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Dental Health

Winterizing Wellness From the Inside Out

Shopping on a

Shoestring

Meet the Librarians

DIY Crystals

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www.outerbankschild.comfor the most updated calendar of events, all past issues and links

On the Cover:Teddy Bear Hospital

Brooke Mayo Photographyhttp://brookemayoblog.com/

PublishersKC McAvoy - Lee Hux

Editor Lori Britt

Advertising SalesEva Beach

Contributing Writers & ResearchersJames Woodson, DDS

Lynn Anne Madory, Dr. Christina Bowen, Katrina Mae Leuzinger, Christina Deneka,

John Van Lunen, Amy Hilliker Klebitz,Patty McKenna, Nancy Sartin

Contributing Photographers & DesignersBrooke Mayo PhotographyTail Waggin’ Photography

Christina Deneka, Melissa MattinglyKaren Collins, Amy Dixon

Laura Th ornbroughDanielle Calore

Outer Banks Child is a free publication and is published quarterly with spring, summer, fall and winter editions.

Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products or services.

OBC, LLCPO Box 1214, KDH, NC 27948

info@outerbankschild.comwww.outerbankschild.com

Annual subscription: $12/year

welcomeWinter is here, the Outer Banks has settled into its quiet winter routine. Th ough many places have closed for the season and outdoor activities are less frequent there is still a lot to do. Look for other events added aft er publication on our website www.outerbankschild.com, the online calendar is updated weekly.

Th is is our 4th issue as the new publishers of Outer Banks Child Magazine. We would like to thank our readers, our contributing writers and our advertisers for supporting us in making the return of Outer Banks Child Magazine a success. We would especially like to thank our editor, Lori Britt, she has gone above and beyond!

If you aren’t already receiving our weekly email sign-up today to keep up-to-date on what’s happening each week. We are also on Facebook so like us there too!

Th anks again for picking us up and enjoy!!!

KC McAvoy & Lee Hux

OBC, LLCPO Box 1214, KDH, NC 27948

info@outerbankschild.comwww.outerbankschild.com

Annual subscription: $12/year

Winterizing- pages 26-27

Dental Health pages 7-8

Features

The Outer Banks Teddy Bear Hospital exhibit at The Outer Banks Children at Play Museum was created through generous funding by and partnership with The Outer Banks Hospital in the fall of 2011. In this exhibit, children and their families care for sick bears together through a process of examining the bears, referring to the symptoms checklist, diagnosing their bear’s illness or injury and then giving appropriate wellness-oriented follow-up care.

It is a joy to observe children caring for their bears and loved ones. Local families and visitors alike come back again and again to enjoy The Outer Banks Teddy Bear Hospital!

O th C

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in every issue

outdoor play beach fun

indoor playhealth & developmentaround townmommy’s time outeducationbook reviewlearning while at playarts & craft s

helpful hintsgoing greenon the playgroundrecipes

on time calendar everyday of the week community

Education page 20

Going Green page 32

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Contents910121416182022242830323436384446

Activities Daily page 44

Community page 46

Beach Fun page 10

Book Review page 22

On the Cover

Indoor Play page 12

Kids 12 and under receive a free kids meal from the kids menu with an adult entree (paying adult). Not to be combined with

any other options or coupons-Valid until December 2015

Outdoor Seating • Ocean View Deck

Live Entertainment • 10 Beers on Tap

17 Big Screen TVs with all Sports Packages

4020 N. CROATAN HWY. • MP 4 • KITTY HAWK252-261-7800 • bkshuckers@yahoo.com

Open 11AM Daily

Kids Eat Free

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feature

by James Woodson, DDS

Teeth. Most of us have them. They make smiling a lot more fun. They make chewing our food much easier. In this short article, I will focus on two main areas:

•Your and your child’s role in the prevention of disease.•The importance of teeth in areas other than making smiles beautiful and chewing food.

Disease

So let’s focus on dental caries, or cavities. Cavities will occur, to some degree, in any human mouth that is not cleaned properly on a daily basis. While high sugar content foods and drinks are more risky, one cannot assume that their paleo/vegan/vegetarian diet immunizes them against cavities. The bacteria S. Mutans is a normal inhabitant of our mouths and the main culprit in cavities.

The bottom line on hygiene: Parents that brush and floss for their children twice daily drastically reduce the child’s cavity risk.

To summarize the Disease section:

•We parents must help our children clean their teeth on a daily basis. They are children. They do not understand the importance of good hygiene.

•Our diets, on so many levels, need to be less processed and more whole foods: plants and their fruit and nuts, cheeses and yogurt.

The importance of a child’s primary (baby) teeth

Of course, the main way teeth help us to have healthier lives is beginning the process of digestion by crushing and grinding our food before it travels to our stomach and on to the intestines. The human dentition is a team not unlike a soccer, baseball or football team. If one member is out of the game, then the team cannot perform as well.

Statistics from the Centers For Disease Control. Caries is synonymous with cavities.

•Percentage of children ages 5-19 years with untreated dental caries: 17.5% (2011-2012)•Percentage of adults ages 20-44 years with untreated dental caries: 27.4% (2011-2012)

National Center for Health Statistics 2011-2012•Approximately 23% of children aged 2–5 years had dental caries in primary teeth.

Parent assistance scheme with which I have had success:

•Ages 0-5 years: brush for your child twice daily, floss before bed.•Ages 6-11 years: brush and floss your child before bed, they handle the morning brushing.•Ages 12 years and up: Rigorously enforce 2 minutes of brushing twice a day, floss before bed.•If your child does a poor job, do it for them. You’ll be thanked when they are 30.

The bottom line on diet: Limit processed foods, drink water and tea (green and black).

•The sugar, corn syrup, and alcohol-based sweetener content of some processed foods is mind-blowing. Eat actual plants, nuts and fruits. If you try to cut down on the amount of packaging you throw away, you will by default be eating less processed foods. Your diet will improve.

•Eating plants and drinking tea introduces substances that are anti-inflammatory, inhibit bacterial activity and, in the case of most teas, delivers fluoride naturally into the mouth. Fluoride helps to make enamel resistant to the acid destruction that causes cavities. (Pharmacogn Rev. 2013 Jul-Dec; 7(14): 152–156)

Roles of the baby teeth:•Chewing food•Phonation: speaking and making sounds•Holding the jaw bone mass and the space for permanent teeth•Interacting during jaw movements to direct the growth of both jaws

Dental HealthContinued on Page 8 ...

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feature Phonation

You need only listen to a first grader missing a front tooth to understand how teeth help us make the sounds that make up our spoken languages. Make the sounds “S”: sixty-one, sixty-two, etc. Say “Fifty-five, Fifty-five”. Did you notice where your teeth were in relation to each other? Did you notice how your upper, front teeth touch your lower lip when saying fifty-five? When a child is young they need their teeth to be in their mouth and in a proper position so that they can have their “musical instrument” ready to practice all of those wonderful sounds.

Holding Space for Permanent Teeth

For the sake of brevity, I will focus on one primary tooth: the second primary molar. It is the tooth farthest back in the mouth when your child has only their baby teeth. When your child is about 6 years of age, the first permanent molar erupts into the mouth. It is guided into place by the aforementioned second primary molar. If the primary molar is not present, the permanent molar will move forward into the space vacated by the second primary molar. This will block the eruption of the permanent premolar due to erupt about 4 years after the first permanent molar, a frustrating mess for all parties involved I can assure you.

Baby Tooth Interaction and Jaw Growth

Once again for the sake of brevity, I will outline one scenario where the baby teeth being in a poor position affects jaw growth - crossbites. When a baby tooth is well out of position, in a crossbite, it may cause the lower jaw to shift either forward or sideways to attempt to have the largest number of teeth bite together. If this is not corrected, then the jaw will continue to grow in this shifted direction and the child’s face will appear asymmetric. In addition, the teeth cannot function to chew the food properly. Please visualize the tree that grows out from under a fence. It must choose one side or the other and will forever be crooked.

To sum it all up, the human mouth is different than many important organs of the human body. A cut on the skin or a broken bone can heal and usually there is no permanent disability. However, a large cavity causing the loss of a baby tooth that then leads

to the drifting of an adult tooth can cause decay and gum disease risk in that mouth for a lifetime.

•When a parent tells a child to brush, that’s great. When they help the child, it establishes the importance of the task. Help your children morning and night.•A diet that minimizes processed foods is beneficial to the body as a whole. Include plants, whole grains, nuts, seeds, cheeses, yogurt, and fruits (not fruit juices).•When the above two points are taken to heart, the disease risk of cavities will be minimal.•Please see your dentist regularly. Be sure that your child sees a dentist that is a pediatric dentist or a general dentist that understands the development of a child’s jaws, teeth and face.•Above all, SMILE as much as possible.

James C. Woodson (Jimmy) DDSGeneral Dentist with a Focus on Pediatrics and OrthodonticsNags Head, NC

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Pinecone Bird Feeder Make a pinecone bird feeder using a pinecone, peanut butter(or Crisco), and birdseed. Roll the pinecone in the peanut butter, then in the birdseed. Hang it from a tree and watch the birds enjoy it!

Edible BirdhouseMake an edible birdhouse that can be reused. Use a wooden birdhouse (either homemade or from a craft store), edible glue, and a variety of birdseed.. For the glue, heat 1/2 cup water, dissolve 1 package unflavored gelatin (1/4 oz.) in the water, mix in 3 Tbsp. corn syrup and 3/4 cup flour. Have the kids spread the glue on the house and then the bird seed. You can also add dried fruit and nuts to add more decoration to the house. Let it dry for a few hours then put it outside for the birds to enjoy!

Ice MarblesMake ice marbles when the temperature outside is below freezing. Simply add a few drops of food coloring to small balloons, then fill with water and put them outside. It may take up to 24 hours for them to freeze; you can also make these in your freezer and put them outside. Once they are frozen, use a small knife to peel the balloon off.

Ice SculptureBuild an ice sculpture. By using colored ice cubes made in advance, kids can have lots of fun on a cold day with this one! Make colored ice cubes in various shapes and sizes by freezing water and food coloring. You can either add a drop to each ice cube well of an ice cube tray, or mix a batch of water and food coloring and pour it into the tray. Make plenty so there are enough blocks to build with. This activity works best on a very cold day so the cubes don’t melt before the sculpture is done.

Geocaching If you have older kids, try geocaching it’s a real life treasure hunting adventure that the whole family can participate in. Geocaching is done around the world using GPS devices and the internet to find items hidden by others. Visit www.geocaching.com to create a free account and find out more about how it works.

Brrr.. it’s cold! Even though winter is here there is still plenty to do outdoors. Big outings can include sledding on Jockey’s Ridge, a hike through Nags Head Woods, exploring our winter beaches, exploring the Alligator River Wildlife or Pea Island Refuges. There’s a good deal to do in your own yard too! There’s no reason not to bundle up and head outside. If we are lucky and get snow, nothing beats a good old fashioned snowball fight or snowman but here are a few ideas that don’t require snow.

Get Outside!outdoor play

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beach fun

I love being outside. It’s a ‘fuels-my-soul’ kind of love, one of great importance to me. On more than one occasion, I’ve spent a month sleeping under the stars. Before their first birthdays, both of my girls had several camping trips under their own belts. One grey morning a couple of winters ago, I experienced the ultimate parenting win (for me) during an interchange with my then 4-year-old that went something like this:

me: “What would you like to do today?”ER: “Lets go kayaking.” me: “Sounds like fun, but its going to be rainy.”ER: “Mom, we have rain jackets.”

Through my actions and love for being outside, I had shared one of my values with my daughter, and she had taken it on as her own. Even though the message about not picking your nose hadn’t been received, this one had. The moral of the story here is just like rain didn’t mean we couldn’t kayak, winter doesn’t mean staying inside. Enjoying the outdoors is still possible, it’s just a matter of rethinking the beach bag. So, for what its worth, here’s my advice on planning a successful day at the beach when you might otherwise prefer to be inside drinking hot chocolate.

Before you go

Eat a protein-packed breakfast, and make sure everyone is drinking water from the time they wake up. Of course you know this matters, I just can’t emphasize how much.

Head to Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Just south of the Bonner bridge is a large parking lot on the east side of the road. Park your car in a way that it provides a wind block while you’re getting the kiddos dressed (it’s all in the details).

Take the trail heading out of the northeast side of the parking lot around the rocks or climb on over, and you’ll soon find a small beach on the sound. Keep heading east toward the historic Pea Island Life Saving Station. Start making your own trail. Wander into the dunes until you find a spot protected from the wind and drop your stuff to set up base camp.

Why this spot?

It’s a beautiful expanse of rolling dunes flanked by a wonderfully wide beach to the east and Highway 12 to the west. Thanks to the winds that keep many away, you are sure to find something new every time you go.

You’ll get your exercise, too. Any time you match your kids move for move guarantees a workout, and this is especially true when you throw sand dunes into the mix. Wide open spaces allow for wide open kids and there isn’t much you have to say “no” to here. When we go we have two rules: The first is stay off of the plants. The second is if I say “Marco” I need to hear them respond “Polo” no matter what sort of covert operations they are involved in at the time. The landscape is conducive to a great game of hide and seek, so it’s good to develop some sort of code with your kiddos that says “Game off; I need to know where you are.”

...winter doesn’t mean staying inside...

Mom, We Have Rain Jacketsby Lynn Anne Madory

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beach fun

What to packa backpack

You’ll want your hands free for climbing hills…or holding little hands… or carrying little people.

more clothes than you think you needThe weather at the beach can be much different that at home. You can always leave it in the car if you find you don’t need it when you get there.

rain jacketsThese can be a great barrier against the wind.

hot foodBring along some soup in a thermos.

a trash bagEvery little bit helps.

lip balm, tissues and sunglassesLittle noses run more in the cold. Little eyes water more in the wind, and the sun reflecting off the sand can be intense.

beach tent/old tentWhy not bring it if you have one? It can be a fun addition to your base camp.

emergency M&M’sMy experience tells me there’s not much whining that these can’t stop. There’s no child who won’t walk a few extra steps in the direction you need them to go to get one.

What to do•Get “lost.” Wander as far away from camp as conditions and kiddos allow and let them lead you back. With the road and beach to keep them relatively on track, it’s a great opportunity to let them be in charge.

•Play hide and seek. Teach them how to follow tracks in the sand.

•Have a scavenger hunt. On the way there, come up with a list of things you think you’ll spot. Make it as formal or informal as you like.

•If you have a group, this is an amazing setting for a game of Capture The Flag.

•Have a treasure hunt. Prepack Tupperware with treasure and partially bury it. Create a map in the sand that leads the way.

•Build an imaginary fire with sticks, shells, etc.

•Turn your base camp into a hospital and practice first aid scenarios.

•On a wind-free day you might even take a walk on the beach while you are there, but there are plenty of days we never leave the dunes.

•If they get cold, pull up your shirt and put cold hands and feet on your belly. Howl about how cold they are… really overdo it.

•On the way home, stop by the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. (Call ahead, 800-272-5199, to see if boats have gone out.) When the charter boats come in, they lay the catch on the dock before cleaning the boats. We’ve seen everything from tuna to an almost 800 pound Marlin.

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There are a lot of science kits you can buy to make crystals; however, if you are stuck at home on a cold winter day the kids can make them at home and learn a little bit of science in the process. Making crystals is easy to do and you probably have all of the ingredients in your house right now. Each of these activities take a few days to complete, but most of the time is spent observing the changes.

DIY

CRYSTALSindoor play

Alum Crystals This activity will allow kids to grow a larger crystal by making a seed crystal first. Alum can be found in the baking/spice section of the grocery store.

•Alum•Water•Glass jars (2) •String •Pencil

1.Fill the glass jar with approximately 1 cup of hot water.Slowly add alum, one teaspoon at a time, mixing after eachaddition. Continue adding alum until no more will dissolve.

2.Slowly pour the water-alum mixture into a second jar,making sure not to transfer any alum that has settled at the bottom of the first jar.

3.Place the jar in an area where it will not be disturbed for a couple of days. Small crystals should form on the bottom of the jar.

4.Select a seed crystal and remove it from the jar and allow it to dry.

5.Tie a string to the seed crystal.

6.Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a new super-saturated alum solution.

7.Using the pencil across the top of the jar, hang the seed crystal from step 5 in the jar with the alum solution. Make sure the crystal is not touching the bottom or sides of the jar.

8.Watch the crystal grow for a few days.

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indoor play

Rock Candy •A wooden skewer or wooden chopstick •A clothespin •1 cup of water•Food coloring (optional) •2 to 3 cups of sugar •A tall narrow jar or glass

1.Boil the water in a small saucepan, add the food coloring (optional). Add the sugar slowly, starting with about ¼ cup and allow each addition to completely dissolve before adding more. When no more sugar will dissolve your solution is done.

2.Pour the sugar water solution into a tall jar and place the skewer into the center of the jar, leaving about an inch at the bottom of the jar. Hold the skewer in place with the clothespin, making sure it’s not touching the bottom or sides of the jar.

It takes about 3-7 days for the rock candy to completely form on the skewer; during this time you can check the progress and watch it grow.

Baking Soda Crystals on a String •Baking Soda•1 cup water•Food coloring (optional) •Plate•Two glass jars (or cups) •String •Paper clip (or other weight)

1.Boil the water and remove from heat. Slowly add baking soda (around 7 tablespoons), mixing carefully after each addition. Be careful with this step as adding the baking soda will cause some bubbling.

2.Allow the water-baking soda solution to sit for a few minutes to let the undissolved baking soda settle to the bottom.

3.Pour the water-baking soda solution into the glass jars. Be careful not to let the settled baking soda into the jars.

4.Hang the string so that one end is in each jar, using the paper clips at each end to keep the string in the jar. Place the plate in the middle to catch crystals that fall off.

5.Allow to sit undisturbed so the crystals can grow. The solution will work its way through the string, meeting at the middle to create crystals. Watch it over the next few days.

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Health and Development

Staying Healthy8 Ways to Improve your Family’s

Health this Winter

Eat a balanced dietWhat does that mean? Many studies have recently come out showing the benefits of a Mediterranean-based diet. A Mediterranean-based diet is excellent because it is an ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET. Why is an anti-inflammatory diet good? Inflammation over time weakens our immune system. By eating an anti-

inflammatory diet you are letting your kitchen be your pharmacy and preventing illness! A Mediterranean diet is high in “healthy” fats found in olive oil and certain types of fish. It also incorporates roughly 3 servings of both fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C and zinc, both of which have been shown to possibly prevent upper respiratory infections, are important to stock up on in the winter months. Examples of fruits and veggies containing vitamin C are dark leafy greens, broccoli, berries, citrus fruits and tomatoes. My favorite source of zinc is beans, as they have many wonderful health benefits in addition to being high in zinc.

by Dr. Christina Bowen1Catch plenty of Z’sSleep is incredibly important to help our bodies restore and rejuvenate. Adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Children require more sleep and the amount needed will vary based on your child’s age. Developing a good sleep routine is important for both adults and children to assure adequate sleep. This means a designated bedtime for both children and adults. With

two school-aged children in our home, to assure they have 10 hours of sleep and not feel insanely rushed in the morning, we must keep a bedtime between 8:00 and 8:30 for a wake up time of 6:30. I will be honest, this requires a lot of intentional planning surrounding extracurricular activities, meals and showers…but having well-rested children is worth the extra effort!

2Keep that gut happyResearchers are learning more and more about the importance of maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal environment, meaning we have enough good bacteria in our intestinal tract. One way to help with promoting good bacteria is by eating

yogurt with live active cultures. I recommend plain organic Greek yogurt. It has all of the good bacteria and no added sugars. My kids would not dare eat plain yogurt by itself so we add local raw honey with some organic berries and organic granola or make a yummy smoothie to keep our guts healthy!

3Wash those handsGood hand washing techniques can help eliminate many of the germs which cause common winter illnesses. Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, the same amount of time as singing a chorus of happy birthday or a verse of your favorite holiday song.

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Health and Development 7Drink upStaying hydrated during the winter months is important for our overall health and for combating dry skin frequently seen with our Outer Banks wind! Try adding lemon or fresh fruit to water for an extra zing! A great idea is to keep a stainless steel or BPA-free water bottle with you throughout the day so you can assure enough water intake. In our

family we each have our own water bottles so we know everyone is hydrating!

5Smells so good!Aromatherapy is a fragrant way to combat some winter germs! A fun way to get the kids involved with aromatherapy is by making a room spray of bergamot and orange to help decrease germs. Aromatic diffusers are another great way to use aromatherapy. To help prevent upper respiratory infections…try eucalyptus/peppermint or peppermint alone in the diffusers.

Keep MovingGetting some vitamin D outside for 15-20 minutes every day is important during the winter. Soak up those rays…just bundle up! You can be creative if the winter temps are prohibiting prolonged outdoor activities. Try Parks and Recreation for some indoor basketball, local gyms for indoor equipment/exercise classes/swimming or try one of my favorite indoor exercises…YOGA!86

Say “No!” to StressStress is part of life; however, learning productive ways to deal with stress and to eliminate unnecessary stress is incredibly important. Chronic stress creates inflammation in our bodies which weakens our immune systems. As we begin the holiday season, a fun way to help your family decrease stress would be to have family meditations focused on gratitude. Give yourself 5 minutes every day to breathe! Deep breathing is an excellent way to decrease stress, lower cortisol levels and therefore improve your health.

Article originally published on www.drchristinabowen.com. Republished with permission.

Drink up Say “No!” to Stressp

around town

by Katrina Mae Leuzinger

Shop

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Dare Challenge Thrift Store

My Little SunshineBuccaneer’s WalkM.P. 4.5 Bypass252-261-2500Do you find yourself envious of those other moms whose kids are always in ridiculously cute, perfectly coordinated outfits? With the low prices at My Little Sunshine, you can be that mom. They sell new and consignment clothing in size newborn to 8. They’ll also sell your old clothes on consignment. Fair warning, they’re selective about what they’ll take, but that means when you shop there you’ll find only the highest quality, name brand, like-new clothes. They’ve also got some toys, baby equipment, and they feature children’s books written by local authors.

M.P. 8.5 on the Bypass252-441-9493If you’ve got time to shop around, make your first stop Dare Challenge. Here you’ll find like-new used items lumped in with less desirable items, but, oh man, is their stuff cheap. We’re talking refill your kid’s closet, refurnish your living room, and still have money left over to take everyone out for ice cream cheap. Keep an eye out for their $5 bag sales, where you pay only $5 for all the clothing, shoes, and linens you can fit in a paper grocery sack.

M.P. 14.5 on the Bypass252-480-2297Rock-a-Bye Baby is your one-stop shop for all things infant. The store is jammed packed with new and consignment baby clothes, strollers, toys, shoes, breastfeeding and bottle feeding accessories, and other baby equipment. They even keep a rack of maternity clothes in the back corner. It’s an excellent place to shop if you’re looking for stuff for your little squishy or a ridiculously adorable outfit to wow your friend at her baby shower. They take trade-in items, so it’s a good place to offload some of your old baby equipment when your little one gets older.

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Winter is here, and in our town that means belts are tightening, businesses are shuttered, and seasonal layoffs are happening. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the kids stop outgrowing their shoes at a downright alarming rate, and there are plenty of birthday parties and baby showers to contend with between now and Memorial Day. Here are some of our favorite affordable places to shop, off-season or year round.

Shopping on

a Shoestring

around town

To learn more about advertising with Outer Banks Child

email sales@outerbankschild.com

Shop Local

Karma BlueTeenagers

M.P. 14.5 on the Bypass252-715-3870Karma Blue is an upscale consignment shop that manages to look and feel more like a trendy mall boutique. It’s dotted with cozy couches, chic decorations, and mirrors emblemized with positive affirmations like, “You are beautiful.” The clothes, shoes, and purses are all like-new, mostly brand name, and in-fashion, so you won’t waste time shifting through piles of 80’s puff-sleeve dresses to find something your high schooler actually wants to wear. You can even trade in gently-used clothes for store credit. They even have a dressing room, so you don’t have to worry about carting home a pile of clothes that won’t fit.

CHKD Thrift StoreM.P. 4.5 on the Bypass252-255-KIDSNot much money left over after shopping for the kids? You can still pick up a killer outfit for yourself at King’s Daughters. There you’ll find thrift store prices on clothes that tend to be better quality than your typical thrift store. It’s our favorite place to pick up a “new” dress and heels on the cheap for date nights and parties. Plus they have inexpensive clothes for the kids, in case you’re feeling generous enough splurge on your loved ones as well.

Something for You

These are just a few of the excellent local shops and thrift stores we have around here. Remember, tis the season for clearance items! Keep an eye out for overstock items that tend to move over to the discount rack right after Christmas. It never hurts to ask if they offer local discount (most of our mom and pop stores do). Winter time can be a struggle for everyone here, including the owners of our favorite local businesses. Shopping local helps ensure that we all stay employed and keep the lights on all winter long. So stay warm, hug your babies, and shop on!

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mommy ‘s time outy

Have you ever attended an event like Beach Bingo or Home Depot Ladies Night and wondered, who are all of these ladies and what is “OBE?” Well, “OBE” stands for “Outer Banks Entrepreneurs,” a women’s Mastermind, Networking, and Referral group. OBE members are local business owners, professionals, service providers, and direct sales persons who meet regularly to share ideas, discuss marketing strategies and offer referrals.

OBE was created and founded by Kim Twiddy in February of 2012. It started as a dream back in 2003, when Kim was working 12-hour shifts, four days in a row in the Dare County 911 Communications Center with the same four people every day. Kim needed an outlet to share her SendOutCards, Scentsy and Velata businesses with. Kim studied other national networking groups, and knew she could come up with a better, more affordable program.

After almost ten years of study, OBE was born and has since blossomed into the Outer Banks’ premier Mastermind, Networking & Referral group. In addition to the main chapter, OBE now has three sister chapters in the Albermarle, Tidewater and Edenton areas and Kim is also working as the Manager of OBX DIY Makerspace, which strives to grow local entrepreneurial opportunities.

So what is it really like when around two-dozen women business owners come together through OBE? First and foremost, friendship, fellowship and yes, food, happens. And then it’s time for some serious business networking and strategy. A signature piece of every OBE meeting is the timed 30-second “elevator speech,” in which members introduce their businesses and become more focused and confident in speaking about their businesses.

When you look at the OBE membership, the diversity of businesses on the beach is simply striking:

Kim Twiddy’s store Cats, etc. in Kitty Hawk offers a variety of pet products including high quality food for cats and dogs while OBE Vice President Christina Deneka of Hollow Daze Surf Designs makes handcrafted soap and natural bath and body products.

Membership Director Tricia Dove-Kerns is a skincare whiz and Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay. Larissa Roughton of Pure Romance by Larissa helps women with their intimate health and well-being and also has a family business, Creative Cabinets.

Amy Hinnant of Just a Little Something by Amy puts together stunning yet reasonably priced gift baskets and delivers them up and down the beach. Member Helen Czernik represents three businesses: toy store Monkey Business, Make it Personal Engraving Specialist, and Sea Freeze, the frozen drink machine rental company. Jennifer Snell of Tail Waggin’ Photography offers photography services for pets and people too.

Lorna Ernst’s storefront, Made in the OBX, sells local food, crafts and art by over 95 local purveyors, while artist Lora Nock of Simple Expressions offers custom murals and artworks. Cathy Hunt OBE President Kim Twiddy

photo: Tail Waggin’ Photography

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Networking Our Small

Beach into

an Ocean of

Opportunityby Christina Deneka

owns Beach Memories, the Scrapbooker’s Paradise, and also sells Lilla Rose hair accessories. Tracy Chafin is the owner of celebrity dog Donaghy Burton, the OBX Rescue Dog of Privilege.

Jayme Price of Surrendered Graphix offers custom vinyl decals, promotional and gift items. Member Jeri Card is a jewelry designer with Origami Owl, independent It Works! distributor, and owns Card’s Landscaping.

Kim Cole offers weighted therapy blankets through her business Perfectly Imperfect along with custom embroidery and monogramming through her business Twisted Stichez. Dr. Kristine Rook’s Right-at-Home Mobile Veterinary Services offers in-home care for your pets.

Amanda Lotas of Tower Garden helps people grow their own food year-round at home. She also offers healthy encapsulated produce and gummy chewables called “Juice Plus” to help kids and adults achieve optimal nutrition.

Ashley Contristan of Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty is a real estate broker with an interior design background, while Cindy Bryant is a LuLaRoe fashion consultant offering pop-up boutique clothing parties.

Connie Novak is a former police chief offering private home security services through her business Safe & Sound Homewatch. Jackie Gray of Eyes of Gray, LLC provides investigative services and also offers NC Concealed Carry classes.

This striking diversity of businesses truly translates into tremendous depth within OBE, helping to transform our wonderful “small beach” into an ocean of entrepreneurial opportunity.

Byline: Christina Deneka of Hollow Daze Surf Designs is the Vice President of OBE’s main chapter. To connect with OBE, “like” Outer Banks Entrepreneurs on Facebook, attend Ladies Night at Home Depot on the third Thursday of every month, and come to the 4th Annual OBE Women’s Winter Expo at the Ramada in Kill Devil Hills on February 27, 2016.

OBE Group Photo

...friendship, fellowship and yes, food ...

mommy’s time out

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education

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to balance physical activities with their education. Sometimes it was formally organized activities (YMCA, Parks and Rec teams) and sometimes it wasn’t (play days, hiking Jockey’s Ridge, walking around Oregon Inlet). What I like to believe happened during this process is that my wife, Bonnie, and I helped our kids to keep a healthy balance of physical activity and academics.

Trust me when I say I know exactly how a parent feels when they turn on the TV for their child. We thank the TV gods for distracting our kids for an hour so we can catch up on work or, if you’re like me, lay down and close our eyes for a minute. That being said, balance is the key to just about everything. As parents, we shouldn’t rely on the TV too much and it’s probably necessary to turn it off and push them out the door. At first, you’ll probably have to guide them (going down the slide, showing them how to build a sand castle, playing catch). Gradually, they’ll figure out how to do these things on their own or with a friend.

The American Heart Association recommends children get 60 minutes of moderate activity every day. The best part is it doesn’t even have to be 60 consecutive minutes. It could be three 20 minute sessions throughout the day. It’s been found that exercise helps your brain power by improving cognitive abilities, brain structure, and brain function. In addition, creativity is often increased after exercising. Regarding activity and competitive sports, a child has the opportunity to be a part of a team, to lead, to be challenged, to win, and to lose. These experiences help kids build confidence, learn to deal with problems, and handle setbacks.

With standardized testing and SOLs taking over classroom time, free play and physical education are often being shortened. To the contrary, exercise can help you become smarter.

A recent study at Stanford University found that just 10-15 minutes of moderate exercise significantly improved creativity. Other studies show that performing exercises requiring strategy (tennis) or taking a new route (jogging, biking) force your brain to grow and adapt (plasticity). One study found that children who were more physically fit had a greater capacity for memory, attention span, and cognitive efficiency. Another study showed that 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise 3 times per week will improve brain functions.

With that in mind, finding time and space in the winter can be a chore. Fortunately, winter is short here but it’s good to know

Read

y Set Move!

by John Van Lunen

Being a seasonal business owner set me up to be recruited for the winter job of “Stay-at-Home-Dad.” After much kicking and screaming (and no other applications were given out), I settled down and accepted the assignment. I tried to get myself fired several times, but to no avail. The job was pretty slow at first, mostly just carrying a kid around. Then the dynamic changed when our first child, Alivian, became old enough to start moving around. It quickly became a mild obsession for me to find new and interesting playgrounds and activities to explore. Later, as we raised three kids through childhood and schooling, we began

we have resources. Winter may be a good time to have the kids go through swimming lessons. For more information on that, call the YMCA or see Christen Buchert’s ad below. Dare County Parks and Recreation offers wrestling and basketball. Several places offer dance. Try to take advantage of daylight after school. If it’s nice, go for a hike outside. Save rainy days for recovery or catching up on cleaning or homework.

One of the best things a parent can do is model good behavior to their kids. Take care of yourself, mind and body. Be active and continue to educate yourself. As adults, if we’re not moving forward we’re definitely moving backwards. Be adventurous, take chances, be positive, and set the tone. Your children will follow and everyone will be better because of it

John Van LunenPhysical Education teacherOwner of Kitty Hawk Watersports, Nags HeadU.S.C.G. licensed captain

Visit the Outdoor Play section of this magazine for more ideas on

staying active.

education

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book review

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Outer Banks Child

Kid’s CornerBook Review

The Day The Crayons Came Home!By Drew DaywaltIllustrated by Oliver Jeffers

The companion book to “The Day The Crayons Quit” available at local libraries and bookstores.

Rocco age 4- “I really liked the part when the baby ate the purple crayon. I liked all the crayons too.”

Piper age 6- “I really like this book. I liked the glow in the dark part and the brown crayons letter. I thought Esteban was really funny too.”

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Ms Donna’s Winter Time Reading

These are other books recommended by Librarian Donna Roark. They are available at the library.

The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau is an Easy picture book that teaches children of all ages about having a caring heart and generous spirit. It is a great story for the giving season!

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo is a Juvenile Fiction book and is a great family story that follows a rabbit made mostly of china, jointed with wire at the elbows and knees. Edward Tulane is an exceedingly vain, cold-hearted china rabbit owned by 10-year-old Abilene Tulane, who dearly loves him. DiCamillo tucks important messages into this story and once more plumbs the mystery of the heart--or, in this case, the heartless.

learning while at play

Donna Roark, or Miss Donna, as the children fondly call her, started working as the Children’s Librarian for Dare County Libraries on July 1, 2007. She has lived in Kill Devil Hills for 25 years and has one daughter, Jordyn Taylor Roark, who is attending UNC-Pembroke. She shares her home with Riley dog and Mr. Benjamin Bunny, who visits the library every Easter. Miss Donna was born in southeastern Virginia and spent most of her childhood there on a small farm, serving as the nurturer of lost baby animals, including alligators, opossums, deer and all kinds of homeless critters. The home her family shared was over a hundred years old and sported an outhouse! After high school, she attended Longwood College and University of Virginia, receiving a double major in Speech and Language Disorders and Theatre. While at

Longwood, Miss Donna carried the lead role, as a 70 year old lady, in a play called “The Visit.” She received the Best Actress award for that role. Following graduation, Miss Roark practiced as a Speech Clinician in Nottoway County Schools, before moving from Virginia in 1990, to serve in the same role at Central Elementary and JP Knapp Middle Schools in Currituck County. In the mid 90’s, Miss Donna took on the role of Lead Teacher for Dare County Head Start and following the birth of her daughter, became the Assistant Director/preschool teacher at Ferris Wheel Daycare. In 2011, she received a Master’s degree in Leadership in Higher Education and is currently at the dissertation phase of her PhD and hopes to research and write about how we prepare our teachers in today’s society.

In addition to her role as Children’s Librarian, she has served as Dare County’s Children’s Theatre Director for DC Parks and Recreation’s Shadow Players since 2001, introducing hundreds of children to a love of performance and the world of musical theatre. In this role, she is known lovingly as “Drama Mama.” The DC Shadow Players accept students ages 9-18 and will bring “Wizard of Oz” to the FFHS auditorium and the public on February 12, 2016. The program is unique in that the entire production is produced by Miss Donna and children, with the exception of a couple of wonderful women assisting in the costume rooms.

Ultimately, Miss Donna hopes to inspire a love of reading and performance in children and adults of all ages. Currently, she is the only Children’s Librarian in Dare County. There is one position that just opened and the county hopes to fill that position by January 1, 2016.

Meet the Librariansg p y

Brenda Miller – BIOMy name is Brenda Miller. I am with Youth Services at the Currituck County Library in Barco and have been with the library system for three years. I am originally from Elizabeth City but have lived in Currituck for over 30 years. My husband and I

teach Hunter Education classes in Currituck and are both avid sportsmen. Before joining the library, I worked for the Currituck County Schools as a substitute teacher for all grades.

I enjoy reading and love introducing the fun of reading to children through story times. My favorite children’s books are Baby Bear Sees Blue by Ashley Wolff, Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, and Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. My favorite part of story time is when the children all gather on the carpet, ready to listen and become captivated by the stories.

At the Currituck County Public Library in Barco, we offer Babygarten (ages birth to 18 months), Toddler Tuesdays (18 months to 3 years) and Preschool Story Time (3 to 5 years). We also feature a family story time for families with children up to 2nd grade. Our Summer Reading Program theme varies each year, but the goal is the same – keep children reading while school is out to prevent summer slide. Programs include interactive play, reading incentives, guest presenters, and exposure to quality children’s literature. The library staff also hosts special holiday programs every year including Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, a themed community tea party in the spring and an annual Make and Take It Craft Workshop in December.

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learning while at playg p y

Chelsea Castellow - BIOMy name is Chelsea Castellow. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts with a focus in Recreation and Leisure Management. This has given me the opportunity to work with children of all ages in many different settings. I have been working in Youth Services at the Moyock Public Library for over two years. The highlight of coming to work every day is making a difference in

a child’s life. I love planning and implementing programs for the children.

I provide story times for newborns through elementary school age children. Story time is a great way for parents and children to come together to share their love of reading surrounded by others who share that same love. Making stories memorable for children is a passion of mine. I ask questions about what they have just heard; we participate in felt board story activities or games that relate to the story. Songs, dances, basic Spanish and some American Sign Language are intermingled throughout story time. One of my favorite books is The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. This story has good values to aid in teaching children the importance of sharing, kindness and friendship.

The Summer Reading Program is an opportunity for children to participate in activities at the library and earn rewards for reading. When a child fills out a reading log and brings it back to the library, we reward them with a prize. This incentive helps motivate children to read over the summer so that they maintain or improve their reading skills as they prepare for a new school year.Seasonal programs are held in the winter, fall and spring at the Moyock Public Library. These programs are festive and designed for children of all ages. It is extremely rewarding when children are having fun learning and parents are able to take away teaching techniques to use at home. This is a perfect way to reinforce what has been learned at story time!

Dare County Library’s story hours serve many purposes, first and foremost to instill a love of reading and books in young children. We have branded our programs as “growing readers” story times for this reason. During a typical “growing readers” story time your child will enjoy stories, games, finger plays, as well as songs and movement centered on a particular weekly theme that children will easily relate to. Sometimes a short related film is shown and often a simple craft is included in the program.

Although our Children’s Librarians work hard to plan programs that are fun for participating children, we want parents and caregivers to note that these programs are truly educational in nature, and also serve a vital “school readiness” objective. Preschool story times are often the first group-interactive experience for children not already in a pre-school program, teaching participating preschoolers’ socialization skills, listening skills, sharing, confidence and much more. It is important to note that recent studies have shown the importance of early reading to childhood brain development and language acquisition. Some studies have estimated that 90 percent of children’s critical brain development occurs by age 5. Additionally, there is a growing body of evidence showing that early learning experiences are linked with later school achievement, and emotional and social well-being.

Both the Dare and Currituck County Library story time programs are free, and no pre-registration is required to attend. Programs are offered at least once weekly at each location all year-round, with small breaks in the programing year before and after Summer Reading Program, and mid-winter. Since another significant factor influencing children’s early educational success is access to books

and being read to at home, make use of our large and diverse collection of age appropriate books and bring some home with you each week to share with your child between weekly library visits.

For more information about “growing readers” story times, please stop by the Dare County Library in Manteo, Hatteras or Kill Devil Hills and pick up a monthly calendar of events, or call the library – Manteo 473-2372, Hatteras 986-2385, Kill Devil Hills 441-4331.

For more information about Currituck County story times, please stop by the Currituck County Library in Barco or Moyock or call the library- Barco 453-8345, Moyock 435-0680. Both Dare and Currituck Libary calendars can be found online at www.earlibrary.org and click on calendar.

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How do you approach winter? Are you more like a bird, flying south to sunnier climes, or a bear, hibernating, or a squirrel, settling into a cozy home with your acorns stashed away and hoping to make them last? In the spirit of the plucky squirrel, here are some thoroughly human things you too can do to ready yourself, your family and your home for another Outer Banks winter from the inside out.

First things first, it’s cold and flu season. Consider making a large batch of elderberry syrup to “winterize” yourself and your family. A popular cold remedy in Europe, elderberry syrup is thought to help lesson the duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms. It can also be used as a tasty preventative to hopefully avoid those nasty winter illnesses in the first place.

For your homemade elderberry syrup you will need half a cup of dried elderberries, three cups of water, and one cup of local, raw honey. You may also wish to include other nutritional goodies like two tablespoons of sliced fresh ginger and a teaspoon of cinnamon. A pound of organic elderberries costs around $18 on amazon.com. Consider splitting it with friends to reduce your costs.

To make the syrup, place the berries (and ginger and cinnamon if you like) in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a low simmer, and cook for about forty-five minutes to an hour. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer and add your honey off-heat. The syrup will keep for about two months stored in the refrigerator in a glass jar.

Now that the elderberry syrup is made, shift your winter wellness focus from the inside to your outside, that is, to your skin. The largest organ of your body, your dermis, may have become flaky and dry in winters past. Not this year! First, make sure that you are fully hydrated. That means drinking half your body weight in ounces of water every day. Next, remember to exfoliate weekly. If exfoliating wet skin with a scrubby soap or loofah sponge is not your thing, you may want to try dry brushing this year.

Dry brushing is done by sweeping a long-handled brush gently yet firmly over the body. It is important not to overdo the pressure and to dry brush only on healthy, unbroken skin. The arms, legs, heels and elbows are particularly suited to dry brushing. And when you’re through, you may well notice an improvement in the look and feel of your skin.

In addition to exfoliating, choosing a gentle soap for cleansing in the wintertime helps minimize your chances of dry skin. Castile soap, which is made with olive oil, is an excellent choice because olive oil is a natural humectant that helps the skin achieve the right level of moisture inside and out. You can purchase castile

soap in bar or liquid form. Although convenient and user-friendly, liquids can be costly and they are often expensive to source from a shipping perspective. One way to economize without compromising on quality is to transform a bar of castile soap into liquid castile soap. It’s a lot less complicated than you might think.

To make your own liquid castile soap at home, you will need one bar of castile soap (100 percent olive oil bars work best), water, table salt and a mason jar. Bring approximately two-and-a-half cups of water to a boil while shredding or even simply finely chopping the castile soap. It is easy to grate soap on the large holes of a cheese grater; you can also just go ahead and julienne it with a large kitchen knife. Place the soap shreds in the mason jar. Pour the boiling water over the soap, pop the lid on quickly (it does not have to be super tight), and then just let it sit for twenty minutes. Next gently whisk the solution within the jar to eliminate most remaining chunks. Pour the contents over a fine mesh strainer into a mixing bowl.

While the solution rests, dissolve one-half an ounce of regular table salt (do not use fancy salt for this as it will not work) in one-and-a-half ounces of warmed water. Then add approximately three-quarters of an ounce of the salt-water mixture to your solution. Let everything rest another ten minutes and the solution should thicken nicely. To increase your yield and, hopefully, fill all the soap dispensers in the house, thin by adding approximately eight to ten additional ounces of water. You can always adjust the soap again by adding more salt-water mixture to thicken or more water to thin. Once you are satisfied with the consistency of the soap, use a funnel to transfer it into empty pump dispensers. If you prefer a fluffier lather, try using a foaming pump dispenser.

Optionally, you may also wish to add a few drops of essential oil to your liquid soaps, mixing thoroughly for at least ninety seconds. The impact on the overall scent will likely be minimal, however, the other aspects of the essential oil that you find appealing should likely be retained. For instance, some people like to add a few drops of tea tree essential oil to their liquid soaps because it is thought to be a natural antibacterial. Remember, essential oils are highly concentrated forms of the volatile oils found in plants and must be used and stored with care.

feature

26

Winterizing WellnessFrom the Inside Out

by Christina Deneka

feature

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Now that you are hydrated, exfoliated and using gentle, humectant soap, chances are that you and your family members may not even need a moisturizer. But if there’s still a need, look no further than the kitchen for some inexpensive natural relief. It really can be as simple as rubbing your hands with coconut or olive oil (or even a little mixture of the two). If you want to make a more elaborate moisturizing cream, a quick search for “diy moisturizer” yields many results. Choose a formulation with beeswax, both for simplicity and to avoid categories of chemicals that become totally unnecessary.

Next think about your indoor environment. When the heat pump runs constantly, does your home become so very dry that despite your best efforts you and your family are experiencing dry skin, or even worse yet respiratory distress? Relief may come in the form of a warm mist humidifier in the bedrooms for sleeping. Yes, it is like having another pet to take care of; however, the relief is often well worth the effort. For the proper care and feeding of household humidifiers, it is important to read the manual and follow the manufacturers directions. But the most economical way to run humidifiers is to go ahead and use tap water, and then just remember to wipe the minerals out from time to time. If humidifiers are not your speed, try showering at night and letting the steam pour into the house instead of running a fan.

Finally, plan to incorporate eucalyptus into your winter wellness journey. Eucalyptus has a long history of medicinal use in Australia. The aborigines used it to treat colds and fevers, in much the same ways we do today. For respiratory colds and coughs,

eucalyptus is excellent. The essential oil is thought to be a strong, broad-based antibiotic and antibacterial agent. Please remember to always store your eucalyptus essential oil out of the reach of children and pets.

Use your diffuser or humidifier to transmit eucalyptus essential oil into the air. With the humidifier, the simplest method is to carefully drop four to five drops of the essential oil into the water in the reservoir, taking care to avoid direct skin contact with the oil. You can also soak a cotton ball in the oil and then place the cotton ball itself in the reservoir; this will result in a stronger smell. If any eye, skin or mucus membrane irritation results, discontinue use immediately. It is also important not to over-use essential oils in your humidifier, as it will eventually suffer damage over time if exposed to too much essential oil. But in a pinch and with restraint it’s a great way to get the job done if you do not use a diffuser.

Another cost effective way to bring eucalyptus into your home is by simply hanging a bunch of the botanical itself from your shower curtain rod. The heat and steam of the shower help to activate the congestion-easing properties of the eucalyptus. Hang the eucalyptus away from the spray of the shower using garden twine, which is more water-resistant that regular cotton string. As a bonus the eucalyptus leaves also look simply beautiful.

So there you have it: winterize your wellness from the inside out with homemade elderberry syrup, exfoliation, castile soap, homemade moisturizer, humidification and eucalyptus.

Soap-maker Christina Deneka of Hollow Daze Surf Designs is passionate about helping families green their personal care products. Find “Hollow Daze Surf Designs” on Facebook and products at the Made in the OBX store.

Tie-Dye Craft:

Tye-dye is a little messy but a lot of fun and kids love to wear their creations. Using plastic squeeze bottles from the Dollar Store and small plastic tubs helps cut down on the mess factor. Try using something other than a t-shirt; an old sheet can become a new picnic blanket, bandanas, onesies the possibilities are endless. Wear aprons or old clothes and cover your work area with an old table cloth, disposable plastic table covering or even a garbage bags.

Things you need:

T-shirts or other fabric Plastic squeeze bottlesVarious colors of fabric dye Gloves Small plastic tubs or other container to catch the drips Rubber bandsZip lock baggies

What to do:

1.Mix the fabric dye according to direction. Put the dye into the plastic squeeze bottles. Wear gloves so you don’t accidentally stain yourself in the process.

2.Use the rubber bands to create designs on the t-shirt. Older kids can help with this step, experiment with twists in the fabric and placement of rubber bands. Make sure the rubber bands are tight so the dye won’t get into those areas.

3.While wearing gloves, use the squeeze bottles to apply the dye. Do this over the small plastic bins to catch the drips. The squeeze bottles make it easier to add more than one color to your tye dye creation.

4.Place the shirts in baggies and let them sit for 12 to 24 hours.

5. Rinse shirts in cool water until the water runs clear then wash and dry before wearing.

Arts & Craftscraft s

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Sharpie Tie-Dye Sharpies can be used to tie-dye as an alternative to using fabric dye. It’s a little less messy and a little bit faster than traditional tie-dye. As with traditional tie-dye, it’s a good idea to wear aprons or old clothes and cover your work area with an old table cloth, disposable plastic table covering or even a garbage bag.

Things you need:

White T-shirt (or other fabric to tie-dye) CardboardVarious colors of sharpies Baking sheet or plastic container Binder clips Rubbing AlcoholEyedropper Iron

What to do:

1.Cover the work area with an old table cloth, disposable plastic table covering or garbage bag.

2.Wash and dry T-shirt. Place cardboard into T-shirt, this will stop the ink from bleeding to the other side of the shirt. If you use something other than a T-shirt it’s still a good idea to put cardboard under the fabric so it doesn’t bleed.

3.Use the markers to make a design on the T-shirt.

4.Remove cardboard and put the T-shirt over a baking pan, securing with binder clips. Try not to let the shirt touch the pan. For smaller shirts (kid sizes), a plastic container works well for this step.

5.Using an eyedropper, slowly drip the rubbing alcohol into center of ink design. The alcohol will cause the design to spread so be careful not to add too much at once.

6.When you are happy with the design, let the T-shirt dry completely. Set the color by applying a hot iron for 5 minutes, or you can throw the shirt in the dryer on high heat for 15 minutes. Wash shirts separately in cold water.

craft s

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helpful hints

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During lean economic times, there are lots of ways to trim fat from your budget. Making due with the clothes in your closet. Forgoing that summer vacation. Even — gasp! — getting rid of your cell phone. But you will always need to buy food, and groceries eat up a major chunk of most families’ monthly income. But what if you could bring home the bacon for a fraction of the cost? All while buying the same items? Serious coupon clippers do. And they save a cartload of cash.

To open your mind to the possibility of becoming a coupon user, you’ve got to let go of your coupon prejudices. If coupons persuade you to buy products you don’t use or over-priced brands, then you are not thinking like a “Strategic Shopper” — the term Coupon Mom Stephanie Nelson prefers for the consumer who knows how to maximize her shopping savings. On her website, CouponMom.com, Nelson explains “the Strategic Shopper would most likely buy the store’s generic brand alternative if its price were lower than the name brand with a coupon. The objective is not to achieve a high savings percentage, it is to pay the lowest dollar amount overall.” Coupons are just one tool to help you do so.

You might think coupon users buy and eat mainly processed foods. It is true that manufacturers’ coupons are often for processed food items rather than fresh ones. However, fresh items do go on sale and the Strategic Shopper knows when. Plus, every household needs some non-food items such as paper products, toothpaste and soaps. Coupons are effective for these items because you can stock up without worrying about shelf life.

Coupon clippers do not spend hours with scissors in-hand only to save a few pennies. The savvy coupon-istas will spend 15 minutes to an hour each week generating a grocery list and organizing their coupons. Yet, they report saving anywhere from 15 to 80 percent of their total grocery bills — no small potatoes.

Finally, forget that stale old “I won’t waste time with coupons because I forget to use them anyway” excuse. Websites like Shortcuts.com, Upromise.com and Kroger.com allow you to easily download coupon offers electronically to your store loyalty card. In the case of old-fashioned clip-and-use coupons, you won’t forget them once you get your coupon groove on using the system below.

Experts say that the number-one way to reduce your grocery bill is to use a price book. A price book is a notebook in which you write down the 10-20 most common items you pick up at the grocery store during a typical visit. If you record the prices of each item in your notebook over the course of a few weeks or months, you will begin to learn the highest and lowest prices of your preferred grocery items and how often they typically go on sale. In-store discounts follow predictable cycles. You need to be aware of them so you can buy your preferred items at the lowest possible prices, not when you happen to run out of them.

Jennifer Clapper, a mother of three in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, uses a price book to help her track prices among different stores. “I have an Excel spreadsheet,” she says, “to see the price differences between the grocery stores and Wal-Mart just

To Clip or Not To ClipWhen it comes to money-saving coupons, smart cookies already

know the answer

by Patty McKenna

photo courtesy of Caitlyn White

helpful hints

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so I know where to buy certain things.” On one page of your price book, you might track the prices on your preferred items at Food Lion. On other pages, track the prices of those same items at Wal-mart, Harris Teeter, Kmart, Food-A-Rama, Burrus Red and White and so on. Gary Foreman, a former financial planner who operates the website The Dollar Stretcher (www.stretcher.com) estimates that using only a price book, shoppers can shave about 15 percent from their grocery bills.

Now, throw coupons into the mix by accessing on-line coupon databases. Enter your zip code or your state and these databases generate a list of all the items for which coupons are currently available in your area. These coupon websites are the real bread-and-butter of today’s coupon organization systems. There are also databases providing information on all non-coupon sales at your local stores. I like the Grocery Deals By State link at CouponMom.com. (If you aren’t computer savvy, ask your child or grandchild to lend a hand.)

Don’t waste time browsing these large grocery databases. Grab your price book, check off only the items you buy and generate your own personal list with the click of a button. Print your list and assemble only the coupons you will be using on this particular shopping trip. The database tells you where to get the coupons. Some can be had by clicking a link to the manufacturer’s website and printing the coupons at home. Others are available in the supplements found in your Sunday paper.

Coupon Mom suggests you subscribe to your local paper, take out the coupon supplement each week, and file it away without giving it a glance. Your personal list identifies the Sunday supplement containing the coupons you want. Locally, The Virginian-Pilot includes the SmartSource and Procter and Gamble supplements referenced in the CouponMom database. No more coupons gathering dust in the bottom of your purse or in a ragged envelope in the kitchen. You take only the coupons you will use out of your file and go right to the store and use them.

Think you’ve saved enough money? Wait! There’s more! Now find the stores with the most generous coupon redemption policies. Go to your local retailers and ask questions. Who doubles coupons? Who triples coupons? On what days of the week? What if you have multiple coupons for the same item? Would the retailer double the first coupon and then deduct only the face value of the second coupon? Knowing these policies will help you determine if it makes sense to use all of your coupons for like

items in one order, or to use them on separate visits to maximize your coupon savings.

The name of the game is to apply as many coupons and special deals as you can to the same products. Some “couponers” say that items often go on sale in stores at the same time that coupons for these items are approaching expiration. If you get the timing right, you score big discounts. Apparently it is not uncommon for couponing experts to combine store offers with manufacturers’ coupons in the right store, with the right coupon-multiplying policy, at the right time so they literally get items for free. Some coupon clippers search out these deals so that they can donate the free items to local charities.

So, is coupon clipping your cup of tea? Or are you taking all of this with a grain of salt? Whatever the answer, you can’t deny that, done right, coupon clipping can be a real gravy train.

Article originally published in Outer Banks Child Winter 2010 publication.

The holidays have come and gone and in the wake of a yule tide, you find that you are left with more things than you know what to do with...especially toys. How do you decide what to keep and what to toss? This may sound overwhelming, but with a few tips from a professional, you will be amazed at how simple the process can be.

Declutter by category and not by room. Let’s say you want to start with the children’s books. Gather all the books from every place in the house (every single one!) and pile them all together. By doing this, you will get a very real sense of just how many items in that category you actually have. You will be able to determine if you have duplicates of an item or if an item can function for multiple purposes so that you can toss out something that does not.

Set some ground rules such as “all broken items go into the trash,” “if it doesn’t fit it is donated” or “if it belongs to someone else, I will put it in a pile and return it ASAP.”

Understand the main reasons we keep things we don’t need, and overcome these obstacles that hold us back from getting rid of items that clutter our lives. More on this later.

Make the decisions about the children’s toys and books with your children. The more you can involve your children in the decluttering process early on, the easier it will be for them to do it on their own in the future. Not only that, they will have a sense of accomplishment by working with you and will want to keep the newly decluttered areas organized. (Not to mention you can avoid a major melt down if you accidently throw out their most beloved toy.)

Pick up each and every single item in your category pile and determine if you will keep it, toss it, donate it or return it to its owner. Only keep the items that absolutely and truly make you or your child happy. The idea that all items in our lives should “spark joy” is from the KonMari method created by Marie Kondo in her book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”. But, the idea is simple and true, we should only have things in our homes that make us happy (even if the happiness comes simply from the item functioning). Why would we want to live any other way?

Once you have pared down the items and know what you will be keeping, you can then determine where and how to store the items based on their size and quantity. The actual act of “organizing” this newly decluttered category of items should be simple now that you only have the items you need and love.

If at all possible, keep each category of items together in one spot in your home. For example, all the children’s books should be kept together on one bookshelf. This of course is not always logical but a good rule of thumb.

Donate the items, throw out the toss items and return the items to others as quickly as possible while your motivation is still high. The longer you let these bags of items sit around, the longer they will sit and the harder it will become to let them go. Not to mention, family members might start to pick through the bags and pull things out to keep that should be tossed.

A few tricks to organizing toys:

To help manage the quantity that are received throughout the year, follow the “one in and one out” rule. This helps your child learn from a young age how to determine what to keep and what to toss.

If you have attic space or storage space, you can rotate out toys every six months. This way, your child will feel like they are getting new toys twice a year but in reality it is an older toy that just feels new. Of course, this works better with younger children but is a good practice to follow until they catch on.

The most functional place to store toys is on shelves behind doors. Toys are difficult to organize and look neat as they are all different sizes and shapes. Not to mention, a lot of toys are quite large. If you have a storage cabinet or closet with shelves, you can keep the toys in an easy to access location (which means easy clean up) behind closed doors...and voila...everything looks tidy!

M k h d i i b h hild ’ d b k i h

going green

32

Declutter

by Amy Hilliker Klebitz

...”if it belongs to someone else, I will put it in a pile

and return it ASAP.”

As a side note and plea, please, do not burden others with your giveaways unless you specifically know that they want or need the item or they have asked for it. You are only doing them a disservice by cluttering their home. Donating to a thrift store or charity is always the best way to go.

if it b l t”if it b l tgoing green

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Reasons we keep things we don’t need:You might need it one day. Although, this day never seems to come. Think of your house in terms of a storage unit where your mortgage is the monthly rental fee. Do you want to pay to keep a particular item around “just in case” as it takes up valuable space in your home?

The item causes you to feel an emotion. If that emotion is happiness, then you should hold to it but if that emotion is sadness or guilt, why would you want a reminder of these negative feelings?

You might fix something or use it for something else. Again, this day never seems to come and you end up with a pile of things that you are going to “do something with.” In the end, you just cause yourself to feel guilt every time you see the pile of items that you still have not yet managed to find time to fix or use. Get rid of these items and free yourself from the burden.

You received the item as a gift. Again, it is guilt that plays into holding onto the item. The giver of the gift never intended to give you “guilt” and would be sad to hear that you feel that way. Let go of the item and you will in turn free yourself of the guilt you feel when you see that item.

The item is brand new. This is a tough one for many people but it is truly okay to let go of something even if it was never used. Donate the item and it will be used by someone instead of lying useless in your home. You can also use this as a lesson to learn what to buy and what you might be able to pass up on your next shopping trip.

People are telling you to keep something. Maybe it is an extra set of china that was your grandmothers but you have another set that you love. If the second set is not something that makes you happy and only takes up space in your home, feel no guilt in getting rid of the china even if others say you shouldn’t.

Writer’s note: A large majority of these ideas stem from the KonMari Method of “tidying up” in her book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”. I would recommend everyone to pick up a copy of this book and use it as a tool for how to determine what to keep and what to throw away.

After

Before

Amy Hilliker Klebitz is a Certifiied Interior Designer and Professional Organizer. Please visit www.amyklebitz.com for more about her and how she may assist with your next project.

Photos Provided by Melissa Mattinglywww.photosbymattingly.com

Playgrounds of the Outer BanksWe live and visit one of the biggest playgrounds there is -- the beach. But, sometimes beach days aren’t optimal or just plain too much of a hassle. So, when you are ready to get away from the big sandbox, stop by one of the many parks and playgrounds along the Outer Banks coast.

Each offers a unique experience. Some better for the little ones, others offer something for everyone in the whole family.

We have listed the playgrounds in our area and spotlighted the amenities they offer.

Currituck CountyMaple Park. 208 Airport Road, MapleSwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Covered Area, Grills, Bathroom, Parking, Walking Path, Pets Allowed, Open Space, Skate Ramp/Park.

Knotts Island Ruritan Park. 126 Brumley Road, Knotts IslandSwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Covered Area, Grills, Bathroom, Parking, Open Space.

Walnut Island Park. 113 Holly Crescent, GrandySwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Covered Area, Bathrooms.

Currituck Sound Park, 8955 Caratoke Highway, Point HarborSwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Covered Area, Grills, Bathroom, Parking, Walking Path, Pets Allowed, Open Space, Skate Ramp/Park, Volleyball Court.

Corolla Village Playground. School House Lane, CorollaSwings, Slides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Pets Allowed.

Currituck County Rural Center184 Milburn Sawyer Rd, Powells PointSwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Bathroom, Parking, Walking Path, Pets Allowed, Water Access Kayaks, Canoes, Equestrian Indoor and Outdoor Riding Rings.

Dare CountyDuck Town Park.1100 Duck Road, DuckSlides, Shade Trees, Picnic tables, Bathroom, Parking, Walking Path, Pets Allowed, Open Space.

David Paul Pruitt, Jr. Park.The Woods Road, Kitty Hawk (next to Dominion Power)Swings, Infant Swings, Slides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Bathroom, Parking, Walking Path, Fence.

Sandy Run Park.The Woods Road, Kitty HawkShade Trees, Picnic Tables, Covered Area, Grills, Bathroom, Parking, Walking Path, Fence, Pets Allowed, Open Space, Basketball Hoop, Horsehoe Field.

Kitty Hawk Park.900 West Kitty Hawk Road, Kitty HawkSwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Picnic Tables, Covered Area, Grills, Bathroom, Parking, Walking Path, Fence, Pets Allowed, Skate Ramp/Park, Dog Park.

Hayman Boluevard ParkHayman Blvd., Kill Devil HillsSwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Grills, Bathroom, Parking, Pets Allowed, Open Space.

Kill Devil Hills “Meekins” Field. 1634 N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil HillsSwings, Slides, Picnic Tables, Bathroom, Parking, Fence, Pets Allowed, Baseball/Softball Field, Tennis Court.

Dare County Family Recreation Park. 602 Mustian Street, Kill Devil HillsSwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Covered Area, Grills, Bathroom, Parking, Fence, Open Space, Baseball /Softball Field, Volleyball Court, Tennis Court.

Aviation Park. Veterans Drive, KDHSlides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Covered Area, Bathroom, Parking, Walking Path, Rollerblade Court, Skate Ramp/Park, Roller Hockey Rink.

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Fresh Pond Park. Copley Drive, KDHSlides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Walking Path, Pets Allowed.

Town Park. 415 Health Center Drive, Nags Head (turn west at Ace)Swings, Infant Swings, Slides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Covered Area, Grills, Bathroom, Parking, Walking Path, Pets Allowed, Open Space.

Whalebone Park. 7300 S Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head (by Jennette’s Pier)Swings, Infant Swings, Handicap Swing, Slides, Picnic Tables, Grills, Bathroom, Parking, Pets Allowed, Open Space, Volleyball, Horseshoe Court.

Waterfront Park. Downtown Waterfront, ManteoSwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Covered Area, Grills, Bathroom, Parking, Walking Path, Pets Allowed, Open Space.

Cartwright Park. Sir Walter Raleigh Street, ManteoSwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Shade Trees, Picnic Tables, Covered Area, Grills, Bathroom, Walking Path.

Westcott Park. 1000 Westcott Park Road, ManteoSwings, Slides, Bathroom, Parking, Walking Path, Pets Allowed, Open Space, Baseball Field, Basketball Court.

Ole Swimming Hole. 410 Airport Road, ManteoSwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Picnic Tables, Covered Area, Grills, Bathroom, Parking, Open Space.

COA Roanoke Island Campus. 205 Hwy. 64 S., ManteoBathroom, Skate Ramp/Park, Baseball Field, Volleyball Court.

Pigum’ Walker Park. 260 Pond Road, WancheseSlides, Picnic Tables, Covered Area, Grills, Bathroom, Parking, Open Space.

Manns Harbor Fire Station. 6677 Hwy 64-264, Manns HarborSlides, Basketball Court.

Stumpy Point Playground.235 Bayview Drive, Stumpy PointPlayground Equipment, Open Space.

Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo Community Center. 23186 Myrna Peters Road, RodantheSwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Picnic Tables, Parking, Open Space.

Avon “Kinnakeet” Village Playground. 40184 Harbor Road, AvonSwings, Infant Swings, Handicap Swing, Slides, Picnic Tables, Open Space.

Fessenden Center. 46830 Hwy 12, BuxtonSwings, Infant Swings, Slides, Picnic Tables, Bathroom, Parking, Skate Ramp/Park, Multi-use Fields, Basketball Court, Tennis.

Hatteras Village Playground. Route 12, HatterasSwings, Slides, Covered Area, Picnic Tables, Parking, Fence.

Sharks & Minnows

Hide & SeekRing-around-the Rosie

Hop Scotch

Monkey in the Middle

Tag

Kick Ball Simon Says

Red LightGreen Light

Dodge Ball

Hula Hoop

Playground Photos left to right:Whalebone Park, Nags HeadPhoto: Amy Dixon

Duck Town Park, DuckPhoto: Brooke Mayo Photographers

Currituck Sound Park, Point HarborPhoto: Brooke Mayo Photographers

Hayman Blvd Park, Kill Devil HillsPhoto: Lee Hux

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recipes & good nutritionp g

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In The KitchenRecipes from mamawhatsfordinner.com

Pumpkin Bread

3 1/4 c all-purpose flour3 c sugar2 t baking soda1 1/2 t salt1 t ground nutmeg1 t ground cinnamon1/2 t ground ginger2 c solid pack pumpkin puree1 c vegetable oil2/3 c water4 eggsOptional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, 1/2 c raisins

Directions:

Grease and flour the bottom only of three 7 x 3 inch pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Measure flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and spices into a large bowl. Whisk to blend. Add any optional ingredients and stir to coat. In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin, water, oil, and eggs. Mix wet and dry ingredients together until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for approximately 1 hour.

Servings: Yield: 3 loaves Time to Prepare: 10 minutes, plus baking time

Submitted By: Betsy Original Source: www.allrecipes.com, modified

recipes & good nutritionp g

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Sweet Potato Burritos1 tablespoon vegetable oil1 onion, chopped4 cloves garlic, minced6 cups canned kidney beans, drained2 cups water3 tablespoons chili powder2 teaspoons ground cumin4 teaspoons prepared mustard1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste3 tablespoons soy sauce4 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes12 (10 inch) flour tortillas, warmed8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).Heat oil in a medium skillet, and saute onion and garlic until soft. Stir in beans, and mash. Gradually stir in water, and heat until warm. Remove from heat, and stir in the chili powder, cumin, mustard, cayenne pepper and soy sauce.Divide bean mixture and mashed sweet potatoes evenly between the warm flour tortillas. Top with cheese. Fold up tortillas burrito style, and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven, and serve.Submitted By: Caitlynn

Nancy’s RulesWhen using the oven, always ask an adult to turn on the oven. Follow the cooking times and don’t forget to turn off the oven when you are done. Wash your hands.

Collect all the ingredients and check the recipe before you start.

Sharp knives should always be held with the blade pointed downwards and always use a chopping board.When cooking on the stove, turn saucepan handles to the side so you do not knock them.Always wear oven gloves when picking up something hot, or when putting and taking things out of the oven. Have a space ready to put hot items when you take them out of the oven.Make sure your hands are dry before you plug in any electrical device. Keep a cloth nearby so you can wipe up any spills. Wash up as you go, when you have finished cooking, put everything away and clean any mess.Have Fun!

by Nancy Sartin

on time calendar

On Time Calendar

January 1

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young Naturalist Program at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

First Day Hike, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, 2 PM Come celebrate the new year in style! Please join us for our traditional First Day Hike to the top of Jockey’s Ridge with a park ranger. During this mildly strenuous hike, visitors will learn about the dunes, local ecology, park history, and much more. If you’re looking to get a head start on your new years resolutions, this is the way to do it. Participants should bring some water, and dress appropriately for the weather. The program will last approximately one hour. All ages are welcome, however very young children or the elderly may have difficulty climbing the dunes.

January 2

WinterLights, The Elizabethan Gardens, Manteo 6-9PM Stroll along enchanted garden paths and discover the joy of the season with holiday lights, sights and sounds transforming The Elizabethan Gardens into an illuminated winter wonderland. The radiant glow of the gardens, traditional holiday décor and fantastical displays are a true spectacle to behold. Festive trees grace the Gatehouse and Reception Hall and a crackling open-air fire warms the Great Lawn. Seasonal gift shop and plant sales coincide. Adults $10, Youth (ages 6-17) $8, Youth (5 and under) $5. For info or details, call 252-473-3234 or visit www.elizabethangardens.org.

January 7

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science experiment or exploration relevant to children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

January 8

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young Naturalist Program at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

January 11

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills Library 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11:00 – 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

Hooked on Books, Manteo Library 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM for grades K-2, 3:45 -4:15 PM for grades 3-5

January 13

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Manteo Library 10– 10:30 AM for 2 year olds 11– 11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

January 14

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds. 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Hatteras Library, 10:15-10:45 AM for 2 year olds. 11 -11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds.

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science experiment or exploration relevant to children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

January 15

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young Naturalist Program at the National

Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

January 18

“Growing Readers” StoryTime, Kill Devil Hills Library 10:15– 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11– 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

Hooked on Books, Manteo Library 3– 3:30 PM for grades K-2, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM for grades 3-5

January 19

Preschool Story Time , Moyock Library, 10AM Ages 3 years – 5 years

Toddler Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM Ages 18 months- 3 years

January 20-

Babygarten Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM ages newborn-18 months

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Manteo Library 10– 10:30 AM for 2 year olds 11– 11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

Moyock Homeschoolers Library Club, Moyock Library, 2-4PM We will be learning about how the library works, reading books and doing “book talks” as well as crafts and games.

Family Story Time, Barco Library, 3:30PM for families with children up to 2nd grade

Preschool Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM- Ages 3-5 years

January 21

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds. 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Hatteras Library, 10:15-10:45 AM for 2 year olds. 11 -11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds.

Toddler Story Time- Moyock Library, 10AM ages 18 months-3 years.

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science

experiment or exploration relevant to children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

January 22

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young Naturalist Program at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

January 25

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills Library 10:15– 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11– 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

Hooked on Books, Manteo Library 3– 3:30 PM for grades K-2, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM for grades 3-5

January 26

Preschool Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM Ages 3 years – 5 years

Toddler Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM Ages 18 months- 3 years

January 27

Babygarten Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM ages newborn-18 months

“Growing Readers ” Story Time, Manteo Library 10– 10:30 AM for 2 year olds 11– 11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

Moyock Homeschoolers Library Club, Moyock Library, 2-4PM We will be learning about how the library works, reading books and doing “book talks” as well as crafts and games.

Family Story Time, Barco Library, 3:30PM for families with children up to 2nd grade

Preschool Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM- Ages 3-5 years

January 28

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds. 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

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on time calendar

Location and Contact Information

Pea Island Wildlife Refuge NC Hwy 12, Rodanthewww.fws.gov/refuge/pea_island 252-987-2394

National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center 100 Conservation Way, Manteo

The Lost Colony 1409 National Park Dr, Manteowww.thelostcolony.org 252- 473-3414

Kitty Hawk KitesJockey’s Ridge Crossing 3933 S Croatan Hwy, Nags Head www.kittyhawk.com 1-877-FLY-THIS or 252-441-4124

Fessenden Center 46830 NC-12, Buxtonwww.darenc.com/fessenden 252-475-5650

Children @ Play Museum3701 N. Croatan Hwy, Kitty Hawk(MP 4.5 - next to Cap’n Franks)www.childrenatplayobx.com 252-261-0290

Elizabethan Gardens1411 National Park Drive, Manteowww.elizabethangardens.org 252-473-3234

Jennette’s Pier7223 South Virginia Dare TrailMP 16 Beach Road, Nags Headwww.jennettespier.net 252-255-1501 ext. 200

Museum of the Albemarle 501 S. Water Street, Elizabeth Citywww.museumofthealbemarle.com 252-335-1453

NC Aquarium at Roanoke Island374 Airport Rd, Manteowww.ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island 252-473-3494 ext. 232

Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education 1160 Village Lane, Corollawww.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/OuterBanks.aspx252-453-0221 ex. 1

Port Discover 611 East Main Street, Elizabeth City www.portdiscover.org 252-338-6117

Roanoke Island Festival Park 1 Festival Park, Manteo www.roanokeisland.com 252-475-1500

Currituck County Rural Center 184 Milburn Sawyer Road, Powells Pointwww.co.currituck.nc.us/rural-center.cfm 252-232-2262

Frisco Native American Museum53536 NC-12, Frisco www.nativeamericanmuseum.org/ 252-995-4440

Town of Duck Ampitheatre1200 Duck Road, Duck Town Green, www.townofduck.com/townofduckevents.com 252-255-1234

Whalehead in Historic Corolla 1100 Club Road, Rt. 12 N, Corolla www.whaleheadclub.org 252-453-9040

“Growing Readers ” Story Time, Hatteras Library, 10:15-10:45 AM for 2 year olds. 11 -11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds.

Toddler Story Time- Moyock Library, 10AM ages 18 months-3 years.

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science experiment or exploration relevant to children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

January 29

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young Naturalist Program at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

February 1

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills Library 10:15– 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11– 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

Hooked on Books, Manteo Library 3– 3:30 PM for grades K-2, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM for grades 3-5

February 2

Preschool Story Time , Moyock Library, 10AM Ages 3 years – 5 years

Toddler Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM Ages 18 months- 3 years

February 3

Babygarten Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM ages newborn-18 months

“Growing Readers ” Story Time, Manteo Library 10– 10:30 AM for 2 year olds 11– 11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

Moyock Homeschoolers Library Club, Moyock Library, 2-4PM We will be learning about how the library works, reading books and doing “book talks” as well as crafts and games.

Family Story Time, Barco Library, 3:30PM for families with children up to 2nd grade

Preschool Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM- Ages 3-5 years

February 4

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds. 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Growing Readers ” Story Time, Hatteras Library, 10:15-10:45 AM for 2 year olds. 11 -11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds.

Toddler Story Time- Moyock Library, 10AM ages 18 months-3 years.

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science experiment or exploration relevant to children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

February 5

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young Naturalist Program at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

February 8

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills Library 10:15– 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11– 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

Hooked on Books, Manteo Library

3– 3:30 PM for grades K-2, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM for grades 3-5

February 9

Preschool Story Time , Moyock Library, 10AM Ages 3 years – 5 years

Toddler Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM Ages 18 months- 3 years

February 10

Babygarten Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM ages newborn-18 months

“Growing Readers ” Story Time, Manteo Library 10– 10:30 AM for 2 year olds 11– 11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

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on time calendar

Moyock Homeschoolers Library Club, Moyock Library, 2-4PM We will be learning about how the library works, reading books and doing “book talks” as well as crafts and games.

Family Story Time, Barco Library, 3:30PM for families with children up to 2nd grade

Preschool Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM- Ages 3-5 years

February 11

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds. 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Growing Readers ” Story Time, Hatteras Library, 10:15-10:45 AM for 2 year olds. 11 -11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds.

Toddler Story Time- Moyock Library, 10AM ages 18 months-3 years.

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science experiment or exploration relevant to children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

February 12

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young Naturalist Program at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

February 15

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills Library 10:15– 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11– 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

Hooked on Books, Manteo Library 3– 3:30 PM for grades K-2, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM for grades 3-5

February 16

Preschool Story Time , Moyock Library, 10AM Ages 3 years – 5 years

Toddler Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM Ages 18 months- 3 years

February 17

Babygarten Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM ages newborn-18 months

“Growing Readers ” Story Time, Manteo Library 10– 10:30 AM for 2 year olds 11– 11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

Moyock Homeschoolers Library Club, Moyock Library, 2-4PM We will be learning about how the library works, reading books and doing “book talks” as well as crafts and games.

Family Story Time, Barco Library, 3:30PM for families with children up to 2nd grade

Preschool Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM- Ages 3-5 years

February 18

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds. 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Hatteras Library, 10:15-10:45 AM for 2 year olds. 11 -11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds.

Toddler Story Time- Moyock Library, 10AM ages 18 months-3 years.

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science experiment or exploration relevant to children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

February 19

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young Naturalist Program at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

February 22

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills Library 10:15– 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11– 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

Hooked on Books, Manteo Library 3– 3:30 PM for grades K-2, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM for grades 3-5

February 23

Preschool Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM Ages 3 years – 5 years

Toddler Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM Ages 18 months- 3 years

February 24

Babygarten Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM ages newborn-18 months

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Manteo Library 10– 10:30 AM for 2 year olds 11– 11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

Moyock Homeschoolers Library Club, Moyock Library, 2-4PM We will be learning about how the library works, reading books and doing “book talks” as well as crafts and games.

Family Story Time, Barco Library, 3:30PM for families with children up to 2nd grade

Preschool Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM- Ages 3-5 years

February 25

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds. 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Growing Readers ” Story Time, Hatteras Library, 10:15-10:45 AM for 2 year olds. 11 -11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds.

Toddler Story Time- Moyock Library, 10AM ages 18 months-3 years.

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science experiment or exploration relevant to children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

February 26

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young

Naturalist Program at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

February 29

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills Library 10:15– 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11– 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

Hooked on Books, Manteo Library 3– 3:30 PM for grades K-2, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM for grades 3-5

March 1

Preschool Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM Ages 3 years – 5 years

Toddler Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM Ages 18 months- 3 years

March 2

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Manteo Library 10– 10:30 AM for 2 year olds 11– 11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

Family Story Time, Barco Library, 3:30PM for families with children up to 2nd grade

Preschool Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM- Ages 3-5 years

March 3

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds. 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Hatteras Library, 10:15-10:45 AM for 2 year olds. 11 -11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds.

Toddler Story Time- Moyock Library, 10AM ages 18 months-3 years.

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science experiment or exploration relevant to children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

March 4

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other

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on time calendar daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young Naturalist Program at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

March 5

The 2016 Children at Play Mardi Gras Gala will take place at the Pavilion at Pirate’s Cove in Nags Head, NC at 7:00 PM on March 5 2016. The Gala will feature the local band, Just Playin’ Dixieland Band from 7:30 – 9:30. Lady J, the DJ will take over after the band. The local restaurant Striper’s Bar and Grille will provide traditional New Orleans style buffet. Attire will be black tie and guests will be adorned with New Orleans style masks. The hall will be decorated in a traditional New Orleans style. Street Performers will mingle among the guests, making the event feel and look like Bourbon Street. A silent auction will be set up for guests to bid on as they enter the Gala. An open bar with beer and wine will be served all evening. The event will end at 11PM. Tickets cover food, beer, wine and of course entertainment. These make a great present, a wonderful thank you gift, an amazing “date night”. Enjoy great food, entertainment, dancing and drinks in the company of friends while knowing you are making a difference in your community. Order your tickets at www.childrenatplayobx.com or come by the museum and pick up your tickets there.

March 7

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills Library 10:15– 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11– 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

Hooked on Books, Manteo Library 3– 3:30 PM for grades K-2, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM for grades 3-5

March 8

Preschool Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM Ages 3 years – 5 years

Toddler Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM Ages 18 months- 3 years

March 9

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Manteo Library 10– 10:30 AM for 2 year olds 11– 11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

Family Story Time, Barco Library, 3:30PM for families with children up to 2nd grade

Preschool Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM- Ages 3-5 years

March 10

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds. 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Hatteras Library, 10:15-10:45 AM for 2 year olds. 11 -11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds.

Toddler Story Time- Moyock Library, 10AM ages 18 months-3 years.

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science experiment or exploration relevant to children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

March 11

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young

Naturalist Program at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

March 12

Kill Devil Hills Trash Attack Trash Attack 2016 is set for Saturday, March 12th the KDH Fire station north parking lot, 9am-1pm. Everyone is welcome and supplies / snacks are provided. Rain Date is Saturday March 19th.

March 13

26th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade The parade starts at 1 pm at MP 11.5, at the intersection of Bladen St. and Virginia Dare Trail (Beach Road) and continues north to Driftwood St. Free Parade celebration at Kelly’s with entertainment, awards and free hot dogs for all till they’re gone!

March 14

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills ;Library 10:15– 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11– 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

Hooked on Books, Manteo Library

3– 3:30 PM for grades K-2, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM for grades 3-5

March 15

Preschool Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM Ages 3 years – 5 years

Toddler Story Time, Barco Library, 10AM Ages 18 months- 3 years

March 16

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Manteo Library 10– 10:30 AM for 2 year olds 11– 11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

March 17

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds. 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Hatteras Library, 10:15-10:45 AM for 2 year olds. 11 -11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds.

Toddler Story Time- Moyock Library, 10AM ages 18 months-3 years.

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science experiment or exploration relevant to children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

March 18

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young Naturalist Program at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

March 19

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, Barco Library, 9-10:30AM Join us for Easter nibbles, games, crafts and a very special visit from the Easter Bunny himself.

March 21

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills Library 10:15– 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11– 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

Hooked on Books, Manteo Library 3– 3:30 PM for grades K-2, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM for grades 3-5

Festive Mardi Gras Masks & Semi Formal Attire Requested!

$50 per ticketProceeds benefit Outer Banks

Children at Play Museum, a non-profit children's museum.

Silent Auction

New OrleansStyle Performers

New Orleans

Food by Striper’s Bar & Grillewith Beer & Wine

Tickets for SALE AT:

Dixieland

DJ Lady J

Just Playin’

Mardi Gras

Poster Design & Printing By:

March 5, 2016 7PM-11PM @

The Pavilion at Pirate’s Co

ve Marina

252.261.0290 • CHILDRENATPLAYOBX.COM

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on time calendar

March 22

Preschool Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM Ages 3 years – 5 years

March 23

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Manteo Library 10– 10:30 AM for 2 year olds 11– 11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

March 24

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds. 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Hatteras Library, 10:15-10:45 AM for 2 year olds. 11 -11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds.

Toddler Story Time- Moyock Library, 10AM ages 18 months-3 years.

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science experiment or exploration relevant to

children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

March 25

Young Naturalist Program, National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island 10 AM Join other daycare providers and caretakers of preschool children at the Young Naturalist Program at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island. Hear a story about wildlife! Make a craft! Explore the nature trail! This FREE program

Fly into Spring & Easter Eggstravaganza, Jockey’s Ridge Crossing & Jockey’s Ridge State Park 10AM-4PM Start the 2016 season off right with Kitty Hawk Kites. Whether you’re visiting for the holiday or “stuck” here on purpose, come out and watch massive 30 – 100 foot kites flying high over Jockey’s Ridge. Across the street from the dunes, take your picture with the Easter Bunny, and let your kids join in the Jockey’s Ridge Crossing egg hunt. SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES: Fly into Spring- Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Kites over Jockey’s Ridge Friday and

Saturday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Easter Eggstravaganza- Jockey’s Ridge Crossing Photo op with the Easter Bunny Friday and Saturday 12:00 NOON – 1:00 PM. Egg Hunt Friday and Saturday ages 3 & under/ 11:00 AM ages 4 – 6/ 11:45 AM ages 7 – 12/ 12:15 PM. Yo-Yo school 2:00 PM

March 26

Easter Eggstravaganza, The Elizabethan Gardens, Manteo How many eggs can you find? During our annual Easter Eggstravaganza, one can find over 10,000 colorful eggs on-hand for skilled hunters to seek. And what could be more picture-perfect than spring blooms, green grass and Easter eggs on the Great Lawn for this popular event? Make plans to hop over to The Gardens from and join in the springtime fun. Garden members are admitted free to Easter Eggstravaganza, standard admission applies to non-members. Children under five will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For more information contact The Elizabethan Gardens at 252-473-3234.

Fly into Spring & Easter Eggstravaganza, Jockey’s Ridge Crossing & Jockey’s Ridge State Park 10AM-4PM Start the 2016 season off right with Kitty Hawk Kites. Whether you’re visiting for the holiday or “stuck” here on purpose, come out and watch massive 30 – 100 foot kites flying high over Jockey’s Ridge. Across the street from the dunes, take your picture with the Easter Bunny, and let your kids join in the Jockey’s Ridge Crossing egg hunt. SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES: Fly into Spring- Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Kites over Jockey’s Ridge Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Easter Eggstravaganza- Jockey’s Ridge Crossing Photo op with the Easter Bunny Friday and Saturday 12:00 NOON – 1:00 PM. Egg Hunt Friday and Saturday ages 3 & under/ 11:00 AM ages 4 – 6/ 11:45 AM ages 7 – 12/ 12:15 PM. Yo-Yo school 2:00 PM

March 27

Easter Egg Hunt at The Cotton Gin Jarvisburg contact 252-491-2387 for time and more information.

March 28

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills Library 10:15– 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11– 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

Hooked on Books, Manteo Library 3– 3:30 PM for grades K-2, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM for grades 3-5

March 29

Preschool Story Time, Moyock Library, 10AM Ages 3 years – 5 years

March 30

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Manteo Library 10– 10:30 AM for 2 year olds 11– 11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

March 31

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Kill Devil Hills 10:15-10:45AM for 2 year olds. 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Growing Readers” Story Time, Hatteras Library, 10:15-10:45 AM for 2 year olds. 11 -11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds.

Toddler Story Time- Moyock Library, 10AM ages 18 months-3 years.

Science Thursday, Children at Play, Kitty Hawk 4-5PM No extra charge after admission or for members. This is an interactive, hands-on science experiment or exploration relevant to children’s interests. Science terminology and age appropriate scientific method is incorporated into each class. www.childrenatplayobx.org

Look for other events on our website

www.outerbankschild.com

updated weekly.

For all your Easter Bunny

sightings visit our online

calendar

www.outerbankschild.com

Brooke Mayo Photographyhttp://brookemayoblog.com/

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everyday of the week

MondayHatteras Island Playgroup: Fessenden Center, Buxton, 9 AM- 11AM

Outer Banks Mommy & Me All Ages Playgroup: email obxmommyandme@gmail.com for times & locations

“Growing Readers” Story Time: Dare County Library, Kill Devil Hills: 10:15 - 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11- 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Hooked on Books”: Dare County Library, Manteo: 3-3:30PM for grades K-2, 3:45-4:15PM for grades 3-5

“Growing Readers” Story Time: Dare County Library, Manteo: 11-11:45 AM for 3-5 year olds

TuesdayToddler Story Time: Currituck County Library, Barco: 10AM for children 18 months-3 years.

Preschool Story Time: Currituck County Library, Moyock: 10AM for children 3-5 years

Mommy & Me Yoga, The Studio, Nags Head 10:30-11:30am Building Better Moms (BBM). Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church, Kitty Hawk 9:15 AM All moms are welcome to join the group. They will enjoy fellowship and fun with moms who can relate to their daily joys and challenges. Participants will be better equipped as a parent through speakers and discussion. The group will meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Moms with children newborn through high school are welcome and a free nursery is available. Contact Allison at Allison@kittyhawkumc.net or 252-261-2062.

WednesdayMini-Mindful Mornings, The Studio, Nags Head 8:30-10:30am

Preschool Story Time: Currituck County Library, Barco for children 3-5 years

Family Story Time: Currituck County Library, Barco 3PM for families with children up to 2nd grade

“Hooked on Books”: Dare County Library, Kill Devil Hills Library 3 - 3:45PM for grades K-5.

“Growing Readers” Story Time: Dare County Library, Manteo 10-10:30AM for 2 year olds, 11-11:45AM for 3-5 year olds

Babygarten Story Time: Currituck County Library, Moyock 10AM for

ages newborn-18 months (January 20-February 24)

Moyock Homeschoolers Library Club: Currituck County Library, Moyock 2-4pm (January 20-February 24)

ThursdayHatteras Island Playgroup, Fessenden Center, Buxton, 9– 11AM

“Growing Readers” Story Time: Dare County Library, Kill Devil Hills: 10:15- 10:45AM for 2 year olds, 11 - 11:45AM for 3-5 year olds.

“Growing Readers” Story Time: Dare County Library, Hatteras 10:15-10:45AM. for 2 year olds. 11-11:45AM for 3-5 year olds

Toddler Story Time: Currituck County Library, Moyock: 10AM for children 18 months-3 years. (starts January 21)

Family Story Time: Currituck County Library, Moyock: 3:30PM all ages welcome (starts January 21)

FridayOuter Banks Mommy & Me All Ages Playgroup, email obxmommyandme@gmail.com for times & locations Eve

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Winter Word Search

BOOTSCOLDGROUNDHOGHATICICLESLEPRECHAUNSCARFSHAMROCKSLEDSNOWBALLSNOWFLAKEVALENTINESWINTER

Local Libraries www.earlibrary.org

visit on-line for hours

Kill Devil Hills Hatteras Manteo400 Mustian St. 577109 Hwy 12 700N. Hwy. 64(252) 441-4331 (252) 986-2385 (252) 473-2372

Currituck Moyock Corolla 4621 Caratoke Hwy. 126 Campus Dr. 1123 Ocean Trail(252 453-8345 (252) 435-6419 (252) 453-0496

story times on every day calendar

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community

Hunger impedes children’s ability to think, learn and develop. The public school breakfast and lunch programs feed children at school but not on weekends. Recognizing the need, Food for Thought was born.

This all-volunteer non-profit organization is dedicated to reducing hunger and academic risk facing preschool, elementary and secondary children in Dare County who qualify for free and reduced breakfast and lunches by providing healthy meals every weekend during the school year to build strong minds and bodies. Initiated in February 2006 as a pilot to feed 54 elementary youth, the needs were so great and benefits so apparent, that Food for Thought has grown to include all elementary schools, Head Start programs, middle schools, and all but one high school (average 500 youths).

Here’s how it works. Each Thursday, 300 volunteers from 16 community organizations, two businesses and some individuals come to Manteo and pack healthy, child-pleasing non-perishable meal bags. Each one contains two breakfasts, two lunches and snacks. The bags are driven to the schools and distributed to participating youth on Friday. In preparation, Dare County Schools sends an eligibility letter to parents in early September. Each week the organization receives a participant number by school. Food For Thought never knows participant names.

Feed A Child

For A Week

$6.50

Each year, a number of projects support the packing: grants, news releases, annual fundraiser, fall membership meeting, holiday membership drive, and monthly educational newsletter and media column. Plus, Food for Thought partners with community groups to conduct projects, raising needed funds.

Take the challenge. Help feed our children.

Parents interested in participating in the program, please contact their child’s school.

Parents wishing to learn about the program, volunteer, provide in-kind services, feed a child (a year is only $250 and a week is $6.50), or consider a collaboration, please call Loismary Hoehne, 252-480-0036 or email her at l.hoehne12@gmail.com.

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KITTYHAWK.COM/EVENTS

BIRTHDAY PARTIES!

LARGEST SELECTION OF KITES & TOYS ON THE OBX!

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WITH $30 PURCHASE AT ANY KITTY HAWK KITES$5 OFF

OBCHILD

Must present coupon at time of purchase. One coupon per person. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Some exceptions apply.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE

ROCKWALL · MECHANICAL SHARK · KITEMAKING & MORE!

CALL 252.441.4125 x204

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, March 25-26, 2016

FLY INTO SPRING

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA

10am - 4pmLarge Show Kites &Free Kite Flying Lessonson the dunes!

Easter Egg Hunts

Pictures with Easter BunnyMake sure to bring your own camera!

Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Jockey’s Ridge Crossing