LONA-KIDS

Thursday, June 7, 2007

KIDS CAN LEARN TO SWIM AT FREE SUMMER SWIM ACADEMY

KIDS CAN LEARN TO SWIM AT FREE SUMMER SWIM ACADEMY (City of Rochester News Release - 06/05/2007)

Children ages 6-14 can learn to swim for free at the City's "Summer Swim Academy," July 9 - 26 and July 30 - August 16. The 30-minute classes will take place 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon, Mon. - Fri., at ten locations throughout the city. There are classes for every skill level, from beginners with no previous instruction to capable swimmers. Participants can earn Red Cross certification in five skill levels.

Registration is now open and applications are being accepted until June 22 for Session I and until July 21 for Session II. Forms are available at all City recreation centers and libraries. A drop-in enrollment session will be held 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon, June 27 - 29. Drop-in enrollment must be at the location where the student plans to take lessons. Classes are filled based on proficiency levels and available space. Classes will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis and individuals may sign up for only one class per session. Preference may be given to City residents.

Summer Swim Academy locations offering Levels 1 through 5 (see levels below):

• Adams Street Community Center (School #3), 85 Adams St., 428-7266

• Franklin High School, 950 Norton St. (entrance #13 in back), 428-6755 or 428-7888

• East High School, 1801 E. Main St. (athletic entrance in front)., 428-6755 or 428-7888

• Genesee Valley Park, 131 Elmwood Ave., 428-7888

• James Monroe High School, 164 Alexander St. (rear entrance) 428-6755 or 428-7888

• Thomas Jefferson High School, 1 Edgerton Park (rear entrance #8) 428-6755

• John Marshall High School, 180 Ridgeway Ave. (rear entrance) 428-6755

Summer Swim Academy locations* offering Levels 1 and Level 2 only*:

• Avenue D Community Center, 200 Ave. D, 428-7934

• Flint Street Community Center, 271 Flint Street, 428-7001

• North Street Community Center, 700 North Street, 428-7149

* Registration at these sites will be taken from June27 - 29 ONLY in person.

An end-of-session "swim academy graduation" will recognize participants for their achievements. Swimmers will also have an opportunity to participate in the City-Wide Swim Meet and Aqua Fest on Aug. 3 at Genesee Valley Sports Complex Pool.

Levels offered in the program will include:

• Recruits: Level I: (Water Exploration): No previous instruction; cannot swim

• Seamates: Level II: (Primary Skills): Floats and puts face into water.

• Boatswains: Level III (Stroke Readiness): Dives into deep water and swims 25 yards.

• Navigators: Level IV: (Stroke Development): Swims 25 yards crawl and backstroke

• Skippers: Level V: (Stroke Refinement): Swims 50 yards crawl and backstroke

Call 428-7888 for further information or a registration form. Automated information is available by calling 428-6767. Learn more about City of Rochester recreation programs by going to: www.cityofrochester.gov.

Friday, April 27, 2007

"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!!!! :)

Thursday, February 8, 2007

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.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

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.
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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.
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