MADYSON STORMY STAR JAMISON
October 29, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Missing Kids
| Case Type: Endangered Missing | |
| DOB: Aug 1, 2003 | Sex: Female |
| Missing Date: Oct 8, 2009 | Race: White |
| Age Now: 6 | Height: 3’10” (117 cm) |
| Missing City: RED OAK | Weight: 50 lbs (23 kg) |
| Missing State : OK | Hair Color: Blonde |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Brown |
| Case Number: NCMC1134094 | |
| Circumstances: Madyson was last seen on October 8, 2009. The two photos on the left are both of Madyson. She may be in the company of her father, Bobby Jamison, and her mother, Sherilynn Jamison. Their vehicle was found abandoned in Red Oak, Oklahoma, on October 17, 2009; however, their whereabouts are unknown. When Madyson was last seen, her front teeth were missing. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a long sleeve pink shirt with small flowers printed on it. | |
SHERILYNN JAMISON
Companion
| Case Type: Endangered Missing | |
| DOB: Nov 5, 1968 | Sex: Female |
| Missing Date: Oct 8, 2009 | Race: White |
| Age Now: 40 | Height: 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Missing City: RED OAK | Weight: 105 lbs (48 kg) |
| Missing State : OK | Hair Color: Brown |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Brown |
| Case Number: NCMC1134094 | |
| Circumstances: Madyson was last seen on October 8, 2009. The two photos on the left are both of Madyson. She may be in the company of her father, Bobby Jamison, and her mother, Sherilynn Jamison. Their vehicle was found abandoned in Red Oak, Oklahoma, on October 17, 2009; however, their whereabouts are unknown. When Madyson was last seen, her front teeth were missing. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a long sleeve pink shirt with small flowers printed on it. | |
BOBBY JAMISON
Companion
| Case Type: Endangered Missing | |
| DOB: Aug 4, 1965 | Sex: Male |
| Missing Date: Oct 8, 2009 | Race: White |
| Age Now: 44 | Height: 6’3″ (191 cm) |
| Missing City: RED OAK | Weight: 170 lbs (77 kg) |
| Missing State : OK | Hair Color: Brown |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Brown |
| Case Number: NCMC1134094 | |
| Circumstances: Madyson was last seen on October 8, 2009. The two photos on the left are both of Madyson. She may be in the company of her father, Bobby Jamison, and her mother, Sherilynn Jamison. Their vehicle was found abandoned in Red Oak, Oklahoma, on October 17, 2009; however, their whereabouts are unknown. When Madyson was last seen, her front teeth were missing. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a long sleeve pink shirt with small flowers printed on it. | |
CARLOS ANTHONY HUDDLESTON
October 29, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Missing Kids
| Case Type: Non Family Abduction | |
| DOB: Nov 4, 2006 | Sex: Male |
| Missing Date: Oct 17, 2009 | Race: Black |
| Age Now: 2 | Height: 2’6″ (76 cm) |
| Missing City: NASHVILLE | Weight: 25 lbs (11 kg) |
| Missing State : TN | Hair Color: Brown |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Black |
| Case Number: NCMC1133623 | |
| Circumstances: Carlos was last seen on October 17, 2009. He may be in the company of an adult female. Carlos was last seen wearing a blue shirt and blue jean shorts. | |
DILLION Q CAMPBELL
October 29, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Missing Kids
| Case Type: Endangered Missing | |
| DOB: Dec 2, 1993 | Sex: Male |
| Missing Date: Oct 20, 2009 | Race: White |
| Age Now: 15 | Height: 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Missing City: OLATHE | Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg) |
| Missing State : KS | Hair Color: Sandy |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Blue |
| Case Number: NCMC1133966 | |
| Circumstances: Dillion was last seen on October 20, 2009. He may travel to Shawnee, Kansas, or Trenton or Polo, Missouri. Dillion may be in need of medical attention. | |
National Zoo – Veiled Chameleon
October 29, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Human Interest
By FNZ
October 29, 2009
Taxonomy
Order: Squamata
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus/species: Chamaeleo calyptratus
Description
Veiled chameleons are one of about 80 species of Old World chameleons, also called true chameleons. They are aggressive and brightly colored. They have a casque, a helmet-like ridge, on top of their heads, which is a tiny swelling as a hatchling, but grows to two inches (5 cm) in height as the animal matures. As hatchlings, they are usually a pastel green, but as they mature they acquire bold bands of bright gold, green, and blue, mixed with yellow, orange, or black, that circle their body. The males are usually more strikingly colored than the females, which are usually shades of green mottled with shades of tan, orange, white, and sometimes yellow.
Female
There is marked sexual dimorphism. Males have a larger body and casque when mature than females. Male body length can reach between 17 and 24 inches (43 to 61 cm) from head to the tip of the tail and they are usually thin in appearance. Females reach between 10 and 14 inches (25 to 35.5 cm) in length. The female’s casque is smaller than the males, and they are more heavy-bodied.
A Specialized Lizard
Chameleons are specialized tree-living lizards that catching insect prey. Their bodies are flattened from side to side, and more or less leaf-shaped. They remain still and concealed for long periods of time and wait for their prey to come near. When they move, they do so slowly, and rock their bodies from side to side like a leaf in the wind.
Juvenile
Eyes
They have eyes that can move independently and look in two directions at once, as well as swivel nearly 180 degrees. They are therefore able to look in any direction, and even follow moving objects, without turning their heads or shifting body position. When a prey animal is spotted, both eyes will focus on the insect in order to perceive depth.
Hands and Tail
Chameleons are highly arboreal (tree-living). They have grasping hands that work much like human hands. Three fingers are fused together and face toward the inside. They also have a prehensile tail that they use as a fifth appendage.
Color Changes
Chameleons are famous for their ability to change color. The color change serves only partly for camouflage. Although chameleons at rest tend to assume colors similar to their surroundings, color change is most often used to signify emotional state. Many chameleons are some shade of green or brown at rest, but can become far more brightly colored when frightened, courting, or defending a territory against another chameleon. Veiled chameleons when startled or threatened may darken in color and “play possum.”
Male
Interaction with Mates
They are primarily solitary and males are very territorial. Males and females tolerate each other only during breeding.
Distribution and Habitat
Veiled chameleons are native to Yemen and southern Saudi Arabia, and reside in an amazing variety of different habitats. They can be found in the dry plateaus, mountains, and river valleys. They are arboreal, preferring to live in trees, bushes, or shrubs. They prefer temperatures of 75° to 95°F (24° to 35°C) and can be found in elevations up to 3,000 feet (914 m).
Diet in the Wild
The veiled chameleon is an insectivore. It may also eat leaves as a source of water during the dry seasons.
Zoo Diet
They are fed crickets daily.
Reproduction
They reach sexual maturity within four to five months, at 8 to 12 inches long. Breeding may occur up to three times a year. Females change colors within 18 hours of a successful mating. Egg laying occurs between 20 and 30 days after mating, with clutch sizes ranging from 35 to 85 eggs. The white, oval, tough-skinned eggs are buried in warm sand.
Life Span
The lifespan of a veiled chameleon may be up to five years for females and up to eight years for males.
Status
They are not listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The veiled chameleon is the most commonly bred and available species of its genus in the pet trade. The popularity of the veiled chameleon is due to a number of factors. Veiled chameleons are relatively hardy, large, beautiful, and prolific. Because they are found in a variety of habitats naturally, this species is tole
Baby
rant of temperature and humidity extremes, which contributes to its hardiness in captivity.
However, wild chameleons are sold for rituals and souvenirs. For example, some believe that throwing a live chameleon into a fire will bring good luck. The growing demand by tourists for chameleon “souvenirs” puts pressure on chameleon populations.
Like those of many other animals, wild chameleon populations are experiencing pressures from commercial exploitation and extensive habitat loss. Chameleon populations are particularly sensitive to the problems associated with habitat loss because many chameleon populations have evolved in small, often isolated pockets and are unable to relocate.
Fun Facts
They are probably best known for their long, sticky tongues that they use to catch prey. The tongue can be more than 1.5 times the length of their body. They “shoot” their prey with a tongue that can be projected in the blink of an eye.
Source of Information
All or part of this information was provided by the Animal Diversity Web and Museum of Zoology of the University of Michigan.
It appears here with their permission. The original author of this information was Ebony Jones.
For more information, including references, see the Animal Diversity Web account for this species, here:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/ site/ accounts/ information/ Chamaeleo_calyptratus.html.
Source: National Zoo
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
First Halloween
October 28, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Human Interest
By Toby Leah Bochan
October 29, 2009
This spooky celebration can be overwhelming. Follow a few simple guidelines to keep your little pumpkin smiling.
You may be excited to dress your child up and parade her around for all to see, yet for children under 3, Halloween can be a scary day. Take this advice to make her first Halloween a boo-tiful one!
Peek-a-WHO? Avoid a Costume Drama
Most young children have trouble differentiating between fantasy and reality, which can make not only people dressed as witches and ghosts, but even a life-sized Winnie the Pooh seem terrifying. Explain to your child that both kids and grown-ups will be playing “dress up” on Halloween. To help him understand that costumes are just make-believe, it’s a good idea to experiment with costumes and make-up about a week before the big day. Let your child try on different outfits and make-up and look at himself in the mirror so he can see first-hand that he is still the same person inside even if he looks different outside.
Likewise, seeing mom or dad go through the motions of putting on and taking off a costume will help him understand that it isn’t magic that transforms the kids and grown-ups he knows into princesses and robots. It’s best to avoid masks since your toddler relies on adults’ facial expressions to gauge how he should feel about unusual situations.
Chances are he’ll need to see your smiling face at some point on this strange evening. Plus, he may not be able to recognize that it’s you under the mask.
The Big Night
If you decide to go out trick-or-treating, make sure to go when it is light outside. The dark is scary for many children; Halloween night tests the courage of even the bravest kids with all the ghouls and goblins roaming the streets. Plan your route beforehand and make sure you go to houses that are friendly (no one answering the door in a scary costume).
Keep your route short — under an hour — and close enough to home that a speedy retreat can be made if he finds the festivities overwhelming.
A great alternative to taking your little one from strange door to strange door is to hold a small party at home. Introducing your child to the holiday in a small gathering will assure that Halloween leaves a positive impression. Another way your little one can experience the fun of the holiday is to have her help hand out treats.
Make sure you look before you open the door and decide whether the outfits outside are appropriate for her to see.
Take Care with Kids’ Scares
If your child is frightened by any aspect of the holiday, it is important that you remove him from the scary situation, acknowledge his fear, and reassure him that he isn’t in danger. Don’t tell him to “stop being afraid” or that “there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Instead, try to find a way to take the scare out of whatever aspect is upsetting him.
For instance, if he is scared of jack-o-lanterns you might explain how they are made, or blow out and relight the candle inside, while also telling him that it’s okay not to like them and that they can’t hurt him.
Source: Scholastic News Online
Editor’s Note: If your dream is to be a reporter and report stories like this one. We are looking for kid reporters.
You can contact us at dan@youngchronicle.com
Grade 2 Social Studies
October 28, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Parent's Advice
By Audra Wallace
October 28, 2009
Grandchildren tour the U.S., its geography, and its government, while learning to be good citizens
The second-grade social studies curriculum continues the theme of community. Students extend their study beyond their families, schools, and neighborhoods to include their state and country. They learn about their immigrant ancestors’ journeys to the United States, and the cultures that they left behind. In geography lessons, students learn the names and locations of the 50 states, find oceans and continents on a map and a globe, and use map symbols to understand the geography of their town, state, and country. Second-grade social-studies textbooks emphasize landforms, such as mountains, plains, and plateaus, and the different climates people experience across the country. Students compare and contrast life in urban, suburban, and rural communities, and learn how people in various communities use natural resources. Later in the year, the focus shifts to the U.S. Constitution and government. Second-graders learn how the country’s leaders, lawmakers, and judges work together to protect individual rights and promote the common good. Teachers discuss the characteristics and responsibilities of citizenship throughout the year, and several classroom activities center on understanding rules, taking responsibility, and resolving conflicts peacefully. Your grandchildren will develop an understanding of how citizens must make choices about their laws when they vote, and why voting is an important component of the U.S. government.
Warming Trend. Global warming is a critical issue in both science and social studies classrooms. As science teachers discuss the ways global warming may be affecting Earth’s environment, social studies teachers will examine the tradeoffs and hard decisions that citizens and political leaders must make to address the problem.
* Second-graders are reading more on their own, but they are still young and enjoy a good read-aloud. Share with your grandchildren books with social-studies themes, like Patricia Maclachlan’s All the Places to Love (Joanna Cotler, 1994), Susanna Davidson’s The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse (Usborne, 2007), and David Catrow’s We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States (Puffin, 2005).
* Benjamin Franklin will lead you and your grandchildren on a tour of the U.S. government, its workings, and its history, at Ben’s Guide, the federal government’s social-studies website for young children.
Red, White, and Blue Food. Grandchildren can learn about social studies well beyond the walls of the classroom — in your kitchen. Don an apron and let children help you make patriotic or historic recipes from Joan D’Amico and Karen Eich Drummond’s The United States Cookbook: Fabulous Foods and Fascinating Facts From All 50 States (Wiley, 2000) or The U.S. History Cookbook: Delicious Recipes and Exciting Events from the Past (Wiley, 2003)
Tackling Quarter Backs. The U.S. Mint has almost completed its unveiling of commemorative quarters representing each state. Work with your grandchildren to collect a complete set of the quarters. Which do your grandchildren like best? Which images offer the most information about their states? What kind of alternative design would they suggest for their home-state’s quarter? Can they place every quarter on a map of the U.S.?
Editor’s Note: audra Wallace is a former elementary school teacher. She currently works as an associate editor for Scholastic’s classroom magazines..
We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
Source: Grandparants
Denver Firefighters Museum Offers Safety Tips
By Kayla M. Gough
October 27 , 2009
Editor’s Note: Photo Kid Reporter Kayla Gough and Tracy Tisher, director of fire safety programs at the Denver Firefighters Museum in Denver, Colorado, stand in front of one of the museumâ??s historic fire trucks. (Photo Courtesy Kayla Gough)
We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com
October is National Fire Safety Month—a good opportunity to remind everyone of some basic fire prevention and safety rules.
One good place to learn about fire safety and prevention is at the Denver Firefighters Museum in Colorado. The museum houses one of Denver’s oldest original fire stations, built in 1909. It also includes programs focused on teaching kids and adults about fire safety
Tracy Tisher, director of fire safety programs at the museum, talked to the Scholastic Kids Press Corps about what kids can do to stay safe.
“Number one is to bug your parents to change the batteries on the smoke detector, because that’s basically your first line of defense,” says Tisher. “We need to know when a fire happens, and the dangerous ones are the ones when you’re all asleep.”:
“Number two would be that if there’s a fire you need to get out fast and don’t try to take anything with you,” advises Tisher. “Don’t try to bring your favorite toy or your pet with you. Your parents and the firefighters can worry about pets, you worry about getting yourself out fast.”
In the case of a smoke-filled room, adds Tisher, “crawl under the smoke because smoke rises in the air.” The air on the ground is cleaner and easier to breathe.
Tisher reminds kids that they shouldn’t get too nervous about fires, especially if they’re prepared.
“[Fires] don’t happen often, but when they do you need to be ready,” she said.
Along with safety tips, the museum houses the city’s fire history. Tischer talked about a 1950s fire at the Denver Athletic Club caused by an electrical spark.
“Everyone was getting ready for a Valentine’s Day dance, and putting up lots of paper decorations,” she said. Sparks caught the decorations on fire resulting in a four-alarm blaze, one of the worst in the city.
The strength of a blaze is measured in alarms, or number of fire stations needed to respond to the fire. The more alarms that have to be sounded at various fire stations, the more “alarms” are assigned to indicate fire strength. The largest fire is a five-alarm fire, which is very rare.
For more information on fire safety, you can check out the following Web sites:
Denver Firefighters Museum
FireSafety.gov
Source: Scholastic News Online
Firefighter of the week – Battalion Chief Battalion 49 Joseph Grzelak
October 28, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Firefighter of the Week
By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
October 28, 2009
Firefighting With Research
Around the firehouse, they called him Joe Knows. The chief of Battalion 48 in Brooklyn, Joseph Grzelak had been fighting fires for 28 years and memorizing trivia for even longer. During slow shifts he could be found at his computer, researching everything from home repair to bowling strategies. He was a history buff who read two newspapers a day, breezed through crossword puzzles and answered all manner of arcane questions for friends and colleagues (hence the nickname).
“We encouraged him to try out for ‘Jeopardy,'” Chief Grzelak’s wife, Joanne, said. “He’d watch it, and most of the time he was right on the money.”
Chief Grzelak, 52, had a mathematical mind that benefited the men he supervised. “He was very rational about fighting fires,” Mrs. Grzelak said. “When the younger guys would ask him how to approach a certain situation, he always came up with the best advice.”
When he raced to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, Chief Grzelak took a binder full of research he had compiled over the years about fighting high-rise fires. It was found, Mrs. Grzelak said, in his crushed car.
Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 13, 2001.
BATTALION CHIEF JOSEPH GRZELAK, 52, of New York, was in a bowling alley in 1970 when he saw a woman and told his friends he would get a date with her. He did better than that #8211 the two were eventually married. Grzelak, a Vietnam veteran, began his career with the New York Fire Department in 1973. “I didn’t just lose my husband that day,” Joanne Grzelak said. “I lost my best friend.” Grzelak had earned citations for lifesaving heroics during his career. A trivia buff, he even earned the nickname “Joe Knows” from his fellow firefighters. “He was the perfect combination of a father and a friend,” said his daughter Debra Grzelak.
Copyright © 2001 The Associated Press
Source Legacy
Wish of the week – Jordan
October 28, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Wish of the week
By MWF/PIO
October 28, 2009
Like many kids his age, 10-year-old Jordan, who is battling an immune deficiency, loves video games (especially Pokemon). But his fascination is not just about playing video games, it’s also how they are developed. His wish to visit Nintendo of America Headquarters was a serious gamer’s dream come true!
The aspiring video game designer and his family headed to Seattle, Washington for an insider’s look at the world of video games. Jordan met with Nintendo programmers and developers, who played video games with him and his brother in the employee lounge. Then it was time to meet his idol – Reggie Fils-Aime, the President of Nintendo of America.
According to Jordan’s mother, Reggie made a huge impact on him. She said, “Reggie talked, laughed and interacted with Jordan at his level and he was blown away by that.” The pair ate lunch together in Café Mario, where it was no coincidence that Jordan’s favorite meal – fettuccine alfredo – was on the menu that day. Jordan even challenged Reggie to a game of “Mario Kart” and won by one point!
Jordan brought his damaged Nintendo DS, which was held together with duct tape, so it could be repaired. Instead, Nintendo presented him with a new one and lots of other Nintendo loot. He and his family had a fun time going through the games, caps, t-shirts and action figures on their limo ride back to the hotel. There was one last surprise in store for him – a copy of the new Pokemon Platinum video game arrived at his Hollywood home a few days before it was available to the public. It was signed by several of the game developers.
Of the entire wish experience, Jordan’s mother said, “Jordan was spinning. He felt like a superstar.”
Wish Granters: Michele Primeau & Mindy Taran
Referred by: his mother
Sponsored by: Trafalgar Capital Advisors, Inc
Source Make A Wish Foundation
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@goldcoastchronicle.com
Officer of the Week – Police Officer Brian G. McDonnell
October 28, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Officer of the Week
Remember September 11, 2001
Angels Among Us
Police Officer Brian G. McDonnell
Shield 6889
ESU-1
9/15/2001
Police Officer Brian G. McDonnell
Shield 6889
ESU-1
Police officer Brian McDonnell wanted to change the world, and he’d do anything to save a life. A member of New York City’s emergency service unit, his squad was among the first to respond to the World Trade Center disaster Tuesday.
“He thought about others before himself,” said Glenn Gering, a close friend who grew up with McDonnell, 38, in Wantagh. “He wanted to change the world,” Gering said.
The Emergency Service Unit is made up of about 350 men and women who risk their lives to save others. Fourteen members of the unit are unaccounted for.
McDonnell, who has been a police officer for more than 10 years and was a member of the armed forces before that, is a devoted husband and father of two, Gering said.
McDonnell was supposed to go to Gering’s house tomorrow for cake and coffee. “Unfortunately, because of our schedules, we didn’t get together as often as we would have liked,” Gering said.
“I hope all of America will never forget this horrific act of terror,” Gering said in a letter to Newsday, vand more importantly, never forget my friend, Brian McDonnell, an American hero.”
– New York Newsday Victim Database 9/15/2001
Source: NYP Angels