Wish of the Week – Elliot

By MWF/PIO
August 14, 2009

There is always one place that can raise Elliot’s spirits: Duluth, Minnesota. After he was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 2 ½ years old, Elliot’s parents would take him to Duluth’s Canal Park near the shore of Lake Superior. Watching the boats and the lift bridges was always a respite from his debilitating chemotherapy treatments.

Though Elliot and his family moved away, he never forgot those happy moments watching ships and hearing the sounds of horns blaring over the water. He told volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Minnesota that his fondest wish was to drive one of those boats near his birthplace in Duluth.

The Shipping News

Angela King-Jones, wish coordinator for the chapter, called Duluth’s mayor to ask permission to grant Elliot’s wish. The story immediately caught the community’s imagination. The mayor was happy to help, and the staff came up with creative ways to fulfill and enhance the boy’s wish. “The community really rallied around Elliot and his family,” King-Jones said. “The mayor granted special permission for Elliot to blow the horn at the lift bridge.”

Elliot and his family boarded the tour boat Vista Star. Captain Chris, who they knew from previous excursions, gave them a warm greeting. He and his crew gave Elliot the VIP treatment and presented him with his own captain’s hat. And the captain let Elliot sound the horn requesting the bridge lift. Under the captain’s supervision, Elliot piloted the ship past the bridge. Everyone celebrated with a pizza party aboard the Vista Star.

Bring on the Noise

At the massive Aerial Lift Bridge (one of Elliot’s favorite maritime attractions), Elliot climbed into the control booth where bridge Supervisor Ryan Beamer let him push the big black button as many times as he wanted. The blasts startled tourists, commuters and seagulls out of their daily routines. With every blast of the horn, Elliot’s smile got even wider.

Many Duluth residents already knew what was happening – the local media had written about his unusual wish. So every blast of the horn gave them a reason to smile, too.

Thanks for the Memories

Sara and Aron, Elliot’s parents, were thrilled with the warm reception the family experienced in Duluth. Part of Elliot’s wish included staying at the South Pier Inn so he could have an up-close view of the ships passing under the bridge. “So many people helped us to be present during our trip and to spend time as a family … and to make Elliot’s trip such a magical time,” they wrote in a thank-you letter published in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Elliot also rode in the locomotive of a train, visited local landmarks including the Duluth Children’s Museum and Great Lakes Aquarium, and enjoyed a meal at the New Scenic Café.

Elliot is now in a three-year maintenance phase of treatment and is doing very well, according to his parents.

Source: Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Patient of the Week – Justin Ferrence

By CDH/PIO
August 13. 2009

Pamela Duminske went into labor 11 weeks before her due date. She gave birth to a premature baby boy named Justin. Immediately after Justin was born he needed medical attention. He was having trouble breathing and the doctors feared other medical complications could arise.

The doctor’s determined Justin needed more specialized care, so he was transported to The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton’s Regional Level III Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Justin stayed in the NICU for three weeks where he was on a ventilator and monitored closely.

“I had a sense of comfort in the NICU because I knew Justin was well taken care of by the nurses and staff,” says Pamela.

Pamela noticed Justin was not growing like he should be at 10 months old. “Justin was not crawling and it was difficult for him to sit up,” A CT scan was performed. Soon after, Justin was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects muscle movement and control. In some cases, cerebral palsy can affect speech and cognitive development. Due to the lack of muscle control, many cerebral palsy patients use a wheelchair, or need assistance to walk. Justin’s prognosis was filled with extensive surgeries and lots of physical therapy.

Justin is seen in the neurology department, the cerebral palsy clinic and the orthopedic department at Dayton Children’s. Daniel Lacey, MD, has worked with Justin for several years.

“Dr. Lacey has improved Justin’s health tremendously by prescribing a baclofen pump that helps with Justin’s tight muscles,” says Pamela.

Justin has been in a wheelchair since kindergarten, but this has not deterred his “go-getter” attitude and in 2008, Justin graduated from Xenia High School.

“Justin had the ability to look beyond his wheelchair and set goals that he knew he could accomplish even if he had to work twice as hard as the other students,” says Pamela.

Last year Justin attended Clark State University and passed his courses with a 4.0 average. In a speech communications class, Justin had an assignment to give a speech in front of the entire class and be graded on performance. The professor told Justin that he did not have to do the speech, but Justin was determined to do the assignment just like the other students. He worked very hard and practiced for hours; he gave the speech in front of the entire class and received an A.

Today Justin is 20 years old and still focuses on graduating from college. “I had to take a break from college due to financial difficulties and health problems, but I am determined to become a teacher one day,” says Justin.

“Dayton Children’s caters specifically to child’s needs. This always made us feel right at home,” says Pamela.

Source: Childrens Dayton

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Firefighter of the Week Dep. Fire Comm. William M. Feehan

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
August 13, 2009

“Been there, done that” probably best describes the illustrious, 42-year FDNY career of First Deputy Fire Commissioner William M. Feehan, whose life and career were cut short when he was killed on September 11, 2001, as a result of the explosion and collapse of the twin World Trade Center Towers in Manhattan.

Chief Feehan held every title within the Department, beginning as a Proby Firefighter when he was appointed on October 10, 1959. He was a Firefighter through 1963, serving in Division 3, Ladder 3 and the Bureau of Fire Prevention. And then the promotions came, from Lieutenant in 1964 to Chief of Department in 1991. Chief Feehan has served as Deputy Fire Commissioner since 1992. He briefly served as Acting Fire Commissioner in 1993-1994.

A life-long Queens resident, Chief Feehan graduated from St. John’s University in 1952. Before his appointment to the FDNY, he served in the United States Army and was decorated with the Combat Infantry Badge, Korean Service Medal, UN Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal during the Korean War.

Chief Feehan’s wife, Elizabeth, pre-deceased him five years ago. He is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Feehan and Tara Davan, and sons, FF John Feehan, who is assigned to Squad Company 1, and William. Additionally, he is survived by six grandchildren–Siobhan, Kelsey, Connor, William, Virginia and Kelly.

The death of First Deputy Commissioner William M. Feehan–and with it, his experience and expertise – mark the end of an era in the New York City Fire Department.

Source: New York CityFire Department

BSO Helping People Who Care

Jim Leljedal / PIO
August 14, 2009

 

The Broward Sheriff’s Office is lending helping hands and its parking lot to a community outreach where volunteers will be serving the needy in a program called “Dare to Care.”

Dare to Care involves volunteers from the Faith Center, Women in Distress, Fort Lauderdale Police Department and BSO. It’s estimated that a thousand people will receive free food, baby items including diapers, car seats and strollers, school supplies, books, bicycles and more.

BSO’s empty parking lot was selected for its central location and weekend availability. Tents will be set up to shelter the crowd and organize the massive give-away project.

For more information, call 954-742-7832.

Sat., Aug. 15th, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
BSO PSB parking lot,
2601 W. Broward Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale

 

Source: BSO

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Rooms for Preteens – They Grow Up So Fast

By Better Homes
August 14, 2009

It seems to happen overnight — one moment your child is just a tiny swaddle of blankets and diapers, and the next he’s listening to crashingly loud music and talking in unrecognizable lingo. Just as suddenly, the bedroom decor he loved as an 8-year-old has become completely uncool by the time he’s 10 — a horror for any preteen.

The Robson family, in Westport, Connecticut, had a similar dilemma but with an added complication: Thomas, 14, and Sam, 11, shared a room and they’d never quite figured out how to make the most of the space.

With two of everything — beds, desks, and dressers — the room was cramped, and the white walls and bland wood furniture did nothing to reflect the young boys’ vivacious personalities.

Athena Diaconis, 14, of Hatboro, Pennsylvania, can hardly believe she ever liked her room’s formerly pale-peach walls and the daintily painted flowers on her furniture. An active kid involved in several after-school activities, Athena felt that her room no longer matched her personality.

It had become merely a pit stop for sleeping and a holding pen for her stuff. Indeed, mounds of clothes and textbooks were piled in the corners of the room. In addition to the unhip furnishings, lack of storage was a major problem.

What was the solution for both spaces? Updating the furnishings so they reflect teen sensibilities and adding some much-needed storage.

 

A Place for Everything

 

Ikea’s Stora loft/desk combo ($399 for the full bed, $150 for the desk) is a great space saver for the Robson boys. “I actually feel more organized doing homework at my desk,” says Thomas.

The far wall, painted in a rich red from Ralph Lauren paints (about $23 to $35 a gallon, available at Home Depot) gives the room a much-needed jolt of color, and The Container Store’s nifty hanging CD holder ($7.99) lends its own visual punch.

Ikea’s cube bookshelf ($149) is the perfect storage solution; the boys can divide the cubbies equally and each have his own space for treasured books and games. Land of Nod’s red, white, and blue seersucker bedding (about $78 for a twin set) warms up Ikea’s metal-framed bed ($99).

A nook in the corner of the room was the perfect spot for Sam’s new desk, which was easily constructed from a one-inch piece of plywood covered in durable denim, attached to simple wooden legs. But Sam’s favorite touch is the Art Clip Racks ($34) from Pottery Barn Kids. “I love having a spot to show off all my favorite artwork,” he says.

 

Bold and Beautiful

 

Athena fell in love with Bombay Kids’ Betsy bedding collection ($69 for a twin sheet set), which made choosing the rest of the room’s colors easy. Her old furniture was updated with two coats of white paint, and bold prints from Artivise look great against the pale lilac and mint green walls.

A shelf from The Container Store ($7.99 for an 8-x-24-inch model) runs the length of the wall and provides a showcase for some of Athena’s favorite things, including her trophies and colorful Rio vases ($11 each from Uncommon Goods). All paint from Glidden (about $15 to $21 a gallon, available at Home Depot).

The Morgan Storage desk ($449) from Bombay Kids is the perfect spot for Athena to tackle homework, and the attached hutch ($399) offers additional storage. The built-in bulletin board is ideal for invitations and to-do lists.

The closet was outfitted with The Container Store’s Elfa closet system (starting at $100), which provides plenty of space to hang or fold her clothes, and neatly stack her shoes. Bombay Kids’ freestanding Mirror Turn Around ($449) unit adds extra shelf space.

Copyright 2009 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Original Beer-Butt Chicken

by Elizabeth S. Bennett
August 14, 2009

A savory chicken, tender and gloriously beer-steamed

From Fire It Up: There is nothing like this recipe for cooking up a bronze-colored, moist, and incredibly flavorful chicken. Not to mention the awe-inspiring way it’s cooked and presented. You can do it in your barbecue, or, surprise, in your oven! The invention of the ingenious ChickCAN by Louisiana chef Kevin Hester has made this process even easier. Adapted from The Barbecue America Cookbook by Rick Browne (Lyons Press, 1999).

 

Dry Rub:
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon summer savory
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dry yellow mustard
1 tablespoon sea salt (ground fine)

Basting Spray:
1 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons Louisiana Hot Sauce
1 cup warm beer

1 12-ounce can of your favorite beer
1 large chicken

1. Mix the rub in a small bowl until it’s well incorporated. Wash, dry and season the chicken generously inside and out with the rub. Work the mixture well into the skin and under the skin wherever possible. Place in medium bowl, cover, and set aside at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.

2. Pour half the can of beer into a spray bottle, add the cider, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar and set aside.

3. Take the beer can in one hand and insert it into the slot in the ChickCAN, then slide the chicken tail-side down over the can. This positioning does two things: first, it helps drain off the fat as the chicken cooks; second, the beer steams the inside of the chicken, while the outside is cooked by the BBQ heat, making it the moistest bird you’ve ever laid yer eyes, or gums, on. Some people put a small potato or carrot in the neck opening of the chicken to keep the steam inside; I prefer to let it pass through.

4. Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours over indirect heat, about 300 to 350 degrees F. During the cooking time, spray the chicken all around with the basting spray several times. The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees. Carefully remove the ChickCAN and place it on heatproof counter top. After your guests have reacted appropriately, remove the chicken from the rack and beer can with tongs while holding the rack with an oven mitt (careful! that stainless steel is very hot).

5. Give the chicken one more spritz of the basting spray and then carve and serve.

Source: Grandparents

Editor’Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Pasta, Cheese, Trees

By Parents.com
August 12, 2009

Makes: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

1 pound penne, corkscrew pasta, or medium shells

1 pound broccoli tops

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)

2 tablespoons butter, cut up

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 cup ricotta cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions. Meanwhile, pull apart broccoli into small “trees.” Put the broccoli into a pot and add enough water to just cover the tops. Bring the water to a boil and add 4 pinches salt. Cook for 5 minutes once the water comes to a boil. Drain.

2. Pour EVOO and butter into a deep frying pan and heat over low heat. When the butter melts, add the garlic and cook 5 minutes. Stir in broccoli and cooked pasta. Add ricotta and Parmesan, and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Source: Parents

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Navy Pilot comes Home after 18 years

By AP
August 14, 2009

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Navy pilot Scott Speicher, the long-missing first casualty of the first Gulf War, was finally laid to rest Friday in his adopted hometown as thousands of people lined the streets to watch a funeral procession pass his school, church and former military base.

Speicher was shot down in 1991 on the first night of the Gulf War. For more than 18 years, no one knew if he was killed or being held prisoner in Iraq until his remains were discovered in the desert, west of Baghdad, earlier this month.

“Eighteen years, six months and 11 days, that needs to be a record that is never broken,” said Buddy Harris, a former Navy pilot and friend who accompanied Speicher’s body home to Jacksonville from Dover, Del. Harris married Speicher’s widow, Joanne, and helped raise Speicher’s son and daughter, plus two more children with Joanne.

Motorcycles, their red and blue lights flashing, led Speicher’s hearse and family following in a limousine along a 30-mile route of sites special to Speicher.

At a monument for war veterans where Speicher’s name was engraved in 1995, military officials, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and the Jacksonville mayor talked about his military service. Dozens of roses were placed against the wall, where an eternal flame burns. Later, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office fired a 21-gun salute.

The motorcade traveled to Lake Shore United Methodist Church, where Speicher taught Sunday School. It rolled past Nathan B. Forrest High School, where he excelled at swimming and tennis.

Hundreds of people, including veterans and infants, gathered at each of the locations, including the site of the former Cecil Field Naval Air Station where Speicher’s squadron, the Sunliners, was based before he left on the USS Saratoga for the Gulf War.

Shelly Bradley’s husband was on the USS Saratoga when Speicher was shot down.

“It is nice to know he is home. It’s not exactly what we had hoped, but maybe it will bring some closure to his family,” said Bradley, of St. Augustine.

Chief Warrant Officer Brian Farrell, an instructor pilot with the Florida National Guard, dressed in his Army uniform to pay his respects.

“I’m here to recognize the sacrifice this young Navy officer gave to this country and the pain his family has endured for the last 18 years,” Farrell said. “I just got back from Iraq four months ago and I just wanted my family to be a part of it.”

Speicher, a Kansas City-area native who moved to Florida as a teenager, was buried in a private ceremony at Jacksonville Memory Gardens. Four Navy planes flew over the cemetery in the missing man formation.

For nearly two decades after the 33-year-old Speicher disappeared over the Iraq desert, his family pushed the Defense Department to find out what had happened. On Aug. 2, the Pentagon disclosed that Marines had recovered Speicher’s bones and skeletl fragments – enough for a positive identification.

Defense officials originally declared Speicher killed in action hours after his plane was shot down over west-central Iraq. Then-Defense Secretary Dick Cheney announced on television that Speicher was the first casualty of the Gulf War.

Ten years after the crash, the Navy changed Speicher’s status to missing in action, citing an absence of evidence that Speicher had died. In October 2002, the Navy switched his status to “missing/captured,” although it never explained why.

Over the years, critics said the Navy had not done enough, particularly right after the crash, to search for the pilot.

“We just want to honor our fallen hero, since he is from our area. We felt is was our duty to come and honor him and his family,” said Deborah Hudgins, who knew some of Speicher’s family members.

Source: Fox News

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think: dan@youngchronicle.com

Healthy Exercises For Kids

By Julia Gaynor
August 14, 2009

Overweight and out-of-shape kids are more and more common in America, but it’s more than just a “kid” problem. The trouble is that unhealthy kids often turn into unhealthy adults.

Help your kids start healthy now and stay healthy later by making sure they get enough exercise as well as the right kind of exercise for their age.

How Much Exercise?

According to the National Association for Sport and Physical education, all kids 2 years and older should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to rigorous exercise most days of the week.

For those under school age, there should be an hour of structured exercise and an hour of “free play.” School-aged children should not be active for periods of more than two hours or more. That means that one movie on the couch is all the couch surfing they’re allowed!

The Right Exercises For Kids

Kids aren’t just exercising to stay in shape – they’re growing and developing muscles, bones, joints and ligaments, so it’s important that they get all three of the most important kinds of exercise. Here are the three types of exercise that kids need:

Endurance: This is what you see when kids run around chasing each other on a playground. It strengthens their cardiovascular system and builds physical and mental strength.

Strength: This kind of fitness is what we normally associate with weight-lifting, but with kids, it can come from push-ups, pull ups, climbing and other wrestling activities.

Flexibilty: Building great flexibility in kids can come from bending down to tie their shoes to practicing different gymnastic moves like cartwheels, splits and other stretching moves. The great thing about stretching is that it can be done almost any time, anywhere.

Raising Healthy Kids

The thing about kids is that they’re exercising almost every time they do what they love most – play. As long as they’re not planted in front of the TV set, they will find ways to run and jump, climb and have adventures which will all burn calories and build muscle.

And remember that old expression “monkey-see, monkey-do”? Well, if you live a fit and healthy lifestyle, just think of what a power of example you can be for your kids. You don’t have to run marathons to show how to be fit and healthy. Here are a few ideas:

• Walk your errands when you could drive
• Take the stairs when you could take the elevator
• Go for nightly walks or jogs with your family.
• Take weekend bike rides when the weather allows.
• Cook healthy meals for your whole family.

Just to remind you of all of the fun things that kids love to do, here’s a list of kid-friendly exercises that will give them strength, flexibility and endurance!

• Basketball
• Playing “tag”
• Jumprope
• Bicycling
• Ice-skating
• Gymnastics
• Inline skating
• Cheerleading
• Soccer
• Hiking
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Walking
• Jogging
• Running
• Wii-Fit (yes, even this!)

Source: Eversave

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Scruff’s Steps for Getting Along

By McGruff and Scruff
August 13, 2009

In 1974, a neighborhood crime watch group was organized in South Dade County. Citizens met with their local law enforcement departments to ask what they could do to help the police apprehend a rapist terrorizing their community. From this first informal meeting, communities and law enforcement began to work together to keep neighborhoods safe and free from crime. An organization was formed, and Citizens’ Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County, Inc. (CCW) was registered as a 501(c) (3) non profit organization. Today, over 1,600 neighborhoods participate in the crime watch concept.

In 1979, the crime watch concept was introduced into the public school system at one school. Because it succeeded in curbing school crime, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) requested we, CCW, expand its student crime watch program from one school to include all public schools in the county. Since that time, Youth Crime Watch of Miami-Dade (YCW) has functioned as an allied program of the public schools.

Methodology The public school system contracts with YCW to educate and train students in violence and crime prevention strategies. Children also learn that good citizenship and personal responsibility include watching out for family, friends, schools and community. YCW maintains a presence in all M-DCPS.

The foundation of the YCW program is built upon a “school safety survey” which is administered at the school during the first few months of the school year. It asks respondents to rank their particular safety concerns – those issues which they believe have the potential to cause harm to themselves or their schoolmates. YCW students, student advisors, and our staff are then enlisted in the effort to resolve those issues impeding the safety, health, and education of young people. The results of the survey are prioritized and comprise the core content of the YCW program.

The YCW program is structured to teach leadership skills to students who volunteer to learn about school safety. While they learn how to keep themselves safe, they also learn public speaking, critical thinking, leadership, and other skills that will serve them into their adult lives. This, in turn, reinforces their self-esteem and promotes positive involvement, again curbing misbehavior, crime and violence in the school.

I’m McGruff the Crime Dog – world famous for my advice on how to stop crime before it happens, and for my great sense of humor. But seriously, my job is to help people, especially kids, learn how to be safe and make their neighborhood safer. Something else you should know about me is that I go all over the country to talk to people about how they can take a bite out of crime. So if you see me in your town, come on up and say hi. You can recognize me by my tan trench coat – I never go anywhere without it.

This here is my nephew Scruff. He helps me show kids how they can stay safe. Scruff’s a good pup but sometimes gets himself into a bit of trouble. Lucky for him he’s got a good memory – eventually he remembers the right thing to do to get out of trouble. Want to know more about me and Scruff?

You can read more about yours truly in the story How McGruff Became the Crime Dog, and you can read some of Scruff’s adventures in these comic books. Today’s Tip: Help others in the Community.

You and your friends can help out in your neighborhood by taking some few simple steps each day:
Ask your teacher if you could help by erasing the blackboard, or if he or she needs help carrying supplies.

• Bake some goodies for the elderly people in your community.
• Offer to rake the lawns of those in your neighborhood who are not able to.
• Ask your parents if they need help around the house. For example, offer to fold the laundry while you watch the television…that way you both win!
• Collect donations for a local shelter or Red Cross office. These are just a few ideas that you can do to help out around your community.
• By helping out, you are saying thanks to all those who make your neighborhood great!

Today we will talk about: Scruff’s Steps for Getting Along

 

Stop, look, and listen: Check yourselves out. Are either of you too upset to deal with the conflict right now? First, calm down by counting to 10, taking some deep breaths, or doing whatever works best for you.

What’s the problem?: Investigate the facts. What exactly is the problem? Take turns describing the problem to each other. Each of you may be talking about a different problem.

Rack your brains: Think of as many ways as you can to solve your problem. Remember, there is always more than one solution to any conflict. Write them down. Don’t worry about whether all your ideas are good.

Use your judgment: Now is the time to judge which solution is best. Look at each one and think about the consequences. What might happen if you were to chose a certain idea? Is that particular choice one that will get you what you need? Will you both be happy with this way of handling things?

Make a plan: Figure out how to carry out your solution to the problem. What do each of you need to do?

Forward ho!: Move forward and set your plan into motion. Congratulate yourselves. Decide that you will talk sometime soon about how well your plan worked.

Source: Mcgruff

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

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