CYFC's Teen Aid Benefit Concert

Teen Aid Benefit Concert Tonight! From 7- 10pm at the Old Stone Church, downtown Bend.

Five Pint Mary and Brent Alan will perform at this great event to benefit the Loft, an indispensable resource supporting and sheltering central Oregon's homeless youth.

Guests will also be treated to improv comedy by Triage, libations from 10 Barrel Brewery, and complementary edibles from Bleu Bite Catering.

Tickets available at the door or at Cascade Youth & Family Center- 19 SW Century Dr.

See you there!

Mid Oregon Credit Union Free Family Saturday February 26th

The High Desert Museum will open its doors to the public for free, courtesy of Mid Oregon Credit Union, Saturday February 26th. This is a great opportunity to check out all of the wonderful exhibits and wildlife the museum has to offer. Make a day of it and plan to see the Bitterbrush Band play from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Free shuttle van service is available courtesy of the Museum and Wanderlust Tours throughout Museum hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free day is expected to draw about 4,000 visitors so take advantage of the complementary shuttles to avoid parking lot traffic snarls! For parking, go to Morning Star Christian School at 19741 Baker Road- just off Highway 97 at the Baker Road exit.

REI Toddler Event

Join REI this Thursday the 10th at 10am for "Get Active Outdoors with Toddlers." This free class will feature tips and advise for making the most of your family adventures by preparing your kids with the proper clothing and gear. Comfortable kids are happy kids, and happy kids help the good times roll!

While parents are learning, REI will provide PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) activities for children who attend.

The class is free but space is limited, so sign up quick at: Get Active Outdoors Sign Up

Trouble with the family wagon?

Got an unsettling rattle in your ride? Squeaks and squeals from under the hood? An unreliable car is no fun, especially with the little ones inside. If getting from point A to point B has taken on an element of mechanical suspense then we want to hear about it!

The fine folks at Tuner Automotive are here to answer your car care questions, to help you decide if that strange noise should warrant a trip to the shop or if it's just that pen you dropped in the dash back in the 90's. Post your questions here and let the discussions begin!


Check out their Facebook page here: Tuner Automotive

Tuner Automotive Services repairs and customizes VW, Subaru, BMW, Jeep, Chevrolet, Isuzu and Honda's with 14 years of experience under its belt. Owner/Operator Jason Lilly, and his son Evan, run a small uncomplicated facility with customer service clarity that will leave you feeling like your part of the family. Tuner Automotive is also working hard to make sure you keep your hard earned money in your pocket with some of the lowest hourly rates in town, a guarantee of zero parts markup, and vendor accounts with almost every parts house around.

Take 5 minutes to help your community

This came across my desk this morning.  Please help The Family Resource Center as they work hard to support our parenting community!

Attn: Parents and Caregivers! We need your input before December 1st! Tell us what’s missing and what’s working in our communities in terms of parenting resources and information. Please take a few minutes to complete a brief survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/parentsurvey-frc


This survey is brought to you by Family Resource Center of Central Oregon in partnership with parenting & family advocacy organizations from throughout the region. For more information, contact Family Resource Center of Central Oregon at (541)389-5468 or visit frconline.org.

Words of Wisdom from Motherwise

Motherwise Birth Center recently sent out a letter to their subscribers answering the many questions they receive about how pregnant women should deal with the flu season. And while these words of wisdom are intended for expecting mothers, we believe that everyone can benefit from following this sage advice. The below is taken directly from their e-mail:


We are including the recommendations for the Flu Vaccine and Immune Supporters.

CDC Recommendation

" Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as vaccine is available this fall. While flu is unpredictable, it’s likely that 2009 H1N1 viruses and regular seasonal viruses will cause illness in the U.S. this flu season. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against three different flu viruses: an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season."



If you are choosing to have the flu vaccine we recommend that you see your primary family doctor to review your history. Pregnant women should not get the nose spray and if you are allergic to egg's, it is not advised to get the vaccine. If you have chosen to not have the flu vaccine and as an extra percussion for everyone, here are some actions you can take.

FIRST DEFENSE FOR COLDS AND FLU

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. It is best to wash your hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds. However, if soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based product to clean your hands. Alcohol-based hand rubs significantly reduce the number of germs on skin and are fast acting.


When washing hands with soap and water:

Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.

Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.

Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend!

Rinse hands well under running water

Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet

Remember: If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based gel to clean hands.

When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

Apply product to the palm of one hand

Rub hands together

Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.

When should you wash your hands?

Before preparing or eating food

After going to the bathroom

After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom

Before and after tending to someone who is sick

After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

After handling an animal or animal waste

After handling garbage

Before and after treating a cut or wound

Holistic Immune Support

Vitamin D liquid drops – For further information, check out the Vitamin D Council’s website. RDA Vitamin D in pregnancy- 400 IU/day~ max 4000 IU/day

Vitamin A is also necessary for proper function of a wide variety of systems and anti-viral activity Zinc and selenium are specifically helpful. *RDA Vitamin A in pregnancy- 2700 IU/day~max 8000 IU/day.

Vitamin C is highly recommended. The best form is the packets of mineral ascorbates “Emergen-C”. An adult can take several per day. *If you are sick you can drink 3 Emergen-C packages /day.

Elderberry Zinc lozenges from NOW and Echinacea

Homeopathic, Oscillococcinum. It does sometimes work to minimize the severity of the flu. You can take a half-tube as a dose, and follow the directions regarding repetition.

Seek care form your MD or ND if you are experiencing flu like symptoms. You may be advised to increase your intake of Vitamins.

If a family member should come down with the flu the rest of the family could take it these as a preventive. And finally, if you think you might be coming down with the flu, it would be best to stay away from others to reduce the chance of exposure.

There are not always easy answers for many questions that come up in pregnancy and vaccines are one of them. We encourage all our families to seek out their own answers and to fully educate themselves. Here are some links you may enjoy reading.

http://www.cdc.gov/

http://www.drtenpenny.com/

http://www.who.int/

http://www.mindful-mama.com/blogs/thrive/archive/2009/10/01/doctor-s-orders-h1n1.aspx ( this is an article and on going conversation about flu vaccination)

http://www.mercola.com/
http://www.nvic.org/

Join the Great Pumpkin Hunt for a Great Cause!

This press release came across my desk today and sounds like tons of fun for all and benefits a great cause.  Mark your calendars!

The Trust for Public Land Holds “Great Pumpkin Hunt” Fundraiser

Funds go toward purchase of Miller’s Landing to create new community park

The Trust for Public Land will hold “The Great Pumpkin Hunt” on Saturday, October 23 from 10am to noon at Miller’s Landing (across the river from McKay Park off Riverside Drive in Bend). A five dollar suggested donation will help to raise funds for the purchase of Miller’s Landing for the creation of a new community park.

The family event will include pumpkin hunting, pumpkin decorating, raffle prizes and, of course, hot apple cider. Visitors will have an opportunity to learn more about the Miller’s Landing project, a 4.7 acre piece of riverfront property that the Land Trust is working to turn into a public park.

The planned project will provide public access to the river, preserve a piece of Bend's mill history and secure a critical link in the Deschutes River Trail system. The Trust for Public Land has until Dec 31 to raise the $1.8 million purchase price, and currently has a remaining balance of $400,000 to raise.

Sponsors for the October event include: Brooks Resources Corporation, the Old Mill District, REI and The Trust for Public Land.

About the Trust for Public Land

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national, nonprofit, land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. http://www.tpl.org/