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Another year of fun in the Portland-Vancouver area January 2013

Snow Play & Winter Fun!

It’s a Musical Life!Early Childhood Music Programs

The New School Lunch

School Open

Houses

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Contents

FeaturesIt’s a Musical Life.............................................................................................. 8 Early childhood music programs

The New School Lunch ................................................................................. 14

Snow Day .............................................................................................. ……….28 Where to go for fun in the snow

Viewpoint ......................................................................................................... 36 Five tips for buying energy-efficient light bulbs

DepartmentsParent Postings ............................................................................................... 6 Announcements, community events, fundraisers and other useful information

Out & About .................................................................................................. 32 Timberline Lodge

Family Fare ..................................................................................................... 34 Joe’s Crab Shack

Angels Among Us ........................................................................................ 38 Ethos Music Center

Advertising SectionsSchool Open Houses ................................................................................ 15 – 27

Parties ................................................................................................................. 47

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January Family Calendar

Family Calendar ...............................40

In the Spotlight ................................40

Family Favorite .................................42

Current Exhibits ...............................46

Parent Postings

Movin’ It with Mrs. Oregon

Tara Arnold, a pediatric nurse who’s been crowned Mrs. Oregon 2013, is exercising her passion for family health and nutrition educa-tion by launching Movin’ It, a cam-paign promoting healthy lifestyles for kids in first through fifth grades and their families through Healthy Kids Day & Health Fair events around the state. The first fair is set for Jan. 27 from 11 am–1 pm at the University of Portland Chiles Center, with fun exercise sessions, readings of health-themed children’s books, raffle prizes, demonstrations, information booths and more. 5000 N Willamette Blvd. 503-780-6256. facebook.com/MovingOregon.

More Oregon children have health insurance

The number of kids in Oregon going without health insurance decreased by 17 percent from 2010 to 2011, with nearly 93 percent of Oregon kids having coverage, ac-cording to a report issued recently by child advocacy group Children First for Oregon. Nearly 77 percent of 2-year-olds were up-to-date on their immunizations in 2011, up from 70 percent in 2010.

But it’s not all encouraging news. The recession helped push 12 percent more Oregon kids into poverty in 2011 than the prior year, the report says. Nearly 24 percent of Oregon kids live below the poverty line (an annual income of

$22,350 for a family of four). Nearly 50 percent of Oregon’s kids are either poor or low-income.

Children First’s annual Progress Report: The Status of Children in Oregon provides research and data as well as the group’s policy recommenda-tions. Download the report at cffo.org.

Evergreen fun for allEvergreen Aviation & Space Mu-

seum hosts Reaching for the Stars: A Special Day for Exceptional People from 10 am–3 pm Jan. 26, with activities for people of all ages with all types of special needs. $5. 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville. 503-434-4185. evergreenmuseum.org.

The write stuff Book lovers in grades 4-10

can win cash and other prizes by writing a personal letter to a favorite author explaining how the author’s work changed their view of the world or themselves. The Letters About Literature contest is a national reading and writing program sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Con-gress. Get more information and find the entry form at oregon.gov (search “Letters About Literature”). The deadline for entries is Jan. 11, 2013.

Serving the Families of the Portland Metropolitan Area

Metro Parent P.O. Box 13660 Portland, OR 97213-0660 Phone: 503-460-2774; Fax: 503-331-3445

Publisher Keith Goben, 503-460-2774 [email protected]

Editor Emily Puro, 503-922-0893 [email protected]

Managing Editor Calendar Editor Teresa Carson [email protected]

Contributing Writers Jedidiah Chavez, Cathie Ericson, Madeline Cox Landis, Heather Lee Leap, Julia Silverman

Advertising Account Executives

Westside/National/Outside Metro Area Debbie Dille, 503-997-4044 fax: 503-352-4373 [email protected]

Eastside/Vancouver/Washington Ali King, 503-331-8184 fax: 503-331-3445 [email protected]

Design & Production Susan Bard

For distribution issues, e-mail us at [email protected]

For calendar submissions, e-mail us at [email protected]

Metro Parent is published monthly by Metro Parent Publishing, Inc. and is copyright 2013 Metro Parent Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Metro Parent is distributed free of charge throughout the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.

Metro Parent reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason. Distribution of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised herein.

Metro Parent does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex or sexual orientation.

Although every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of published material, Metro Parent Publishing Inc. and its agents and employees cannot be held responsible for

the use or misuse of any information contained herein. The contents of

Metro Parent and its website are for informational purposes only

and are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or treatment.

Metro Parent

Tara Arnold, Mrs. Oregon 2013 and a pediatric nurse, is working to make Oregonians healthier at Movin’ It Healthy Kids Day & Health Fair events around the state.

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well as the group’s policy recommenda-tions. Download the report at cffo.org.

For calendar submissions,e-mail us at [email protected]

Metro Parent is published monthly by Metro Parent is published monthly by Metro ParentMetro Parent Publishing, Inc. and is copyright 2013 Metro Parent Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Metro Parentof charge throughout the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.

Metro Parent reserves the right to refuse Metro Parent reserves the right to refuse Metro Parentadvertising for any reason. Distribution of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised herein.

Metro Parent does not discriminate on the Metro Parent does not discriminate on the Metro Parentbasis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex or sexual orientation.

Although every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of published material, Metro Parent Publishing Inc. and its agents and employees cannot be held responsible for

the use or misuse of any information contained herein. The contents of

Metro Parentfor informational purposes only

and are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or treatment.

Tara Arnold, Mrs. Oregon 2013 and a pediatric nurse, is working to make Oregonians healthier at Movin’ It Healthy Kids Day & Health Fair events around the state.

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Young book lovers can win cash and prizes in the national Letters About Literature contest.

6 January 2013 metro-parent.com


Be safe. Make a video. Win money!

High school students are invited to make a safety video for a state-wide contest designed to increase awareness about job safety for young workers. The competition asks stu-dents to create a video of 90 seconds or less with the theme “Speak Up. Work Safe.”

Top prizes range from $300 to $500 and winning students’ schools receive matching amounts. The con-test is sponsored by Oregon OSHA and a coalition of businesses and safety and employee groups. The deadline for submission is Feb. 1.

For detailed contest information including tips, rules and entry forms, visit youngemployeesafety.org.

Miss Representation Family Forward Oregon (FFO)

presents a screening of Miss Represen-tation, a documentary film exploring how the media’s misrepresentations of women have led to the underrep-resentation of women in positions of power and influence. The screening, the first in a series of film screenings FFO has planned this year, will be followed by a panel discussion about raising girls and the media.

(This event is for parents and mature kids only.)

Tickets are $10. Jan. 6, 2- 4:30 pm. Academy Theater, 7818 SE Stark. For more information on the movie, visit missrepresentation.org. Get tickets and event details at bit.ly/MissRepWatchPdx.

Local program wins White House award

A Lines for Life/Cops Mentoring Youth drug prevention initiative recently won the White House Of-fice of National Drug Control Policy High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Award for Outstanding Preven-tion Effort. The award-winning local program, called Our Data, Our Voice, empowers teens to have a direct im-pact on drug use in their schools by surveying their fellow students and designing awareness campaigns. The program started in 2009 at Wilson and Marshall High Schools. Learn more at linesforlife.org.

Parent EducationRaising Our Daughters.

Dr. Kathy Masarie discusses the special challenges of raising daugh-ters. While girls have made great strides, they still wrestle with low self-esteem and pressure to be sexy, cool and “the best.” Jan. 22, 6:30- 8 pm. $10; pre-registration required. Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center, 19300 SW 65th, Tualatin. 503-692-1212. eventsvc.com/ legacyhealth/.

Positive Discipline for the Parents of Teenagers. This 8-week class covers effective parenting strat-egies for the turbulent teen years. How can parents make that tough transition from manager to co-pilot? Tuesdays, Jan. 28-March 19, 9:30-11:30 am. $150/person, $220/couple before Jan. 15. 12755 NW Dogwood Lane. positiveparentingpdx.com.

“Speak Up. Work Safe.” is a state-wide video-making contest for

high school students to increase awareness about job safety for

young workers.


n our distracted, mobile device-saturated society, 45 minutes is a rela-tively long time for a grown-up to focus on one activity.

For an infant? It’s an eon.Yet the dozen or so babies assembled on an overcast Tuesday afternoon

for Mary Beth Camp’s infant Music Together class do just that, from the first strains of a group “Hello” song through the chance to bang, beat or cat-scratch on a drum. Whether they’re placed on their backs with their caregivers singing and pantomiming above them, snuggled into laps listening to a four-part harmony or bouncing to the rhythms of a square dance, these babies are engaged.

In recent years, early childhood music programs like this have gotten a lot of attention for the range of purported benefits they bring to even the youngest children. Proponents say early music experiences foster the development of gross motor skills, balance and coordination; activate neu-rons in the brain that can help spur problem-solving skills; and give kids a chance to socialize with other children their own age.

(Among a vast array of studies on the topic, the Music Together program has conducted a great deal of research on the benefits of early childhood music train-ing. Explore their findings at musictogether.com/ResearchAndDevelopment.)

But perhaps the best reason to consider enrolling in one of the many amazing – and surprisingly diverse – early childhood music programs in the area is simply the opportunity to enjoy some plain old sing-out-loud, sing-out-strong bonding time with your child and other families in your community – even if you’re the type who’s usually embarrassed to sing in the shower.

A musical beginning“Early childhood is the key time in musical development,” says Bon-

nie Singer, who, along with Camp, owns and operates Portland’s Music Together franchise. “Children can naturally learn to stay in tune and stay on the beat. If you wait until they are older, it’s almost remedial.”

Think babies under a year old are too young for a formal music class? Think again, says Singer.

“All that bouncing and patting is setting a rhythm clock for them,” she explains. “If you expand that and pat them on the micro-beat, the macro-beat, the elongated beat, you’re giving babies musical inspiration.”

The Music Together program centers around nine instruments, includ-ing the drum, the tambourine, the fiddle and others. Each semester, a different instrument is highlighted and families are given a corresponding CD. In classes – which are offered for infants, mixed-age groups, and, for some older preschoolers, as a drop-off session – children learn to recognize a beat and sing in tune. (Many go on to perform in local youth choirs.)

Classes are formatted as an “immersion” experience, which means par-ents are asked to communicate with their children only through song and the teacher does the same. The theory, says Camp, is to “make as much music as we can in these 45 minutes.”

At MusicSeeds in Milwaukie, teacher Molly Beiningen offers parent-child classes as well as a MusikGarten curriculum for pre-schoolers, drawing heavily on folk music influences and the sounds and senses of the natural world. There are units on American Indian songs and songs from the British Isles. The African-American canon is studied, as are songs with a Germanic influence.

Some area programs focus on specific instruments. Claudia Reinsch, for example, uses a Harmony Road curriculum in classes for children as young as 18 months at the Westside Music School in Beaverton. The cur-riculum explores the basic building blocks of music – ear training, rhythm, movement and more – using the keyboard as a central tool. Her youngest students learn the concepts of high and low notes and black and white keys. By preschool, students begin learning to read music and understand-ing the language of rests and rhythms.

“They can see the patterns,” Reinsch says. “They have heard them, sung them, played them. The reading is a confirmation of what they have already done.”

Even very young children, like the infants and toddlers in Catherine Whelan’s SuzukiPortland program, can use musical games to learn about beat and pitch. Preschoolers in Whelan’s classes build on those concepts by learning the foundations of violin, viola and cello.

“Early childhood is the key time in musical development. Chil-dren can naturally learn to stay in tune and stay on the beat. If you wait until they are older, it’s almost remedial.”

– Bonnie Singer, Music Together of Portland

Early childhood music programs

By Julia Silverman

It’s a Musical Life

At Westside Music School in Beaverton, young children learn the foundations of music using the keyboard as a central tool.

Drums are one of the fun-to-play instruments featured in Music Together classes.

Music and movement classes can help children develop

confidence and coordination as well as a strong musical

foundation.

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A musical communityClasses for the youngest children do require parent participation, which

means letting go of some of your own inhibitions about singing, making music and being silly in public.

“It is important to participate, so even though I am horrible, I will sing,” says Zeljka Boyd, who lives in the Pearl District. She attended nine sessions of Music Together with her nearly 3-year-old daughter. “Such a big part of it is having fun with the music.”

Kids draw inspiration from their parents, Singer says, and singing and making music together is an important bonding experience, not to men-tion a chance to expand your repertoire of nursery rhymes and lullabys.

Many families forge close friendships with others in their music classes, too. When Singer took a break this past summer, for example, one of her classes continued to meet each week at a different participant’s home.

A musical lifeStudents of early childhood music programs often go on to play an

instrument, says Reinsch, like the three children of the Richmond family in Beaverton – twins Emily and David, now 29, and younger sister Leslie, now 26. Their parents enrolled them in the Harmony Road program because it seemed like “a reasonable time commitment (and) a low-key and economi-cal” way to bring more music into their home, says their father, Mike Richmond. They learned to sing in tune, read music and play keyboard. He recalls “family night” performances at Harmony Road in which even the smallest child would take a turn at a short solo performance – then deliver a deep bow.

All Together Now!

Ready to start singing and playing music with your own little ones? Get in touch with these local programs to learn more:

Bennett Suzuki: Private, group, parent-child, sibling violin lessons. Ages 2+. 8628 SW 50th Ave. 503-246-9945. ediebennett.com.

Harmony Road Music Center: Music classes with an emphasis on keyboard exploration. Ages 18 months-11 years. 17300 SE 82nd Dr., Suite B, Clackamas. 503-557-5145. harmonyroadoregon.com.

Music Seeds: Music and movement classes drawing on nature as a central theme. Ages 0-9. 15080 SE Laurie Ave., Milwaukie. 503-659-1343. musicseeds.com.

Music Together of Portland: Parent-child music and movement classes. Ages 0-6. Multiple locations. 503-236-4304. musictogether-pdx.com.

MusikWerks Studio: Parent-child music and movement classes. Ages 0-3. 4518 NE 28th Ave. 503-287-5028. musicwerksstudio.com.

SuzukiPortland: Early childhood music, including introduction to violin, cello for 3- and 4-year-olds. Ages 0-adult. Locations in Portland and Lake Oswego. 503-244-6190 (violin/viola) or 503-6355-3742 (cello). suzukiportland.com.

Wallden Music Studio: Music and movement classes for infants, toddlers, preschoolers. 7155 SW Alden St. 503-244-2286. walldenmusic.net.

Westside Music School: Early childhood music with a focus on listening, singing, rhythm. Older children learn piano/keyboard basics. Ages 18 months-adult. 1800 NW 167th Place, Suite 110, Beaverton. 503-533-5100. westsidemusicschool.org.

It's a Musical Life! continues on page 10


By the time the three got to high school, they were playing orchestral in-struments, including the bassoon, the oboe and the flute. One year, all three were principals with the Portland Youth Philharmonic. As adults, they lead musical lives: Emily is an assistant professor of musical theory at MIT, David is a freelance bassoonist and Leslie is still studying flute and training to become a flute teacher in France.

“The reason they were so good is that they had already learned the music,” says Richmond. “They could speak and hear the language.”

Such early exposure to music can pay off even for children who don’t go on to become professional musicians. Researchers have identified clear links between music training and the development of spatial intelligence, or the ability to mentally generate and transform a visual image, a key skill in engineering and mathematics. The youngest children learn about basic concepts like loud versus soft, high versus low, and fast versus slow.

Developing a strong sense of rhythm and timing can help kids develop athletic skills and become more self-confident, too. Most recently, scientists from Northwestern University in Chicago have suggested that musical train-ing physically develops the left side of the brain, responsible for processing language, which ultimately can help children learn to speak and, later, to read.

The main goal of early childhood music programs, says Beiningen, is to build toward “music literacy,” nurture a child’s singing voice and teach them how to move and keep the beat, skills she says will stay with kids throughout their lives, whether or not they become musicians.

“Our goal is for them not to become Mozart, but to have music as a part of their lives,” agrees Reinsch. “After all, symphonies need musicians and audiences.”

Julia Silverman is a Portland freelance writer and mom.

It's a Musical Life! continued from page 9

“It is important to participate, so even though I am horrible, I will sing. Such a big part of it is having fun with the music.”

– Zeljka Boyd, southwest Portland

Local families sing and dance with Music Together of Portland

instructor and co-owner Mary Beth Camp as part of a parent-

child music lesson.

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It's a Musical Life! continues on page 12


Baby, Let’s Dance!

We’ve come a long way since the Wiggles.

Once upon a time, kids’ musicians ran a short gamut from quaint to grating, and parents either reached back for records by Pete Seeger and Woody Guth-rie or made their peace with Raffi.

Then came a new generation of parents, all weaned on indie music, and a new movement – call it “kindie music” – was born.

Portland is a national hotspot for this new generation of family-friendly musi-cians. You’ll find them playing regular gigs all over town, often on a donation basis. Families flock to hear Mr. Ben at Santa Fe Taqueria in northwest Portland, Mo Phillips at Isobel’s Clubhouse in the Pearl District, Johnny Keener on his regular dates at the Children’s Museum, The Alphabeticians at southeast Portland’s Flying Cat café and many, many more.

A typical show features a mix of the singer/songwriter’s own works, covers of songs by bands the whole family can agree on, like The Beatles, and tried-and-true kid classics, from the alphabet song to ”Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” albeit often a jazzed-up version.

“What I am doing is a family show,” says Phillips, a father, former preschool teacher and aspiring rock star who started playing kid-friendly shows around town in 2008. He now plays regular gigs, helms birthday parties, tours libraries and does public school music education. “I am definitely as focused on the parents as I am on the kids. I want to provide the parents with a place they can come with their kids to relax and hear music they like.”

Zeljka Boyd, who lives in the Pearl District with her 3-year-old daughter, Helena, and her infant son, regularly takes her kids to see Phillips play. Each week, she says, she sees Helena perk up a bit more, singing along and recognizing more of the songs. At a recent show, she bought Phillips’ latest CD, Monster Suit, so they could continue the dance party at home.

“I was not raised in this country, so my repertoire (of kids’ songs) is very small,” she says. “This expands it. It’s a great thing.”

Portland always has been an incubator city for musicians, Phillips says, pointing to local bands like the Decemberists and the Dandy Warhols, who have gone on to find national fame. But even if the musicians you catch stay local, a live musi-cal performance is a wonderful experience to share you’re your kids.

“You are bringing your children, and yourself, to a live musical experience,” says Phillips. “You could be showing them videos on your iPad but you’re not. You’re bringing them to a live musical experience, which is irreplaceable.”

For more information on local family-friendly music shows, check our Family Calendar (beginning on page 40 and at metro-parent.com), or visit their websites directly:The Alphabeticians: thealphabeticians.comMr. Ben: mrbenmusic.comCat Doorman: catdoorman.comJohnny Keener: johnnykeener.comLorna Miller’s Little Kid Jamboree: westernhummingbird.comMo Phillips: mophillips.comRed Yarn Folk Music, Puppets and Stories: redyarnprojects.blogspot.comAaron Nigel Smith: aaronnigelsmith.com

– Julia Silverman

Zany Mo Phillips is among the area’s

many popular family-friendly musicians.

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Tiny Virtuosos

In a feature titled Say ‘Yes” to Music Lessons in our November 2012 issue, we included some advice from local music teachers who recommended children not begin playing violin until first grade or so. The article stated children younger than 6 years old typically don’t have the finger strength or self-discipline to master these stringed instruments.

We’ve since learned many music educators – particularly those follow-ing the Suzuki method – strongly disagree with that assertion! Accord-ing to Edie Bennett, who teaches violin to children as young as 2 at Bennett Suzuki in southwest Portland, “Violins are sized down to 1/32 size so anyone age 2, or sometimes even younger, can learn to play. My first 2-year-old student went on to teach violin, play professionally, conduct, compose, etc. There was never any issue about hand strength. Suzuki Method is designed so really young children can play.”

For more information, contact one of the Suzuki instructors listed under All Together Now on page 9.

A Class-ical Act

It was an only-in-Portland, magical moment. The scene was the sidewalk outside the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall after one of the Oregon Symphony’s family concerts, this one transportation-themed. Members of the audience, along with the Pacific Youth Choir, which had performed with the symphony, were milling about. I took a moment to congratulate one of the young singers and lament that the words of one of their songs, an oldie-but-goodie called “Come Away with Me, Lucille, In My Merry Oldsmobile,” had been a bit muffled from our seats.

She smiled and summoned about 15 or so of her fellow teenage choir mem-bers to join us. Forming a semi-circle around our small group of enchanted 4-year-olds, they sang it again in full force. Needless to say, we gave them a rousing ovation.

Even without getting a private concert, the classical concerts the Oregon Symphony puts on for families are a huge treat. In addition to KinderKonzerts, a series of half-hour performances at local schools, and Symphony Storytimes, where symphony musicians introduce their music and instruments to little ones at local libraries, the symphony performs a series of Kids Concerts for families each year.

Two more Kids Concerts are scheduled this season, both at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall: Inspector Crescendo, a musical whodunit (Jan. 6) and Dr Seuss’s The Sneetches set to music (March 3). These shows usually include performances by the talented members of the high school dance troupe Dance West and songs by the Pacific Youth Choir.

For more information about the Oregon Symphony’s Kids Concerts and Symphony Storytimes, visit orsymphony.org/edu/ (choose “Families” then “Kids Concerts” or “Symphony Storytimes”).

– Julia Silverman

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It's a Musical Life! continued from page 10

Skye Neal, now nearly 3, is living proof that toddlers aren’t too young to play violin.


A hot dog, fries and a syrupy fruit cup for school lunch? No thanks!

These days, school lunches are more likely to feature whole grains, non-fat milk and a fresh salad bar offering a variety of fruits and vegetables that rivals local restaurants.

In January 2012 – backed by the support of nutritionists, doctors and First Lady Michelle Obama – the USDA passed new guidelines designed to reform the fatty, starchy, processed school lunches that had become the norm. But rather than cause an up-roar with local schools, it turns out districts in the Portland metro area were already ahead of the curve, having implemented many of the major “changes” more than a decade ago.

The new guidelinesThe new federal guidelines stemmed from the fact that nearly

32 million children eat school meals every day, and a growing body of evidence shows kids who have better nutrition do better in school – both in their ability to focus and in their test scores.

In broad terms, the new regulations – which are being phased in over three years – require schools to:

• offer fruits and vegetables every day,

• increase the amount of whole-grain foods offered,

• reduce the amount of sodium and fat in foods served,

• offer only fat-free or low-fat milk, and

• limit portion sizes and calories.

According to Shannon Stember, RD, LD, assistant di-rector of nutrition services for Portland Public Schools

(PPS), the state’s largest district started implementing similar changes 15 to 20 years ago. Susan Barker, RD, nutrition services administrator for Beaverton Public Schools, says the changes are “business as usual” for Beaverton and many other districts in the metro area, too. “Advances” like salad bars and whole grain products, she says, are commonplace.

“People who are not close to schools have a negative perception of school lunches,” Stember says.

“Here in Portland, we never counted tomato sauce as a vegetable.”

The New School Lunch

By Cathie Ericson

• limit portion sizes and calories.

According to Shannon Stember, RD, LD, assistant director of nutrition services for Portland Public Schools

(PPS), the state’s largest district started implementing similar changes 15 to 20 years ago. Susan Barker, RD, nutrition services administrator for Beaverton Public Schools, says the changes are “business as usual” for Beaverton and many other districts in the metro area, too. “Advances” like salad bars and whole grain products, she says, are commonplace.

negative perception of school lunches,” Stember says. “Here in Portland, we never counted tomato sauce as a

vegetable.”

Learn MoreRead about the new nutrition

guidelines on the USDA website (usda.gov, search

“Nutrition Standards”), then visit your local school district’s

website to find out what’s cooking closer

to home. The new USDA guidelines are designed to increase consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains while reducing calorie and fat intake.


Cynthia Abel, nutrition services manager for the West Linn-Wilson-ville School District, concurs. “We were already offering a large selection of whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy products,” she says. “Students have been used to this for years.”

As an example, Stember says the switch from full-fat milk to low-fat then non-fat milk began about 20 years ago. As with any change, the prevailing sentiment was, “Kids won’t drink low-fat or non- fat milk!” As the healthier product became the default choice, however, complaints waned.

“Any time you make a change, you are going to encounter resistance,” Stember notes. Phasing in new foods gradually works well, she adds, like switching from white rice to a mix of brown and white rice and finally all brown.

Unexpected challengesWhen local nutrition services departments saw the new rules, the

prevailing thought was “piece of cake” (or more appropriately, “piece of Northwest fruit!”). As with many laws, however, there have been unin-tended consequences.

“People who are not close

to schools have a negative

perception of school lunches.

Here in Portland, we never

counted tomato sauce as a

vegetable.”

– Shannon Stember, Portland Public Schools

school oPen houses

The new school lunch is heavy on

fresh fruits and veggies rather than fried, processed or

sugar-laden options.

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The New School Lunch continues on page 16


As Barker puts it, “It didn’t improve anything. It just made our job more difficult.” She points to the extra work required for documentation and the need to reconfigure offerings to meet the new guidelines.

To meet reductions in serving sizes for kindergarten through fifth grade, for example, districts had to reformulate the size of pizza crusts and buns on short notice, creating a hardship because of items they already had on order. The requirements also state that a week’s worth of lunches cannot contain more than eight to nine servings of grain, which means sandwiches (at two slices of bread each) are out at least one day each week.

These stringent new guidelines can limit choices and creativity, says Barker.

“Manufacturers are still reeling from the challenges of meeting the new regulations for size, so even if there are some products we’d like, such as a tasty whole-grain muffin, we can’t find a manufacturer to make them,” she says. “Since we cannot afford to make most items from scratch, we need to depend on the food industry to partner with us to develop foods that we can serve to kids and they'll actually eat.”

The new rules also set a ceiling for calories – before there was no limit – which seems like a great idea but could be an issue for some students. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say about 30 per-cent of school-aged children are overweight or obese, 100 percent now get smaller lunches.

“For our high school student athletes,” Barker says, “this can be a major problem.”

West Linn-Wilsonville encourages students to take more fruits and vegetables to feel satisfied, says Abel. They also offer a second white milk for free.

The great produce debateOne of the biggest challenges

local districts are facing revolves around the fruit and vegetable requirement, though – oddly – it’s mainly an issue of cafeteria design.

Starting in the mid-1990s, local school districts began introduc-ing salad bars, citing studies that showed kids are more likely to eat foods they choose themselves. But the new rules state a cashier cannot release a lunch unless there’s a fruit or vegetable on the tray, and in many schools the salad bar is located beyond the cash register. That means kids now have to take a serving of fruit or vegetables before they even get to the salad bar.

With produce already on their tray, students often aren’t interested in the salad bar, although they likely would have taken more produce once they got there. Financially, reconfiguring the cafeterias to resolve the issue is not an option.

Food waste is another issue that’s caused some growing pains. To help alleviate the problem, many schools have instituted a “sharing table” where kids can put whole fruits or closed milks they don’t want – but were required to take – for other students who might want them.

Barker does see a positive side of the produce requirement, though, noting that kids used to be free to decline fruits and vegetables altogether.

“While we have seen an uptick in waste, we also appreciate the pos-sibility that kids might take a taste or a bite of the produce on their tray,” she says.

Abel has seen positive acceptance of unfamiliar vegetables, too, given the new requirements that schools offer vegetables from a variety of subgroups – red/orange, dark green, legumes (beans and peas) and starchy – throughout the week.

Show us the money (and time!)Like many challenges facing schools today, a lack of adequate funding

is a key factor. While schools now receive an additional $0.06 per meal from the USDA, a government analysis estimated it can cost as much as $0.20 to $0.30 more per meal to meet the new regulations. Abel also notes the need to retrain staff, and the fact that food and labor costs have increased – though some of those increases have been offset by increased participation in her district’s school lunch program.

All our sources agree kids don’t have enough time to eat a proper meal, and some of the new regulations have caused lunch lines to move more slowly.

“Any change that reduces eating time is a problem,” Stember says.

Food for thoughtThe good news is, when all is said and done, Portland-area parents can

be confident our schools are on the right track when it comes to serving more nutritious meals.

“It gives me peace of mind to know that what they are being served at school fits with the same nutritional expectations I have at home,” says Eileen Spillman, a parent with two kids in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District.

On the flip side, when fresh, whole foods become commonplace at school – and kids bring these nutrition ideals home – it can help initiate changes in the home environment as well.

Local school nutrition specialists know they have an important job feeding our students’ bodies, just as teachers feed their minds. We’ve all heard the adage “You are what you eat,” and these school professionals do everything they can to make it the best it can be!

Cathie Ericson is a Portland writer and the mom of three growing boys who often buy a school lunch even when she has painstakingly packed theirs.

“Since we cannot afford to make most items from scratch, we need to depend on the food industry to partner with us to develop foods we can serve to kids and they’ll actually eat.”

– Susan Barker, Beaverton Public Schools

The New School Lunch continued from page 15


While school salad bars have been popu-lar locally for years, new regulations have added unforeseen obstacles as students are required to take a fruit or vegetable before they get to the salad bar if it lies beyond the cashier station.

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For many local schools, good nutrition begins at home – whether that means harvesting produce from a school garden or developing partnerships with nearby farms. These are just a few of the exciting programs happening around the area:

Garden of Wonders at Abernethy Elementary School

Taking the concept of “Farm to Table” to a new level, southeast Portland’s Abernethy Elementary School has had a working garden for the past seven years. According to Program Coordinator Sarah Sullivan, garden class is just like any other non-core class, such as music or art.

“It’s a learning laboratory,” says Sullivan, explaining that math, writing and social studies all are integrated into the experience.

Students in kindergarten through second grade visit the garden every other week. Third through fifth graders dig in once a week. The goal is to grow enough produce so something from the garden can be included in lunch or the salad bar every day.

“We want kids to have a visible reminder that they had a hand in growing their lunch,” Sullivan says.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

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numerous area programs introduce students to fresh, local produce in the classroom, the garden, at the farm and beyond.

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West Linn-Wilsonville Fruit and Vegetable Tasting Program

From the unfamiliar “rubbed kale” to perennial favorites such as cherry to-matoes, students attending West Linn-Wilsonville schools are expanding their fresh produce horizons through a popular classroom tasting program. Most of the produce is donated by an educational farm run by CREST (The Center for Research in Environmental Sciences and Technologies), an environmental education center that partners with the district. This partnership also allows students to learn concepts in science, wellness and economics through field trips and outreach programs as students assist with the planting, harvesting and ongoing maintenance required on a working farm.

This is the third year primary schools in Wilsonville are participating in the fruit and vegetable tasting program.

“I can tell many of (the students) feel so courageous to taste something new when feeling nervous,” says Korene Erickson, who oversees the classroom tastings. “These class tastings create a safe, fun atmosphere in which to make good, healthy choices and try new foods.”

Tigard-Tualatin School District Farm-Fresh Produce

Tigard-Tualatin is making an effort to include fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms in their cafeteria offerings. During the first two weeks of the cur-rent school year, students enjoyed fresh corn-on-the-cob from the Willamette Valley. From mid-September to mid-October, Tokyo Rose, Ginger Gold and Newton Pippin apples from Hood River were on the menu, and organic Bartlett pears from Hood River were served throughout October. Other deli-cacies featured this year will include Willamette Valley green beans, plums and nectarines from Maryhill, Wash., and Oregon blueberries and kiwi.

Farm to School Programs

Many local schools are implementing innovative Farm to School programs, seeking to connect schools with area farms to improve student nutrition, promote farm-related curricula and field trips, and support local farmers. To learn more, visit the National Farm to School Network’s website at farmtoschool.org. (For local programs, choose “States,” then “Oregon” or “Washington.”)

Portland-based nonprofit Ecotrust also supports numerous farm-to-school initiatives in Oregon and southwest Washington. Find out more at ecotrust.org/farmtoschool/.

– Cathie Ericson

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Just DessertsAlways hot topic when considering nutrition, dessert has been downsized considerably in districts across the area.

Cynthia Abel, nutrition services manager for the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, says her district serves dessert once a week, offering items such as a 100 percent frozen fruit juice bar, a homemade granola bar with Bob’s Red Mill oats and honey, or fresh- baked yellow cake with dried fruit instead of frosting.

Beaverton used to offer a treat once a month, such as a 1-oz. package of goldfish crackers, pretzels or animal crackers, but those can no longer be offered as they infringe on the maximum bread/grain allowance. A small ice cream bar or an all-juice frozen treat potentially could exceed the new limits for calories or fat, and with all the math district staff are already doing to meet the requirements, they haven’t had the resources to figure out if it’s an issue, so they eliminated these items altogether. Sources say they hope to add back the occasional treat in the future.

Portland Public Schools (PPS) also has eliminated dessert as a regular offering, though the district usually runs two special dessert promotions during the year, says Shannon Stember, RD, LD, assistant director of nutri-tion services. Rather than offer dessert for a holiday such as Valentine’s Day or Halloween, however, they choose a non-traditional time.

“Holidays are so sweet-centric anyway, with classroom or home parties,” says Stember, “why double dip?”

Instead, dessert is offered to celebrate the “Civil War” game – the annual football game between the University of Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers – allowing kids to choose a cookie or cupcake decorated for their favored team. To honor “Read Across America,” which coincides with Dr. Seuss’ birthday, PPS schools offer Oregon berries on top of a small portion of white cake.

“We just make sure it’s an appropriate serving size,” Stember says, “and show how a sweet treat can fit into a healthy diet.”

– Cathie Ericson

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What’s Next?

As schools struggle to implement current changes, they’ve been granted a reprieve on one of the most challenging requirements still to come: Guidelines on reducing sodium won’t begin to take effect until the 2014-15 school year. At that time, schools must meet Target 1, which is 1,230 mg of sodium or less for a K-5 lunch. Target 2 – 935 mg of sodium – takes effect with the 2017-18 school year. The final target will result in a 54 percent decrease in sodium levels from the current baseline, decreasing the maximum per lunch to 640 mg. Congress has asked the USDA to do more studies before implement-ing the final two targets.

According to Susan Barker, RD, Beaverton School District’s administrator of nutrition services, many school nutritionists are concerned the new mandated sodium levels are too restrictive and will severely limit the ability of schools to provide a variety of foods that appeal to children.

“Ultimately, food only provides nutrition if it is eaten,” Barker says. “If schools are forced to provide unacceptable foods, we will lose opportunities to feed and nourish children.”

New breakfast guidelines also will phase in next year, when schools must meet mandated calorie ranges for each age group and half the grains served must be whole grain-rich. The second phase of the new breakfast rules begins in 2014-15, when schools must offer one cup of fruit each morning, the first tar-get for sodium will take effect, and all grains served must be whole grain-rich.

– Cathie Ericson

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The Choice that Makes a Difference!• Academic Excellence• Faith Formation• Rich co-curricular activities• Before and After School Care

• Registered and recognized by the State of Oregon

• Accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools

Archbishop Howard School at St. Rose Grades PreK-8 Open House: Wednesday, February 6, 9:30 am - 11:00 am and 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm5309 NE Alameda St., Portland, OR 97213 503-281-1912 • www.archbishophoward.org

Cathedral School • Grades K-8Open House: Sunday, January 27, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm 110 NW 17th Ave., Portland, OR 97209 503-275-9370 • www.cathedral-or.org

Christ the King Catholic School • Grades K-8Open House: Sunday, January 27, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm Student-led tours. 7414 SE Michael Dr., Milwaukie, OR [email protected] • ctkweb.org

Holy Cross Catholic School • Grades K-8Open House: Sunday, January 27, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm 5202 N. Bowdoin St., Portland, OR 97203503-289-3010 • Fax: 503-286-5006www.holycrosspdx.org

Holy Family Catholic School • Grades PreK-8Open House: Sunday, January 27, 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm 7425 S.E. Cesar Chavez Blvd., Portland, OR 97202503-774-8871 • Fax: 503-774-8872www.holyfamilyportland.org

Holy Redeemer Catholic School • Grades Preschool-8Open House: Wednesday, January 23, 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm Individual tours available daily year-round127 N Rosa Parks Way, Portland, OR 97217503-283-5197 • Fax: 503-283-9479maria.elmore@holyredeemerpdx.orgwww.holyredeemerpdx.org

Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School • Grades K-8Open Houses: Thursday, January 24, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm and Sunday, January 27, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm650 A Ave., Lake Oswego, OR 97034503-636-2122 • www.ollschool-lakeoswego.org

St. Anthony School • Grades Preschool-8Open House: Sunday, January 27, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm12645 SW Pacific Highway, Tigard, OR 97223503-639-4179 ext. 222 • www.school.stanthonytigard.org

St. Cecilia School • Grades PreK-8Open House: Sunday, January 27, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm12250 SW 5th St., Beaverton, OR 97005503-644-2619 • www.stceciliaschool.us

St. Clare School • Grades K-8 Open House: Sunday, January 27, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Campus Tours Available; Presentation at 12:30 pm 1807 SW Freeman St., Portland, OR 97219 503-244-7600 • Fax: 503-293-2076 [email protected] • www.stclarepdx.org

St. John the Apostle Catholic School • Grades PreK-8Open House: Sunday, January 27, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm Campus Tours Available516 Fifth St., Oregon City, OR 97045503-742-8230 • Fax: 503-742-8239www.sja-eagles.com

St. Matthew Catholic School • Grades Preschool-8Open House: Sunday, January 27, 11:00 am -1:30 pm 221 SE Walnut St., Hillsboro, OR 97123503-648-2512 • Fax: 503-648-4518www.stmatthewschoolhillsboro.org

St. Pius X School • Grades K-8Open House: Sunday, January 27, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm1260 NW Saltzman Rd., Portland, OR 97229503-644-3244 • Fax: [email protected] • www.stpiuspanthers.org

St. Therese School • Grades PreK-8Open Houses: Friday, February 15, 9:00 am; Tuesday, February 26, 6:30 pm; Wed, March 13, 6:30 pm 1260 NE 132nd, Portland, OR 97230503-253-9400 • Fax: [email protected] • www.stthereseschool.org

St. Thomas More Catholic School • Grades K-8 Open House: Thursday, January 31; Kindergarten Focus: 6:00 pm, All School Overview: 7:00 pm 3521 SW Patton Rd., Portland, OR 97221 503-222-6105 • www.stmpdx.org

The Madeleine School • Grades K-8Open House: Monday, February 4, Parent Information Night, 7:00 pm; Tuesday, February 5, Family Tours, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm 3240 NE 23rd, Portland, OR [email protected] • www.themadeleine.edu

Valley Catholic School • Grades PreK-12 Open Houses: Sunday, January 27Early Learning (Infants-PreK), 2:00-4:00 pmElem. (K-5), 1:00-3:00 pm; Middle (6-8), 2:00-4:00 pm 4420 SW St. Mary’s Dr. • Beaverton, OR 97007Early Learning: 503-520-0214 Elementary & Middle: [email protected] www.valleycatholic.org

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS


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SCHOOL OPEN HOuSES CALL fOr TOurSArchbishop Howard School at St. Rose: 5309 NE Alameda St., archbishophoward.org; 503-281-1912

Cascadia School: 10606 NE 14th St., Vancouver, cascadiaschool.com; 360-944-8096

Chinese American International School: 1855 South Shore Blvd., Lake Oswego; caisoregon.org; 503-348-3028

CLASS Academy: 2730 NW Vaughn; classacademy.com; 503-223-9099

Franciscan Montessori Earth School and St. Francis Academy: 14750 SE Clinton, fmes.org; 503-760-8220

Horizon Christian: 23370 SW Boones Ferry Rd., Tualatin; HorizonChristianSchools.org; 503-692-9312

Joy Central: 8815 NE Glisan St., joycentral.com; 503-252-1426

Little Garden Preschool: SW Portland; littlegardenpreschool.wordpress.com; 503-892-6678

Madeleine School: 3240 NE 23rd Ave., themadeleine.edu; 503-288-9197

Milwaukie Academy of the Arts: 11200 SE 23rd Ave., Milwaukie, nclack.k12.or.us/maa; 503-353-5834

Multisensory Learning Academy: 22565 NE Halsey St., Fairview, mla.k12.or.us; 503-405-7868

Odyssey-Hayhurst School: 5037 SW Iowa St.; odysseyprogram.org; 503-916-6300

Small Friends School: 7475 SW Oleson Rd.; smallfriendsschool.com; 503-388-2266

St. Therese School: 1260 NW Saltzman Rd., stthereseschool.org; 503-253-9400

SunGarden Montessori: 2284 Long St., West Linn; sungardenmontessori.org; 503-655-2609

Swallowtail School: 332 NE 6th Ave. & 31620 NW Camp Ireland St., Hillsboro; SwallowtailSchool.org; 503-846-0336

Tucker-Maxon School: 2860 SE Holgate Blvd., tuckermaxon.org; 503-235-6551

Village Free School: 2400 NE Broadway, villagefreeschool.org; 503-788-3935

Young Wonders Preschool: 4324 NE 17th Ave., youngwonderspreschool.com; 503-281-3819

Amiguitos! Preschool, Eastside: 5101 SE Aldercrest Rd., Milwaukie, Westside: 11675 SW Butner Rd., Jan. 23, 9am-1pm, amiguitos.org; 503-596-2661

Cathedral School, 110 NW 17th Ave., Jan. 27, 1-5 pm, cathedral-or.org; 503-275-9370

Catlin Gabel School, 8825 SW Barnes Rd.; Information Sessions only: Pre-K-K: Jan. 8, 6-7pm, Gr. 1-5: 7:15-8:15pm; catlin.edu; 503-628-3604

Cedar Hills Kindergarten & Preschool, 11695 SW Park Way; Jan. 16, 7-9pm, Alternate date should it snow: Jan.23, 7pm); cedarhillskp.org; 503-643-9010

Cedarwood School, 3106 SE 19th Ave.; Jan. 26, 10am-1pm; cedarwoodschool.org; 503-239-7633

Child’s View Montessori, 4729 SW Taylors Ferry Rd.; Jan. 23, 9am-12pm; childsview.net; 503-293-9422

Christ the King Catholic School, 7414 SE Michael Dr., Milwaukie, Jan. 27, 9:30am-12:30pm, Student-led tours, ctkweb.org; 503-785-2411

Cooperative Preschools (PCPO): see page 27 for open house details

Creative Children’s Center: 2515 SW 185th, Beaverton; Jan. 22, 6:30 pm; creativechildrenscenter.com; 503-591-0604

French American International School: 8500 NW Johnson St.; Pre-school (PreK-K): Jan. 18, 9-11am, Middle School: Jan. 31, 6:30-8pm; faispdx.org; 503-292-7776 ext 310

German American School: 3900 SW Murray Blvd., Beaverton; Preschool: Jan. 15, 6pm; gspdx.org; 503-626-9089

Holy Cross Catholic School: 5202 N Bowdoin St., Jan. 27, 9am-12pm, holycrosspdx.org; 503-289-3010

Holy Family Catholic School: 7525 SE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., Jan. 27, 12:30-2:30pm, holyfamilyportland.org; 503-774-8871

Holy Redeemer Catholic School: 127 N Rosa Parks Way, Jan. 23, 3-6pm, holyredeemerpdx.org; 503-283-5197

In a Child’s Path, Inc: 3053 NE 66th Ave., Jan. 22, 6:30pm, inachildspath.com; 503-281-2273

International School: 025 SW Sherman Ave.; Information Night, Jan. 24, 6:30pm; intlschool.org; 503-226-2496

Living Wisdom School: 4855 SW Watson Ave., Beaverton; Jan. 29, 11 am; livingwisdomportland.org; 503-671-9112

Marylhurst School: 817 12th St., Oregon City, Jan. 26, 9am-12pm, themarylhurstschool.com; 503-650-0978

Micha-el School: 13515A SE Rusk Rd., Milwaukie, Jan. 23, 6-8pm, micha-elschool.org; 503-774-4946

Northwest Chinese Academy: 8565 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy; Jan. 12, 10am-12pm & Jan. 24, 9-11:30am; nwchineseacademy.org; 503-546-3455

Oregon Episcopal School: 6300 SW Nicol Rd.; Parents Night Only, Lower School (pre-K - Gr. 5): Jan. 15, 7-8:30pm; Middle School (Gr. 6-8): Jan. 16, 7-8:30pm, Upper School (Gr. 9-12): Jan. 17, 7-8:30pm; oes.edu; 503-768-3115

Oregon Montessori Association, Open House Week: Jan. 28-Feb. 1; see website for dates/times; oregonmontessori.com

Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School: 650 A Ave. Lake Oswego, Thursday, Jan. 24, 6-7:30 pm & Sunday, Jan. 27, 1pm - 1:30pm, ollschool-lakeoswego.org; 503-636-2121

Park Academy: 17600 Pacific Highway, Marylhurst; Jan. 24, 6:30-8pm; parkacademy.org; 503-635-3088

Portland Christian Schools: ECE/Elementary, 11845 SE Market St., 503-256-5455, Portland Christian Schools Jr./Sr. HS, 12425 NE San Rafael St., Jan. 27, 1- 4pm, pcschools.org; 503-256-3960

Portland Language Arts: 10180 NW Brady Ln.; Jan 19, 10am-12pm; PortlandLanguageArts.com; 971-506-8838

Portland Montessori School: 4911 NE Couch St., Jan.26, 11am-4pm, portlandmontessori.org; 503-688-2992

Sonbeam Preschool & Daycare: 620 NE Clackamas St., Jan. 15, 3-7pm, sonbeam.com; 503-233-7272

St. Anthony School: 12645 SW Pacific Hwy., Tigard, Jan. 27, 2- 4pm, school.stanthonytigard.org; 503-639-4179 ext. 222

St. Cecilia School: 12250 SW 5th St., Beaverton, Sunday, Jan. 27, 10am to 12:30pm, stceciliaschool.us; 503-644-2619

St. Clare School: 1807 SW Freeman St., Jan. 27, 12 - 2pm, stclarepdx.org; 503-244-7600

St. John the Apostle Catholic School: 516 Fifth St., Oregon City, Jan. 27, 9:30am-12:30pm, www.sja-eagles.com; 503-742-8230

St. Matthew Catholic School: 221 SE Walnut St., Hillsboro, Jan. 27, 11am - 1:30pm, stmatthewschoolhillsboro.org; 503-648-2512

St. Pius X School: 1260 NW Saltzman Rd., Jan. 27, 1- 3pm, stpiuspanthers.org; 503-644-3244

St. Thomas More Catholic School: 3521 SW Patton Rd., Jan. 31, Kindergarten Focus: 6pm, All School Overview: 7pm, stmpdx.org; 503-222-6105

Summa Academy: 2510 SW 1st Ave., Jan. 26, 12:30 - 4 pm, SummaAcademy.org; 503-287-1785

Tiny Revolution Montessori and Suzuki School: 2036 NE MLK Blvd., Portland, Jan. 26, 10 - 11 am, tinyrevolutionmontessori.com

Trinity Lutheran School: 5520 NE Killingsworth St., Jan. 28, 6-7:30pm, trinityportland.org; 503-288-6403

Valley Catholic School: 4420 SW St. Mary’s Dr., Beaverton; Jan. 27, elementary (Gr. K- 5): 1-3pm, Early Learning (Infants-Pre-K): 2-4pm, Middle (Gr. 6-8): 2-4pm; valleycatholic.org; 503-520-0214 (Early Learning), 503-718-6501 (Elementary & Middle)

West Hills Montessori: Parents Night Only, Vermont Street Campus: 4920 SW Vermont St.; PreK: Jan. 29, 6:30-7:30pm; Lake Oswego Campus: 4515 Parkview Dr., Lake Oswego; Jan. 26, 11am-1pm; WestHills-Montessori.com; 503-246-5495


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Cooperative preschools offer an environment unlike any other.Guided by inspired teachers, children experience the wonder of discovery, while parents are involved in their education every step of the way. Please look in on this extraordinary early childhood community at any one of these cooperative preschools.

For more information, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ParentChildPreschools.org.

For more info on PCPO schools, please join us at the Co-op Preschool Fair on January 12th, from 10 am – noon at the Rose City Park United Methodist Church, 5830 NE Alameda, Portland, OR 97213. Or at the Preschool Resource Fair on February 2nd, from 10 am – 1 pm at Tigard Playschool, 9845 SW Walnut Place, Tigard, OR 97223.

Brooklyn Preschool2901 SE Steele, Portland(503) 234-7103www.brooklyncooppreschool.org Open House: 2/9, 9:30–11:30 am

Burlingame Preschool2401 SW Taylors Ferry Rd, Portland(503) 244-0689www.burlingamepreschool.org Open Houses: 2/9, 10 am–noon; 4/6, 10 am-noon

Calvary Cooperative Preschool3516 NE 71st Ave, Portland(503) 281-0908www.calvarycooppreschool.com Open Houses: 3/2, 10 am–2pm

The Carl Parent-Child Preschool920 NW 25th Ave, Portland(503) 226-6131 ext. 236www.thecarlschool.com Open House: 1/13, 10 am–noon

Cathedral Park Preschool7119 N. Portsmouth Blvd, Portland(503) 283-2714www.cathedralparkpreschool.org Open House: 2/21, 6-7:30 pm

Cedar Hills Kindergarten and Preschool11695 SW Park Way, Portland(503) 643-9010www.cedarhillskp.orgParent Info Night: 1/16, 7-9 pm (Alternate Snow Night: 1/23, 7-9 pm)

Creative Children’s Center2515 SW 185th, Beaverton(503) 591-0604 www.creativechildrenscenter.com Open House: 1/22, 6:30 pm

Gabriel Park Preschool5815 SW Gillcrest Ct, Portland(503) 680-5646www.gabrielparkpreschool.com Open House: 1/26, 11 am–1 pm

Hancock Street Preschool1624 NE Hancock St, Portland(503) 853-6274www.hancockstreetpreschool.com Open House: 2/2, 9:30 am-noon

Irvington Preschool2710 NE 14th Ave, Portland(503) 287-3288www.irvingtonpreschool.org Open House: 2/23, 10 am–2 pm

Kenilworth Community Preschool4028 SE 34th, Portland(503) 235-3977www.kenilworthcps.org Open House: 2/9, 10 am-1 pm

Lee Owen Stone Preschool2728 NE 34th Ave, Portland(503) 735-4755www.leeowenstonepreschool.org Open House: 2/23, 10 am–1 pm

Metzger Community Preschool9055 SW Locust St, Tigard(503) 597-8525www.metzgerpreschool.com Open House: 2/23, 9:30 am–12:30 pm

Mt. Tabor Preschool5441 SE Belmont, Portland(503) 914-1988www.mttaborpreschool.org Open House: 1/26, 10 am–noon

Multnomah Playschool5500 SW Dosch Road, Portland(503) 244-9141www.multnomahplayschool.com Open House: 1/24, 6:30-8:30 pm

Oswego Playschool516 8th St., Lake Oswego(503) 636-1345www.oswegoplayschool.com Open House: 2/2, 10 am–noon

Portland Circle of Friends & Family Preschool9015 SE Rural St, Rm. 2, Portland(503) 916-5762www.portlandcircleoffriends.org Open House: 3/13, 6:30–8 pm

Portland Tillamook Preschool 935 NE 33rd Ave, Portland(503) 234-1691www.tillamookpreschool.org Open House: 2/23, 10 am–1 pm (Teacher presentation @ 11:30 am)

Rose City Neighborhood Preschool

5830 NE Alameda, Portland(503) 228-8457 (Meaghen)www.rosecitycoop.org Open House: 2/5, 6:30-8 pm; 2/9, 10 am-noon

Southwest Parent Child Collective6053 SW 55th Dr, Portland(503) 244-6604www.swparentchild.org Open House: 2/2, 10:30 am–12:30 pm

Sunset Preschool6100 SW Raab Rd, Portland(503) 246-6435www.sunset-preschool.com Open House: 1/29, 7 pm

Tualatin Valley Preschool9230 SW Siletz Dr, Tualatin(503) 691-9866www.tualatinvalleypreschool.org Open House: 2/8 & 2/9, 9 am-1 pm

Village Preschool9750 SW Terwilliger Blvd, Portland(503) 245-0482www.swvillagepreschool.com Open House: 1/26, 10am–noon

West Linn Community Preschool5933 Holmes St, West Linn(503) 657-5050www.wlcp.org Open House: 2/7, 11:30 am-1 pm

Woodhaven School11265 SW Cabot Street, Beaverton(503) 520-0807www.woodhavenschool.com Open Houses: 1/12; 3/9; 6/1, 3-5 pm

Youngset Preschool1838 SW Jefferson, Portland(503) 221-0224www.youngsetpreschool.com Open Houses: 1/24, 7-9 pm


❆❆❆❆

❆

hile your kids are crossing their fingers for the rare “snow day” that closes area schools, why not make your own plans for snowy family fun in the mountains?

Whether it’s skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snowshoeing, or just plain playing in the snow, there are plenty of options for winter fun around the region. We can’t think of a better way to stay active, enjoy the brisk fresh air – and make some wonderful family memories!

SnowshoeingSnowshoeing can be a heart-pumping, athletic pursuit or a leisurely

trek along snow-covered trails. My husband and I have snowshoed with a baby in a pack and two kids under age 6 on tiny “bear paw” snowshoes. Kids that young are thrilled to be out in the wonderful whiteness, but they aren’t interested in hiking long distances. Instead, they’re likely to stop to build a snowman three feet from the parking lot.

To get the most out of your trip, consider having the adults in your party take turns hanging out with the kids. After the ini-tial frenzy of struggling into gear and hoisting the little ones over the inevitable snow bank, one of you can stride ahead for five minutes of solitude then back-track to rejoin the family. The kids may only have progressed a few feet, eating snow along the way, but your solo journeys will increase your enjoyment and leave you with more enthusiasm for snowball fights and building snow people later in the day.

Snowshoeing offers a slower pace than skiing or sledding, allowing you to enjoy the majesty of the mountain and share it with your children in a way everyone can enjoy.

Forest Service trails are great places for families to try snowshoeing. Find maps and descriptions at: usda.gov (search “snowshoeing Mt Hood”). Find additional snowshoe trails at Cooper Spur, Mt. Bachelor and Willamette Pass ski areas.

Alpine Skiing & SnowboardingSnowboarding and Alpine skiing (also known as downhill skiing) build

strength and determination in children and adults. Northeast Portland mom Kristen Kopack goes snowboarding while her husband and 7-year-old daughter ski. She encourages families to invest in a few lessons for kids headed to the slopes.

“They can be with kids their own age or skill level and have fun while Mom and Dad ski,” she says. Ski lessons have helped her daughter develop the skills and confidence she needs to keep up with the family.

“I enjoy seeing her be fearless, yet in control,” says Kopack. If your kids are very young and you have some experience skiing, you

might choose to teach them yourself. Mark Dorn has enjoyed teaching his three girls to ski at Summit Ski Resort, where children 5 and under ski free with an adult. Toddlers and preschoolers are likely to tire and lose interest in a short time, but Dorn finds that going up for half a day allows them enough time for instruction and bonding – especially on the lifts!

Snowboarding requires more balance than skiing and a child’s center of gravity is higher the younger she is, which increases instability on the board. Falls are more likely for the beginning snowboarder, and lessons can help kids learn to fall as safely as possible. Stick with skiing until age 5 or older, when your child will have a lower center of gravity and better coordination.

Mt. Hood Meadows offers a lot of terrain the whole family can enjoy, Kopack says. Group lessons start at age 4 and a beginner hill is available if

Be Courteous: Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing often use the same trails, but snowshoe prints destroy the trail for skiers. Never snowshoe over ski tracks; instead, stay to the side.

For details about specific ski areas, see Finding

Winter Fun on page 30.

❆❆Snow Day! Snow Day! Snow Day! Snow Day! ❆Snow Day! ❆❆Snow Day! ❆Snow Day! By Heather Lee Leap

w hile your kids are crossing their fingers for the rare “snow day”w hile your kids are crossing their fingers for the rare “snow day” that closes area schools, why not make your own plans for w that closes area schools, why not make your own plans for snowy family fun in the mountains? w snowy family fun in the mountains?

✸ hile your kids are crossing their fingers for the rare “snow day”

✸ hile your kids are crossing their fingers for the rare “snow day”

Many local ski resorts – includ-ing Mt. Hood Meadows – offer lessons for kids and woderful terrain for family skiing.


Where to go for fun in the snow

❆❆Where to go for

❆Where to go for

❆❆❆fun in the snow

❆fun in the snow

✸you’re game for teaching your own kids. Skibowl offers the most night-skiing terrain for families who don’t want to pack up when the sun goes down.

Nordic Skiing Nordic – or cross-country – skiing is excellent exercise for all ages

and is simple to learn. If your kids are old enough to try skiing but still tire easily, you can pull a sled or rent a KinderShuttle (imagine your bike trailer on skis). The sled is also a great option if you’re not comfortable skiing with a baby or toddler in a pack.

Like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing doesn’t require a lift ticket and many trails are accessible with only a Sno-park permit (required to park in most ski and snow play areas). Groomed trails are generally easier for beginners as grooming breaks up the slippery, icy crust. Very young chil-dren will be most successful without ski poles as beginners tend to stick their poles out in front of them which can cause skis and poles to become tangled.

Teacup Lake Nordic area features groomed trails for all levels and a cozy warming hut if you want a place to eat lunch out of the weather. Teacup Lake Nordic Club, which maintains the area, offers lessons for kids and adults by appointment, as well as a youth skiing program for club members, with various levels for kids 6 and older.

Lessons also are available on the 15 miles of groomed track at Mount Hood Meadows.

For additional cross-country trails, use the link to Forest Service trails listed under snowshoeing.

You can rent a KinderShuttle at Otto’s ski shop (38716 Pioneer Blvd., 503-668-5947, ottosskishop.com) in Sandy or the Mountain Shop (1510 NE 37th Ave., 503-288-6768, mountainshop.net) in Portland.

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Snow Day! continues on page 30


❆❆

❆

Sledding and Tubing Sledding and inner-tubing are great equalizers on the

slopes. Little skill is required and there’s plenty of raucous fun. Bring your own sleds to Trillium Lake, where you’ll find a sledding hill at the far end of the parking lot. You can also bring your own tube or plastic sled to Little John Snow Park, a free sledding hill.

Tubing on the larger slopes at ski resorts is always a big hit, especially with older kids and teens. Skibowl’s Snow Tube and Adventure Park offers hills for kids of all ages, as well as Mt. Hood’s only conveyor belt tube lift (like an uphill moving sidewalk). Cosmic Tubing is popular with teens – they love zipping down the hills under black lights accompanied by music! Hesitant young tubers can get their bearings by being towed in a circle on the Electric Tube Carousel. When the cold starts to seep in, take children 48 inches tall and under to the heated Indoor Super Play Zone to romp in the ball pit, climb, slide and crawl through tunnels.

Cooper Spur Ski Area and Tubing Park, a quaint family re-sort that’s a little off the beaten path, will appeal to families who

finding Winter fun

NOTE: “Alpine” is also called “downhill” skiing. “Nordic” is also called “cross country.”

Mt. Hood Area:

Cooper Spur Ski Area & Tubing Park: 11000 Cloud Cap Rd., Mt. Hood; 541-352-7803; cooperspur.com. Alpine, Nordic and snowshoe trails; tubing; over-the snow carousel for kids up to 42 inches tall. Lessons: Alpine skiing, snowboarding. (About 90 miles from Portland)

Little John Snow Park: 31 miles south of Hood River on Hwy. 35; 541-352-6002. Un-developed snow play area; tubes/plastic sleds only. FREE (Sno-park permit required). (About 75 miles from Portland)

Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort: Off Hwy. 35, Mt. Hood; 503-337-2222; skihood.com. Alpine and Nordic trails; no snowshoeing on Nordic trails. Lessons: Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding. (About 70 miles from Portland)

Northwest Discoveries: 503-524-9192, nwdiscoveries.com. Organized adventures including snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, more. Children 11 and older with an adult.

Skibowl: 87000 E Hwy. 26, Government Camp; 503-272-3206; skibowl.com. Alpine ski runs from toddler to extreme; sleigh rides; miniature snowmobiles. Lessons: Alpine skiing, snowboarding. (About 60 miles from Portland)

Summit Ski Area and Snow Bunny: Hwy. 26, Government Camp; 503-272-0256; sum-mitskiarea.com. Alpine skiing, tubing; no personal sleds/tubes. Lessons: Alpine skiing, snowboarding. (About 60 miles from Portland)

Teacup Lake: Hwy. 35, Mt. Hood; 541-806-2612; teacupnordic.org. Operated by the all-volunteer Teacup Lake Nordic Club. Nordic skiing only. Weekly youth program for club members 6 and older. Lessons by appointment. Trails groomed, warming hut open Tues, Wed, Sat, Sun, conditions permitting. (About 70 miles from Portland)

Timberline Lodge and Ski Area: 27500 E Timberline Rd., Mt. Hood; 503-272-3311; timberlinelodge.com. Alpine skiing; lessons; historic lodge. (About 65 miles from Portland. Read more about Timberline in Out & About on page 32.)

Trillium Lake Sno-park: Hwy. 26, approximately 2.5 miles east of Timberline Rd. Sledding hill; bring your own sled. (About 60 miles from Portland)

For more options, visit usda.gov (search “winter sports Mt. Hood”).

Other Areas:

Hoodoo Ski Area: Hwy. 20, 20 miles northwest of Sisters; 541-822-3799; hoodoo.com. Alpine and Nordic skiing; one of the largest tubing parks in the West. Lessons: Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding. (About 135 miles from Portland)

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort: 22 miles southwest of Bend on Cascade Lakes Hwy., 13000 SW Century Dr., Bend; 800-829-2442; mtbachelor.com. One of the largest ski resorts in the country. Alpine, Nordic and snowshoeing trails; tubing; sled dog rides. Lessons: Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing. (About 190 miles from Portland)

Willamette Pass Ski Area: Hwy. 58, 70 miles east of Eugene; 541-345-SNOW; willamettepass.com. Alpine and Nordic runs; snowshoeing; tubing. No personal sleds/tubes. Lessons: Alpine skiing, snowboarding. (About 175 miles from Portland)

– Heather Lee Leap

Park Smart: A Sno-Park permit is required to park in desig-nated winter recreation areas throughout Oregon from Nov. 1 to April 30.

Annual ($20), three-day ($7) and one-day ($3) passes are avail-able at DMV offices as well as ski lodges, sporting goods stores and rental shops, Bi-Mart stores and many gas stations and other businesses on your way up the mountain. (Retail outlets may charge a small fee in addition to the permit cost.)

Oregon Sno-Park permits are valid in California, Washington and Idaho, and Sno-Park permits from those states are valid in Oregon.

PHOTO BY HEATHER LEE LEAP

You’re never too young to get out and enjoy the snow!

Snow Day! continued from page 29


prefer a quieter destination. The resort includes two tubing areas acces-sible by rope tow and a snow carousel for children under 42 inches tall.

A little further from the metro area (about 20 miles from Sisters), Hoo-doo is home to one of the largest tubing parks in the West. Kids younger than 6 can ride a tube with an adult at the Autobahn Tubing Park, or bring your own sled or rent a kiddie tube to try the smaller sledding hill.

Mt. Hood’s Summit Ski Area and Snow Bunny also offer several tubing options for all ages.

(See Finding Winter Fun on page 30 for locations and other details.)

Heather Lee Leap is a Portland freelance writer and mom.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COOPER SPUR SKI AREA & TUBING PARKPHOTO COURTESY OF THE GROSSMAN FAMILY

Like snowshoeing, Nordic (cross-country) skiing doesn’t require a lift ticket and many trails are

accessible with only a Sno-park permit (required to park in most

ski and snow play areas).

Heading uphill can be as much fun as riding an inner tube down

with Cooper Spur’s rope tow (pictured), Skibowl’s conveyer

belt tube lift and others.


Out & About

Way up high, at 6,000 feet on the snow-covered slopes of Oregon’s iconic Mt. Hood, Timberline Lodge beckons families with its postcard-perfect alpine setting and the promise of wintry adventure.

For many Portland-area families, a trip to Timberline Lodge is an annual winter tradition. Others (the parents, that is) might be most familiar with the lodge as the exterior setting for the 1980 movie The Shining.

Until last year, my family’s ex-perience with Timberline Lodge was somewhere in between. While my husband and I both had visited long ago, in recent years it was only as a side trip while heading over the mountain to Bend. When we decided to take our family on an overnight ski trip to Timberline Lodge last March, we did not anticipate the magical experience that awaited us. We were smitten. The builders of this historic gem had an enduring vision.

Timberline Lodge was officially dedicated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in September 1937, though it didn’t open to the public until the following February (75 years ago next month!). The lodge is considered by many to be the crown jewel of WPA (Works Progress Administration) projects in the Northwest, if not the entire country. It was established as a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Oregon, drawing nearly 2 million visitors every year.

With a commitment to continual preservation, Timberline Lodge has stayed true to its original character while offering all the amenities a family needs for a truly memorable mountain weekend. And the fact that it’s the only slope-side lodging in the state means once you park your car, you need not drive again until you head home.

Overnight optionsIf you’re on a budget, consider the lodge’s European-style Chalet bunk

rooms for an overnight stay, with shared bathrooms and space for two to 10 people ($130 average, though prices vary by day of the week, season and other factors). Chalet rooms are located on the ground floor, so those prone to claustrophobia should note that snow banks obscure the windows of the north-facing rooms from January through March.

The lodge also offers a number of options with private bathrooms, from standard to Fireplace rooms ($170-$320 average). In addition, there are four large Corner rooms with private bathrooms, multiple beds and sitting areas ($275 average).

We opted for a Fireplace room but found it more fun to lounge in one of the numerous sitting areas around the grand fireplace in the lobby. The atmosphere is convivial and families often can be found playing board games, sipping drinks and kicking back with slipper-clad feet, as if it were their own living room. A wide selection of board games is available at the front desk.

If you don’t have the time or the budget for an overnight trip, consider a day trip. At just 60 miles from Portland, it’s easy to enjoy much of what the lodge has to offer and still make it home in time for bed. Just be sure to plan your departure so you don’t get stuck on Hwy. 26 with all the other day-tripping winter sports enthusiasts. (Most ski areas on the mountain end their day at 4 pm.)

Food and drinkWith three dining

venues inside Timberline Lodge and one across the parking lot, it’s easy to satisfy hungry tummies. The Cascade Dining room is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The atmosphere is casual by day and a bit more formal at night, though kids are always welcome. Children 11 and under eat free with a paid adult meal Sunday through Friday from 6 to 7 pm and Saturdays from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The kids’ menu includes the usual crowd-pleasing options, like hamburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, and the staff is amenable to special requests. Adults will enjoy the Northwest-inspired gourmet dishes and the award-winning wine selection. Reservations are required for dinner.

The Ram’s Head Bar, featuring pub fare, and the Blue Ox Bar, dishing up pizza, both offer a more casual dining experience or a place for a quick

Timberline Lodge

By Madeline Cox Landis

A trip to Timberline Lodge combines historic Northwest charm with family-friendly comfort.

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snack and warm drink after a day on the slopes. Don’t miss Timberline’s Signature Hot Chocolate, with rich, steaming cocoa and mounds of whipped cream sprinkled with toffee. Served in a whopping 18-oz. mug, it’s perfect for sharing.

Save time and money by grabbing a bite across the parking lot in the Wy’East Day Lodge, where cafeteria-style offerings

lodge’s other dining options.

Alpine adventuresThe Timberline ski area is a perfect destination for beginning and

expert skiers alike. The pint-sized Bruno chairlift, conveniently located next to the Wy’East Day Lodge, features a slope just right for aspiring (and even reluctant) snow bunnies. Ski and snowboard rentals and lessons can be arranged onsite.

If downhill pursuits aren’t your speed, check out the snowshoe trails around Timberline (rentals available at the Wy’East Day Lodge) or stop by the Forest Service desk in the lower lobby for advice about other recreation opportunities nearby.

(For more snow play options in the area, read Snow Day beginning on page 28.)

When you’re not out playing in the snow, you’ll find plenty of kid-friendly activities at Timberline Lodge. Don’t miss a visit with the St. Bernard mascots, Bruno and Heidi, who are at the lodge nearly every day. Kids also will love the unique experience of sitting in the outdoor hot tub while fluffy snowflakes fall on their heads, then running through the snow for a refreshing plunge in the heated outdoor pool.

If you plan your visit during the summer months, don’t miss a ride on the Magic Mile chair lift, offering breathtaking views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Jef-ferson and beyond. The Lodge also offers shuffle board, table tennis and a book lending library on the ground floor in the Barlow Room.

Madeline Cox Landis is a Portland freelance writer and mom.

If you go:

Timberline Lodge, 27500 E Timberline Rd., Timberline. 800-547-1406. timberlinelodge.com. Check the website for special room rates, restaurant hours, menus, and information on ski lessons and rentals.

While the lodge was officially dedicated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1937, it didn’t open to the public until Feb. 1938, 75 years ago next month.

are quicker and less expensive than the


ou won’t find Krabby Patties at Joe’s Crab Shack in Vancouver. Instead, this bright, fun eatery caters to all ages with a delectable adult menu and kid-friendly choices of both the “surf” and “turf” varieties.

While it’s a bit of a splurge as far as family-friendly dining goes, Joe’s is a great choice for special occasions, pairing all the seafood goodness you’d find at a white tablecloth restaurant with a laid-back – some might say noisy – vibe that lets you know kids are welcome. The servers are friendly without being patronizing, and they seem well aware that happy kids mean happy parents.

The setting, overlooking the Interstate Bridge and Columbia River, is gorgeous. Come summer, the expansive deck makes Joe’s a go-to spot for outdoor waterfront dining.

What’s Cooking: At Joe’s, you’ll find seafood – and lots of it! The popular “Buckets of Crab” allows you to choose your crustacean, from snow crab to the “Lob-ster Daddy Feast,” then choose your cooking style and flavoring, including steamed, BBQ, garlic-herb and more. “Steam Pots” offer a wider variety of seafood types, all served in an actual steam pot along with corn on the cob and new potatoes.

Appetizers and salads include the standard mozzarella sticks and calamari as well as seafood-oriented temptations like crab nachos and “Great Balls of Fire” – jalapeño, seafood and crab balls rolled in panko crumbs and fried.

The kids’ menu proclaims, “It’s healthy to get crabby,” suggesting a pot of steamed crabs along with healthful sides such as veggies and fruit. If your kids aren’t ready to take the seafood plunge, they can order tried-and-true faves like mac and cheese, chicken, fish fingers or burgers. A number of gluten-free options are available on the regular and kids’ menus.

For dessert, don’t miss the “Campfire S’mores” with layers of chocolate cake, graham crackers, marshmallow and more chocolate. It’s big enough – and rich enough – to share. The kids’ menu also offers “Paint a Crab,”

a crab-shaped Rice Krispie treat with edible paints.

Liquid refreshment: Joe’s offers a wide selection of non-alco-holic beverages along with great choices in beer, a small wine list and full bar. Feeling adventurous? Dive into one of their specialty cocktails, like a frozen lemon fizz topped with Pop Rocks!

What’s Cool for Kids: To keep things

lively, servers regularly perform an upbeat line dance to “Car Wash.” Tables are set with a roll of paper towels

in a galvanized bucket for fun and easy cleanup, and parents will appreciate the bibs (offered to everyone) and sturdy wet wipes.

ringing It up: We did say Joe’s is a place to splurge, with Steam Pots and Buckets of Crab ringing in at $23 to $35 each. “Out of Water” and “On the Bun” selections (non-seafood options,

burgers and sandwiches) range from $10 to $23, with plenty of options hovering

in the $12 to $15 range. Appetizers run between $9 and $15, and kids’ meals will cost you $10 for the crab bucket and around $5 for everything else.

Keep In Mind: The wait can be long during peak hours and they don’t take reservations for parties of less than eight. Servers wear t-shirts with seafood-themed double entendres, such as “Bite Me” and “Got Crabs?” so be ready to answer questions from inquiring young minds.

Where and When: Open from 11 am to midnight daily. 101 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, Wash. 360-693-9211. joescrabshack.com.

Family FareFamily Fare

Joe’s Crab shaCk

Y

By Cathie Ericson

There are plenty of options for “surf”

and “turf” lovers of all ages at Joe’s Crab

Shack in Vancouver.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ERICSON FAMILY

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Along with cheery snowmen, steamy cups of hot cocoa and roar-ing fires in the fireplace, the winter season means more time with the lights on as daylight hours dwindle – some-thing that can add up on your monthly power bill.

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to trim those costs by switching to energy-saving light bulbs. In fact, as lighting accounts for nearly 20 percent of a home’s electric use, switching from traditional incandescent light bulbs to energy-efficient lighting is one of the easiest and most affordable steps consumers can take to save energy and money – and protect the environment.

ENERGY STAR® qualified CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps), for example, offer energy savings of 75 percent or more compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. Each CFL can help save about $6 in annual energy costs, so for a home with about 40 light bulbs, a simple switch to ENERGY STAR® CFLs could save around $240 per year. CFLs also have a longer lifespan – seven to 10 years com-pared to the one-year life expectancy of a traditional bulb.

To help utility customers make the change to energy-efficient lighting, Energy Trust of Oregon is working with par-ticipating retailers across the state to offer discounted prices on a variety of ENERGY STAR® qualified CFLs. The bulbs are suitable for every room in the house and include options for specialty lights such as globes for bathroom bars, flood lights for outdoor fixtures, indoor recessed cans and more.

Discounted CFLs are available at Ace/True Value Hardware, Albert-son’s, Batteries Plus, Bed Bath and Beyond, Bi-Mart, Big Lots, Costco, Fred Meyer, Grover Electric and Plumbing Supply, Haggen, Home Depot, Lowe’s, PARR Lumber, Platt Electric Supply, Safeway, Walmart and Winco. No coupon is required – the discounts are reflected in the shelf price.

With lower prices at retailers across Oregon and a wide selection of op-tions for your home, there’s never been a better time to make the switch to energy-saving lighting. The shopping tips below can help you get started:

1. Check the Lighting Facts label on the packaging. Similar to a Nutri-tion Label for food, a Lighting Facts label is now required on all lighting packages. The label offers an easy way to compare bulbs in the shopping aisle with information about brightness (lumens), estimated annual op-erating cost, how long the bulb should last and light appearance (warm to cool).

2. Look for lumens not watts. As lighting becomes more efficient, shop-ping for lighting is shifting from a focus on watts to a focus on lumens. Lumens, which are now listed on lighting packaging, indicate how much light a bulb provides. Watts are a better predictor of how much energy a light bulb uses than how bright it is. Overall, for lower light per bulb, look for fewer lumens; for brighter light, look for a greater number of lumens.

Translating watts to lumens:

• If you used to buy 100 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 1,600 lumens.

• If you used to buy 75 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 1,100 lumens.

• If you used to buy 60 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 800 lumens.


3. Determine which shapes and sizes you need. Efficient lighting comes in a variety of shapes and sizes designed to

work with a wide range of fixtures. There are CFLs for almost any fix-ture, including globes for bathroom bars, candle bulbs for chandeliers, flood lights for outdoor fixtures and indoor recessed cans. Be sure to match the bulb to the appropriate fixture.

4. Consider color tone. If you’re looking for a warm tone, choose efficient bulbs marked “soft white” or “warm white.” Choose “cool white” or “bright white” for a more neutral and brighter white tone. Bulbs marked “daylight” provide a very cool, very bright white light. Warmer light is typically good for bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms. You might want a brighter, cooler light in kitchens or work spaces like offices or garages.

5. Buy lighting with the ENERGY STAR® label to ensure quality and performance. Lighting marked with the blue ENERGY STAR® label means it has met stringent requirements for brightness, color quality and consistency, and complies with federal and industry power and operating standards.

For more information about CFLs, shopping tips, a list of retailers offering discounted CFLs and information on recycling and proper disposal, visit energytrust.org/cfl.

Viewpoint

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to trim those costs by switching to energy-saving light bulbs. In fact, as lighting accounts for nearly 20 percent of a home’s electric use, switching from traditional incandescent light bulbs to energy-efficient lighting is one of the easiest and most affordable steps consumers can take to save energy and money – and protect the environment.

qualified CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps), for example, offer energy savings of 75 percent or more compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. Each CFL can help save about $6 in annual energy costs, so for a home with about 40 light bulbs, a simple switch

CFLs could save around $240 per year. CFLs also have a longer lifespan – seven to 10 years com-pared to the one-year life expectancy of a traditional bulb.

To help utility customers make the change to energy-efficient lighting, Energy Trust of Oregon is working with participating retailers across the state to offer discounted prices on

qualified CFLs. The bulbs are suitable for every room in the house and include options for specialty lights such as globes for bathroom bars, flood lights for outdoor fixtures,

Discounted CFLs are available at Ace/True Value Hardware, AlbertDiscounted CFLs are available at Ace/True Value Hardware, Albertson’s, Batteries Plus, Bed Bath and Beyond, Bi-Mart, Big Lots, Costco, son’s, Batteries Plus, Bed Bath and Beyond, Bi-Mart, Big Lots, Costco, Fred Meyer, Grover Electric and Plumbing Supply, Haggen, Home Depot, Fred Meyer, Grover Electric and Plumbing Supply, Haggen, Home Depot, Lowe’s, PARR Lumber, Platt Electric Supply, Safeway, Walmart and Winco. Lowe’s, PARR Lumber, Platt Electric Supply, Safeway, Walmart and Winco. No coupon is required – the discounts are reflected in the shelf price.No coupon is required – the discounts are reflected in the shelf price.

With lower prices at retailers across Oregon and a wide selection of op-



3. 3. Determine which shapes and sizes you need. lighting comes in a variety of shapes and sizes designed to

work with a wide range of fixtures. There are CFLs for almost any fixture, including globes for bathroom bars, candle bulbs for chandeliers, flood lights for outdoor fixtures and indoor recessed cans. Be sure to match the bulb to the appropriate fixture.

pared to the one-year life expectancy of a traditional bulb.

efficient lighting, Energy Trust of Oregon is working with par-ticipating retailers across the state to offer discounted prices on

qualified CFLs. The bulbs are suitable for every room in the house and include options for specialty lights such as globes for bathroom bars, flood lights for outdoor fixtures,

Discounted CFLs are available at Ace/True Value Hardware, Albert-son’s, Batteries Plus, Bed Bath and Beyond, Bi-Mart, Big Lots, Costco, Fred Meyer, Grover Electric and Plumbing Supply, Haggen, Home Depot, 3.

snowmen, steamy cups snowmen, steamy cups

ing fires in the fireplace,

the lights on as daylight

on your monthly power bill.

Trim Your Trim Your Trim Your Trim Your Trim Your Trim Your Lighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting BillsLighting Bills

Five tips for buying energy-efficient light bulbs

By Energy Trust of Oregon

CFL lighting is now available for a variety of specialty fixtures.

Switching to ENERGY STAR®

CFL bulbs can save the average family

hundreds of dollars each year.

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Ethos Music Center is a nonprofit organiza-tion that brings the well documented benefits of music education to some of Oregon’s most underserved communities. The name Ethos is de-rived from the ancient Greek “Doctrine of Ethos” that held that music can change your thoughts, moods and actions.

Located in north Portland, Ethos operates pro-grams in both rural and urban communities and is built on the tenet that all children deserve ac-cess to the benefits of music education, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location.

Ethos was established in 1998 by dedicated community volunteers in response to budget cuts that eliminated music education from public schools in Oregon. After-school group piano classes were first held in donated space at the University of Portland. Now, over 13 years later, Ethos operates two facilities in north Portland and offers in-house private and group music classes. All Ethos programs are offered on a slid-ing scale fee, based on student’s participation in the Free and Reduced Price School Meal program.

In addition to in-house lessons offered in north Portland, Ethos provides outreach pro-grams to over 4,000 kids in Oregon each year.

Urban outreach Music Corps is Ethos’ innovative artist-in-

residence program that helps establish music pro-grams in urban schools and community centers. Music Corps makes music lessons more accessible to a greater number of students by conducting classes where students attend school or partici-pate in other after-school programs. To date, Ethos has started Music Corps programs at over 150 schools and community centers in Portland.

Through Music Corps, students in schools serving predominantly low-income families have access to highly qualified music educators. These instructors offer group music lessons on a wide range of instruments and styles, including African drumming, guitar, piano, hip-hop, and music production. During the 2012-13 school year, Ethos is providing after-school music classes in 14 elementary and middle schools in the Portland metro area. An average of 75 percent of the students in schools that participate in Ethos’ after-school programs are living well below the federal poverty line. In some cases, the number of

students living in poverty is as high as 95 percent.

Rural outreach Ethos’ efforts in rural Oregon began in 2002

with the purchase of a 1977 Bristol double decker bus which served as a mobile classroom and sleeping quarters for Ethos’ outreach team. Ethos’ outreach team traveled across Oregon and brought concerts, assemblies, workshops, instru-ment “test-drives,” music camps and visiting Latin American musicians to over 30 rural towns in Oregon.

Rural communities have been disproportion-ately impacted by severe budget cuts that virtually eliminated music and art classes. These budget cuts happen despite numerous academic studies that prove students who study music score better on academic tests, have better attendance and fewer discipline referrals, and score higher on their SATs. Through a unique partnership with Oregon Volunteers/AmeriCorps, Ethos places full-time teachers to live and teach music in the rural Oregon towns of Condon, Elkton, Fossil, Long Creek, Madras, Metolius, and on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Students living in these communities receive close to three hours of music instruction each week during school hours.

Award-winning programmingAn evaluation conducted by Portland Public

Schools’ Research, Evaluation and Assessment Department in 2008 found that 212 elementary school students involved in Ethos’ after-school programs experienced significant improvements in school attendance rates, fewer behavior refer-rals, and improved academic achievement:• 84.5 percent (up from 76.3 percent the previous

year) met standards in math.• 85.2 percent (up from 82.7 percent the previous

year) met state standards in reading.• 86 percent had attendance rates of 90 percent.• 87.7 percent received fewer behavior referrals

than in the previous year. In the history of the organization, Ethos

has experienced significant local and national recognition, including being selected four times as one of the top 50 after-school programs in the country by the President’s Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Other notable awards Ethos has received include the E-towns E-chievement Award for Pro-gram Excellence, and Oregon Festival and Events First Place award for Ethos’ Educational Pro-grams. Ethos also has partnered with well-known national talent including Bonnie Raitt, Pink Martini, Stolen Sweets and The Decemberists.

Get InvolvedTo make a cash donation, register for a class, donate an instrument or volunteer your time, visit ethos.org.

Ethos Music Center

Angels Among Us

By Jedidiah Chavez, Executive Director

Ethos offers music lessons on a sliding scale at their north Portland music center as well as school-based and rural outreach programs throughout the state.

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Tuesday, Jan. 1

Peter Pan. Northwest Children’s Theater presents Peter, Wendy, Tinker Bell and the rest in a musical journey to Never-land. Best ages 6+. 2 pm Jan 1, 5, 6. 6 pm Jan 5, 6. 7 pm Jan. 4. $18-$22, plus surcharge. 1819 NW Everett. 503-222-4480. nwcts.org.

ZooZoo. Imago Theatre brings Cats back to join the frogs, penguins and oth-ers. Best ages 3+. Noon, 3 pm. Closes today. $31 adults, $27 youth, $16 kids. Imago Theatre, 17 SE 8th. 503-231-9581. imagotheatre.com.

Wednesday, Jan. 2

Preschool Play & Skate. Group les-son, games, snack, more. Ages 0-6. 10:00-11:30 am Tues, Wed. $6 per child, grown-up free. Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park. 503-233-5777. oakspark.com.

Wondrous Wednesday. $3 admission to the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum every first Wed. 10 am-5 pm. $4 parking. 4033 SW Canyon. 503-228-1367. worldforestry.org.

Honeybee Hike. Garden walk, craft/story. Ages 2-6, with grown-up. 10-11 am Wed. $2 per walking child. Leach Botani-cal Garden, 6704 SE 122d. 503-823-1671. leachgarden.org.

Thursday, Jan. 3

Story Time with Olive and Dingo. Silly and social story, songs. 10:30-11:30 am Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31. $5 donation. Café au Play, 5633 SE Division. 503-894-8506. cafeauplay.org.

Think Fun Thursdays. Crafts and play. Ages 3-8 with grown-up. 4-5 pm Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31. FREE. Beaverton Library, 12375 SW 5th. 503-350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org.

Friday, Jan. 4

Story and Stroll. Naturalist-led story and walk. Best ages 2-6. 1-2:15 pm Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25. FREE, reservations required. Tryon Creek State Park, 11321 SW Terwil-liger. 503-636-9886 xt 225. tryonfriends.org.

Target FREE First Friday. Enjoy the museum for FREE, 4 -8 pm. Portland

Children’s Museum. 4015 SW Canyon. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org.

Powell’s Nature Program. Story, demo, hands-on activity. FREE. 1 pm, owls, ages 3-6. 2 pm, beavers, ages 4-9. Cedar Hills store, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. 503-228-4651 xt. 5855. powells.com.

First Friday Family Film. Showing movie We Bought a Zoo. Ages 2-12. 6:30 pm. FREE. Bethany Presbyterian Church, 15505 NW Springville. 503-645-1116. bethanypc.com.

Movie Night at Umpqua Bank. Wear your jammies for kid-friendly flick. 6:15-8 pm. FREE. Organized by Zimmerman Community Center. 1139 NW Lovejoy. 503-224-4636. zcommunitycenter.org.

Family Park at Night. Craft, sports, indoor park toys, more. 6:30-8:30 pm Jan. 4, 18. $1.25 per child. East Portland Community Center, 740 SE 106th. 503-823-3456. portlandonline.com/parks/.

Peter Pan. See Jan. 1.

Saturday, Jan. 5

Kids Morning Skate. Group lesson and skate games. Ages 0-10, with family. 10:30 am-noon Sat. $6 per child, grown-up free. Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park. 503-233-5777. oakspark.com.

8 FREE Days at Lan Su Garden. Visit Portland’s enchanting treasure. 10 am- 5 pm Jan 5-12. Lan Su Chinese Garden, 239 NW Everett. 503-228-8131. lansugarden.org.

Lakeshore Learning Crafts. Kids make a craft. Ages 3+. 11 am-3 pm. Jan 5: Photo frame. Jan 12: Flip book. Jan 19: Ther-mometer. Jan 26: Snowman notepad. FREE. 16901 SW 65th, Lake Oswego. 503-620-9888. lakeshorelearning.com.

Al’s Garden Kids Club. Make a dirt baby and watch it grow hair. $5 per child, registration required. 11 am Jan. 5: Al’s Garden Center Woodburn, 1220 N Pacific Hwy. 503-981-1245. 11 am Jan. 12: Al’s Garden Center Sherwood: 16920 SW Roy Rogers. 503-726-1162. als-garden-center.com.

Pearson Storytime. Aviation story, craft. Ages 0-6. 10 am. Free w/admission $7 adult, $5 ages 6-17, free ages 0-6. Pear-son Air Museum, 1115 E 5th, Vancouver. 360-694-7026. pearsonairmuseum.org.

And They’re Off…. Penny’s Puppets perform story about the Chinese


In the Spotlight

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Oregon Symphony Kids Concerts presents

Inspector Crescendo Jan. 6, with vocalist Pam

Mahon (pictured) and the Pacific Youth Choir.

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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Oregon Children’s Theatre presents a visually spectacular musical journey through Narnia. Will the children be able to release Narnia from the spell of the evil White Witch? Based on the classic CS Lewis story. Best for ages 6+. 2 pm Jan. 19, 20, 26, 27, Feb. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17. 5 pm Jan 19, 26, Feb. 2. $18-$28, plus surcharge. Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-228-9571. octc.org.

Inspector Crescendo. Oregon Symphony presents a concert especially for kids, performing Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. The Symphony is joined by Pam Mahon and the Pacific Youth Choir. 2 pm Jan. 6. $10-$36, plus surcharge. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway. 503-228-1353. orsymphony.org.


calendar. FREE. 10:30-11:15 am (tkts 30 min prior) Jan. 5: Central Library, 801 SW 10th, 503-988-5123. 11-11:45 am Jan 19: St. Johns Library, 7510 N Charleston, 503-988-5397. 3-3:45 pm Jan. 19: Kenton Library, 8226 N Denver, 503-988-5370. events.multcolib.org.

Papagayo. Tears of Joy Theatre puppets perform bilingual Spanish tale. FREE. 3-3:30 pm Jan 5: Northwest Library, 2300 NW Thurman, 503-988-5560. 3-3:30 pm Jan. 12: Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd, 10:30-11 am Jan. 19: Capitol Hill Library, 10723 SW Capitol Hwy, 503-988-5385. 3-3:30 pm Jan. 19: Rockwood Library, 17917 SE Stark, 503-988-5396. events.multcolib.org.

Lantern Tour. Historic reenactments at Fort Vancouver at night. Ages 10+. 7-8:30 pm Jan 5, 19. $10 adults, $7 ages 0-15, reservations required. 1001 E 5th. 360-816-6230. nps.gov/fova/.

College Goal Oregon. Get help apply-ing for financial aid for any college. Bring financial info (see website). 9 am-noon Jan. 5: PCC Cascade, Rock Creek, SE, Sylvania. 9 am-2 pm Jan. 12: Mt. Hood CC. See website for complete schedule. FREE, sponsored by Oregon Student Assistance Commission. 800-452-8807. collegegoaloregon.gov.


Sunday, Jan. 6

O-Shogatsu. Calligraphy, tea, New Year celebration. Noon-3 pm. FREE w/admis-sion $9.50 adult, $6.75 ages 6-17, free ages 0-5. Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston. 503-223-1321. japanesegarden.com.

$2 Day. Explore OMSI for $2 every first Sun. 9:30 am-5:30 pm. Parking $3. 1945 SE Water. 503-797-4000. omsi.edu.

PAM Family Tour. Docent–led. 12:30-1:30 pm Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27. Free w/admis-sion $15 adults, $12 college students, free ages 0-17. Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park. 503-226-2811. portlandartmuseum.org.

Art ala Carte. Opening new space, live music, face painting, cookies, more. Ages 0-14. 10 am-5 pm. First 10 kids free, discount rest of day. 319 NE Wygant. 503-750-0522. artalacartepdx.com.


Inspector Crescendo. See In the Spot-light on p. 40.

8 FREE Days at Lan Su New Year. See Jan. 5.

Monday, Jan. 7

Open Play with Japanese Crafts and Music. Dress up, stories, games, art. Grown-up must attend. 9:30-11 am Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28. $3 per hour. Isobel’s Club-house, 1542 NW 14th. 503-224-4636. zcommunitycenter.org.

Snow and Ice. Frosty experiments, activ-ities. 1-4 pm. Free w/admission $7 ages 3-59, $3.50 ages 1-2, free ages 0-1. AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.


Tuesday, Jan. 8

Baby Hour. 45-minute docent-led tour, followed by coffee, chat. Ages 0-1, with grown-up. 10 am. $5 members, $15 non-members, reservations required. Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park. 503-226-2811. portlandartmuseum.org.

Hopworks Tot Tuesday Storytime and Crafts. Arts activity, storytime, light snacks. 11 am every second Tues. Ages 1-8. FREE. 2944 SE Powell. 503-232-4677. hopworksbeer.com.

$4 Zoo Tuesday. See the Oregon Zoo for $4 per person. 9 am-4 pm. Oregon Zoo, 4001 SE Canyon. 503-226-1561. oregonzoo.org.

Preschool Play & Skate. See Jan. 2.


Wednesday, Jan. 9

Ladybug Theater. Live theater for little ones. Ages 2+. 10:30 am Jan. 9, 10, 16, 17: Baby Bear and the Beanstalk, Doesn’t He Ever Hibernate? Jan. 23, 24, 30, 31: Little Red Riding Hood. $4 person (cash/check). Smile station, 8210 SE 13th. 503-232-2346. labybugtheater.org.

Portland Boat Show. Admire boats, kiddo activities. 10 am- 9pm Jan. 9, 10, 11, 12. 10 am-6 pm Jan. 13. $10, free ages 0-12. Portland Expo Center, 2060 N Marine. 503-246-8291. otshows.com/pbs/.


Symphony Storytime. Oregon Sym-phony musician plays, shows instrument. Stories. Best ages 3-6. 11 am-noon Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30. FREE. Tualatin Library, 18878 SW Martinazzi. 503-691-3074. tualatinoregon.gov.


Honeybee Hike. See Jan. 2.


Thursday, Jan. 10

Hopworks BikeBar Tot Thursday. Crafts, storytime. Ages 1-6. 11 am. FREE. 3947 N

Williams. 503-232-4677. hopworksbeer.com.

Duct Tape Mania. Make stuff. Ages 6+. 4-5 pm. FREE. Tualatin Library, 18878 SW Martinazzi. 503-691-3074. tualatinoregon.gov.

Portland Boat Show. See Jan. 9.


Think Fun Thursdays. See Jan. 3.

Storytime with Olive and Dingo. See Jan. 3.

Ladybug Theater. See Jan. 9.

Friday, Jan. 11

Book Fan Friday. Writing workshop on folklore and fairy tales. Ages 10-18. 4:30 pm. FREE. Powell’s Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. 503-228-4651 xt. 5855. powells.com.

Soccer Shots Clinic. Soccer clinic, ages 3-5. 11:30 am. FREE. WeVillage Orenco, 12295 NE Orenco Station Pkwy., Hills-boro. 503-830-9865. soccershots.org.



Story and Stroll. See Jan. 4.

Saturday, Jan. 12

Oz. Detail Dance Company performs a dance version of the Oz story with hip-hop, jazz, other styles. 8 pm. $20-$35, plus surcharge. Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-946-7272. pcpa.com.

Belmont Firehouse Safety Saturday. Tour historic firehouse, safety tips. 9 am- 3 pm. FREE. 900 SE 35th. 503-823-3615. jeffmorrisfoundation.org.

Guided Nature Walk. Explore Tryon Creek Park, different topic weekly. All ages, grown-up must be with kids. 10-11:30 am Jan. 12, 19. FREE. 11321 SW Terwilliger. 503-636-9886 xt 225. tryonfriends.org.

JRR Tolkien Birthday Bash. Live music, movie screening, costume contest, more. All ages. 11 am-9 pm. FREE. 5736 NE 33d. 503-249-3983. mcmenamins.com.

Second Saturday. Winter fun, make paper snowflakes. Ages 3-12, with grown-up. 1-3 pm. FREE. Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia, Vancouver. 360-487-7111. cityofvancouver.us.

Wintry Animal Finger Puppets. Use cast-offs to make puppets. 10:15-11:45 am. FREE. Albina Library, 3605 NE 15th. 503-988-5362. events.multcolib.org.

Family Dance. Caroline Oakley calling. All ages. 4:30-6:30 pm. $6 adults, $5 kids. $20 family. Fulton Community Center, 68 SW Miles. 503-245-5070.

Dragon Day at the Library. Stories, songs, dragon craft. Ages 3-8. 10:30-11:30 am. FREE, tkts 30 min prior. Capitol Hill Library, 10723 SW Capitol Hwy. 503-988-5385. events.multcolib.org.

Chinese New Year Crafts. Snake crafts. Ages 6-11. 2:30-3:30 pm. FREE. Hillsboro

Main Library, 2850 NE Brookwood. 503-615-6500. hillsboro.plinkit.org.

Penny @ LO Library. And They Are Off! With Penny’s puppets. 11 am. FREE. Lake Oswego Library, 706 4th. 503-697-6580. ci.oswego.or.us.

Winter Trails Day. Intro to snowshoeing. 9 am-2 pm. FREE. OR/WA Sno-Park permit, ID for snowshoes required. White River Snow Park, Hwy. 35 about 4 miles north of Hwy. 26. 503-617-6072. snowlink.com.


Kids Morning Skate. See Jan. 5.

Papagayo. See Jan. 5.

Al’s Garden Kids Club. See Jan. 5.


College Goal Oregon. See Jan. 5.

Lakeshore Learning Crafts. See Jan. 5.

Sunday, Jan. 13

Curious Garden. Kiddo theatre, open mic at end. Best ages 0-8. 10:30 am. $5 donation. Curious Comedy Theater, 5225 NE MLK. 503-477-9477. curiouscomedy.org.

Slavic New Year Celebration. Plays and music. 12:30-3:30 pm. Gresham Library, 385 NW Miller. 503-988-5387. events.multcolib.org.


PAM Family Tour. See Jan. 6.

Monday, Jan. 14

Winter Walk. Discover animal adapta-tions. Grades 1-3. 3:30-4:15 pm. FREE, reservations required. Hillsboro Main Library, 2850 NE Brookwood. 503-615-6500. hillsboro.plinkit.org.

Noontime Showcase. Scott Anderson’s magic. Noon. FREE. 1111 SW Broadway. 503-248-4335. pcpa.com.

Open Play with Japanese Crafts and Music. See Jan. 7.

Tuesday, Jan. 15

Winter Music Magic. Cinda Tilgner sing along. 11:15-noon. FREE, reserva-tions required. Gregory Heights Library, 7921 NE Sandy. 503-988-5386. events.multcolib.org.

family favorites Fools in Paradise perform Jan. 26 as part of the Portland Children’s Museum’s World Sounds festival.


World Sounds. Music, dance and storytelling from around the world at the Portland Children’s Museum. 11 am and noon. Jan. 23: Papagayo, from Tears of Joy puppets. Jan. 24: Anne Penfound tells stories. Jan. 25: Natya Leela Academy, Indian dance. Jan. 26: Fools in Paradise, marimba tunes. Jan. 27: DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid. Performances free with museum admission of $9 ages 1-54. $4 to park. 4015 SW Canyon. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FOOLS IN PARADISE

metro-parent.com January 2013 43metro-parent.com January 2013 43


Crafts @ LO Library. Design a snowper-son. Ages 3-4, with grown-up. 11 am Jan. 15, 16. FREE, reservations required. Lake Oswego Library, 706 4th. 503-697-6580. ci.oswego.or.us.

Tricky Tricky Trickster Tales. Animal stories and songs with Anne Rutherford. Ages 5+. 4-4:45 pm. FREE, tkts 30 min. prior. Hillsdale Library, 1525 SW Sunset. 503-988-5388. events.multcolib.org.

Money Smarts for Kids. Explore wise money choices with role play, crafts, games, speakers. Ages 5-10, with grown-up. 4-5 pm. FREE, registration required. Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW 5th. 503-350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org.

Winter Wonders. Snow painting, snowflakes, winter explorations. Dress warmly. Ages 3–5. 1 3 p.m. $14 in-district. Nature Park Interpretive Center, 15655 SW Millikan, Beaverton. 503-629-6350. thprd.org.


Wednesday, Jan. 16

Chinese Morning. Crafting and Chinese culture during school late start. School aged. 8:30-10:30 am. $20, reservations required. Laurelhurst School, 840 NE 41st. 503-888-8270. portlandchineselessons.com.

Orizomegami. Fold and dye paper. Ages 11+. FREE. 6:30-8 pm Jan. 16: Sellwood-Moreland Library, 7860 SE 13th, 503-988-5398. 3-4:30 pm Jan. 26: Albina Library, 3605 NE 15th, 503-988-5362. events.multcolib.org.

Rose City Classic Dog Show. Judging, obedience, agility contests, more. 7:30 am -7 pm Jan. 16, 8 am-6 pm Jan. 17, 7:30 am-7 pm Jan. 18, 19, 20. $10, $20 family. Expo Center, 2060 N Marine Dr. 503-736-5200. rosecityclassic.org.



Symphony Storytime. See Jan. 9.


Crafts @ LO Library. See Jan. 15.

Thursday, Jan. 17

Imagination Yoga. Stories, yoga for preschoolers. 10:30 am. FREE. Milwaukie

Ledding Library, 10660 SE 21st. 503-786-7580. milwaukie.lib.or.us.

African Song and Dance. Habiba’s interactive performance. 3:30- 4:15 pm. Belmont Library, 1038

SE Cesar Chavez. 503-988-5382.

events.multcolib.org.

Rose City Classic Dog Show. See Jan. 16.




Friday, Jan. 18

The Little Mermaid Jr. Theatre in the Grove presents the Disney classic. 8 pm Jan, 18, 19, 25, 26. 2:30 pm Jan. 20, 27. $14, $12 ages 0-17. 2028 Pacific, Forest Grove. 503-359-5349. theatreinthegrove.org.

Snowflake Ball. Silly dancing to winter tunes. 10:30 am. FREE, reservations required. West Linn Library, 1595 Burns. 503-656-7853. westlinnoregon.gov.

Ceili Dance. Lesson 7:15 pm, dance 8 pm. Ages 8+. $10 general, $8 students. Portland Ceili Society, 618 SE Alder. portlandceilisociety.org

$5 Friday. Bring an old t-shirt to turn into a scarf. Ages 10+. 4-5 pm. $5. Art ala Carte, 319 NE Wygant. 503-750-0522. artalacartepdx.com.


Family Park at Night. See Jan. 4.


Saturday, Jan. 19

Parent’s Survival Night. Fitness fun, crafts, music and snack for kids while parents get some alone time. Ages 3-12. 6-9:30 pm. $26, member discount, reser-vations please. The Little Gym, 17890 SW McEwan. Lake Oswego. 503-595-9702. tlglakeoswegoor.com.

Winter Science. Hands-on science fun from Mad Science. Best ages 5-12. Noon-12:45 pm. FREE. Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd. 503-988-5392. events.multcolib.org.

Hail to the Chief. Presidential trivia, crafts, games. 1-3 pm. Free w/admis-sion $7 ages 3-59, $3.50 ages 1-2, free ages 0-1. AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. See In the Spotlight on p. 40.

The Little Mermaid Jr. See Jan. 18.


Papagayo. See Jan. 5.

And They’re Off…. See Jan. 5.

Lantern Tour. See Jan. 5.


Guided Nature Walk. See Jan. 12.


Sunday, Jan. 20

Family Movie at the J. WALL-E. 3 pm. FREE. Mittleman Jewish Community

Center, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy. 503-244-0111. oregonjcc.org

ComedySportz4Kidz. Improv theatre performance for kiddos. Ages 0-12. 2 pm. $10 adults, $8 kidz, plus service charge. 1963 NW Kearney. 503-236-8888. portlandcomedy.com.





Monday, Jan. 21

Penny’s Puppets. Tale of Two Tricksters. Best ages 0-10. 10:30 am. $5 or 4 for $17. Central Lutheran Church, 1820 NE 21st. 503-282-9207. pennypuppets.com.

No School Drop-In Art. Get creative. Ages 5-12. 10 am-1 pm Jan 21. $5 dona-tion. Vibe’s Creative Outlet Art Studio @ Tabor Space, 5441 SE Belmont. 503-560-3592. vibeofportland.org.

MLK Day at the Water Center. Service project for all ages. 9 am-noon. FREE, reservations required. Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia, Vancouver. 360-487-7111. cityofvancouver.us.

MLK Day Celebration. Crafts, activities, service project. 10 am-2 pm. Free w/ad-mission $7 ages 3-59, $3.50 ages 1-2, free ages 0-1. AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.

FREE National Park Days. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., all national parks will be free today. Blacksmith/kitchen demos at Fort Vancouver, 1001 E 5th, Vancouver. 360-816-6230. nps.gov.


Tuesday, Jan. 22

Family Act. Family story drama class, movement, music, voice. Ages 2 1/2+. 10:15-11:15 am Tues. through March 12. $10 per family drop-in or $70 8-class card. Oregon Children’s Theatre, 1939 NE Sandy. 503-228-9571. octc.org.

Aaron Nigel Smith. Kiddo music. Ages 2-10, with grown-up. 6:30 pm. FREE. West Linn Library, 1595 Burns. 503-656-7853. westlinnoregon.gov.


thprd.org.





Crafts @ LO Library. See Jan. 15.

Thursday, Jan. 17

Imagination Yoga. Stories, yoga for preschoolers. 10:30 am. FREE. Milwaukie

Ledding Library, 10660 SE 21st. 503-786-7580. milwaukie.lib.or.us.

African Song and Dance. Habiba’s interactive performance. 3:30-4:15 pm. Belmont Library, 1038

SE Cesar Chavez. 503-988-5382.

events.multcolib.org.





Friday, Jan. 18

The Little Mermaid Jr. Theatre in the Grove presents the Disney classic. 8 pm Jan, 18, 19, 25, 26. 2:30 pm Jan. 20, 27. $14, $12 ages 0-17. 2028 Pacific, Forest Grove. 503-359-5349. theatreinthegrove.org.


PHOTO COURTESY OF AARON NIGEL SMITH

Local musician Aaron Nigel Smith performs his kid-friendly world music at the West Linn Library Jan. 22.


Fairy Tale Ball. Dress like your favorite character, crafts, games, more. 4-5 pm. FREE. Tualatin Library, 18878 SW Martin-azzi. 503-691-3074. tualatinoregon.gov.


Wednesday Jan. 23

Kids Concert Series. Mo Phillips’ interac-tive rock show. 11:30 am-12:20 pm. Jan 23, 30. $3 person. Oregon Children’s Theater, 1939 NE Sandy. 503-228-9571. octc.org.




World Sounds. See Family Favorites on p. 42.


Thursday, Jan. 24

Fossils for Fun. Rice Museum curator presents. Grades 3-5. 3:30-4:30 pm. FREE, reservations required. Hillsboro Main

Library, 2850 NE Brookwood. 503-615-6500.





Friday, Jan. 25

Disney’s Phineas and Ferb Live! Ad-venture and hijinks with Agent P and the gang. 4, 7 pm. $20-$50, plus surcharge. Rose Garden, 1 N Center Court. 503-235-8771. rosequarter.com.

Stories: From the Trenches of Middle School. Comedy, music, dance by 6th-8th graders. Lunacy Stageworks. Best ages 8+. 7 pm Jan. 25, 26. $5. Selllwood Play-house, 901 SE Spokane. 503-528-4188. lunacystageworks.org.

Family Friday Concert. Classical Revolu-tion PDx performs. 7:15 pm. $5 donation, $15 family. Community Music Center, 3350 SE Francis. 503-823-3177. communitymusiccenter.org.




Saturday, Jan. 26

Reaching for the Stars. Evergreen Avia-tion & Space Museum hosts activities for people with special needs. All ages. 10 am-3 pm. $5. 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville. 503-434-4185. evergreenmuseum.org.

The Incredible World of Bugs! The Bug Chicks’ insect workshop. Ages 11+. 2- 3:30 pm. FREE, tkts 30 min. prior. Wood-stock Library, 6008 SE 49th. 503-988-5399. events.multcolib.org.

The Alphabeticians. Kiddo rock. 1 pm. FREE. Tualatin Library, 18878 SW Martin-azzi. 503-691-3074. tualatinoregon.gov.

Portland Reptile Expo. See and buy reptile pets. 10 am-4 pm. $8 adults, $4 ages 6-12, free ages 0-5. Holiday Inn, 25425 SW 95th, Wilsonville. nwreptileexpos.com.

Celebrate Japanese New Year at O-Shogatsu on Jan. 6, one of the Five Festivals marking the changing of the seasons each year at the Portland Japanese Garden.

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Cat Doorman CD Party. New band featuring Julianna Bright plays, also Twisted Whistle. All ages. 3 pm. $10 adults, $8 ages 0-12. Mississippi Stu-dios, 3939 N Mississippi. 503-288-3895. catdoorman.com.

Model Train Exhibits. Lake Oswego Library hosts 2 sets of model trains, experts answer questions. 10 am-6 pm Jan. 26, 1-6 pm Jan. 27. FREE. 706 4th. 503-636-7628. ci.oswego.or.us.




Orizomegami. See Jan. 16.

World Sounds. See Family Favorites on page 42.



Stories: From the Trenches of Middle School. See Jan. 25.

Sunday, Jan. 27

Mochitsuki. Celebrate Japanese New Year with entertainment, kids’ games

and activities, mochi pounding, more. 11 am-4 pm. $12 adult, $9 student, $5 ages 2-12, free ages 0-2. Scottish Rite Center, 1512 SW Morrison. mochipdx.org.

Healthy Kids Day & Health Fair. Movin’ It with Mrs. Oregon presents ex-ercise sessions, story times, demos, info booths, more. 11 am-1 pm. FREE. Chiles Center, University of Portland, 5000 N Willamette. 503-780-6256. facebook.com/movingoregon.



Model Train Exhibits. See Jan. 26.



Monday, Jan. 28


Tuesday, Jan. 29

Walk with Brown Bear. Take a walk and hear a story about bears. Ages 3–5.

The following exhibits are on display now at venues throughout the area:

Central Library. Minuscule & Movable: An Exhibition of Pocket Sized Pop-Up Books. Beautiful little pop-up treasures. Through Feb. 3. FREE. Central Library, 801 SW 10th. 503-988-5123. events.multcolib.org.

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. GPS Adventures, explains Global Positions Systems using geo-caching, a fun family-friendly treasure hunting game. CLOSES JAN 27. Also on display, the Spruce Goose, B-17 bomber, Titan II and much more. Huge water park adjacent. 9 am to 5 pm daily. Museum $20 adult, $18 ages 5-16, free ages 0-4. 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville. 503-434-4185. evergreenmuseum.org.

Mercy Corps Action Center. Design With the Other 90%: CITIES exhibit fo-cuses on 60 solutions to slums. CLOSES JAN 5. Part of this exhibit is also at PNCA Museum of Contemporary Craft at 724 NW Davis St. Mercy Corps. Center educates visitors on the root causes of poverty and offers a hands-on experience on what daily life is like for oppressed people around the globe. FREE. (PNCA is $4). 11 am-6 pm Tues-Fri.10 am-5 pm Sat. 28 SW 1st. 503-896-5747. actioncenter.org/ portland.

OMSI. Grossology: The (Impolite) Sci-ence of the Human Body features the science of yucky and fascinating bodily functions. CLOSES JAN. 6. New per-manent exhibit on Renewable Energy opens in Earth Hall Jan. 17. Hands-on learning throughout the museum. 9:30 am-5:30 pm Tues-Sun. $12 adults, $9 ages 3 to 13 and seniors. Parking $3. 1945 SE Water. 503-797-4000. omsi.edu.

Oregon History Museum. The Mighti-est Wind: The 1962 Columbus Day Storm CLOSES JAN. 6. All Aboard: Railroading and Portland’s Black Com-munity opens Jan. 15, runs through April 21. 10 am-5 pm Mon-Sat, noon- 5 pm Sun. Multnomah County residents free, others $11 adults, $5 youth 6-18, free 0-5. 1200 SW Park. 503-222-1741. ohs.org.

Oregon Zoo. Find out which animals love the cold. 10 am-4 pm daily. $10.50 adults, $7.50 kids 3-11, free 0-2. $4 to park. 4001 SW Canyon. 503-226-1561. oregonzoo.org.

Ping Pong’s Pint Size Puppet Museum. Everything puppet. Exhibits change every other month. 2-8 pm Thurs-Sun. FREE. 906 SE Umatilla. 503-233-7723. puppetmuseum.com.

Portland Art Museum. Blockbuster The Body Beautiful, Greek and Roman sculpture from the British Museum CLOSES JAN. 6. Timed tickets $20 adult, $17 student, free ages 0-17. PAM is open 10 am-5 pm Tues, Wed and Sat. 10 am-8 pm Thurs and Fri, noon-5 pm Sun. $15 adults, $12 college students, free ages 0-17. 1219 SW Park. 503-226-2811. portlandartmuseum.org.

Portland Children's Museum. Chagall for Children displays 14 Chagall reproductions paired with interactive activities. Create your own master-piece. CLOSES JAN. 21. The museum is a hands-on place for kids birth to 10 years old. 9 am-5 pm Tues-Sun, Thurs until 8 pm. $9 ages 1-54. $4 to park. 4015 SW Canyon. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org

Washington County Museum Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe through May 31. County his-tory on display. 10 am-5 pm Wed-Fri, 10 am-8 pm Sat, noon-5 pm Sun. $6 adults, $4 ages 6-17, free ages 3 and under. New location at Hillsboro Civic Center, 120 E Main. 503-645-5353. washingtoncountymuseum.org.

World Forestry Center Discovery Museum. Hands-on exhibits on forests and trees throughout the museum. 10 am-5 pm daily. $9 adults, $6 ages 3 to 18, free 2 and under. $4 parking. 4033 SW Canyon. 503-228-1367. worldforestry.org.


Current Exhibits

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The Bug Chicks present “The Incredible World of Bugs” at southeast Portland’s Woodstock Library branch Jan. 26.

GPS Adventures at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVERGREEN AVIATION & SPACE MUSEUM


ABC Doula ..................7Academy Theater .......7Amiguitos ..................26Bennett Suzuki Violin Studio ..............10Cascade Athletic Clubs ..........................33Cascadia School Montessori ................25Catholic Schools Group ........................23Catlin Gabel ..............20Cedar Hills Kindergarten .............26Cedarwood School ..25Childbloom® Guitar Program of Portland...9Child’s View Montessori School ...19Chinese American Intl. School ................24CLASS Academy ......17Clogs -N- More Kids 39Creative Children’s Center ........................21Creative Roots/All Around This World ...12Dentistry for Kids ........3EcoMaids...................35Framciscan Montessori Earth School ..............18French American School ........................15German American School of Portland ....25Gresham Pediatric Dentistry ....................29Growing Generations ..............13Harmony Road/Westside Music.........12Hollywood Children’s Dentistry ....................45Holy Cross Catholic School ........................25Hopworks Urban Brewery ......................35Horizon Christian School ........................18Imagine Possibilities ..4In a Child’s Path ........24International School .21

Joy Central ................15Lakewood Center .....45Learning Palace ........35Little Garden Preschool ...................25Little Gym of Lake Oswego/Tualatin ......39Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry ......................9Living Wisdom School ........................15Mad Science .............47Marylhurst ECC.........26Metropolitan Pediatrics ...................31Metropolitan Youth Symphony .................10Micha-el School ........18Milwaukie Academy of the Arts ......................20Mir Music ...................12Mt. Hood Ski Bowl ...29Multisensory Learning Academy ...................19Music Together .........11Musikgarten ..............11North Clackamas Aquatic Park ..............47Northwest Chinese Academy ...................20Northwest Primary Care ...........................37Northwest Surrogacy Center ........................39Oaks Park ..................47Odyssey School ........21OHSU Doernbecher 48OHSU School of Dentistry ....................37School Open House Directory ....................24Oregon Children’s Theater ......................43Oregon Episcopal School ........................19Oregon Montessori Assoc. ........................24Oregon Music Teacher’s Association 11Oregon State University Online ......35

Oregon Zoo ..............41Outsource PE ............19Parent Child Preschools Organization .............27Park Academy ...........22Pediatric Dental Group ..........................7Pediatric Dental Group at Bridgeport ............13Penny’s Puppets .......47PollutionAction.org ..39Portland BoyChoir ......9Portland Christian Schools ......................22Portland Language Arts .............................22Portland Montessori School ........................19Randall Children's Hospital - Legacy Emanuel ......................2Saturday Academy ...26Small Friends ............18Sonbeam Preschool & Daycare......................25Summa Academy .....26Sun Garden Montessori ................18Suzuki Piano Studio..10Suzuki Portland/Catherine Whelan ......9Swallowtail School ....18Thorsen's Surrogate Agency ........................7Tidee Didee ..............39Tiny Revolution Montessori ................25Trinity Lutheran School ........................20Tucker Maxon ...........21Valley Catholic Music Education .......10Valley Catholic/ St. Mary’s ...................26Village Free School ..22West Hills Montessori ................22World of Smiles ........39Young Wonders Preschool ...................20

ADVERTISERS INDEX

Parties

1-3 pm. $14 in-district. Nature Park Inter-pretive Center, 15655 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton. 503-629-6350. thprd.org.

Jack and the Dragon. Puppet show with live music. Ages 4+. 7 pm. FREE. Forest Grove City Library, 2114 Pacific. 503-992-3247. fglibrary.plinkit.org.


Family Act. See Jan. 22.

Wednesday, Jan. 30




Kids Concert Series. See Jan. 23.


Thursday, Jan. 31

Dream Big! Career exploration for ‘tweens, with experts, crafts. Grades 3-8. 6-7:30 pm. FREE. Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW 5th. 503-350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org.




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