Travel to Williamsburg, Virginia while raising money for Bishop Dunn Memorial School in Newburgh

Would you love a chance to win an autographed Bon Jovi Guitar?  How about a signed photo of the hottest heartthrob, Justin Bieber?

Mark Friday, March 25 on your calendar and come on down to Anthony’s Pier Nine on Route 9W in New Windsor. This is your chance to bid on over 100 items in this unbelievable silent auction. All proceeds benefit Bishop Dunn Memorial School in Newburgh offering programs from pre-K through 8^th grade.

This is the 20^th anniversary of the school’s silent auction and it is sure to be the most memorable ever. With a delicious buffet served throughout the event, a dessert table and refreshments you won’t go hungry. Then bid on some of the over 100 items available.  

Not only will the evening be a blast, with no one going away empty handed, but this is a worthy cause. Bishop Dunn attracts children for all over the Hudson Valley. Located on the campus of Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, the school is unique with a curriculum that spans pre-K through 8^th grade and provides a certified program for children with special needs.

Pier Nine, Rte 9W, New Windsor

Tickets: $30/person

Doors open for preview of items at 6pm

Live auction beginning at 7pm led by auctioneer Marianne Flannery from Flannery Estate Services

For more information call the Bishop Dunn Development office at 845-569-3496 or visit Bishop Dunn Memorial School.

Guaranteed lots of laughs with this family game

I recently saw this game on a newsletter I receive, The Daily Grommet, and had to have it. I contacted the PR department and pretty soon I was in possession of my very own game called Jishaku.

It is a game unlike any other. The goal is to get all of your pieces on the board first. The issue is this: the pieces are very strong magnets. They kind of look like rocks and are actually called “stones” in the game. The board is an enclosed eggcrate (like the one that goes on your bed) with 22 – 23 “wells” or spaces to put your stone.

The game is easier said than done. Once you get a few magnets on the board they seem to develop a mind of their own. They jump around and they also jump up unexpectedly and attach to each other. When it does that, you have to pick up all of the magnets that stuck together and put them in your hand…(sigh). My son beat me repeatedly I must admit. He seemed to get the hang of how they behaved. Me, I just kept picking them up… The whole family tried it out and we had a great time laughing at each other as the stones came flying up off the board and into our hands.

I say, pick up Jishaku. It will give the family lots of fun and laughs.

Jishaku is recommended for kids 14+ and retails for around $19.95. It can be found on the web.  It is also sold at Barnes & Noble.

Exciting HVParent news! We have a guest reviewer!Tony Hawk: SHRED’

The staff at Hudson Valley Parent receives a lot of parenting products to review, so many that sometimes we can’t get to them ourselves. We were lucky enough to receive this review of The Tony Hawk: SHRED game for X-box 360 from a staff’s family member. His conclusion? This game is worth a look. Sounds perfect for snowy days because you have to get up and move around instead of just sitting with a controller. I’ll let our reviewer explain:

“SHRED is a great simulation-type skateboarding game.  The setup of the wireless board took only minutes, while the calibration took another 2 minutes or so.  Not being a skateboarder, I found this game to be very user-friendly.  The controller board was easy to stand on, while realistically bending and turning as an actual skateboard would do.  The 4 sensors located around the board allowed me to perform “grabs” and “ollies”, along with some more advanced skateboarding tricks.  The tutorials and training modes during setup allow for some practice and understanding of the game play while you get the feel for the board.  You can watch the practice videos and tutorials as many times as you need to feel comfortable playing the game.

I played for a little more than one hour without even realizing it.  It is quite addicting when you see the player on-screen imitating your every move on the board while skating through exotic skate parks.  Also, this game proved to be a surprising workout as I was visibly sweating after the hour of game play.  I’d recommend this game to anyone looking to have some fun, burn a few calories, and simulate skateboarding without the risk of injury.”

What did you like about this product?

1.  Tutorials – not being a skateboarder I was able to pick up on the tricks quickly.

2. Controller Board – the controller board is as realistic of a skateboard as you can find without wheels.  The board was simple to set up and easy to use.

3. On-screen graphics – the player I chose to ride as me imitated my every move while cruising through beautiful skate parks and amusement parks.  Very realistic!

What did you dislike about this product?

1. Calibration – Calibrating the board can be potentially difficult if you are not deliberate with the actions on the board.  I had no trouble calibrating but my girlfriend did have some trouble following my game play.

2. Tricks – Some of the tricks are a little difficult to perform and took a while in the skate park for me to complete them even though I was doing what the tutorial said.

3.  Saving – If you do not chose to sign-in and save your progress, the board needs to be calibrated and setup as if you’ve never played before.

Would you recommend this product to parents? Yes or No

YES!

*Please note that Tony Hawk: SHRED is rated “E” (Everyone – content that may be suitable for ages six and older) by the ESRB.  Players can also visit Tony Hawk: SHRED’s interactive website at www.shredgame.com and learn how to master over-the-top skate and snowboarding gameplay tricks and explore new game info, soundtrack details, dozens of training videos, talent bios, gameplay tips and more. Tony Hawk: SHRED is available for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Nintendo Wii™.

Stroller Strides, Fitness and Fun for New Moms!

The number one exercise program for new moms is Stroller Strides, and they’ve arrived in Dutchess County!  This unique exercise program is considered “specialty mom fitness”, and incorporates fun exercises with your baby and stroller.  Each class consists of power walking, with intervals of body toning, using resistance tubing and cardio.  The classes are designed for all fitness levels and they welcome babies as young as 6 weeks.  The instructors weave songs and activities into the class to keep the babies happy and entertained.

The program inspires moms to reach their optimal health and well-being, and is also tons of fun. Karen and Kristen are the instructors at the Poughkeepsie Galleria location, and they are dedicated to helping mom’s achieve their physical and emotional potential.

Stroller Strides is offering specials for new members so don’t delay.  If you are a new mom and you made a fitness resolution for 2011, Stroller Strides can help you reach your goal.  For more information call 914-406-5394 or visit them on the web.

Where are your kids racing to now?

In the film “Race to Nowhere,” first-time filmmaker Vicki Abeles delves into the issues of the consequences of overscheduled children.  The film was recently shown at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh to a crowd of parents, teachers and kids.

The medical and emotional problems of Ms Abeles own three children spurred her to find out what is going on in the world of our kids. Through interviews of kids, their teachers and parents and other professionals, she asks whether our kids are being pressured by too much homework and over scheduling.  

Many professionals interviewed, from educators to physicians, suggest that our kids are so stressed that they have no time to just be kids.  Clubs. Practice. Homework. Community Volunteering. Does it leave children time to ride a bike, have fun running around or to do nothing?  

Although the film brought to light many important issues, it tried to cover them all with one broad brush. For example, Abeles asks several teachers about their role in the classroom and gets the classic “I am being encouraged to teach kids how to pass tests.”  From that the filmmaker leaps to teaching for tests encourages too much homework which causes too much pressure on our kids which leads to stomachaches and headaches. For me there were just too many leaps.

According to Mount Professor and Hudson Valley Parent columnist, Paul Schwartz, “The greatest stressors for kids, especially for teens, are relationships not the stress of school.” Dr. Schwartz says that 90% of kids love what they are doing, including school.

Babysitting workshop comes to Poughkeepsie

My first paying gig was babysitting my neighbors kids and it was my best friend’s first job as well. I think that babysitting is a right of passage for every teenager.  But, you have to make sure you know how to perform the job safely. The Adriance Memorial Library in Poughkeepsie  is offering a Babysitting Workshop for tweens and teens.

Topics will cover responsibilities including basic child care, babysitting safety, developmental needs for different age groups, emergency preparedness,  strategies for difficult situations, and a babysitter’s bag of tricks. Participants should bring  a notebook, pen and a bag lunch.

Pre-registration is required. You can register online or call Adriance Children’s Desk at
845-485-3445, ext.  3320.