Columnists: The Southwest Voice

A six-pack or a keg?

I am not referring to the kind of beer you drink, but rather to the type of belly you have. Many of us enjoy a beer now and then — well, maybe more than now and then! There is no reason that you cannot enjoy your beer without developing the dreaded beer belly.

While we often refer to the rounded belly that Santa Claus sports as a beer belly, it is really less about the beer and more about the lack of activity and diet in general. It is a fact that too many calories of any kind will be stored in the body as fat. Where we store our fat is largely genetically determined, but how much of it we store is not!

If you want to enjoy your beer and/or a few other indulgences, then your best bet is to add activity into your daily life. There is no real nutritional benefit (well, a few carbs!) to beer, so it is simply adding calories to your daily intake. You need to make up for that with a walk, run, game of baseball or tennis, maybe a fun aerobics class or bike ride. The alcohol in beer is metabolized in the stomach and is quickly and easily turned into fat. Use it for energy and no problem — 3,500 calories equals 1 pound no matter how you slice it. If you drink six beers at 150 calories each, you have consumed 900 additional calories! That done a couple times a week will add 1 pound every two weeks to your growing body. But if you exercised four times that week, burning 500 to 600 calories per session, you would burn an equal amount, keep your weight steady, and have six-pack abs instead of a keg.

Sometimes it is not actually the beer causing the beer belly, or the muffin top for that matter. It may be the freestyle eating that goes along with a little alcohol and a social environment. Those nuts that sit atop the bar may be healthy, but they are laden in calories (and seldom do you only eat an ounce, which is one serving!). The buffalo wings and ranch dip or the chips and guacamole may be as big a culprit to your waistline as the beer itself. Whatever you eat or drink needs to be balanced with an equal amount of exercise or activity.

Life should be enjoyed, but it is easier to enjoy it with a healthy body that allows freedom of movement and freedom from pain. So enjoy your beer, just balance it out with extra activities that you also enjoy. Driving should not be an activity enjoyed after beer! Be responsible and be healthy.

New school year, new possibilities

Reflecting on summer stories, sharing new ideas, and contemplating the possible successes that lie ahead are all part of a brand new school year. For teachers, summer is a time to rest, but it is also a time to research trends in education and consider how those trends can improve teaching in the classroom.

As with any job, there is always room for improvement. Education is the prime example in which new ways of thinking are a constant goal. Working with state content standards has sent education in a positive direction. With such a strong road map guiding curriculum, teachers can focus on choosing techniques that will best address what is being taught on a daily basis.

For me, the beginning of a new school year is fun because the room for possibilities is endless. Working with my peers on projects over the summer and questioning what worked and what did not work during prior years makes us all better teachers. Collaboration is a major key to success in the world of education. By challenging ideas and trying new things, we keep the curriculum exciting for us — which definitely impacts our students in a wonderful way.

Teaching is technically a nine-month position. But for many teachers all over, teaching is like any other job. There are breaks, but in those breaks we don’t completely stop working. Enjoying what we do drives us and always keeps us asking the same question: How can we better ourselves and our curriculum? With that said, let the year begin!

— Amy Luther is a frequent contributor to The Southwest Voice and a teacher at Warren Junior High in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District.

Sports Shorts

Local gearheads should be stoked after the announcement that Stockdale High School grad Casey Mears has landed a spot with the Richard Childress Racing team. Mears’ contract with Hendrick Racing will be terminated at the end of this racing season. The nephew of racing legend Rick Mears will be joining Bako boy Kevin Harvick on the Childress team, and the hopes here are that the “left-turn” circuit will witness an upturn in Casey’s performance as he drafts off of Kevin’s experience. This is exciting and speaks well of our city’s proud stock car history. Now, if we can just get that track at I-5 and Enos Lane to start burnin’ rubber!

It’s a man’s game and it takes a man to play the game. And there is a man by the name of Manning riding the helm for Super Bowl Champions, the New York Giants. But the toughest man of them all — now vying for a position as a backup quarterback to “the man” at the position — is former quarterback for both Stockdale High and Fresno State, and former No. 1 NFL draft pick David Carr. The unfortunate reason Carr is the toughest guy out there is that he was relentlessly pummeled as quarterback of the Houston Texans for five seasons and came out of it all relatively unscathed. David fought Goliath every Sunday and more times than not came out battered and beaten as he was sacked 262 times while with the Texans and the Carolina Panthers. He was collared a record 76 times during his rookie season (ouch!). Sporting a tremendous attitude and positive outlook his hopes are high to win a coveted backup position with the champs as they embark on the defense of their crown. He reminds one of a boxer who keeps getting up off of the mat. We’re in your corner for you David!

Prep football is right around the corner. Friday nights are a delight for all as the weekend has finally arrived. Kids are gathering with their friends, cheerleaders are dolling up and the boys are putting on the pads to do battle for their school’s honor. Start your weekend off by going out and supporting your alma mater. And if your alma mater is not in the vicinity, hop over to the nearest stadium where you see Friday night lights and support a team. It may be a welcomed journey into the past!

Let's Laugh: The Dreaded Doctor's Office Scales

Doctors do not intimidate me. Scales do.

I put off going to the doctor as long as I can because of the scales. I ran a fever for about two weeks and finally my daughter told me she was going to start making final arrangements if I didn’t haul myself over to the doctor and see what was going on. I insisted it was just a cold. A very bad cold.

“Mom! Do as I say, not as I do.” Hmm, haven’t I heard that somewhere in the past?

“Oh, rats, OK, I’ll go.” She even drove me over there. My nose was running, I was coughing and my eyes were watering so much that I couldn’t have seen to drive anyhow.

She’s not exactly a “hands on” daughter. She’s pretty busy. She runs a business, has two children and a husband. She had to drop me off. She assured me as soon as I called her she’d come and get me.

The minute I walked in, the nurse said, “Let’s step on the scales, shall we?”

“You go ahead,” I said. “I’ll just skip it this time.” I have asked myself over and over why I just blindly step on the scales when they tell me to. The older I get the more annoying it is. When I see my weight, I usually say, “Oh my God, how did that happen?” Stepping back into my shoes I tell her it must be all the watermelon I ate yesterday.

I mentioned scales phobia to my best friend the other day and she said, “Why would they need to weigh you every time you go to the doctor? I just don’t think it’s necessary and when they tell me to step on the scales, I say ‘No thank you’.”

Amazed and impressed, I said, “Wow! What do they say?”

“They say you don’t have to get on the scales if you don’t want to.”

Recently she was at Urgent Care because of an at home accident. Before stapling a bad gash together they asked her to step on the scales. She repeated her scales mantra, “No thank you.”

She had to get six staples in the back of her head and she got by without having to step on the dreaded scales. Seems fair to me!

I went to my doctor for an annual check a couple of weeks ago. When the nurse said, “Let’s step on the scales, shall we?” I answered, “No, I don’t think I will.”

She looked shocked, annoyed and confused!

The supervising nurse said patients have the right to refuse the dreaded scales. I acquiesced and let them get my weight but I felt positively giddy, knowing I didn’t have to if I didn’t want to!

Challenge of teaching proves enriching for many reasons

For some people, going to work every day is monotonous because their tasks never change. One of the many perks of teaching is that no two days are the same. Yes, we do paperwork and have meetings, but once the students enter the classroom, absolutely anything is possible. Once a lesson begins, so does the challenge of reaching every student and enabling each one to realize his or her potential.

On one particular day, as a second-year junior high teacher, I received one of the greatest challenges of my career. During a conversation in reading class, I asked a routine comprehension question of one of my students. This student, always happy and very willing to make the class laugh, responded by letting me know he was not good at reading, and since his mother was aware of this fact, it was OK if he failed reading class.

Knowing my personality, a calm fell over the class — they knew this student had just waved a red flag in front of a bull’s face. Thinking his smile would get him out of the situation, he just looked at me waiting to be passed by for a response from someone else. He quickly learned otherwise, and with help from his peers, was guided to the question’s answer — but he was in no way off the hook. Having set low expectations for himself, this student was challenging my expectations for him. Through this experience, I learned that students sometimes rely on teachers to build self confidence and ability.

After many, many hours of work, this student earned passing grades in reading class and admitted he was capable of doing the work. He was a wonderful challenge. Unlike some jobs, teaching offers an element of unknown surprise every day. The challenges come in all shapes and sizes, and I look forward to every one of them.

— Amy Luther is a teacher at Warren Junior High School in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District.

Response to ‘Hey, Dad’ advice

Hey, Dad — I have to say I disagree a bit with your advice to “put up with the sagging pants” because it will go away when he enters the work force or college. I think it is more realistic to explain to him how this fad got started and let him know that most people know that. If he wants to appear as a sympathizer of gangs and/or inmates, he’s doing the right thing. If he wants to appear as a young person with ambition, individuality and high ethics, he will not conform to what “everyone else is doing,” but will be his own man and certainly not one who mimics those of questionable lifestyles. It really is his decision, and he really needs to think about what he is saying by his dress, his behavior and his friends. I told my children when they gave me the “everyone else is doing it” excuse that everyone else would not be in their life 20 years from now but, God willing, I would be. It worked with them, and it is so true. I still am, and they still remember it, and they are in their 40s.
— Caroline Reid

Well said there, Caroline. Thank you so much for joining in the discussion. Children, and even young adults, typically only see life one day at a time. They don’t understand or think about how their actions today can impact them tomorrow. But that is what young people have been doing since Day One. As parents and grandparents, we need to take an active role in their lives and try to help them understand the big picture. Fortunately, time is on their side, and most kids grow up to be great adults.

Thanks again,
Dad

— Questions? Send Dad your problem through the Web at: www.swvoice.com.

Five components of physical fitness

Many people talk about getting in shape or getting back into shape. What does that mean? There are five components to physical fitness: flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, body fat ratio and cardiovascular. Over the next five issues, we will talk about each of the five components and what is required to become physically fit.

Flexibility refers to range of joint mobility or range of motion (ROM) for which the joint is designed. Mobility is specific to each joint or a series as in the spine. Flexibility also refers to the muscles, tendons and ligament tissue that pertain to particular joints. The importance of retaining as much ROM in our joints cannot be stressed enough.

As we age, we tend to lose ROM due to inactivity. There is a saying in yoga, “Young as your spine is flexible.” As we grow older, most of us tend to move less so we begin to lose ROM. That reminds me of another great saying, “Use it or lose it!”

All structured exercise should have a component of flexibility training involved. It is recommended to never stretch a “cold” muscle. As an example, if you were to take a piece of rubber and try to bend it you would find that it is rigid and difficult to flex. If you take that same piece of rubber and place it in the sun (especially in Bakersfield sun!), it warms and becomes more pliable. The connective tissue around our joints work the same way. Warm your muscles first to prevent injury while stretching. This will allow you to achieve the most you can from the time that you spend stretching.

Three of my favorite stretches
1. Stand in front of your kitchen counter with your legs straight and your knees soft (do not lock your knees). Place your hands on the counter and do your best to keep your back flat as you lean forward. You should feel this stretch down your hamstrings (back of thighs). Lift your tailbone towards the ceiling to increase the stretch.

2. While you are still at the counter, grip onto the sink with your hands. Bend your knees and sit back with your weight into your heels. As you bend your knees, take the stretch from your hamstrings into your upper body. Specifically you begin stretching your upper back under your armpits.

3. Stand in a doorway with your upper arms at shoulder level and your palms/elbows on the door jam. Now lean forward and allow the stretch to open up the front of your shoulders and your chest.

Remember: never begin a fitness routine or stretching routine without consulting your physician first.

— Vernie has 16 years of fitness experience and is certified in many areas. His business, Personal Edge Fitness, is downtown, and a new location is opening soon in the Southwest.

Ask a Wine-Know: A big, hearty Syrah worth savoring

“I’ve enjoyed reading about Pinot Noir in your last columns, but what about Syrah? What can you tell us about it? We need to know something since it’s the wine of choice all over the Paso Robles area where most of us go for winery visits.”

Ahhh! A perfect question for all of us right now since this wine has indeed become the new big hit in California vino circles.

Syrah is the most prominent red grape in the area known as the Rhone in southern France. It is regarded as one of the “noble” wines or vines of the world, in the class with Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir or Chardonnay. It can often be identified by a hint of black or white pepper in a mouthful. It is one of the darkest red wines and should impart a big, hearty taste as you savor it.

The grape was taken to Australia in the 1830s and became the backbone of their wine industry as Shiraz. You’ve probably heard of that wine. It is Syrah. But a wine we call “Petite Sirah” (notice the difference in the spelling) is not. It is an entirely different varietal.

Name droppers alert! The great French Syrahs bear names such as Hermitage, Cote Rotie, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and the greatest Shiraz is Penfold’s Grange.

Now let’s return to California. I first encountered Syrah in Napa in the ’70s. I think Joe Phelps was growing a bit of the Rhones, if I remember right. Randall Grahm, and his wines from Bonny Doon, was the most active early pioneer and in the ’80s, I tasted Bob Lindquist’s Qupe (which exists today) from the Santa Ynez area in Santa Barbara County. I was impressed. Then later, I visited a new grower, John Alban, in the Edna Valley East of San Luis Obispo, and I was very interested in his early plantings of Syrah and other Rhone varietals, especially Viognier. Today, Alban’s Reva is one of California’s great wines. Grab it if you see it anywhere!

Syrah is a warm-weather seeker. Just right for our Paso area. The Perrin Family from Rhone (Chateau de Beaucastel) established a base and cultivated Rhone varietals in the chalky hills west of the city. Their winery is Tablas Creek. I love their wine called Panoplie. Definitely put that winery down as a must-see on your Central Coast visits, along with L’Adventure, Linne Calodo, and Four Vines. Buy anything you encounter from a winery named Saxum! And tell me where you found it!

There was an explosion of Syrah plantings in the late ’90s that continues heavily today. And the other Rhone varietals came right along with it — red grapes such as Mourvedre, Grenache, Cournoise, and Cinsaut, and white grapes led by Viognier, Marsanne, and Rousanne.

Don’t shy away from the many offerings of Syrahs you will find. Try them all. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts! Twenty or so of my wine buddies sat down to dinner recently with 15 world class Syrahs — several hours of pleasure and great wines. Most of the wines I’ve mentioned above were there, along with a sumptuous 2002 Syrah named Ascent from a winery in the Sierra Foothills of Amador County (Domaine de la Terre Rouge).

— Comments? Questions? E-mail Ann at: acierley@etcrier.net

THIS AND THAT: ALMOST HUMAN

After owning probably 15 dogs over my many, I’m not telling you how many, years on this planet, my favorite was a blonde cocker spaniel named Buffy. What an adorable, loving dog. She was my daughter Kelly’s dog, but when she left for college, I inherited this cute cocker. She had the kind of facial expressions that you could almost read. You could tell if she was hungry, happy, sleepy, or even ticked at me for bothering her while she was napping.

She loved chasing balls, but would only go so long, then head into the house through her doggie door. I had a favorite recliner where I sat and watched TV in the evenings, and she would literally squeeze in beside me. Then of course at bedtime Buffy would get up on my bed and stay there the entire night. However, on cold nights she would keep scooting closer and closer until I would be hanging off the side.

Buffy never chewed up any shoes or any of my furniture, she never dug under the fence and even if she happened to sneak out the front door, she never strayed out of our yard.

She couldn’t sit up or shake hands, but my grandson, Jordan, taught her how to roll over and play dead, then he would give her a treat. So whenever he came over she would immediately do her trick for him and she knew she would get a doggie treat.

The only problem I ever had with her was the time she got DRUNK. I’d heard that if you set out beer, the slugs and snails would be attracted to it and it would kill them. I had tons of slugs at that time. So I bought some cheap beer and I filled 4 saucers with beer and put two in the front yard and two in the back yard.

Well, I guess you know what happened. Buffy went out and drank every single drop of beer that was in the backyard saucers. I wouldn’t have known it except when she came through the doggie door she had to make three tries to hit the right spot, then she bumped both sides trying to get through the small door. When Buffy finally got into the kitchen, she was staggering and could hardly keep her paws going in the right direction. I couldn’t scold her since I had put the beer outside. Poor little thing finally got to the living room and absolutely collapsed on the carpet. She never even made it to my bed that night. I don’t know if dogs have hangovers, but she did sleep a lot more than normal the next day. After that there was no more beer in the back yard. I must admit it really worked. I drowned around 50 slugs that night in two little saucers of cheap beer which I’d put in the front.

THIS AND THAT: THE FROG EXPLOSION

Its baby frog time again! These tiny little hoppers are all over my yard. Every time I go outside in the evening they are jumping across the lawn, in the flower beds and all over my sidewalk. It's hard not to step on them. They must number in the hundreds this time of year. My little dog was startled at first, but now she tries to play with them, chasing them and barking until they get themselves hidden under some plant. Then off she goes looking for another little green frog. She doesn’t have to look very hard, they seem to be everywhere.

I seldom see them in the daytime, but the minute the sun starts going down they appear as if by magic. It's hard to imagine so many little frogs could hide during the day without my noticing them. They are cute when they are small, and I love having them in my yard. They seem to keep the bug population down

During my days as a Rural Mail Carrier I can remember one area that had maybe twenty houses. Stagecoach, Buckboard, and Carriage were the street names of this small tract. Each house had its own mail box and as I drove down this street every single box on the North side had baby frogs in them. The first box I opened I nearly jumped out of my car when a tiny frog jumped through the window and landed in my lap. Seeing some little boys giggling across the street I realized what was in store for me.

From then on, I would open the boxes and lift out the frogs before I put the mail in the boxes. That ruined all the fun the boys were having, but it made me remember that little boys will be little boys. They saw me jump once, so they had their thrill for the day. I waved to them as I drove away and they waved back knowing they had tricked me once, which was all they could ask for.

I know a lot of these baby croakers get run over, eaten by cats, and simply die in the normal process of trying to grow to adulthood. Its part of life’s cycle, but I certainly hope some of them live to become big croakers, my yard's going to need all the help it can get this year.

Bag the battle over baggy fad

Hey, Dad,
My oldest son came home today wearing his pants halfway down his butt. Needless to say, we got into a big argument about it. My son says that all the guys do it. I told him it looks tacky, but he insists it makes him look cool. What would you suggest I do about it? Is this a battle worth fighting?

— Call me Confused

Dear Confused,

This is really going to date me, but when I was a teenager in the ’60s, I remember there was a big fuss about long hair on boys. Every young man wanted long hair like the Beatles and other rock stars of the day. But you know what? We all survived it.

What you described is called “sagging,” and it is the current fashion fad. Sagging got started in our prison system, supposedly thanks to ill-fitting prison clothing. Belts were not allowed because lifeless bodies were often found hanging from them. It is unfortunate that young men choose to model themselves after prison inmates and “gansta” rap artists instead of famous athletes or other upstanding role models. Some boys need to feel accepted by their peers and this is one way they can achieve it.

Perhaps if you discuss with your son how sagging got started, maybe he will change his attitude. Don’t go to war over it because eventually the pants will go up as he enters the work force or goes off to college. Love your son, support him, and try to look past the sagging pants.

Your relationship with your son is more important than any debate about fashion.

Take care,
Dad

— “Hey, Dad” is written by blogging columnist Dwayne Ardis.

Mergers and Acquisitions: Combining Your Financial Lives After Marriage

When people marry later in life, or for the second time, life can become a lot more fulfilling—and a lot more complicated. This is certainly the case when both parties bring substantial assets to the table, an ex is in the picture, or there are children to consider. To help minimize or avoid serious financial complications in your new life together, it’s important to talk candidly with your partner before saying “I do.”

Fear of the “M” Word: Money

Money isn’t always a pleasant or easy subject to talk about. For this reason, engaged couples may be tempted to stay as far away from it as possible. However, arguments over money can cause significant marital strain, and it’s important to get a complete financial pictures before your marriage—liabilities as well as assets. Among those that should be carefully examined are:

Debt, including outstanding loans, credit card balances, tax liabilities, mortgages, etc.
Salaries
Checking accounts
Savings accounts
401(k) and other retirement plans
Investments, including stocks, employees stock options, bonds, mutual funds, and annuities
Real estate holdings, including a house, vacation home, condo, and/or co-op
Life insurance policies
Auto insurance
Health insurance
Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, including coverage for jewelry and collectibles

If a candid discussion reveals that you and your partner will bring sizable wealth to the marriage, for example, extensive real estate holdings, precious heirlooms, or an inheritance, a prenuptial agreement may be wise. In this case, check with your attorney.

Take Time to Discuss

Many newly married couples cite differences over money as the leading cause of conflict in their first year of marriage. To help mitigate this, Steven Pybrum, author of “Money and Marriage: Making It Work Together” suggests having a conversation about marital finances and financial divisions at least six months before the marriage, to identify and resolve major differences in saving and spending attitudes. He also offers a suggestion to those entering into marriage; “It’s okay to have separate accounts. People are finding out that it’s more comfortable to have a combination of separate and joint accounts.“

But Don’t Postpone These Actions

Things to take care of promptly after you get married:

Change your name on key accounts and documents—if one or both of you change your last name
Update your beneficiary information.

Following is a brief checklist for the name change:

Bank accounts
Credit cards
Driver’s license
Employee change of status form where you work
Health insurance identification card
Insurance policies
Medical prescription cards
Passport
Savings plans, e.g., 401(k)s or 403(b)s
Securities
Social Security card
Tax forms
Voter registration information

It’s equally important to update your beneficiary information on all documents as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may be putting yourself or your new partner at serious financial risk. For instance, if you were previously married and your ex is still listed as the beneficiary on your life insurance policy, s/he—not your new spouse—will receive the death benefit proceeds should an unexpected tragedy occur.

Prudence and Planning—A Winning Combination

These aren’t enjoyable things to think about—especially on the eve of such a happy event—but the good news is that you don’t have to deal with them alone. You can draw on the experience of a team of financial professionals, including an attorney, accountant, banker, and life insurance agent. They can serve you and your partner in two ways—to nip potential problems in the bud and to suggest ways to help you achieve your long-term goals. Don’t hesitate to call on these professionals. They can work with you to take steps that help ensure you’re on solid financial ground in your new life together.

For more information on how an insurance and financial professional can assist in planning your future, please contact John Border Agent, New York Life Insurance Company, at (661)325-8113

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Zinfandel adds a bang to July 4th!

“Which wine could you possibly recommend for the Fourth of July celebrations, Ann?” I can hear the sympathetic clucks from the wine lovers’ gallery now. Hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecued spare ribs and tri-tip, salsa, baked beans, potato salad, homemade ice cream, strawberry shortcake, watermelon! Wow! The only all-American beverage to go with that big a variety of tastes is beer, or iced tea, or maybe Pepsi. Wines are European — they don’t belong at our picnics and barbecues. Wine just isn’t American even though we make some of the world’s best. It just doesn’t belong, right?
Wrong.

If it tastes good, complements the food, and you like it, it belongs. And besides, there really is an American wine — Zinfandel.

While it is true that the origins of this tasty red wine go back to Croatia, and it appears to have arrived in the East Coast well before the Gold Rush, Zinfandel was made popular (rescued from obscurity, too) right here in California, where it arrived by 1852 and was planted in both Napa and Sonoma counties in 1859. It was the most popular wine among miners and was planted throughout the state. It is a prolific grape and was widely used during Prohibition by home winemakers. Wine drinkers worldwide mention and acknowledge Zin as the American wine and California as its home.

It was a common red table wine up through World War II, but it began to decline in popularity and plantings until the advent of white Zinfandel in 1972, which became a phenomenal best-seller. It still is, by the way. In the 1990s, there was a resurgence of quality red Zinfandels and many of us firmly believe that you get “the most bang for your buck” with a fine bottle of delicious, jammy red from Carlisle, Ridge, Rosenblum, Seghesio, JC Cellars from Sonoma County, or Linne Calodo and Four Vines from our close-by Paso Robles area. Many more, like Turley, and Ravenswood, make wonderful Zins from all over the state.

OK, you’re going to drink it because it’s America’s wine. But I want you to discover how many types and tastes there are to Zinfandel. Take along a nice, semi-sweet Sutter Home or Beringer White Zin on your picnics. It’s a very pleasant wine to sip before the heavy main courses. Roses (ro-zays) or Blush wines are perfect for picnics.

With hamburgers and hot dogs, and dependent on how much mustard and relish is used, try a medium-bodied boysenberry-flavored red from Cline. When the barbecues are smokin’ and the beans are steamin’, pour a glass of deep jammy blackberry-taste from D-Cubed or The Maverick of Four Vines! Delicious — big, heavy foods with big, heavy, spicy wines that will add to the flavors.

For dessert, try a Zinfandel Port or a Late Harvest Zin. They’re terribly sweet, high in alcohol, and a drop or two will light up the night skies, along with the fireworks!

They do go well with the strawberries and/or ice-cream, though.
Give them all a try!

Questions? Comments? Send Ann e-mail at:acierley@etcrier.net

Let's Laugh: About Bugs in our Ears

July 1, 2008 is the day cell phone users over age 18 in California will go around with what looks like a big bug connected to their ear. On that day drivers can be cited for using a cell phone unless they have the hands free do-dad. I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I’ve been tempted to swat the big bug on someone’s ear. Finally, however, I’ve become accustomed to it and also to people walking around talking to what seems like the air.

As of July 1, if you are 18 or younger, you can’t even use a cell phone while driving. I wonder about the law sometimes. Whoever came up with the “hands free” law should have gone one step further and included texting. That’s all 18 year olds and younger do anyhow. I have seen them holding a phone on the steering wheel, inputting txt msgs and rng rd lts.

Kids who drive and make the decision to put their phone under the front seat while doing so should get a medal. It would be nice if we didn’t need laws to enforce common sense. Will anyone take my advice? No! Well, maybe some will. I imagine those who want to plan a future and live another 60 or so years will.

Cell phones are inter-generational. At the nursery the other day I ran into a friend. We were chatting about kids, grandkids and gardens, when her phone rang. I heard her say, “Yes. When? What time? OK, I’ll be there.”

She apologized to me and said, “This is not a cell phone. It is a ‘grandma tracker’.”

We agreed to shop together for a few minutes – at the phone store and get hands free ear thing-a-majigs. We would not want to miss out on a grandma opportunity.

New reward program for good-ness sake

For teachers, students’ classroom behavior and academic improvement is always a work in progress. On a regular basis, we try new techniques with hope of achieving success and optimizing student behavior. Knowing that not everything we try will work makes each success sweeter. Two elementary schools in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District, Seibert and Sandrini, have implemented a successful new program aimed at improving student behavior.

Although the program goes by two different names, the Greater Raider Program and the Secret Saint Program, the goal is the same: improving both social and academic behaviors for specific students. Students who were selected signed a contract with their families and the school. Incentives such as additional recess time and gift cards to the Valley Plaza Mall were used as rewards for improved behavior.

The stunning angle of the program was that children hoped they might be the select students being closely observed. Only 10 students were observed, but all behavior improved throughout both schools!

“Students responded because they received positive reinforcement for their efforts,” observed Vice Principal Dion Lovio.

Lovio, who splits his time as vice principal between both Seibert and Sandrini, learned of this program by attending a summer workshop last year. According to Lovio, once the program was implemented, teachers observed changes in character as well as in academics, including acts of kindness such as holding doors for others. Students learned that success and hard work feel good.

This program would never have been successful without donations from local businesses and support from all involved. Anyone interested in donating gift cards or rewards may contact Lovio at Seibert or Sandrini elementary schools.