Mommy Market & Health Fair at LaCrest

Be sure to stop by LaCrest Health Center in Lansdale this weekend for fun times and great bargains! The normally adult-oriented branch of the North Penn YMCA is opening its doors and welcoming you and your family for a visit this weekend!

A Mommy Market will be held on Saturday, offering new and used children's items. Stop by and score some deals! Want to sell some things yourself? Contact Ryan Gillespie at 215.368.1526. All proceeds from table rentals will go to the YMCA Strong Kids fund (a GREAT program benefiting local families!).

FREE TRIAL family classes for ages 8 and up (with parent) will be offered, as well. Classes include: Family Spinning (10 - 10:45), Family Pilates (9:30 - 10:25), Family Zumba (9:30 - 10:25), Family Fitness Yoga (10:30 - 11:25), and Family Stretch-n-Renew (11:30 - 12:15) among others.

Representatives from the North Penn Visiting Nurses Association, Lifeline Family Chiropractic, the Women's Center of Montgomery County and health coach Sangeeta Chhugani will be offering free tips for healthy living, conducting free blood pressure screenings and "stress dots".

The Mommy Market, Health Fair and free trial classes will be happening Saturday from 9AM until 1PM.

Additional classes and free use of the facility will be available on Friday and Sunday, too. See the North Penn Under Ten calendar for more information on this weekend's Open House.

Hope to see you there!

New Info on Free Sesame Place Admission for Special Needs Kids

From Variety - The Children's Charity of Greater Philadelphia, new information regarding the free admission days for special needs children and their families:

"For those guests, who were not able to use their tickets for Variety’s Sesame Place Challenge on Saturday, April 23 due to the weather, Variety and Sesame Place are partnering again to allow these families to enjoy a day in the park and help Variety meet its fundraising goals. Families can use their tickets dated 4/23 on 5/1, 5/15, 5/22 or 5/29 by donating $5 to Variety when exchanging the tickets at Sesame Place."

Register Now...Right Now!! UPDATED

Hey, parents! We all know how hectic it can be to keep track of all of those sign-ups. So, here is a summary of the many events and programs that are now registering that you won't want to miss! All of these items are also listed on the Register Now page at NorthPennUnderTen.com with further detail. Most were added very recently, so take a quick skim over this page so that you don't miss out!

• North Wales Area Library is holding a group Intro to Piano class for children ages 3 to 5 this Friday at 3:00PM. A $10 donation is requested for the 30-minute lesson.
• McQuillin Studio is again offering professional portraits with live bunnies (how cute is that?!) with all proceeds going to the Last Chance Ranch. Photos are only $15. This Saturday, the 16th, is the only remaining date available. Call to book ASAP!
• Lansdale Borough is holding its annual Easter egg hunt this Saturday. The hunt is open to Borough residents ONLY and participants MUST register in advance.
• Harleysville Books is holding a Spot's Easter Party this Sunday and registration is required. (While you're registering for that, you may be interested in the Fancy Nancy Fashion Show happening on May 15th.)
• Registration is now open for full-members for the Spring II session at the North Penn YMCA. Classes run from April 15th through June 19th. New this session is a Baby & Me class on Tuesday mornings! Registration will be open to all (members or not) starting Monday, the 18th.
• Hatfield Township has several Spring and Summer classes and clinics now available from tennis to swim lessons, pony shares, and more.
• TYA Travel Baseball will be holding tryouts for the 8U - 12U divisions starting in the next couple of weeks.
• A few new summer camps were added to our list this week including Ambler YMCA's Camp Outlook for kids with special needs, a science camp and a beginning reading program run by Penn State.
• Harleysville Books is running a Parent-Child book club for 2nd to 5th graders. The club meets every six weeks and just had its most recent meeting on Sunday April 10th, so now is a great time to join in...and have time to do your reading before the next meeting!
• Towamencin Community Pool was added to our list of local pools and reader Cathy has informed us that the Early Bird Discount deadline has been extended to Friday April 15th.

Further details on each of these programs is available on the Register Now page. Happy Registering, everyone!

Perfect Play Place Has Hatfield Hopping w/ Happiness!

North Penn residents have good reason to jump for joy, hop with happiness and bounce with bliss!

It is with great pleasure that we announce that Jumpin' Jack's Inflatable Playland and Party Center is set to open in just a few short weeks!!

It is so refreshing to report on a NEW amusement center opening after we lost two others in the past year! (I'm speaking, of course, about Kidz Rule and Garden Golf & Go-Karts.)

I had the pleasure recently of speaking with co-owner, Darrah Rosado, and after hearing about the extensive research and good old fashioned Mom Logic she has employed in creating her plan for the center, there is every reason to believe that Jumpin' Jack's is going to be a HUGE hit!

While it is true that Jumpin' Jack's will be moving into the facility that previously housed Kidz Rule, you can expect to see so many exciting changes, your kids might not even realize they're in the same building!

Extensive remodeling has taken place to permanently open up both of the large playrooms into one even bigger room that will be open at all times. So, now your ticket gets you access to twice the inflatable fun! You can take a sneak peak at the renovations when you visit the Jumpin' Jack's Facebook Page. It really is impressive!

Three new large party suites have been created, as well. This additional space means that your party has its own dedicated room from start to finish. This will be great for grandparents and other guests to have a separate place to mingle, yet they will still be able to view the young party-goers through large windows to the play area. You will also have a private space for keeping your shoes, gifts, and other belongings out of the way, while still accessible. The two original suites will remain available for smaller parties.

Other customer-friendly features also abound:

• Every inflatable in the center is brand-new!
• In addition to a daily cleaning, all of the inflatables will receive a hospital-grade weekly sanitation (that is actually approved to last 10 days). Love it!
• Brand-new Flat-screen TVs throughout.
• A full concession stand with everything from coffee and tea to pizza and hot dogs, plus healthy options like fruit and yogurt.
• Beginning soon, you will be able to book your party on-line using the Jumpin' Jack's website!
• Jumpin' Jack's will offer a "bargain" option for smaller parties, as well as the ability to accommodate larger groups of a few dozen children!
• The center will be open seven days per week (10AM to 8PM Monday through Saturday and 10AM to 5PM on Sundays).

Be sure to check back here at NorthPennUnderTen.com for your personal invitation, as a member of the North Penn Under Ten community, to the exclusive PRE-GRAND-OPENING celebration where you can be among the first in town to experience the fun!!

What's so Great About the Internat'l Spring Festival

Saturday, April 16th, 2011 is a very popular day for events in the North Penn area... As I type, there are currently over TWENTY events listed on the North Penn Under Ten calendar for that single day!

So, why, with all of the egg hunts, worthwhile charitable events and other festivities happening that day, should you make it a point to visit the International Spring Festival? There are several reasons that come to mind...

* Over 130 exhibits from nearly 30 countries will be set up for you to experience. I don't know about anyone else (or their children), but I haven't been to 30 countries and neither have my kids. Expose your wee ones to the amazing sights, sounds, and tastes of our wonderful world...without the passports, long flights, and major expenses!

* Food vendors representing Italy, Mexico, India, Burma, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal, Korea, Ukraine, China, Hungary, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean will be present and, in past years, the feedback has been OUTSTANDING. What a fun and easy way to expand your and your kid's palates!

* Did I mention that, at the International Spring Festival, you can go around the world in 80 minutes...FOR FREE? That's right, admission to this entirely-volunteer-run 20th annual community festival...is FREE.

* Musical performances, dancing, and other demonstrations such as: Chinese folk dancers, a Ukrainian dance ensemble, Native American drummers, Zydeco-a-Go-Go, Irish dancers, a belly dancer and many, many more will be going on throughout the festival.

* 165 musical instruments from around the world will be available for you and the kids to hold and play with instruction. There will also be door prizes, drawings, a magic show, a Native American storyteller who will bring artifacts that the kids are allowed to handle, a balloon artist, costumes to try on and so much more!

* The planetarium will be open and offering a free showing of the brand-new production "The Summer Sky". (Did you know NPHS has a planetarium? It is SO cool!) The show features images of constellations that can be seen in the summer months.

* While your kids are having fun playing, you can check out the free interactive health fair offering health displays, free blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose screenings.

So, whatever else you may have planned for next Saturday, make sure you don't miss this dazzling display of world cultures and this awe-inspiring demonstration of the greatness that can be achieved when we all work together as the diverse and beautiful people that we are!

"Race to Nowhere" Documentary Coming to Ambler

The Area Nursery School Association is sponsoring a showing of "Race to Nowhere" at the Ambler Theater on Monday, April 11th at 5:30pm.

The documentary, which examines the "high-stakes, high-pressure culture that has invaded our schools and our children's lives" was created by Vicki Abeles, a mother of three after seeking treatment for her 12-year-old daughter for stress-related illness. Says Ms. Abeles, "I saw kids who were anxious, depressed, physically ill, checking out, abusing drugs, and, worst case, attempting suicide. I felt compelled to speak out about this crisis by making a film and giving voice to the students, teachers and parents."

The 7:30pm showing has already sold out. If you would like to order tickets for the 5:30pm, act quickly!

Yummy Treats, Smiling Kids & Charitable Donations!

This is my favorite kind of event! Family-friendly with yummy treats and all for the benefit of a deserving organization!

MGM Photography and Virago Baking Company are teaming up to offer a special event benefiting Camphill Village Kimberton Hills.*

Come to Virago Baking Company on Saturday the 16th between Noon and 4:00pm to have your child's portrait taken, make any cash donation to CVKH, and receive your child's portrait AND a $50.00 gift card to MGM Photography. While you're there, be sure to order a yummy treat!

*"What is CVKH", you ask? To borrow from their website, "Camphill Village Kimberton Hills is a vibrant farming and handcrafting community that includes adults with developmental disabilities. Kimberton Hills residents, living and working side by side, create a dynamic and caring community for people of all ages and varied abilities." The community is also a fine model of sound ecological living. If you have a moment, the history of the community and its founders is quite interesting!

Maxin' Out on Minnie at the Mall

Have a mini mouse-lover at home? Bring 'em to the Montgomery Mall this weekend where you can max out on Minnie all day!

The Disney Store is hosting four sessions of their Minnie's Masquerade party; two each on Friday and Saturday. Then, Montgomery Mall management, in conjunction with Radio Disney and Disney Junior, is holding an additional different, but similar celebration late Saturday afternoon.

All festivities will include craft-making and a screening of the first episode of the Minnie's Masquerade show before it airs on Disney Junior. The Disney Store will hold a parade for participants to model their crafts. Radio Disney promises games (and they are usually pretty well-stocked with fun swag, too!).

Full details on all of the celebrations are available on the North Penn Under Ten calendar.

See ya real soon! ;-)

REMINDER: Kindergarten Readiness Workshop Thursday

Just a reminder that NPSD is hosting a free workshop for parents whose children will be entering kindergarten or first grade this fall. The details are posted on the North Penn Under Ten calendar and are also summarized below:

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

There is a lot you can do to prepare your child for kindergarten and for entering a new school as a first grade student. From preparing for the first day of school, to readying your child and yourself for "separation pangs," to learning what to expect for the first day of class, this workshop will provide you with lots of information and will include ideas to help your child get ready for school. Learn about activities you can start now that will support your child entering this exciting phase of education. This workshop is appropriate for families with first grade students entering North Penn for the first time.

Free, but must register
Educational Services Center - Conference Room A
401 E. Hancock Street, Lansdale
Presenter: NPSD Preschool Committee
7:00 to 8:30pm at Educational Services Center - Conference Room A, 401 E. Hancock Street, Lansdale

For more information on FACE workshops, please contact Linda Abram, NPSD Family & Community Engagement Specialist, at 215-853-1091 or abramla@npenn.org. Class size is limited; registration is required.

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for...Donations!

Stop by Dairy Queen at the corner of Valley Forge Road and Sumneytown Pike (in the Weis shopping center) tonight and 15% of your purchase will go to Inglewood Elementary. (You know, the school that won't be getting its renovations done this year thanks to recent budget cuts.) :-(

Let's brighten their (& our!) spirits with some ice cream!! Hours for the fundraiser are from 6:00 to 9:00PM. Various teachers will be doing the scooping, including Principal Taylor from 8:30 to 9:00PM!

Aspiring Reporter? Wings Fan? Act Quickly!

From The Reporter...

The Reporter is looking for a youngster -- today -- who would like to "cover" the Wings game this Sunday.

You and a parent will receive free tickets for the 2:30 p.m. Sunday game. You will meet at the Broad Street Guest Services Desk at 1:30 p.m. and will be escorted to meet with a few players.

You'll enjoy the game, and then write a story about your experience that we will publish online along with your photo.

Obviously parents should be the ones contacting us today.

The clock is ticking: E-mail citydesk@thereporteronline.com as soon as you can with the child's name, age, address and contact information. We will choose one lucky "cub reporter" today and that child and a parent will enjoy Sunday's Wings game!