Summer Trip Globetrotting in Europe

By Ash Proenza
August 21, 2009

This summer trip could be homework for history class, only much more fun!

I visited Europe this summer, starting with Barcelona, Spain. The reason I went to Barcelona was to visit my mother’s’ family. It was the

first time we met! They were a little shy and so was I. My family was very nice and gave me a tour of the whole city.

Barcelona is one of the oldest cities in all of Europe. I saw several old buildings in the Gothic Quarter. Something did confuse me during my visit. When my cousins spoke to me they would speak in Spanish, which I understand. But when they spoke to each other, they spoke in a language I never heard before. It’s called Catalan and it’s only spoken in a few parts of Europe.

I got a chance to ride on the Metro, which is similar to the subway in New York City. I saw a lot of great sites in Barcelona, but my favorite part of that trip was meeting my cousins from across the Atlantic.

Next on my itinerary was Paris, France. I was in Paris for only one day, but oh what a day!

The first place I saw was the Notre Dame Cathedral. Have you ever heard of Quasimodo? Well Victor Hugo was inspired to write his famous novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, because of that cathedral. When I saw the gargoyles on the roof I thought of the Disney movie about the hunchback. For a spilt second I thought they would start talking just like they do in the movie.

The next stop was the famous Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre, perhaps the most well-known museum in the world. Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa more than 500 years ago!

I climbed the wonderful Eiffel Tower at night while it was all lit up. The line was long, but it was worth the wait. Looking down at Paris from the heights was a grand sight. If you ever go to Paris, remember that the nights are chilly, so bring a coat. I learned that the hard way.

My last destination in Europe was London, England. I rode The Underground (also called The Tube), which is yet another version of New York City’s subway.

London is similar to New York in many ways. For example, in New York we have Times Square. London, has a similar area called Piccadilly Circus. Both have theater districts where all the plays and musicals are staged.

While I was in London, I saw Big Ben, the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament (similar to our capital building where Congress works). It is the world’s most famous and recognizable clock. That was my favorite thing to see because in the Disney movie Peter Pan, Peter flies past Big Ben.

After Ben, I rode the London Eye. The Eye is a spectacular site. It’s the biggest ferris wheel in Europe. I also visited Buckingham Palace, home to Queen Elizabeth, to see the changing of the guards. I didn’t get to see much because there were too many tourists trying to get a glimpse of the Queen’s guards.

We finished are sight seeing with two bridges: the Tower Bridge and London Bridge. Both bridges cross the River Thames, but are very different. The London Bridge is more modern, while the Tower Bridge looks more like old England with a tower on each end.

After all that, the best part of this trip was returning to the hotel for a nice, long nap.

Editor’s Note: PHOTO: Kid Reporter Ash Proenza in front of his favorite sightseeing spot in Europe: the Big Ben clock tower in London. Photo Courtesy Ash Proenza.

We would like to know what you think and how was your summer? dan@youngchronicle.com

Source: Scholastic News Online

What is a Working Dog?

By Special Agent Bobby Bureau
August 23, 2009  

Editor’s Note: We are always looking for ways to inform parents of programs that will help them raise their children. Well we found one it is called “Special Agent Bobby Bureau”. We will be joining him to give you tips for kids of all ages. The best way to tell you about this agent is to let him tell you himself.

The Kids’ Page is designed for children and their parents to learn more about the FBI through age-appropriate games, tips, stories and inter actives. We also introduce you to our working dogs and show how FBI special agents and analysts investigate cases. First, can you help Special Agent Bobby Bureau get in disguise for his undercover assignment? He’s depending on you. You have to visit the sight to sign up as a special agent.

Today’s we talk “What is a Working Dog?” We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

We strongly recommend that you visit this sight with your child. This sight We rate a 10

 

You ask, “What is a working dog?” “Is it a dog that does more than hang out at the house all day and bark at the mailman?” “Is it a dog that gets in the car like Mom and Dad and goes to the office?” Well, sort of ….

Working dogs are amazing animals specially trained to protect people and to make life easier for them. Some working dogs act as eyes for blind people, ears for the hearing impaired, and helpers for the physically challenged. They also protect sheep from wolves, and they can help a police officer catch criminals. These special dogs can find victims of disasters under lots of rubble, and they can find people lost in the woods. They are awesome.

The FBI has some very special working dogs. Power is the newest addition to the group of Working Dogs at FBI Headquarters. His job as a Chemical Explosives Dog is to sniff out bombs, explosion debris, firearms, and ammunition. Other FBI Working Dogs find drugs, money, and people. Just how do they do it?

Dogs instinctively know how to find things. A Handler, the dog’s human partner, teaches the dog what to search for. A dog can use all of his/her senses, like hearing, seeing, and smelling to find a specific person or thing. To do this, though, requires a lot of training. They are always practicing, but the dogs love it because it is what they were born to do.

At the FBI, the Handler is usually a FBI Special Agent or an FBI Police Officer. The Agent or Police Officer and his or her dog work together as a team. The Handler teaches the dog to find very specific things in all kinds of weird places like in a tree, in the woods or a field, in a suitcase, in a car, on a street, in a closet, under rubble, or in the water or under snow. What do you think that the FBI’s Chemical Explosives Dogs do? They are trained to “sniff out” different explosive chemicals. During their extensive training, explosives scents are imprinted into the dog’s memory and the dogs are trained on every type of explosive. This means that they can detect approximately 19,000 different combinations of explosives.

 

Name: Kurt
Date of Birth: May 17, 2004
Breed: Golden Retriever/Black Labrador Retriever
Stationed: Washington, DC

 

 

Name: Atwood
Date of Birth: June 16, 1998
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Stationed: Washington, DC

 

 

Name: Power
Date of Birth: December 2, 2002
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Stationed: Washington, DC

 

 

Name: Bismarck
Date of Birth: January 7, 2002
Breed: German Shepherd
Stationed: Philadelphia, PA

 

 

Name: Disco
Date of Birth: 2001
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Stationed: Los Angeles, CA

 

Next Week: We will talk about Narcotics Detection Dogs

Source: FBI Kids

 

Book Review: Wintergirls

By Ariel Hasell
August 23, 2009

Being a teenager is more than just showing up at shopping malls and homecoming games. We review new fiction that explores the hard parts of life.

Wintergirls (Viking Children’s Books), by Laurie Halse Anderson, gives readers an insightful and heartbreaking look at Lia, a high school senior, battling anorexia. Lia — in and out of treatment centers herself — learns of the death of Cassie, her bulimic best friend.

She obsesses over the circumstances surrounding Cassie’s death, and consumed with guilt, suffers a relapse of her own disease. Lia’s desire to be an accomplished student, a good daughter, and reliable sister is directly at odds with her desire to become smaller and smaller. There are pages that repeat the words: “Must. Not. Eat.” Obviously, this is not going to be an easy battle for Lia.

Anderson is a celebrated young-adult author who captures the complexity of the modern, American teenage mind without reinforcing old strereotypes or relying on caricatures. In Wintergirls, Anderson maintains the tenor of her other works; her portrayal of anorexia is honest, enlightening, and doesn’t glamorize the disease, as other stories sometimes inadvertently do.

Age: 12+
Retail Price: $9
Available at: multiple sellers

Source: Grandparents

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what book you read this summer? dan@youngchronicle.com

Disciplining Your Child

 

By Jennifer Shroff Pendley, PhD
August 22, 2009

 

How do you keep a 1-year-old from heading toward the DVD player? What should you do when your preschooler throws a fit? How can you get a teenager to respect your authority?

Whatever the age of your child, it’s important to be consistent when it comes to discipline. If parents don’t stick to the rules and consequences they set up, their kids aren’t likely to either. 

Here are some ideas about how to vary your approach to discipline to best fit your family.

 

Ages 0 to 2

Babies and toddlers are naturally curious. So it’s wise to eliminate temptations and no-nos — items such as TVs and video equipment, stereos, jewelry, and especially cleaning supplies and medications should be kept well out of reach.

When your crawling baby or roving toddler heads toward an unacceptable or dangerous play object, calmly say “No” and either remove your child from the area or distract him or her with an appropriate activity.

Timeouts can be effective discipline for toddlers. A child who has been hitting, biting, or throwing food, for example, should be told why the behavior is unacceptable and taken to a designated timeout area — a kitchen chair or bottom stair — for a minute or two to calm down (longer timeouts are not effective for toddlers).

It’s important to not spank, hit, or slap a child of any age. Babies and toddlers are especially unlikely to be able to make any connection between their behavior and physical punishment. They will only feel the pain of the hit.

And don’t forget that kids learn by watching adults, particularly their parents. Make sure your behavior is role-model material. You’ll make a much stronger impression by putting your own belongings away rather than just issuing orders to your child to pick up toys while your stuff is left strewn around.

 

Ages 3 to 5

As your child grows and begins to understand the connection between actions and consequences, make sure you start communicating the rules of your family’s home.

Explain to kids what you expect of them before you punish them for a certain behavior. For instance, the first time your 3-year-old uses crayons to decorate the living room wall, discuss why that’s not allowed and what will happen if your child does it again (for instance, your child will have to help clean the wall and will not be able to use the crayons for the rest of the day). If the wall gets decorated again a few days later, issue a reminder that crayons are for paper only and then enforce the consequences.

The earlier that parents establish this kind of “I set the rules and you’re expected to listen or accept the consequences” standard, the better for everyone. Although it’s sometimes easier for parents to ignore occasional bad behavior or not follow through on some threatened punishment, this sets a bad precedent. Consistency is the key to effective discipline, and it’s important for parents to decide (together, if you are not a single parent) what the rules are and then uphold them.

While you become clear on what behaviors will be punished, don’t forget to reward good behaviors. Don’t underestimate the positive effect that your praise can have — discipline is not just about punishment but also about recognizing good behavior. For example, saying “I’m proud of you for sharing your toys at playgroup” is usually more effective than punishing a child for the opposite behavior — not sharing. And be specific when doling out praise; don’t just say, “Good job!”

If your child continues an unacceptable behavior no matter what you do, try making a chart with a box for each day of the week. Decide how many times your child can misbehave before a punishment kicks in or how long the proper behavior must be displayed before it is rewarded. Post the chart on the refrigerator and then track the good and unacceptable behaviors every day. This will give your child (and you) a concrete look at how it’s going. Once this begins to work, praise your child for learning to control misbehavior and, especially, for overcoming any stubborn problem.

Timeouts also can work well for kids at this age. Establish a suitable timeout place that’s free of distractions and will force your child to think about how he or she has behaved. Remember, getting sent to your room doesn’t have an impact if a computer, TV, and video games are there. Don’t forget to consider the length of time that will best suit your child. Experts say 1 minute for each year of age is a good rule of thumb; others recommend using the timeout until the child is calmed down (to teach self-regulation).

It’s important to tell kids what the right thing to do is, not just to say what the wrong thing is. For example, instead of saying “Don’t jump on the couch,” try “Please sit on the furniture and put your feet on the floor.”

 

Ages 6 to 8

Timeouts and consequences are also effective discipline strategies for this age group.

Again, consistency is crucial, as is follow-through. Make good on any promises of discipline or else you risk undermining your authority. Kids have to believe that you mean what you say. This is not to say you can’t give second chances or allow a certain margin of error, but for the most part, you should act on what you say.

Be careful not to make unrealistic threats of punishment (”Slam that door and you’ll never watch TV again!”) in anger, since not following through could weaken all your threats. If you threaten to turn the car around and go home if the squabbling in the backseat doesn’t stop, make sure you do exactly that. The credibility you’ll gain with your kids is much more valuable than a lost beach day.

Huge punishments may take away your power as a parent. If you ground your son or daughter for a month, your child may not feel motivated to change behaviors because everything has already been taken away.

 

Ages 9 to 12 

Kids in this age group — just as with all ages — can be disciplined with natural consequences. As they mature and request more independence and responsibility, teaching them to deal with the consequences of their behavior is an effective and appropriate method of discipline.

For example, if your fifth grader’s homework isn’t done before bedtime, should you make him or her stay up to do it or even lend a hand yourself? Probably not — you’ll miss an opportunity to teach a key life lesson. If homework is incomplete, your child will go to school the next day without it and suffer the resulting bad grade.

It’s natural for parents to want to rescue kids from mistakes, but in the long run they do kids a favor by letting them fail sometimes. Kids see what behaving improperly can mean and probably won’t make those mistakes again. However, if your child does not seem to be learning from natural consequences, set up some of your own to help modify the behavior.

 

Ages 13 and Up

By now you’ve laid the groundwork. Your child knows what’s expected and that you mean what you say about the penalties for bad behavior. Don’t let down your guard now — discipline is just as important for teens as it is for younger kids. Just as with the 4-year-old who needs you to set a bedtime and enforce it, your teen needs boundaries, too.

Set up rules regarding homework, visits by friends, curfews, and dating and discuss them beforehand with your teenager so there will be no misunderstandings. Your teen will probably complain from time to time, but also will realize that you’re in control. Believe it or not, teens still want and need you to set limits and enforce order in their lives, even as you grant them greater freedom and responsibility.

When your teen does break a rule, taking away privileges may seem the best plan of action. While it’s fine to take away the car for a week, for example, be sure to also discuss why coming home an hour past curfew is unacceptable and worrisome.

Remember to give a teenager some control over things. Not only will this limit the number of power struggles you have, it will help your teen respect the decisions that you do need to make. You could allow a younger teen to make decisions concerning school clothes, hair styles, or even the condition of his or her room. As your teen gets older, that realm of control might be extended to include an occasional relaxed curfew.

It’s also important to focus on the positives. For example, have your teen earn a later curfew by demonstrating positive behavior instead of setting an earlier curfew as punishment for irresponsible behavior.

 

A Word About Spanking

Perhaps no form of discipline is more controversial than spanking. Here are some reasons why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) discourages spanking:

       Spanking teaches kids that it’s OK to hit when they’re angry.

       Spanking can physically harm children.

       Rather than teaching kids how to change their behavior, spanking makes them fearful of their parents and merely teaches them to avoid getting caught.

       For kids seeking attention by acting out, spanking may inadvertently “reward” them — negative attention is better than no attention at all.

 

Source: Kids Health

 

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

Pastel Portraits

 

By Family Fun
August 22, 2009

 

Expressionist artists use soft lines and color to create a mood — in addition to the actual image they’re drawing. Try this simple technique for making your own expressionist portrait or self-portrait.

 

CRAFT MATERIALS

Wide-tip black marker 8 1/2- by 11-inch sheet of paper

Clear tape 

8 1/2- by 11-inch sheet of acetate (available at copy shops and craft stores) 

Oil pastels, such as Cray-Pas

9- by 12-inch sheet of colored construction paper

Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours

  

 

 

1. With the marker, draw a large face on the paper. Go over the drawing a second time to make sure the lines are thick.

 

 

2. Tape the clear acetate on top of the drawing. Use the pastels to color in the face on the acetate, but leave all the black lines uncovered.

3. Remove the acetate from the original drawing and tape it over the construction paper. Add more detail with the pastels if desired, but be sure to leave some places where the color of the construction paper can show through.

Tips:

If your child is reluctant to draw freehand, let her use an image from a photo, magazine, or coloring book. Just outline the details of the face with the marker before taping the acetate over it. For more of a challenge, give your child a handheld mirror and let her try sketching a self-portrait.

Source: Family Fun

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

Craft of the Week – Charm Bags

 

Family Fun
August 22, 2009
These rustic-looking pouches are inspired by those used by Native Americans to carry good-luck trinkets. (They make great carriers for portable music players too!)

 

 CRAFT MATERIALS

Shrink art (available at craft stores)

Colored pencils

Hole punch

4- by 11-inch piece of felt

Embroidery floss and needle

Small stick, about the size of a pencil

Decorative beads (optional)

1 yard of twine

Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours

 

1. With colored pencils and following the directions on the package, help your child design a piece of shrink art that will be roughly 1 1/2 inches wide after it’s baked down to size. Before baking, punch 4 holes in it.

2. Form the pouch by folding up the bottom 4 inches of the felt. Sew the sides together.

3. Lay the stick where the flap folds over the pouch and sew the stick in place.

4. If you like, string a few beads on the twine and tie off the ends. Tie the twine onto the stick as shown.

5. Sew the shrink art onto the flap or the front of the pouch.

 

Tips:
Instead of using shrink art, you can decorate the bag with beads or buttons.

 Source: Family Fun

 

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

Berry Banana Cream Pie

 

By Paul Lombardi
August 21, 2009

 

Description

A light, refreshing low-cal summer treat with fresh, frozen blueberries and strawberries (fresh could be used) in a deep dish prepared pie crust or graham cracker crust, fat free Cool Whip topped with crushed vanilla wafers.

 

Ingredients
1 cup fresh or thawed frozen strawberries
3/4 C fresh blueberries
1 pkg. instant banana cream pie pudding mix
1 prepared deep dish or graham cracker pie crust
Fat Free Cool Whip
Crushed Vanilla Wafers for crumb topping

 

Directions

Follow pkg. directions on pudding for banana cream pie which reduces the amount of milk used than if you were just making pudding. Beat until thick. Add berries and put mixture in refrigerator for about two hours to thicken more. Add to cooked pie shell and top with Cool Whip and crushed cookie crumbs.

Prep Time: 20 Min
Cook Time: 20 Min
Total Time: 40 Min

 

Overall Rating

 4 stars

Source: Eversave

 

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

Roast Turkey With Best-Ever Gravy

 

by Roger Kimpton
August 22, 2009

 

Between his work with the nation’s largest poultry purveyor and Thanksgiving-dinner classes, Rick Rodgers has experimented with every conceivable cooking method from breast down to deep frying and this is the one he always comes back to. The secret to a plump juicy breast is protecting it with aluminum foil. This long, slow roast is especially useful with the leaner organic and heritage turkeys which are gaining popularity today.

 

Instructions here are for an 18-pound turkey, but the instructions can be expanded or reduced depending on the size of your bird.

18-pound fresh turkey
About 12 cups of your favorite stuffing
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 1/2 quarts homemade turkey stock (see recipe)
Melted unsalted butter, if needed
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup bourbon, port or dry sherry (optional)

 

1. Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.

2. Reserve the turkey neck and giblets to use in gravy or stock. Pull out the pad of yellow fat on either side of the tail and reserve. (These are sometimes already removed by the processor, so don’t worry if they aren’t present.) If you wish, rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water. Pat the skin dry. Turn the turkey on its breast. Loosely fill the neck cavity with stuffing. Using a thin wooden or metal skewer, pin the turkey’s neck skin to the back. Fold the turkey’s wings akimbo behind the back (the tips will rest behind the turkey’s “shoulders”) or tie them to the body with kitchen string. Loosely fill the large body cavity with stuffing. Loosely cover the exposed stuffing with a piece of foil. Place any remaining stuffing in a lightly buttered casserole, cover, and refrigerate to prepare as a side dish. Place the drumsticks in the hook lock (if there is one on the turkey) or tie them together with kitchen string.

3. Rub the turkey all over with the softened butter. Season with salt and pepper. Tightly cover the turkey breast area with aluminum foil. Place the turkey breast-side up, on a rack in the roasting pan. Place the reserved fat in the pan — it will melt during roasting and add to the drippings. Pour two cups of the turkey stock into the bottom of the pan.

4. Roast turkey, basting all over every 45 minutes with the juices on the bottom of the pan (lift up the foil to reach the breast area), until a meat thermometer inserted in the meaty part of the thigh (but not touching the bone) reads 180 degrees and the stuffing is at least 160 degrees, about 4 1/2 hours. Whenever the drippings evaporate, add broth to moisten them, about 1 1/2 cups at a time. Remove the foil the last hour to allow the skin to brown.

5. Transfer the turkey to a large serving platter and let it stand for at least 20 minutes before carving. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Drizzle 1/2 cup turkey stock over the stuffing in the casserole, cover, and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes.

6. Meanwhile, pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a heatproof glass bowl, measuring cup, or fat separator. Let stand for 5 minutes; then skim off and reserve the clear yellow fat that rises to the top (for a separator, pour off the drippings and reserve both drippings and fat). Measure 3/4 cup fat, adding melted butter if needed. Add enough turkey broth to make 8 cups total.

7. Place the roasting pan over two stove burners on low heat and add the turkey fat and the reserved drippings. Whisk in the flour, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan, and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the optional bourbon, port, or sherry. Simmer 2 minutes, or until the alcohol evaporates. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the gravy to a warmed gravy boat, straining the gravy, if desired, through a wire sieve. Carve the turkey and serve the gravy alongside.

 

Yield: Makes about 18 servings, with about 7 cups gravy.

Source: Grandparents

 

Editor’s Note: Roger Kimpton is a freelance journalist based in New York City. Previously, he worked for more than two decades in the film industry as a grip, and on television shows such as Law & Order and Law & Order Special Victims Unit.

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Restaurant Review – Paradiso Ristorante Italiano

 

by Margo Osborne
August 22, 2009

Parents, did you realize it is possible to have a date night while your kids tag along?

Did you realize your kids could eat in their own separate kids’ dining room while you enjoy a scrumptious meal at your own table?

Did you realize you can do all of this at Paradiso in Alexandria, VA?

What an innovative concept! It’s because of this concept, superior service, and fabulous food that Our Kids (OK) highly recommends a visit to Paradiso.

Children actually have their own separate dining room. It’s located in the back of the restaurant adjacent to an “adult dining room” with a doorway and glass topped wall separating the two. The “adult dining room” is on the smaller side and holds approximately 10-15 tables. The size of the room translates into a possible wait time for this particular room during peak hours on a weekend, but it is also easy and quick access to the kids’ dining room. We visited late on a weekday night and were seated at a table directly adjacent to the doorway and could, for the most part, keep an eye on our children the entire time. On second thought, maybe we should have asked to be seated on the opposite end of the dining room!

The kids’ dining room is a sensory paradiso! Paradiso includes eight mini picnic tables in a spacious room, colorful rubber placemats featuring popular cartoon characters, ceiling tiles painted in bright colors, an equally colorful underwater scene on the walls, various “friends” hanging from the ceiling, and even a map of the United States adhered to the glass wall. See additional pictures online.

The menu, website and a sign posted outside the kids’ dining room emphasize the room is for ages three to ten, and is not a babysitting service, but a supervised dining room offered free of charge. In several places it reads children must follow the safety rules, but safety rules are not posted in or around the dining room nor were any rules outlined to the children. Please note that the children’s dining room is open every night for dinner only, not lunch.

Paradiso is licensed to play Disney movies, and The Emperor’s New Groove was playing during our visit. The friendly and conscientious attendant, who did not leave the dining room while we were there, explained there were approximately 15 movies that ran back to back on their oversized television..

We placed our children’s order at our own table before realizing they could place their own order with their own attendant in their own dining room. The children’s meal, which is $7.50, includes a choice of entrée, soft drink and ice cream. The plentiful entrée choices include chicken strips, fettuccine alfredo, cheese pizza, cheese ravioli, spaghetti with one meatball, and ziti pasta with meat sauce. The food is served on plastic plates and bowls and with plastic utensils.

Our children chose buttered pasta, cheese pizza and french fries, and were given generous portions they both enjoyed. It was refreshing to know the attendant was not going to serve them ice cream following dinner until it was ok’ed by us hovering parents. Also, with the lemonade/punch fountain in full view, it is way too tempting and simple for the kids to repeatedly ask for refills. They gain a certain amount of freedom in their own dining room!

During the course of our dinner, a total of three other families (a total of six additional kids) joined our kids in the dining room. All of the kids got along, and seemed to be happy in their own sensory paradise!

Remember what is paradiso for one family one night might be a “nightmaro” for another family on a different night. If you are pleased with your attendant, please remember to tip her/him as there is a tip jar near the television.

If you want to feel like you are going home to your cozy parents’ house for Sunday night dinner, then Paradiso is the place for you. From the moment we walked in the door, the employees made sure we felt welcome and at home. The person that seated us greeted us with a warm smile and explained how the larger room to the left of the entrance was a bar and smoking section of the restaurant, where they offer Karaoke on Thursday and Sunday nights. We poked our heads in, and Karaoke appeared to be a popular attraction in full swing. There is no need to be concerned about the smoke reaching your tables. The bar/smoking section is located on the opposite end of the restaurant and has its own door, which remains closed.

We couldn’t have asked for a more accommodating server than Ernesto. He ensured we knew the evening’s specials, ensured our beverage glasses and complimentary bread basket were never empty, and most importantly, ensured we enjoyed our Paradiso experience and meal.

If you are looking for Magianno’s or Landini Brothers-caliber Italian food, then this is not a replacement for your grandmother’s meatballs! But if you looking for an enjoyable, relaxing, solid, quality meal, then Paradiso should be added to your list of restaurants to visit this year. The adults ordered lobster ravioli ($16.25) and a linguini with vodka cream sauce ($15.95). The portions were generous, the pasta dishes were served warm, and did not disappoint. The entrees range in price from $9.25 to $17.25, and liberal coupons typically can be found in the Clipper Magazine.

Online, OK noted many favorable reviews of their Sunday Mimosa Brunch from 10am to 2:30pm. They also offer a lunch buffet Monday through Saturday from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Overall, the restaurant and bathrooms, which are conveniently located off of the children’s dining room, appear to be hygienic and well maintained.

Paradiso is located (barely) outside of the Beltway off of Interstate 95. It’s literally right next door to Springfield and also an easy trip from Old Town Alexandria. On our drive out of the parking lot, we also noticed an inviting outdoor seating area off of the bar/smoking section of the restaurant. If only they could add a children’s dining room outside as well. Is that too much to ask, Paradiso?

Editor’s Note: Have you been to Paradiso Ristorante Italiano?

What’s your opinion? Just drop us a note Infor@our-kids.com  and dan@youngchronicle.com and we will add your comments to this review.

Source: Our-Kids

Firefighter of the Week – Peter J. Ganci, Jr. Chief of Dep.

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
August 19, 2009

“Of all my parents’ friends, the only one happy going to work was a member of 120 Truck. I was only 16 then, but that is when I decided I wanted to be a fireman,” said Peter J. Ganci, Jr., Chief of Department.

Obviously, a wise decision–one that was prodigious for Chief Ganci, as well as the FDNY. As Chief of Department, Chief Ganci was responsible for both Fire and EMS Operations, Training and Fire Prevention and also was required to represent uniformed members of the Department at ceremonial functions.

It is no secret that firefighters enjoy their time in the firehouse. It’s where the action is, where they want to be. Headquarters is the antithesis of this and many balk when assigned there. Chief Ganci took a different tack when called upon. Although he, too, loved the action of the field, he viewed his assignment at Headquarters as “giving back to the FDNY.” In Chief Ganci’s opinion, “Staff Chiefs have the opportunity to make things better for the firefighters coming after us.”

At Headquarters, “we have the opportunity to make an impact. I’m very proud of the Incident Safety Officers Program (formulated in conjunction with former UFOA President Deputy Chief Artie Parrinello). I could not have accomplished this in the field; here, it’s a different story.”

Accustomed to action, working at Headquarters was a difficult adjustment for the Chief. “It seems that I spend an excessive amount of time trying to resolve one conflict or another. Most of the issues I face daily are problems of some sort. It doesn’t leave much time to acknowledge the good our guys do every day,” said Chief Ganci. “One of the most difficult aspects of my job is striking a balance between an obligation to the public and our members. I continually strive to do the right thing by both.”

How will Chief Ganci be remembered? He hopes as “a good fireman…a good Chief.” The name Ganci will continue to be familiar for many years to come, however, as Peter, III, now is a firefighter, assigned to Ladder 111.

Source: New York City Fire Department

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