March 2015 • Priceless - Richmond Parents Monthly

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contents
features
6 Petz Luv
Dogs and some cats seem to get into everything and eat anything they come across. March is Pet Poison Prevention Month. Petz Luv columnist Chris Miller has some suggestions on keeping your pet safe.
9 Growing Up Online
Parents need to have an understanding of the allure of anonymous social media before they can set realistic limits on its use by their offspring, ac
cording to online parenting writer Carolyn Hax.
10 Healthy Kids
The best way to protect children during a measles outbreak is to get them vaccinated.
15 Gardening
Bulbs brighten the landscape in March. It’s also the On the Cover: Levi Sutton is secure in his car seat. Is your child’s car seat properly
installed? How can you know if your child’s car seat is safe? Check out our safety
and installation tips. PAGE 10. Photo by Jennifer Sutton
month to buy bulbs for summertime blooms, ac
cording to Master Gardener Lela Martin. Check out her guide to using bulbs in your landscape.
17 Let’s Go!
From road races to art openings, there’s much to do in the Richmond area. We have your activities calendar.
Editorial Mission: Richmond Parents Monthly is dedicated to providing parents and
professionals with the best information and resources available to enhance all aspects of
parenting and family life. It is also an avenue to facilitate a shared sense of community
among parents by providing useful information, support and a forum for dialogue on issues
that are important to all parents and families.
Volume 25, No. 3, MARCH 2015
Publisher: Mark E. Fetter
Editor: Tharon Giddens
Art Director: Jennifer G. Sutton
Contributing Writers: Chris Miller, Lela
Martin, Carolyn Jabs
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Richmond Parents Monthly
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RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u MARCH 2015 u 5
PETZ LUV
By CHRIS MILLER
Pet Poison Prevention All
Year Long
gested the albuterol - which causes increased heart rate, weakness and vomiting.
What are some signs your pet may have ingested something toxic?
Drs. Cochran and Inge say your should watch for anything out of the ordinary for your pet: vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, hyperactivity. If you notice
any chewed-up packaging or knocked-over garbage and suspect something
was in that packaging, call your veterinarian, even if no symptoms are present. My dogs had absolutely no symptoms when they ate the Alleve container, but reading the bottle made me call the poison hotline.
How can we keep our pets safe? Keep everything out of reach. As Dr.
Cochran will attest, countertops ARE NOT out of reach for pets. Keep pets
safely in crates when no one can supervise them. Use baby gates and trash
can lids, or put trash cans inside cabinets. Supervise all medications that children are using, including vitamins and herbal products.
Tire out those cats and dogs so they’re not prone to boredom or buy
hardy toys with hidden treats they can get to so they’re less prone to snoop
into something dangerous.
KEEP THEM SAFE
For More Information:
http://blog.petmeds.com
http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poisons/
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
Local Emergency Veterinary Services:
Deer Run Animal Wellness Center, Midlothian: (804) 639-3900
Dogwood Veterinary Emergency Center, Richmond: (804) 716-4700
Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center, Carytown: (804) 353-9000
Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center, Midlothian: (804) 744-9800
Veterinary Referral and Critical Care, Manakin-Sabot: (804) 784-8722
M
y dog will eat broccoli,
bananas, blueberries and
beans. But she also eats
stuffing from toys, soles of slippers,
and paper towels from the trash.
Nothing is out of the realm of possibility when it comes to what dogs
and some cats will eat.
Why? They are natural scavengers who don’t have to hunt anymore since we do it for them. They
are also bored. Rooting around home
and finding something to chew keeps
them busy when no one’s around to
play with. Anything that will fit in
their mouths is fair game.
There are few things more
frightening to a pet owner than a
pet that has ingested something unknown and is presenting symptoms
of distress. Scarier still are the toxic
substances pets can get into and
show no symptoms of until it can be
too late.
March is Pet Poison Prevention Month, but pets need our vigilance year round.
Most pet parents are aware
of the toxicity of antifreeze, chocolate, grapes, and rat poison, but did
you know sugarless gum can kill
a dog? Many sugar-free foods are
sweetened with Xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. It can result in vomiting,
seizures and liver failure.
Road salt and sidewalk ice
melt can get on animals’ paws or be
ingested if they eat snow. Ice melt
chemicals generate heat to melt
snow. The chemicals can heat up an
animal’s paws or digestive tract and
cause serious gastrointestinal problems. Pets can also ingest another
winter requirement, antifreeze, a tiny
bit of which can cause kidney failure.
If you purchase these products, look
for environmentally, pet friendly options.
Spring is around the corner
and with it many plants which can
be toxic to pets. Lilies can be fatal
to cats if ingested. Other household
plants and floral arrangements can
also be dangerous.
Year round, our own medications can be toxic to pets.
Drs. Kim Cochran and Deborah Inge of Ashland Veterinary
Hospital have treated many pets
poisoned by ingesting human medications, especially anything flavored
and chewable. Six years ago my dogs
chewed up a plastic container of Alleve tablets. I will never know if they
ingested any of the tablets, but they
did spend three nights in the ER eating activated charcoal.
Dr. Inge once treated a dog
whose owner used an inhaler. The
dog chewed up the inhaler and in-
6 u RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u MARCH 2015
Poison control numbers:
Pet Poison Hotline: 1-800-213-6680 ($39 fee)
Pet Poison Helpline: 1-855-764-7661 ($39 fee for service)
WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM
WORK
COURTESY OF BPT
The Secret To Achieving
Better Work-life Balance
I
f you’re feeling overworked and
finding it a challenge to juggle
the demands of your job and
the rest of your life, then you’re not
alone. Achieving the elusive worklife balance may be getting harder
with today’s connected lifestyle, but
it is still possible.
A better work-life balance
doesn’t just happen overnight. It
requires patience, careful thinking
and attention toward understanding
what is most important to you and
your family. First you must focus on
prioritizing your personal and professional life. Consider all the things
that compete for your time. Then decide what to keep and what to discard. Think of it as streamlining your
priorities, sorted by the activities
that are the most important.
“No matter how hard you try, you
can’t squeeze more hours into your
day,” says Dr. Nancy Aragon, professor of industrial organizational psychology at Argosy University, Online
Programs. “What you can do though
is make more efficient use of your
time. It takes persistent planning to
get a management system started,
but keeping a time diary helps you
to become more aware of where your
time is being spent.”
Aragon
recommends
a
weekly block schedule coupled with
a daily to-do list. The block schedule should be a fairly permanent,
regular weekly plan that allows adequate time for necessary, recurring
activities such as cooking, exercising, homework, grocery shopping,
work, etc. A critical element to include in the block schedule is “flex-
WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM
ible time” or
free time that
is purposely
built
into
your schedule. Scheduling flexible
time is a way
to account for
unexpected,
but
inevitable events
to be worked
into your life
with minimal
disruption to
your regular
routine. In effect, you plan for the
unexpected.
And although technology
has the potential to improve the quality and efficiency of your daily life, it
also has the potential to encroach on
your work-life balance. “Set boundaries when it comes to technology,”
says Aragon. “Schedule time for you
and your family when it comes to accepting calls, texts, or emails
While you can’t always
change your circumstances, you certainly can change how you react to
them. Learn to monitor your attitude
and its impact on your work perfor-
mance, relationships and everyone
around you. A positive attitude can
make a big difference in your energy,
your focus and your pace toward
achieving balance.
In addition, do not try to live
up to other’s expectations. “Worklife balance is a very personal matter.
If you seek to find your own balance
by emulating the ideals, priorities
and expectations of others, you are
doomed to miss the mark,” said Aragon. “It can require some courage to
live by your own values and ideals
rather than what seems to be the prevailing social norm, but the payoff
is worth taking that venture out of
your normative comfort zone.”
RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u MARCH 2015 u 7
GROWING UP ONLINE
By CAROLYN JABS
Pros and Cons of Anonymous Social Media
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K
eeping secrets is part of
growing up. Deciding what
you’ll tell people about yourself (and others) helps children develop an understanding of privacy
and trust.
With Facebook and other
forms of public social media, nothing is secret. Even young children
now know that comments or photos
become part of a person’s “permanent record.” And that’s why teens
are switching to anonymous apps
like Whisper, Secret, Yik Yak and
FessApp that allow teens to let off
steam without worrying about repercussions.
They confess crushes and
mistakes, make edgy jokes, laugh
over embarrassing moments and
divulge sensitive information. Some
open up about serious problems:
Abusive relationships, conflicts
with friends and family, concerns
about mental and physical health
and self-destructive behaviors such
as anorexia, cutting and suicidal
thoughts.
At their best, anonymous
apps are an opportunity for young
people to explore the edges of who
they are and find out that their problems are not unique.
But anonymity also has a
well-documented dark side. Many
people do things they wouldn’t otherwise do when they can’t be held
accountable. On anonymous sites,
people slander and threaten others.
They spread cruel rumors and solicit
sex. Given the potential for serious
problems, it’s easy for parents to
overreact.
That won’t help. Without
understanding the allure of anonymous social media, parents can’t
set effective limits. Although every
anonymous app is a little different,
parents can quickly gain insight into
the appeal of no-name social media
by browsing whisper.sh, a site where
“whispers” are shared, classified,
rated and assembled into lists. Even
a cursory look reveals whispers that
are witty and confessional, harmless
fun and seriously disturbing. Taken
together, they provide a remarkable
window into the anxieties, preoccupations, embarrassments and fears
of other people, a collage that’s compelling for teens trying to figure out
how they fit into the world.
WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM
A r m e d
with a basic
understanding of anonymous social
media, parents are in a
better
position to talk to
teens. Here
are questions
worth asking:
What apps
are you using? Find out
what
apps
your child has
installed. Just
as
important, find out
what
apps
your child’s
friends
are
using. Many
kids feel they
need to have
a particular
app simply to
keep track of
what’s being said by others.
How are apps being used? Some
teens use anonymous apps wisely,
posting funny messages or even supporting people who seem to be having a tough time. Other kids are seduced by the popularity contest. In
order to get more “likes”, they push
the envelope with posts that are increasingly outrageous, sexual or
cruel. Children need to hear from
you that you expect them to live up
to their values in private as well as
public settings.
What’s the appeal of anonymity? Help your child think
through the pros and cons of anonymity. How does it influence what
people post? Be sure your child understands that privacy policies for
websites often change. Even though
anonymity is likely with these apps,
it’s never guaranteed. Also police
can and do track down people who
break the law by making threats or
posting sexual photos of minors.
What’s the role of GPS?
Many popular anonymous apps depend upon the location service built
into every smart phone. YikYak,
for example, was designed by col-
lege students so people on the same
campus could share random messages. In high schools, the program
has been used for bullying, bashing
teachers and even bomb threats. Yik
Yak erected “geofences” that are
supposed to make the program off
limits for many public schools but,
of course, that doesn’t stop students
from accessing the program in other
settings. If sites like this are causing
problems at your child’s school, consider disabling the GPS feature on
the phone.
Which sites should be offlimits? Make it clear that you don’t
want your child to use “random chat
apps” such as Omegle, Chatrandom
and Tiny Chat. These are adult apps
which make it all too easy for teens
to connect with strangers. You may
also want to steer your child away
from sites that have developed a
reputation for bullying. Ask.fm, for
example, is notorious for cruel questions such as “why are you fat?” or
even “why don’t you kill yourself”.
Some anonymous social networks
want to bring out the best in people. Let (let.com) is an app that encourages people to award stars to each
other. It claims to have zero tolerance
for bad behavior. Outpour (www.
outpour.io) allows users to share
positive comments they might be too
shy to make in person. Their motto:
“Go find the beauty in people and
tell them.”
Even sites that try to monitor and remove offensive posts won’t
be successful all the time, so teens
that use anonymous apps are likely
to encounter material that is confusing or even upsetting. Opening
up candid conversation about these
apps defuses their power. Teens may
not tell their parents everything, but
they should have confidence that,
when they are burdened by a secret,
the best people to confide in are still
Mom and Dad.
Carolyn Jabs, M.A., raised three computer savvy kids including one with
special needs. She has been writing
Growing Up Online for ten years and is
working on a book about constructive responses to conflict. Visit www.growingup-online.com to read other columns.
RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u MARCH 2015 u 9
PARENTING
Keep Your Infant
Safe When You’re
on the Road
push down on the seat
as you tighten the latch
straps or seat belt. The seat
shouldn’t move more than
an inch at the belt path.
• Register your car seat with
the manufacturer and sign
up for recall emails to ensure
your child is not riding in a
defective car seat.
• Practice safe driving. It’s going to be tough, especially if
your newborn starts wailing, but remember to keep
your eyes on the road. If
you can’t stop yourself from
turning around to check on
the baby, pull over and then
make sure everything is OK
with your wee one.
• Keep the baby in the car
seat. If one parent rides in
the backseat with the baby,
remember that it is never
OK to remove the child from
a car seat while someone
is driving. The safest place
for a baby (even one that’s
screaming) is in a rear-facing
car seat when the car is moving.
• Keep your car properly
maintained. Take your car in
for regular, scheduled maintenance to ensure everything
is in working order and all
fluids are topped. Keeping
a safe car can create a safer
ride for your little one.
These steps allow parents to
focus on the road and should lessen
some of their concerns about their
child’s safety in the car. In addition,
Newman also suggests parents skip
using items such as a baby mirror in
the car. Mirrors and other items like
toys that hang from a car seat’s handle can become dangerous projectiles in a crash and harm your child
or you.
10 u RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u JANUARY 2015
COURTESY OF STATEPOINT
A
How to Protect Children During
a Measles Outbreak
measles outbreak that
began in late 2014 in
California has since
spread to multiple states.
Most of those who have gotten sick from this highly infectious disease were not vaccinated against measles.
Experts are calling the current outbreak an important
reminder to vaccinate children fully against the disease.
“Vaccines are one of
the most important ways parents can protect their children
from measles and other diseases,” says Dr. Sandra Hassink, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP). “The measles vaccine
is safe, necessary and effective.”
There have been no
documented cases of measles in Virginia since 2001, according to information from the Virginia Department of Health.
The pediatrics academy is offering some fast facts about measles and the
measles vaccine.
• Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads
easily through the air or on infected surfaces. It causes rash, high
fever, cough, runny nose and red watery eyes. In rare cases it can
cause encephalitis that can lead to deafness or mental retardation.
Of every 1,000 people who get measles, one or two will die.
• The AAP, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and
the American Academy of Family Physicians all recommend children receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine at
age 12-15 months, and again at four to six years old.
• It’s best to protect children with MMR vaccine as soon as they
are old enough to receive it. Delaying vaccination leaves children
vulnerable to measles for a longer period of time. Vaccinating on
time also protects other children in the community, including infants younger than 12 months who cannot be vaccinated and are
most susceptible to serious illness, hospitalization and death due
to measles.
• Getting the measles vaccine is much safer than getting the measles infection. Like any medicine, the vaccine is capable of causing side effects but usually these are mild, such as pain or swelling at the injection site and a fever that lasts a day or two. The risk
of the measles vaccine causing serious harm is extremely small.
• If you are not sure if you or your children have been fully vaccinated against measles, talk with your doctor to see if anyone in
your family needs to be vaccinated. There is no risk in receiving
the measles vaccine if you have been immunized before. Your pediatrician is your best source of advice on vaccinations.
More information about the measles and the measles vaccine can be found
by talking with your pediatrician and by visiting www.healthychildren.org.
PHOTO CREDIT: (c) Stuchin - Fotolia.com
C
ar safety before kids is relatively simple, but after your
first child is born, it becomes
more complicated.
After
all,
babies
change everything. Their arrival means that new parents
need to become educated quickly - on cribs, strollers
and most importantly, childsafety seats and all their rules.
And as federal recommendations on car seats continue to
evolve, parents have one more
thing to stay on top of.
In fact, 93 percent of
new parents listed the fear of other
drivers on the road as a top concern
when driving with a newborn, according to a survey by Cars.com and
Toluna QuickSurveys.
“Every new parent wants
to cover the car in protective bubble
wrap when driving with their baby.
I know my husband and I did,” says
Cars.com editor and expert mom
Jennifer Newman. “That isn’t realistic, but there are a few things you
can take control of that will help
ease your anxiety when driving with
your newborn.”
Instead of bubble wrap,
Newman offers the following suggestions:
• Perform a car seat check in
your own vehicle to see if
your new car seat and car
are compatible. Some stores
will let you try it out in your
car before you buy.
• Make sure you’re using a
car seat that meets the latest
federal safety requirements
and the height and weight of
your child.
• Read the car seat manual
and your car manual to
make sure you’re following
recommendations regarding
installation.
• Car seats can be installed
with either the latch system
(the lower latch and tether
anchors often found in the
backseat) or with the seat
belt. Use whichever is easier
for you but never use both at
the same time.
• After connecting the seat,
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REG
E
ach year, the Scholastic
Art and Writing Awards
honor the creative abilities of middle and high school
students throughout the country. This year in regional competition, Chesterfield County
students achieved a total of 96
Gold Keys, 81 Silver Keys and
135 honorable mentions. Gold
Key winners go on to national
competition; national winners
will be announced in March,
then honored in a ceremony at
Carnegie Hall in New York City. Here is a sampling from Chesterfield County schools of some of the winning works:
• Bird High student Deja Webster won a Gold Key in ceramics and
glass for “Anemone.”
• Bird High student Caylie Haller won a Gold Key in painting for “In
Bloom.”
• Meadowbrook High student De’Andre Tatum won a Gold Key in
mixed media for “My Worst Fears.”
• Thomas Dale High student Samantha Tyree won a Gold Key in digital art for “Leading to Anywhere.”
SPECIAL TO RPM
Local Middle School Students
take on NASA
S
.com
Sponsored by:
BON SECOURS
ST. FRANCIS WATKINS CENTRE
Benefiting:
Many thanks to the following supporters:
12 u RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u MARCH 2015
EDUCATION
tudents at five metro Richmond area middle schools
will take on after-school
engineering challenges designed
by NASA as part of a national
initiative to promote science,
technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) in schools
and in the work force.
Local participants include
students at Thomas H. Henderson Middle School and Thomas
C. Boushall Middle School in
Richmond; Falling Creek Middle
School in Chesterfield; Peabody
Middle School in Petersburg;
and Caroline Middle School in
Caroline County.
The students, using the
engineering-design process and
interacting with NASA experts,
will attempt to solve real-world
challenges facing the space agency, including how to assist astronauts in peril, how to successfully parachute a spacecraft onto
the surface of Mars and how to
pack for a visit to the moon. Students will have eight weeks to
ock
amr
tersh
es
estch
w
E AT
NLIN
O
ISTER
.com
Chesterfield students earn
arts accolades
WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM
WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM
brainstorm, design, build and
create videos documenting their
efforts and their solutions. Entries from each school are due on
April 16 and winners will be announced on May 1.
Virginia is one of ten
states chosen by NASA and the
U.S. Department of Education
to participate in the 2014-2015
Engineering Design Challenge.
The participating middle schools
— selected by the Virginia Department of Education based on
NASA criteria — are all home to
federally funded 21st Century
Community Learning Center
programs.
The 21st Century Community Learning Center program
provides students with tutoring
and enrichment activities that
complement regular academic
programs outside regular school
hours. The program also offers
literacy and other educational
services to the families of participating children.
RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u MARCH 2015 u 13
GARDENING
COMMUNITY
By LELA MARTIN
SPECIAL TO RPM
Brighten Your Landscape With Bulbs
Motorsports
Specialty Camp
Driving & STEM Programs
For Aspiring Drivers, Engineers
& Enthusiasts!
campmotorsport.com
Culinary
Specialty Camp
Cooking Programs
For Aspiring Young Chefs!
chefcamp.com
Specialty Residential Summer Camps
Girls & Boys Ages 9-17
1 & 2 Week Sessions
Clover, Virginia
(855) 508-9382
[email protected]
[email protected]
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
ONLY $
25
00
per year
FOR YOUR HOME DELIVERY
Send payment,
Name & Address to:
Richmond Parents Subscription
8010 Ridge Road, Suite F
Henrico, VA 23229
For more information
call 673-5203
14 u RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u MARCH 2015
WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM
M
arch is the perfect time
to shine a light on flower
bulbs.
It’s when brilliant daffodils,
tulips and hyacinths brighten the
landscape, and it’s the month to purchase summer-blooming bulbs.
There are two general
groups of bulbs: Spring-flowering
(January-May) and summer-flowering (June-September). Now is the
time to plan where you’d like to see
additional bulbs next spring.
Spring bulbs provide early
color, blooming before most annuals and perennials. Crocus, scilla,
leucojum (snowbell), anemone, chionodoxa (glory-of-the-snow), and
muscari (grape hyacinths) are other
spring-flowering bulbs to consider.
And if you prefer daffodils or jonquils, you may plant several varieties (early, mid, and late) to lengthen
the spring-blooming season.
Spring and early summerflowering bulbs must be planted in
the fall to develop a root system and
satisfy the cold requirement of the
bulbs. In the metro Richmond area,
you should plant spring-blooming
bulbs by mid-November.
March also is the ideal
month to buy summer-blooming
bulbs. Summer-flowering bulbs include amaryllis, canna, tuberous
begonia, caladium, daylily, dahlia,
gladiolus, lily, and spider lily. Summer-blooming bulbs can be planted
after the last spring frost (April 1120 in Richmond) when the soil temperature is at least 55 degrees. Bulbs
planted before this temperature may
rot before they can sprout.
Select plump, firm bulbs of
high quality. If you purchase them
ahead of time, keep them in a cool,
dry place. Rhizomes, tubers, and
tuberous roots should be
stored in peat, perlite, or
vermiculite so they don’t
dry out.
Bulbs can be planted in beds or in containers.
Select an appropriate site
with at least 5 to 6 hours of
direct sunlight a day. Bulbs
left in the ground year after
year should have 8 to 10
hours of daily sunlight for
good flowering. The pH of
the planting area should be
in the 6-7 range.
Most bulbs require good
drainage and will rot if planted in
wet areas. You can prepare a bulb
bed or dig individual planting holes.
The instructions accompanying
your bulbs usually have a suggested planting depth. Generally, bulbs
should be planted 2 ½ to 3 times the
diameter of the bulb in depth.
Do your digging when the
soil is fairly dry. Spade the soil 8-12
inches deep. Enrich the soil with fertilizer and organic matter. Use one
pound of 5-10-10 fertilizer for a 5-by10-foot area, or use a small (gloved)
handful for a cluster of bulbs. Place a
1-2 inch layer of organic matter over
the bed. Thoroughly mix the fertilizer and organic matter with the soil.
For individual planting
holes, loosen the soil below the depth
the bulb is to be planted. I have used
an attachment on my cordless drill to
prepare the holes. Add fertilizer and
cover with a layer of soil to prevent
bulbs from direct contact with the
fertilizer.
If voles are a problem, the
bulbs can be planted in wire screen
baskets to prevent the rodents from
reaching and destroying them. (You
can find this material in nurseries
and garden centers.) Large bulbs
should be 3 to 6 inches apart, small
bulbs 1 to 2 inches. Bulbs will typically figure out which direction to
grow regardless of how they are
planted.
Rainfall usually provides
enough moisture for bulbs.
Mulch bulbs 2 to 4 inches
deep with straw, pine bark, hay,
or ground leaves. Wait until cold
weather arrives to apply the mulch.
Remove the mulch as soon as danger
of severe freezing has passed in early
WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM
spring to provide opportunities for
healthy new growth.
After plants bloom, fertilize
them lightly with 5-10-10 fertilizer,
no more than one pound for a 5 by
10 foot bed. You can use bone meal
as an extra source of phosphorus.
When the flowers fade, you
may deadhead them. Do not cut the
foliage after flowering until it turns
yellow. Leaves “feed” the bulb for
next year’s growth. Remove the
dead foliage from the ground to reduce disease to the new growth the
next year.
If you were pleased with the
bulbs’ performance, do not move or
disturb them with the exception of
tender, summer-flowering bulbs.
Summer-blooming
bulbs
may be dug and stored after the
leaves turn yellow but before the
danger of freeze damage. Use a
spading fork to lift the bulbs from
the ground. Wash off any soil clinging to the bulbs, except for those that
are stored in pots or rhizomes, tubers, and tuberous roots. Spread the
washed bulbs in a shaded place to
dry. When dry, store them away from
sunlight in a cool, dry basement, cellar, garage, or shed at 50-60 degrees.
Be sure that air circulates
around stored bulbs. Never store
bulbs more than two or three layers deep, as they can generate heat
which causes decay. Leave the soil on
begonia, canna, caladium, and dahlia bulbs. Store these bulbs in clumps
on a slightly moistened layer of peat
moss or sawdust in a cool place.
Rinse, clean, and separate them just
before planting in the spring.
LEARN MORE
“Flowering Bulbs: Culture and
Maintenance”:
https://pubs.ext.
vt.edu/426/426-201/426-201_pdf.
pdf
“Hints for Fall-Planted Spring
and Early Summer Flower Bulbs”:
http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/hintsfor-fall-planted-spring-and-earlysummer-flowering-bulbs.pdf
“Summerand
Fall-Flowering
Bulbs”: http://www.clemson.edu/
extension/hgic/plants/landscape/
flowers/hgic1156.html
Virginia Parks
Accepting Applicants for
Volunteers
V
olunteers are needed across
Virginia to spend the summer serving in state parks,
connecting park guests to natural
resources and leading trail improvement projects.
The Virginia State Parks
AmeriCorps Volunteer Project provides 25 opportunities for part-time
AmeriCorps members to serve in
state parks between April and September.
AmeriCorps members plan,
develop and lead interpretive programs. They also assist park staff in
coordinating service projects in Virginia State Parks.
Members serve 675 hours
and receive a bi-monthly living allowance. After successfully completing a term of service, AmeriCorps
members are eligible to receive an
AmeriCorps education award of
$2,114, which can be used for education expenses.
Volunteers selected as AmeriCorps members receive in-depth
training on various subjects including trail improvement, interpretive
programming, customer service, volunteer management and watercraft
skills.
Applications are being accepted and positions are filled on a
first-come, first-served basis.
More information and the
required application can be found
at www.americorps.gov.
AmeriCorps is a national service program administered
through the Corp. for National and
Community Service. Each year,
AmeriCorps offers adults of all ages
and backgrounds more than 75,000
opportunities to meet critical needs
in communities across America. Benefits include a modest living allowance and educational assistance at
the end of service.
For more information about
state park activities and amenities,
or to make cabin or camping reservations, call the Virginia State Parks
Customer Service Center at (800)
933-7275 or see www.virginiastateparks.gov.
RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u MARCH 2015 u 15
March
2015
THROUGH MARCH 7
MARCH 11
THOSE HARVEY GIRLS: Cora
Harvey Armstrong and her singing sisters
in performance at Swift Creek Mill Theatre,
17401 Jefferson Davis Highway, Colonial
Heights; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and
2:30 p.m. matinees; $38 show only, $55 show
and buffet, discounts available to students,
military, seniors and groups; (804) 748-5203
for reservations; swiftcreekmill.com
ROCKNOCEROS: Free family show
10 a.m., the Shops at Willow Lawn, 601 Willow Lawn Drive, Richmond; Coach, Williebob
and Boogie Bennie, musical trio for children
MARCH 11-15
RINGLING BROS AND BARNUM & BAILEY PRESENTS
LEGENDS: Various times, $15 and up,
Richmond Coliseum, ticketmaster.com
MARCH 1
HENRICO CONCERT BAND: 2
p.m., Antioch Baptist Church, 3868 Antioch
Church Road, Sandston
ROCK & ROLL JUBILEE: 2 p.m., Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Road; “live” broadcast circa 1958 featuring music of Elvis, Buddy Holly, the Everly
Brothers and more, with local musicians Craig Evans, Brad Tucker, Brian Sulser, George
Garrett, Jim Wark and B.J .Kocen; $27, artsglenallen.com
MARCH 4-8
Air Conditioning Specialist
Fast Service And Fair Prices Since 1946
ATLANTIC 10 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Richmond Coliseum, featuring conference members Davidson College, University of Dayton,
Duquesne University, Fordham University,
George Mason University, George Washington University, La Salle University, University
of Massachusetts, University of Rhode Island,
the University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure
University, Saint Joseph University, St. Louis
University and Virginia Commonwealth University; bracket to be announced; $10-$20,
ticketmaster.com
RUMBLE SEAT REVIVAL: 7 p.m.,
Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, an evening
of 1920s Tin Pan Alley jazz; Second State
concert series performance $15 in advance if
you call (804) 261-2787, $18 at door; catered
dinners on sale night of show, with beer wine
and beverages available also;
2880 Mountain Road; artsglenallen.com
Check Out Our YELP Page!
Contact Hall's Tire & Auto Service Today at 804-285-3717
Located Behind Days Inn Broad Street • 2111 Dickens Road • Richmond, VA 23230
16 u RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u MARCH 2015
WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM
ing Richmond Squirrel season features music, concession items, look at upgrades to
ballpark and chance to purchase tickets; first
100 fans to purchase tickets
will receive a free T-shirt;
happy hour drink specials
until 7:30 p.m. and free
shirt giveaway to first 1,000
fans; opening night is April
9 (804) 359-3866, squirrelsbaseball.com
MARCH 10
MARCH 6
Complete Car Service for
American and Asian Cars
MARCH 13
MARCH 1
BYTES AND PIECES: Opening reception 5-9 p.m. for exhibit at Uptown Gallery, 1305 W. Main St.; featured artist Emma
Lou Martin, guest artist Kay Shuster, and
Uptown members, through April 25; (804)
353-8343
FIRST FRIDAY FAN FEST
TICKETPALOOZA: 5:30 p.m. to 8
p.m. at The Diamond; event to mark upcom-
WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM
TECHNOLOGY: THE GOOD,
THE BAD & THE UGLY: Practical techniques to ensure that your children
get the most out of media and technology
without crowding out other important developmental experiences, with pediatrician Liv
Schneider 6 p.m., Children’s Museum of
Richmond-Short Pump, 2200 Old Brick Road,
Glen Allen; Commonwealth Parenting forum
series event; $30 per class and includes dinner, class, parenting experts, and interactive
question and answer session; babysitting
available, but reservations required; (804)
545-1272, or www.commonwealthparenting.
org/rvaparentsforum/
TOUR OF THE JAMES: 7:30 p.m.
to 9 p.m., Henrico County Administrative
Boardroom; photographs and talk by Ryan
Abrahamsen and Andy Thornton, who last
year set out on a pontoon raft mounted with
six cameras on top of a telescoping 10-foot
pole, resulting in a 360-degree, surface-level
photo tour of the James River; Henrico.us/
rec
MARCH. 13-15
CHICAGO: Broadway in
Richmond production 8 p.m.
March 13, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
March 14, and 2 p.m. March 25;
Altria Theater 6 N. Laurel St.,
Richmond; $38-$73; tickets at
Altria or at CenterStage box office, 600 E.
Grace St., BroadwayInRichmond.com, or call
(800) 514-3849.
MARCH 14
A DATE WITH FRANK AND
MARILYN: 6 p.m., Cultural Arts Center at
Glen Allen; fundraiser for outreach programs
will include a silent and live auction, art hors
‘d oeuvres and drinks and Frank Sinatra and
Marilyn Monroe tribute artists; theme is Old
Hollywood; $75, 2880 Mountain Road; artsglenallen.com
RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u MARCH 2015 u 17
Let’s Go! March 2014
MARCH 15
THE MUSTANG: 50 YEARS OF
AN AMERICAN CLASSIC: 2 p.m.
to 3:30 p.m., Deep Run Park, 9900 Ridgefield
Parkway, Henrico; multimedia presentation
and chance to get up close and personal with
examples of the Ford Mustang automobile,
with Dave Dickey, Richmond Region AACA
member and Central VA MCA Club representative; [email protected]
OPEN HOUSE: 1-5 p.m., Cultural Arts
Center at Glen Allen celebration of its 16th
anniversary with free event featuring arts programming, family activities and games; 2880
Mountain Road; artsglenallen.com
FIFTEEN CENT ADMISSION:
Reduced admission of 15 cents on the 15th
of each month for all children at all locations
of the Children’s Museum of Richmond; cmor.org
MARCH 28
UKROPS MONUMENT AVENUE 10K: Road race, kids run at 8 a.m.,
10K begins at 8 a.m., 10K begins at 8:30
a.m.; The Wild Feathers will headline the
Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k SUBWAY
Post Race Festival in Monroe Park at 10:15
a.m. sportsbackers.org
THROUGH APRIL 17
YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN: Virginia Repertory Theatre production at Hanover Tavern, 13181
Hanover Courthouse Road, Hanover; $40,
$30 season subscriber, $20 rush tickets, $12
university and high school students through
U-Tix ; virginiarep.org
Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia
are for Book Lovers!
Virginia Festival of the Book
March 18-22, 2015
Five Days, Hundreds of Authors
Visit www.vabook.org for Festival details
Visit www.visitcharlottesville.org for tourism information
Virginia Festival of the Book is produced by Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.
Entries are subject to change;
call to confirm dates and times.
Entries for the April calendar
are due March 9; send items to
[email protected].
MARCH 18
COLONIAL DANCE CLUB: Group
dedicated to perpetuating English country
dances from the 1700s meets 8 p.m. to 10
p.m. Wednesdays, Emmanuel Episcopal
Church, 1214 Wilmer Ave., Richmond; (804)
266-7355.
SUBSCRIBE
TODAY!
MARCH 21
BREAKFAST WITH THE BUNNY AND EASTER BONNET PARADE: 9a.m., Food Court, Regency Mall;
Free Chick-Fil-A breakfast first 50 children
12 and younger;make a bonnet craft and
paragde; shopregencymall.com
ONLY
$2500
MARCH 22
per year
MUSIC FROM GRACE: 2 p.m.,
performance by violinist Kim Ryan and pianist Dave Robbins, a tribute to memory of
Chistopher Falzone, Grace Baptist Church,
4200 Dover Road,Richmond; $20 adults, $10
FOR YOUR
HOME DELIVERY
Send payment,
Name & Address to:
Richmond Parents
Subscription
MARCH 26
JAZZ CAFE: Free event 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, Best Cafe, Virginia Museum of Fine
Arts, 200 N. Boulevard; performances by
vocalist Gloria Glasgow, Calvin Brown on
keyboard, Michael Hawkins on bass, Keith
Willingham on drums, and Doug Bethel on
trombone; vmfa.museum/calendar
MARCH 27
JOSH TURNER AND RAQUEL COLE: 8 p.m., Altria Theater 6 N. Laurel
St., Richmond; $35-$593; tickets at Altria or at CenterStage box office, 600 E. Grace St.,
or ETIX.com
18 u RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u MARCH 2015
8010 Ridge Road, Suite F
Henrico, VA 23229
For more information
call 673-5203
WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM
WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM
RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u MARCH 2015 u 19