Crafts and Other Fun to Occupy the Snowbound

So, your yard is full of snowmen, snow angels, multi-colored snow patches and you've made your snow ice cream....now what?

Get ready for Valentine's Day! Family Fun magazine has a ton of cute ideas for crafts, games and gifts for Valentine's Day. If your kids start working on the gifts now, they'll be ready in time for Valentine's Day! Unlike how I often do things..."Oh its Valentine's Day today! Let's make something today!" Then we'll finish it a week later and by the time we ship it to Grandma and Grandpa, Valentine's Day is only a memory! But, I digress...

Talented author / illustrator Jan Brett has some cute ideas on her website, as well. The Valentine Mailbox featuring beloved character, Hedgie, is a good one. There is also a super simple on-line card creator to print out your own creation. This one is great for the very young because it is quick, easy and it's so fun to watch their eyes light up when their card comes out of the printer.

By the way, if you are looking to get out of the house, the North Penn YMCA is open with some cancellations of morning classes. Also, the Lansdale Public Library will be open at 1pm today!

Are you a local business owner who would like to let the community know that you are open? Email North Penn Under Ten and we will help spread the word.

North Penn Schools Closing Early Today

Just announced...

North Penn School District schools will dismiss two hours early today, January 26, 2011 as follows:

• North Penn High School - 12:22 p.m.
• Northbridge School - 12:10 p.m.
• All Middle Schools 12:55 p.m.
• Bridle Path/Walton Farm Elementary Schools - 1:00 p.m.
• All other Elementary Schools - 1:35 p.m.
• (All A.M. Kindergarten students will be dismissed at their regular dismissal time and will ride their regular bus home.)
• PM Kindergarten is cancelled.
• Extended School Care will dismiss two hours after dismissal.
• All after school and evening activities have been cancelled. All NP buildings will be closed.

Time to Pick Your Favorite Bundled Up Beauty!

The entries are in and now its time to vote for your favorite Bundled Up Beauty in The Reporter's photo contest. Which one of our little local snow bunnies will win the family four-pack of tickets to Spring Mountain? Voting ends this Sunday, the 30th, at 5:00PM EST.

Good luck to all of the entrants! You're all adorable in our book!!

Latest Snow Closings Info for North Penn

Well, as of the moment, Montgomery County Community College is closed for the day and Norristown School District is on early dismissal... Can North Penn schools be far behind in the closings?...

You can get the latest closings info from KYW right here. Or, here are specific links for many of our local schools:

North Penn School District
Corpus Christi school
St. Stanislaus
Christopher Dock
Lansdale Catholic
Penn View

At all branches of the North Penn YMCA, all programs and classes are running normally. In the event that the North Penn School District closes early, that could change.

Stay safe, everyone!

Family Night Tonight at Chick-fil-A!

Not in the mood to cook and looking for something fun (and warm!) to do? Head over to Family Night at Chick-fil-A at Montgomery Mall.

Fun, games, an appearance by the Chick-fil-A cow and a free sundae with the toppings of your choice (with the purchase of a kids meal) await you! I just spoke with the cheerful store manager on the phone to confirm and they are looking forward to hosting you and your family!

The fun starts at 5:00pm tonight and runs until 8:00pm.

Last Day to Enter "Bundled Up Beauties" Contest

This is it! You have until 5:00pm today to enter The Reporter's Bundled Up Beauties contest for a chance to win a four tickets to Spring Mountain Ski Area!

Hurry and upload those photos for a chance to win. As of this moment (9:40am), you have a 1 in 28 chance of winning!

Library Fundraiser Dinner Tonight!

No dinner plans for tonight yet? Well, here's a wonderful excuse to head on over for a fresh, juicy burger at Cheeburger Cheeburger in Chalfont. Not that you would need one...YUM!

Tonight, when you dine-in or take-out, super-kid-friendly Cheeburger Cheeburger will donate 15% of your check to the North Wales Area Library!

The restaurant does require that a flyer be presented in order for the donation to be made, so if you do not have one already, you will need to stop by the library on your way to pick one up. (Since they are only about five miles apart and directions are right here, hopefully this won't be a big deterrent for anyone.) Or, if you are able to print out this post, the flyer is pasted below!

The library could use our help and, wow, do they have incredibly delicious food at Cheeburger Cheeburger!

Cheeburger Cheeburger is located at 4275 County Line Road in Chalfont. The North Wales Area Library is located at 233 S. Swartley Street, North Wales.

Great Events to Choo-Choo-Choose From This Weekend!

There are two on-going train displays wrapping up this weekend, both are just a short drive away. Don't miss your last chance to see the Logan Model Railroad Club Open House in Souderton and the Schuylkill Valley Model Railroad Club's Open House in Phoenixville. If you have little boys in your house, these are can't-miss events!

Photo courtesy of Cakes By Jacqui.

The Logan Southern Railroad, located in Souderton, is a fictional railroad (HO scale) that runs from the town of Logan, in the northwest corner of Pennsylvania, south and east across the Allegheny Mountains to Harrisburg. The club is open to the public for 5 weekends a year, generally in November, December, and January.

The Schuylkill Valley Model Railroad Club has held their annual open house since 1975. Freight and passenger car trains rumble over 700 feet of track, over high trestle bridges, through towns, around mountains and through tunnels along the right of way from Reading to Philadelphia.  Hundreds of buildings, vehicles, people and trees create realistic scenes on the 1,000+ sq ft model. Numerous buttons allow visitors to bring scenes to life! See Thomas the Tank Engine and try your observation skills on our new Scavenger Hunt. While you're there, you can enter to win a train set of your own!

Admission to both open houses is free! Donations are gratefully accepted and funds collected enable members to improve wiring, scenery, trains, and supplies.

Schuylkill Valley Railroad will be open 1:00-5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Logan Southern will be open from 12:00 to 4:00pm each day.

And if this weekend's shows aren't enough for your aspiring engineer, the Lansdale Public Library will be hosting the North Penn S-Gaugers next weekend!

The Lansdale Public Library is Open - Infant Story Time Today!

Got cabin fever?

The Lansdale Public Library is open! Check out the first Infant Story Time today at 10:30am!

Snow Closings for Friday, January 21

Well, apparently Mother Nature thinks we need to spend more time with our children...it's another Snow Day today!

North Penn schools, Corpus Christi school, St. Stanislaus, Christopher Dock, Lansdale Catholic, and Penn View are all on a two-hour delay today. Verify further details by clicking through on your school of interest. Some kindergarten and pre-k programs are cancelled altogether so read carefully.

Additional schools and businesses are listed here. At the North Penn YMCA, all programs and classes will run as scheduled, except their morning preschool programs at the Harleysville and Lansdale branches will be canceled.

Now, grab that cup of coffee and get ready for another Snow Day, moms and dads!

Snow is Coming...Grab Your Camera!

Just a reminder...You have until Tuesday to enter The Reporter's Bundled Up Beauties contest for a chance to win...drum roll please...four tickets to Spring Mountain Ski Area!

Luckily, it looks like Mother Nature will be bringing us more snow tonight, which will provide some great photo opportunities! So, snap a cute photo of your little beauty this weekend and enter by Tuesday.

No, It's Not Your Imagination...

Some changes were made to the appearance of NorthPennUnderTen.com today. Maybe I am anxious for Spring to come. Hope you like it!

P.S. Did you know that you can subscribe to North Penn Under Ten? Enter your email address on the home page and you will receive a daily digest of any new blog posts. And, yes, it's free! :-)

This Thursday's Story Time at Harleysville Books Cancelled

Just a quick FYI, story time at Harleysville Books will be cancelled this week due to a scheduling conflict.

Story time will resume as usual next week.

P.S. Did you know you can shop at Harleysville Books online? See the link in the right margin of NorthPennUnderTen.com!

North Wales Library Story Time Cancelled Due to Weather

The North Wales Area Library has just announced that this morning's story time, scheduled for 10:00am, has been cancelled due to the weather. The library will open, weather permitting, at 1:00pm today.

Warm Options for a Chilly Tuesday

Well, it looks like Tuesday is going to be a messy, slippery day. Perhaps it is a good thing that schools in the North Penn School District will be closed for the day (except for Teacher In-Service).

If you do decide to venture out, Kidz Rule will be open and will be offering some playtime specials of $5 per child from 12 to 2pm and 5 to 7pm.

Also, the North Wales Area Library will be holding a Children's Story Hour at 10am Tuesday morning.

Most other area businesses will be open, too, it appears. But, for the latest info on closings, check out The Reporter's continually-updated list of cancellations.

Enjoy these last 60 days until Spring! (Yipes, is it really that many?!)

Lansdale Public Library is Open Today in the Snow!

Need something else to do today? The Lansdale Public Library is open!

For more announcements like this and to learn when new articles are posted to this site, "Like" North Penn Under Ten on Facebook.

Enter Your Snow Bunnies in The Reporter's Photo Contest!

The Reporter is holding a photo contest!

Bundle up your kids and babies, bring them outside, take some pics and submit them here. Why? You could win four (4) free lift tickets to Spring Mountain Ski Area in The Reporter's "Bundled Up Beauties" contest, that's why! Woo hoo!

Enter now through January 25th. Voting will take place on-line beginning the 26th.

Now, go get snappin'!

"So, How Long Can They Play Outside?"

Your kids are home from school today because of the snow and they can't wait to get out there and go wild in the white stuff. Your toddler looks longingly at the big kids outside, but, you wonder, "How long can a young child really play outside in the cold safely?" This is a question I had myself, until the wonderful folks at Parenting magazine recently drew my attention to the awesome, color-coded Child Care Weather Watch website.

To add further detail to the chart, Parenting adds, "Kids can usually play outside comfortably when it's 30°F and higher - just layer their clothing and make sure they wear hats and mittens. Offer water often (it helps regulate body temperature), and watch for signs that they're getting chilled. If they're shivering, bring them inside even if they insist they're fine. Feel babies' hands and (if possible) feet regularly to see if they're turning icy; also watch for unexplained fussiness. It's a good idea to come inside for a quick break every 40 minutes or so, just to warm up a bit." If temperatures drop into the "Yellow Zone" (see chart), breaks every 20 to 30 minutes are necessary. Finally, "It's especially crucial to layer older kids' clothes, since they may ditch their coats if they get sweaty and so need to be wearing more than a thin shirt underneath."

But, if you're ready for some indoor fun instead, just head to the Y!

Happy Snow Day, North Penn! :-)

Play in the Snow, Then Play in the Pool!

Well, no word yet (at publishing time) as to whether the North Penn School District will be closed or on a delay for today, Wednesday the 12th. But, just in case it does close, here is a fun thing to do when you get tired of playing in the snow.

Hit the pool! One of the indoor pools at the YMCA, that is. Whether you're already a member or you'd like to try out a free two-week membership, the North Penn YMCA will be open at 7:00am today (They are troopers, aren't they?) and has plenty of indoor fun just waiting for you! Non-members, simply print out the free coupon and bring it with you.

If you decide that you want to join, there is a great promotion going on now through January 31st.

Please note that morning classes at the Y have been cancelled for today, as has babysitting. To inquire about any other specific facilities or classes, contact the Lansdale branch at 215.368.1601.

Lansdale First Friday at the Y Rocked Last Night!

Wondering whether you missed a good time last night at Lansdale's First Friday at the YMCA? Well, sorry to rub it in, but YES! While I can only speak for my own family, I have to say, "It was awesome!"

Sure, there is something wonderful about strolling along, catching the live music acts and running into friends at First Friday outside, but, we do live in Pennsylvania and this is January, right? Okay, just making sure. In this mom's opinion, the North Penn YMCA did a fantastic job of achieving the impossible: replicating some of the best parts of First Friday - indoors!

Happy crafters working on their fish.

For starters, there was a great array of "shops" to pop into. A children's cooking class was offered in one room where children could create fun edibles such as fruit kabobs. In a nearby room, kids created fish using colored paper and decorated them. (This was a great way for us to wind down before going home and Mommy was able to sit and enjoy the quiet!)

Music was in the air - everywhere! This was possibly the best replication of a First Friday favorite. Favorite acts from Fridays past filled the halls with their songs. If you've never been inside of the Lansdale YMCA, then you might not know how many twists and turns those hallways take as you venture from one wing to the next. Seemingly at every turn there was another musical act showing off their stuff, but the acoustics, miraculously, were great! There was no overlapping of their sounds, but a smooth transition from each act to the next as you journeyed through the indoor village.

Grinnin' and groovin' while waiting for the moon bounce.

By far, the favorite part for my own kids was, another First Friday standard: the moon bounce. And, since the kids slept in until 8:00am this morning, Mommy and Daddy liked it, too! Also in the same room, Kurt of Kurt's Magic World had the kids entranced with his tricks (and many of us parents, too!).

But, to say that First Friday at the Y was a fair replication of the outdoor First Fridays, would be selling it much too short. There were so many things offered at the Y that an outdoor First Friday could never provide. The pools were open and, from what I heard, not even crowded. What a fun Winter Blues buster - and for free! There were a number of unique fitness classes offered including a scuba class, a Kid's Circuit Training in the top-notch Wellness Center, family yoga, family Zumba, and much more.

There was also a certain increased feeling of security for me as a parent, as well, because we were indoors as opposed to being out on a fairly busy street like we would be at an outdoor First Friday. Anyone with a toddler knows how stressful it can be to worry about cars whizzing past while your little one toddles about. Perhaps if the Lansdale Borough were to close off a section of Main Street during the celebration...

My kids had so much fun that we almost missed The Main Stage where Irish dancers, Hawaiian dancers, and steel drums wowed the crowd. By the time we made it to that wing, the kid's dance party was in full swing with DJ Ryan on the mike. What a riot to see the under ten set hamming it up on stage.

So, what do you do now that you missed out on last night's fun? Get there for the February and March First Fridays, of course! Come April, its back to Main Street.

Lansdale Area Snow Closings Today

Though it appears that all of our local schools will be open today, The Reporter has a nifty link for area school and business snow closings that is updated regularly. Here also is CBS / KYW School Closings page for greater Philadelphia area closings.

Happy, snowy Friday everyone!

Its Clean-Up Time, Boys and Girls!

Sing it with me! ""Clean up! Clean up! Everybody, everywhere! Clean up! clean up! Everybody do your share!"

There. Now that the tone is set, let's talk trash recycling...

So the holidays came and went and, if your home is anything like mine, the holidays left a real mess behind! Want to know how to get rid of your Christmas tree, gift boxes, outdated electronics, unwanted playthings, wrapping paper, holiday cards and more in an Earth and community-friendly way? Well, here you go!

• The Students Against Violating the Earth (SAVE) organization from Souderton Area High School will hold their annual Community Christmas Tree and Cardboard Recycling Program from 9am to 3pm at Franconia Township Park on Allentown Road this Saturday and Sunday. Drop off trees, cardboard and gift boxes for recycling.
  
  
• Recycling Drive to Benefit Inglewood Elementary School this Saturday at 1313 Allentown Road, Lansdale. Get rid of post-holiday clutter while helping a local school raise money!
  
  Items that can be recycled include:  wrapping paper, magazines, newspapers, catalogs, folders, TV Guides, envelopes, calendars, paperback books, construction paper, junk mail, weekly circulars, spiral notebooks, cell phones, laptop computers, digital cameras, video cameras, MP3 players, GPS devices, radar detectors, e-book readers, inkjet cartridges, gold/silver/platinum jewelry.
  
  Please no phone books, costume jewelry, cardboard, toner cartridges, cell phone chargers, tissue paper, cereal boxes, hard cover books.
  
  
• Send your old holiday cards to The St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. The kids there will cut the fronts off of the old cards and affix new backs, creating new cards! The cards can be purchased on their website.  “For more than 40 years, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children has provided a safe, nurturing home and therapeutic residential treatment services to more than 1,000 children in Nevada and Texas. St. Jude’s Ranch is making a difference by creating new lives with new skills for abused, abandoned and neglected children of all races and faiths.”
  Remember them on birthdays and other occasions this year, as well, because St. Jude’s Ranch is now accepting used, all-occasion cards year round!
  
  You can mail your donations to:
  St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
  Recycled Card Program
  100 St. Jude’s Street – Boulder City, NV 89005
  877-977-SJRC (7572)
  Thank you to MamaCheaps.com for this info!
  
  
• Recycle Nearly Anything with Freecycle! I've mentioned Freecycle.org previously and what a great group of people are a part of our local, Lansdale area Freecycle group. But, this seems like a perfect time to mention it in further detail. Whether you need to purge some items from your home, or you're looking for something special that you can't seem to find anywhere (I once posted a "Wanted" ad for a Happy Meal Toy to complete our set of Alvin and The Chipmunks. Theodore was missing. Lucky for my then 3-year-old, we found him!  We only had to stop by the giver's mailbox in Harleysville to pick him up!), Freecycle is a wonderful, environmentally-friendly, community-building virtual neighborhood of goodness! Or, to see how they would explain it themselves, just visit the Lansdale Area Freecycle message board on Yahoo! where all of the offers and requests are posted. You just never know what odd item will make someone's day. Be it a chipmunk toy, children's clothing, a bicycle, or soon-to-expire movie tickets (I posted those once!), its well worth checking out! You'll need a Yahoo! account (free!) to login.
  
  
• Finally, just a short reminder list of some wonderful, wonderful places in town that are always looking for donations:
• Manna on Main Street - did you over-buy on food for the holidays? Non-perishable AND perishable food accepted.
• Impact Thrift - free pick-up of large or heavy items!
  
  Know of others? Please share! Email North Penn Under Ten or post a comment below.

Free Dental Exams for Local Children Under Two

Too many holiday sweets have you nervous about your little one's chompers? Economy have you second-guessing whether you should delay getting a dental check-up for your little one? Well, worry no more! The wonderful folks over at North Penn Pediatric Dental Associates are offering a special complimentary examination to North Penn area children under age two.

In an effort to help reduce the growing number of very young children with cavities, these fine dentists will be welcoming our area's youngest patients for a complimentary initial comprehensive exam, providing parents with some educational information, taking x-rays if needed (Wow!), and...awarding their ever-popular goodie bags to the little ones!

To schedule your examination, you can call 215.855.4092 or you may contact Dr. Michael Wong, DDS via email with questions. Additional information about North Penn Dental Associates can be found on their website.

Why You Should Be Excited for a Winter Edition of Lansdale's First Friday

I know, I know. Its cold. But, that's no reason to hole up indoors for the next 75 days, waiting for Spring to come.

North Penn knows how to party. No amount of snow, cold, wind or clouds is going to keep us from having an awesome First Friday this month! Thanks to the North Penn YMCA, this month's First Friday will be taking place indoors!

But, will it be as fun as it usually is, you ask? You betcha! In fact, it might be even more fun! Check this out...

The festivities will begin at 6:00pm and the entire YMCA facility is FREE for anyone who attends. That means that the entire facility is open to the public which includes, two swimming pools, a large gym area, climbing wall, weights, treadmills, spinning bikes, and much, much more. In connection with the Hawaiian Luau theme, there will be limbo contests, Conga lines, hide-the-coconut games, and a Hawaiian shirt contest!

The YMCA will also be promoting some of their key programs and classes such as zumba, family yoga, and spinning for all ages. Of course, there will also be all of the things that you have grown to love about First Friday’s Lansdale like live music, face painting, clowns, kids' activities, food, and a children’s magic show.

Not sold yet? Get a load of this...KYW Newsradio 1060 will be present at the event, giving kids a chance to be a KYW Newsradio Anchor! Kids will record and file a report live, on-site at the event, then KYW's engineers will edit the report, add the KYW jingle, upload the video to the KYW web-site, and kids will be able to download the video and share it with friends and family! How cool is that?!

So, dig those Hawaiian shirts out of the back of your closets and head on down to the Y this Friday night! Let's party like its the Spring of 1999!

North Penn School District Begins Kindergarten Registration for 2011-2012

If you have a child who will be entering kindergarten in the North Penn School District this coming September (by the way, that would be the Class of 2024 in case you're wondering), be aware that Kindergarten Registration will begin taking place this month. Here are the details, straight from the source:

The North Penn School District is excited to announce the dates for Centralized Kindergarten Registration for the 2011-2012 school year. NPSD personnel are currently working to prepare for the nearly 1,000 parents/guardians expected to register their child for the upcoming school year. Registration will be held at the Educational Services Center, located at 401 E. Hancock Street in Lansdale. Mark your calendars for the following dates and times:

January 25, 26 and 28 and February 10, 11, 14 and 15

o    8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

 January 24 and 27 and February 9

o    1 to 4 p.m.

January 24, 25, 26 and 27 and February 9, 10 and 15

o    5 to 8 p.m.

Families interested in registering their students in Kindergarten should check the NPSD website, www.npenn.org, after January 1, 2011 to schedule an appointment for registration. Information will be available on the home page under Headlines and Features with a link to schedule appointments online. If individuals have trouble making the appointment online, they may also call the district office at 215-853-1030 in January to make an appointment. Voicemail is set up to take messages, which will be returned in one to two business days.