This weekend is the last one for Reno’s Rink on the River! It closes on Sunday! If you haven’t had a chance to check out your skating legs yet, go for it! The kids will have great fun!
Hours for this last weekend:
6pm – 11pm today
11am – 11 pm Saturday
11am – 6 pm Sunday
Here is a fun look at the Plankton in the ocean that look like Christmas decorations, snowflakes and angels. It was a neat surprise to find it on the Monterey Bay Aquarium blogsite.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a display of Sea Drifters in the Outer Bay that has been there quite awhile and is now going to get a new look – so you can visit the drifters until May 1. Here is a neat video on Jellyfish from the aquarium.
Inspired by my friend Rob’s Facebook status today about Special Education Week, I decided today had to be the day I shared an old article I ran across the other day. I had saved it because I wanted to share it with friends whose new baby has spina bifida. It is Ticket to Ride in the October 4th People Magazine.
Because I know several families with special needs kids, the article struck me as very special. Here was a dad who could do something – and DID it – to make the world a better place for not only his own special needs daughter Morgan, but for others as well.
Gordon and Maggie Hartman created Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas. It is a place where kids can ride a train, a carousel, a swing or they can experience sensory activities such as the interactive music garden – all independent of their physical or mental abilities. Actually it is even better than that because special needs adults can also have these great experiences – maybe even for the first time in their lives.
If you are any where near Long Beach this weekend, this is an event you surely would have a laugh at! Lots of teams have been working very hard in preparation for their flights:
Saturday Details:
What: Long Beach Flugtag Competition
Where: At Rainbow Harbor (Pine Avenue and Shoreline Drive)
When: On Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010
What Time: Gates open at 11 a.m.
Cost: No cover charge
Schedule:
First flight of 35 at 1 p.m.
Last flight at 3:30 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony
Listen in on the radio at 91.1 FM
No food, alcohol, tents or pets are allowed but food and beverage vendors will be available inside
Road closures: Eastbound Shoreline Drive from Aquarium Way to Pine Ave will be closed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To get a reserved parking spot with the city, go to www.thepermitstore.com/lb/event/ and also be sure to utilize the free downtown buses.
America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this year with several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees. Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.
Mark your calendar for fee-free days left this year:
* August 14-15, 2010
* September 25, 2010
(Public Lands Day)
* November 11, 2010
(Veterans Day)
And to make the fun even more affordable, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors on this summer’s fee free weekends with the their own special offers.
Here’s a tip – many of your 392 national parks NEVER charge an entrance fee. So start Planning Your Visit!
Do click the links to get to additional information!!
Penny Lane (and proud owner Trish Ausilio of Buena Park, California) was this year’s winner of the 15th Annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Race at the Los Alamitos Race Track in Cypress, CA, took place last weekend (Saturday, July 10, 2010). Here’s a short blurb from the Orange County Register. The fun outing proceeds benefited the Seal Beach Animal Care Center. The Los Alamitos Race Course presented an additional $5,000 donation to the Seal Beach Animal Care Center.
Also — check out this fun website full of dachshund information and hilarious songs: National Dachshund Races from Findlay, Ohio.
And then here you can meet Sammy Davis, a famous dachshund from Pleasanton, CA. This article has nine photos, too. Patrick Major is his owner.
The National Wildlife Federation President Larry Schweiger had a great email I want to share with you regarding enjoying nature with the kids (The following is copied directly from the email.):
As a father and a grandfather, I’m always looking for inspiration on how to do more for my family. And so often, I find it in nature.
It’s not always easy to know how to get children outside in nature, or even find the time to do so. Sometimes the weather gets in the way, sometimes competing schedules.
But outside play is so important, even in some ways you might not know. Studies show outdoor time helps children grow lean and strong, ignites imaginations, improves attention spans, decreases aggression and even boosts classroom performance.
That’s why I thought you might appreciate hearing some helpful tips from a few “real life” dads on how to connect with your family in the great outdoors.
* Visit your local garden center. Let your kids pick out their favorite flowers, plan their dream garden or be an imaginary explorer.
* Fly a kite and take advantage of a windy day.
* Start a collection. Help your kids find leaves, rocks, flowers or other artifacts.
* Put on some boots and go splash in the mud on a rainy day.
* Mark out your own backyard nature trail using stones and branches. Have fun identifying the flora, fauna and bugs that inhabit it.
Want even more ideas? Sign the Be Out There Pledge today and you’ll get a lot more tips, information and support for making outdoor play a priority.
Whether you’re a dad yourself or simply have one in your life, take some time out this weekend to experience nature, make some memories and “grow” wild with your family – take the Be Out There Pledge today!
Sincerely,
Larry Schweiger
President and CEO
National Wildlife Federation
This will certainly be something fun to watch! The Red Bull Flugtag Finalists for Long Beach have been chosen. Click on the Long Beach Selection to watch the video. This link has the list of the chosen teams and their entry sketches (but you need to scroll down the page a bit!). Tim Grobaty wrote about the selection here in the Long Beach Press-Telegram.
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MyGrandmaSue 