"Call for Essays" - for kids ages 6 to 18

What I Love About Rochester

That's what we want to know! So we've made it the focus of our "Call for Essays" to all children ages 6 – 18 in the greater Rochester area, giving them a unique opportunity to voice their opinion as part of our 25th anniversary "An Evening Out At Home" celebration on May 19.

Local youth are being asked to submit original essays of no more than 250 words. One essay will be selected and read on Time Warner Cable Channel 9 during "An Evening Out At Home" celebration. In addition, a select number of essays representing each age group will be chosen for publication on our Web site. Every youth who submits an essay will receive a certificate in recognition of their participation. Essays may be submitted online at www.racf.org, by e-mail (essays@racf.org), or by U. S. mail addressed to:

CALL FOR ESSAYS
Caroline Merenda, Program Officer
The Community Foundation
500 East Avenue
Rochester, New York 14607-1912

Essays will not be returned.  For more information on “An Evening Out At Home” visit our Web site www.racf.org

*** It would be SOOOOO COOOOOOL if a young Lyell-Otis neighbor won this contest! I hope all our great kids will enter!!!!  :)

MAYOR DUFFY ENCOURAGES YOUTH TO ENTER IDEABOUNCE EVENT (City of Rochester News Release - 02/07/2007)

Mayor Robert J. Duffy today encouraged youth in grades 7 -12 to enter Rochester's first IdeaBounce™, an event that supports and encourages young people to consider entrepreneurship as a career choice. The deadline to register an idea is Thu., Feb. 15.

The theme, "What's Your Big Idea? Take it On!," is designed to serve as an inspiration for young people to think creatively and turn their ideas into action - whether that means starting a new business, developing an innovation for an existing company or solving a problem that improves our community. The event, which will be held March 3 at the Rochester Museum & Science Center, is part of national Entrepreneurship Week USA (Feb. 24 to March 3).

The IdeaBounce™ concept, which was developed at Washington University in St. Louis, gives students two minutes to present their idea, invention, or innovation to a panel of judges. It is the first step to help students determine if they will take the idea to the next step—the business plan development stage. Twenty-five students will be selected from all entries to present their ideas in-person and receive prizes.

Students are encouraged to register online at www.ideabounce.com, or through the mail by writing: IdeaBounce™ c/o University of Rochester, Special Programs, RC Box 270358, Rochester, NY 14627. Applications are also available at all City of Rochester Recreation Centers, all 7th to 12th grade schools in the Rochester City School District, and at all public libraries in Monroe, Genesee, Orleans, Yates, Wyoming and Seneca counties.

IdeaBounce™ is sponsored locally by the University of Rochester, Junior Achievement, the City, the Rochester City School District, the Credit Education Bureau, Biz Kid$, the Dazzle School of Visual and Performing Arts, and the Young Entrepreneurs Academy.

Recalls - Children's Products

Just copy and paste the link to read more information. ~ Pam

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/consumer-protection/recalls/childrens-products/index.htm

or Click here: ConsumerReports.org - Children's products

 

Recall Alert U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Washington, D.C. 20207 Office of Information and Public Affairs May 10, 2007 Alert #07-5XX (For Clearance) Bookspan Recalls Clip-on Baby Books Due to Choking Hazard The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Baby Buddy Clip-on Books Units: About 9,500 Distributor: Bookspan, of Garden City, N.Y. Manufacturer: Golden Ocean International Enterprise Ltd., of Hong Kong Hazard: The metal clip used to attach the book to a stroller or article of clothing can break, posing a choking hazard to young children. Incidents/Injuries: Bookspan has received one report of a clip breaking when an 8-month-old baby pulled on the toy while attached to a play mat. No injuries were reported. Description: This recall involves Baby Buddy clip-on clothes/stroller books. The 4-inch round book titled "Baby Faces" displays eight babies making faces that correspond with the emotion listed on the page. A wooden bead strap with 10 small beads and four wooden circles is attached to the book. Baby Buddy is one of six books sold in a set. Sold through: Bookspan mail-order catalogues and www.bookspan.com (to book club members only) from September 2006 through March 2007 for between $17 and $27. Manufactured in: China Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled books from children and either discard it or return it to Bookspan. Consumers will receive a full credit on their book club account. Bookspan has directly notified purchasers of the product recall by mail. Customer Contact: For additional information, call Bookspan at (888) 793-6514 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.bookspan.com. Media Contact: Paula Batson, at (212) 930-4531 or paula.batson@bmgch.com. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC's Web site at http://cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov. ####

Recall Alert U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Washington, D.C. 20207 Office of Information and Public Affairs May 10, 2007 Alert #07-5XX (For Clearance) Bookspan Recalls Discovery Bunny Books Due to Choking Hazard The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Discovery Bunny Books Units: About 16,000 Distributor: Bookspan, of Garden City, N.Y. Importer: SoftPlay Inc., of Chicago, Ill. Manufacturer: Animal Magic Ltd., of Hong Kong Hazard: The seam on the bunny's left hind leg can open exposing a plastic squeaker toy contained inside a cloth bag, posing a choking hazard to young children. Incidents/Injuries: Bookspan has received one report of a 4-month-old infant who began to choke on the plastic squeaker. The parent noticed the infant beginning to choke and cleared the squeaker from his throat. Description: This recall involves Discovery Bunny yellow cloth books. The mid-section of the yellow and white plush stuffed bunny opens to a six-page cloth book. The plush bunny has black & white checkered ears and feet. The "SoftPlay" logo is printed on a tag sewn into the bunny toy. Sold through: Bookspan mail-order catalogues and www.bookspan.com (to book club members only) from February 2006 through March 2007 for about $8 and $16. Manufactured in: China Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled bunny books from children and either discard it or return it to Bookspan. Consumers will receive a full credit on their book club account. Bookspan has directly notified purchasers of the product recall by mail. Customer Contact: For additional information, call Bookspan at (888) 793-6514 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.bookspan.com. Media Contact: Paula Batson, at (212) 930-4531 or paula.batson@bmgch.com. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov. ####

 

FUN "OLD-SCHOOL" GAMES TO PLAY! Enjoy! ~ Pam

PACMAN

"http://www.media.ebaumsworld.com/pacman.swf"

 

 

TIC TAC TOE

"http://www.neave.com/games/tictactoe/tictactoe.swf"

 

 

BLACKJACK

"http://media.ebaumsworld.com/aceblackjack.swf"

 

 

SIMON

"http://www.neave.com/games/simon/simon.swf"

 

 

SNAKE

"http://www.neave.com/games/snake/snake.swf"

RING IN THE HOLIDAYS at city recreation

Lots of fun events are being hosted by the City of Rochester! Enjoy!

LYELL AVENUE CHRISTMAS EVENT

This is going to be fun! Make sure kids are accompanied by a parent or guardian!

Gifts That Will Make Your Kid Rich - from Money Magazine (online)

Gifts that will make your kids rich

Ways to present fiscal lessons without looking like the Grinch.

By Karen Hube, Money Magazine

November 28 2006: 10:20 AM EST

(Money Magazine) -- Tired of battling hordes of shoppers for Tickle Me Elmo, the latest Xbox 360 game and other hot holiday items that feed your children's rampant consumerism?

Eager for a present that gives your kids a financial jump on life and is still, well, fun? See what gifts can help your children learn how to save and spend wisely, with payoffs that last well beyond the season.

 

Best book for teaching little kids the value of a buck

Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday

Price: $6.99 at most bookstores

Who it's for: Four- to eight-year-olds

What it's about: In this charming story by Judith Viorst, Alexander gets a gift of $1 from his grandparents. He has lofty plans to save the money for a big-ticket itembut instead blows it all in the face of life's temptations and regrets it.

Why it works: By age four, kids are old enough to grasp the basic concepts of saving and spending, but they're not likely to sit still for a lecture on the topic.

"When children are engaged by a story and see a character's life turn this way and that, they'll learn by example," says Margaret McKeown, a senior scientist at the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh.

 

 

Best board game for learning money-management skills

Payday

Price: $14.99 at most toy retailers

Who it's for: Preteens

What it's about: Created in 1975, this game sends each player down a 31-day path to earn and spend money - working, investing, shopping, paying bills, even gambling occasionally. The player with the most cash left at the end wins.

Why it works: Recent research has shown that, developmentally, kids are most receptive to learning financial concepts before they hit high school. But that doesn't mean they're interested. When they're having fun playing a board game, though, they won't even know they're getting a tutorial on budgeting, borrowing with interest, saving - and the perils of squandering their money.

 

 

Best gift from Grandma

Contribution to a 529 Plan

Price: Typically $25 to $250 for the initial investment

Who it's for: Kids up to 18

What it's about: Move over, savings bonds: 529 accounts have the edge for grandparents eager to help pay Junior's college tuition. Advantages include tax-deferred growth on earnings, tax-free withdrawals and, in many states, a deduction for contributions. Compare plan details at savingforcollege.com.

Why it works: While kids may not get excited about this gift now, just wait a few years. When they owe thousands less in student loans than their college buddies do, you're sure to get plenty of appreciation.

 

 

Best way to make your kid a millionaire

A Roth IRA

Price: As low as $100 to open

Who it's for: Any child who has earned income

What it's about: You can invest as much as your child makes, up to $4,000 a year. Tax-free compounding over time produces a powerful payoff: A $1,500 yearly contribution will be worth nearly a million bucks in 50 years, assuming an 8 percent average annual return.

Why it works: Few teens are likely to be excited about saving their hard-earned babysitting money for retirement. So offer to match what they make in an IRA. Want another way to ramp up their enthusiasm? Slip a little cash into the gift card too.