action center presents

    WALK FOR CHILD RIGHTS 2010

    By participating in this walk, you can ensure that thousands of
    underprivileged children in India are restored their basic rights to
    live, learn, grow and play.

    5 KM and 3KM Walk for families

    Sunday, September 19, 2010

    Time: 9.30am onwards
    Venue: Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve (opp. Springbrook Golf
    Course) 2220 W 83rd St, Naperville, IL 60564

    Other than snacks and water, participants will also receive an
    attractive CRY T-shirt and finishers of the walk will receive
    participation certificates. Post event activities include balloon &
    mehndi artists, Dosa BBQ and exciting raffle prizes.

    For more information, email i…@crychicago.org or call Sunil
    Kulkarni: (630) 440-8718; Girish Rao: (847) 372-1068

    Sponsors for CRY Walk 2010 in Chicago include Zee TV, OfficeMax and
    CyberKorp.

    CRY – Child Rights and You America Inc. (CRY America) is a 501c3 non-
    profit organization driven by its vision of a just world in which all
    children have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential
    and realize their dreams.

    Family Free Day at Figge Art Museum, Davenport, Iowa

    Do not the miss the family free day at the Figge Art museum, Davenport this Saturday from 1-3pm in the afternoon. Sponsored by John Deere the event is free for all to enjoy the displays and shows.

    Fall Harvest Family Free Day is on September 18th, Saturday 1 pm to 3pm. Story time, art search, 3-D Harvest Collage, pumpkin coloring and other events are planned for the entire family.

    Tanners Orchard, Speer, IL

    Tunners Orchard at 740 State Route 40, Speer, IL 61479 (309.493.5442) is one hour drive from Quad cities and offers a unique farm experience for visitors. The farm, the picking and the activities make it worth visiting every September.

    Apple Picking

    Apple picking is a different experience in the Fall. The fat and cholesterol free fruit is the favorite for many of us. Children can easily pick the fruit as the trees are short and the fruits are easy to reach. After picking them, handle them gently and store in a cold place. Apple picking tips must be followed for enjoying the fruit.

    Tanners Orchard

    Tanners orchard, since 1947, are in the apple business. The drive to the farm in the country side is pleasant. You get to see many barns and windmills in the route along with wide and open fields. I wonder how much energy the windmills produce and after how many rotations.

    The farm has ample parking and restrooms. They do not charge the entry fees, but you need to buy a bag for $10 before entering the truck. The covered truck takes you to the apple farm, pumpkin farm and corn farm. You can get down at different places to pick. The apple farm has the apple trees lined up and full of apples. You can find green, red and yellow apples. The farm is full of bees and mosquitos. Depending on the weather you may have to choose the appropriate dress and shoes.

    Once you are done with the apple picking, you can wait for the truck to come and take you to the pumpkin farm. After the pumpkin farm, the truck drops you back at the start point where you find the corn farm. The orchard staff have organized a corn maze game. To enter the corn maze, you have to pay an entry fee of $7 for adults and $5 for children.

    Children’s Play Area

    The entrance fee for the children’s play area is $7 for children and $5 for adults. 50% of the fee directly goes to the local emergency fund. Children can play a wide variety of games inclluding the T-Ball, Mini golf, Slides, Swings, School bus games, mini rides, pony ride, barrel train ride and so on. Adults can ride a pedaling bike with large tyres on it. I was exhausted after 6 rounds. 🙂

    Different goats and other farm animals are on the show in the orchard. You can feed the animals by collecting their food from the nearby machine. The pony ride and tree house are good to watch.

    Store

    The store is my favorite place where you get yummy donuts, cider, frittles (egg-less), pies, jams, pickles, sauces and so on. They have a bakery where you can buy coffee or icecream. Different decorative items are on display. Also seen are large pumpkins and mums on sale. Overall, the trip leaves a good memory for all especially for children. 🙂

    Fall is ‘On’ and so are children’s activities

    With school reopening and kids running around most of the time, parents are busy picking and dropping. I am glad to have free time in the mornings. 🙂 But also am pretty busy in arranging sports and other activities for my kid. In the Fall season, kids can be engaged with a wide range of activities, but may have to chose based on the priorities.

    Moline Parks and Recreation

    The Moline Parks and Recreation board along with other local sports clubs is offering wide range of sports sessions for children at an affordable cost. What may be costing around $200 per kid if we approach separately, will cost $45 now with the special offer. You can register the Moline Parks and Recreation and add the required activities for your child.

    The sports club participating in this event include the Quad City Tennis Club, Quad City Mini-Wheekers, Summit Gymnastics Academy, and other local schools. The sports taught are Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling, Basketball, Soccer, Football, and Gymnastics.

    It is better to expose your child to multiple areas so that they can decide which activity is better suited for them.

    Blackhawk College Aquatic Center 

    The Blackhawk College Aquatic Center is offering swim sessions in fall thru spring on Saturdays and Wednesdays. The cost is $38 per session and each class is for 45 minutes. Wednesday evenings the batches are from 6.15 pm to 7 pm and 7.15 pm to 8 pm. In later sessions, a 5.15 pm to 6 pm batch may be started. Saturday morning sessions are from 9.15 to10 a.m., 10.15 to 11 a.m. and 11.15-Noon.

    You can reach them on 309 796 5601 and register and may pay the check at the time of the session.

    Quad Cities Kite Club

    The Quad Cities Kite Club is organizing a kite festival on September 25th and 26th. The admission is free and different cultural events and performances aer planned. You can reach them at 563 650 4143 for more information.  The event is at the Centenial park in Davenport, Iowa.

    The kite battles for children and adults are some of the events aprt from the India Kite Message Tree. Several games and contests will be there and prizes too. 🙂

    Choose Wisely

    Whatever activity you plan for your family must be based on your family priority and goals. Do not overload the child and yourself with too many activites. Plan properly so that your kid is engaged while having fun. 🙂

    Scouting – Developing future citizens

    Scouting is popular worldwide for nurturing and developing children. The names of the organizations may differ in different pars of the world, but the basic motto of supporting young children in their physical, mental and spiritual development remains same. Girl scouts and boy scouts are active in Quad cities local schools.

    What do Scouts do?

    Boy scouts or Girl scouts are trained in a wide range of outdoor activities and educational programs. Their leaders teach about multiple skills and topics including the country, God, society, personal safety, sports, aquatics, nature, outdoor adventures, camping, hiking among others. Character development along with life skills is a part of scouting.

    Scouts abide by common oath and common principles. They meet weekly once or according to their preset schedules. The scouts are grouped based on the age or grades. So, the kids can relate and learn from each other while learning and having fun.

    How much does Scouting cost?

    Young children ages five and above can become a member of the scouts for a minimal annual fee of $12 to $15. Additional charges apply for the uniform and camping. If you want to send your child for a camp, you may have to purchase additional camping gear.

    Most scouts are self-supporting and raise funds through popcorn sales or the yummy cookie sales.

    What can parents do?

    Parents can be part of the activities and fun during their children’s meetings. Offer additional information if the child has any queries about their scouting experiences. Parents can help their kids by offering extra support through the scouting.

    Moving – Do not forget address changes

    The next big task after moving to a new place is changing the addresses. You need to change your address on all the accounts and opt for mail forwarding until up to an year with the local post office. Initially, it may seem only a couple of places, but after digging further you may find the list unending. 🙂

    Address Change

    You need to change address for receiving bills in time and to get the address proof at the new place. Here is the list of the address changes required:

    • Government authorities
    • Driving licence
    • Office records
    • Health insurance
    • Social security office
    • Bank accounts
    • Credit cards
    • Library cards
    • Shopping cards
    • Phone providers
    • Movie video accounts
    • Post Office

    Mail Forwarding

    USPS has a facility to forward any mail you receive to your new address. They have online and telephone request facility, but I find the paper request feasible. If the entire family has one last name only one form is needed, else you may have to fill in separate forms for each name. They forward the mail up to one year.

    The more accounts you have, the more changes you have to make. Some accounts may not send a paper bill to your physical address and only maintain online transactions. Even then, you may want to change the address in those accounts too. Finally, you may wonder why you created so many accounts and why you have to change address at multiple places. 🙂

    Scared to be a Role Model

    Whatever I do, whatever I say, wherever I go, I am aware that two tiny eyes are watching me and observing. Yes, children watch and observe us all the time and often imitate. Sometimes its scarier to be having so much influence and being a role model to children.

    Children and Parents

    Children observe parents’ every move and action. Most kids imitate their parents which some times is amusing and some times not. They observe:

    • What we say
    • What we do
    • What we eat
    • How we behave
    • Where we go
    • How we exercise
    • What we do in free time
    • How are we managing friends
    • What we do in critical situations

    Often, children can catch us telling lie or skipping a chore and immediately point it out. 🙂 And of course, they learn from us.

    Most of the times it may not be convenient for adults to explain their actions and behavior. But, we have to explain why we are doing or not doing a task if they ask. Then, they may take a decision or draw a conclusion what is alright or not.

    Role Model

    Being a role model is not always easy. We may not be perfect all the times and cannot always preach to do the right when we ourselves are not doing. I think it is a continuous struggle to be honest with children and set up good examples for them to adhere.

    Children immediately look up to their parents in any situations during their initial development stages. So, we need to be a little careful and choosy in using the words and doing the actions. After all, we do not want children to learn what is not good for them eventually. 🙂