Winter FUNderland
Woodhaven Hospice Festival of TreesNov 18-20, 5-8pm Fri, 9am-1pm Sat, 12-2:30pm Sun. Decorated trees, designer wreaths and swags, centerpieces, food and baked goods, music, entertainment, kids craft corner, more. $4 adults, $2 students, $1 ages 6 and under. jacksonvilleil.org. Masonic Temple, 345 West College, Jacksonville, 243-5678. Annual Cookie Walk and Craft SaleNov 19, 8am-3pm. Homemade…
A season for family fun
Now that Halloween has come and gone, and with it the busy season of apple-picking, visits to pumpkin patches and trick-or-treat events, what is there for a Springfield family to do for fun on the weekends? Lots, as it turns out. From museums to zoos to holiday happenings, there are plenty of places to discover…
Inclusion is everything
Reilly Renken, 14, donned a black and red cheerleader uniform and cheered for the Glenwood Middle School 2016 football team this fall, and her parents couldn’t be prouder. “To others, it’s a middle school cheerleading squad – no big deal,” Reilly’s mother, Leigh Renken, says. “For us, it sums up everything we hoped for her.”…
On the cover
Brionna, a student at the Hope Institute for Children and Families, starts her school day with dedicated staff members helping her to identify the date and weather. Students at Hope have high student/teacher ratios to teach children skills to increase safety and knowledge to ensure a more independent future. Brionna’s mother, Diane, is happy to…
Sack lunch inspiration
At the start of a new school year, kids tend to be more excited about getting new pens, pencils and backpacks than anything else, but more often than not they are ready to put their thinking caps on. One of the most important things children can do to ensure that they are focused, engaged…
Parents prioritizing exercise
Don’t let exercise be the first thing you eliminate when you are feeling the crunch because it might be what you need to maintain your balance and sanity. – Carson Tate When we parents travel on planes, we are reminded to put our oxygen masks on first. As a health and fitness coach, I trot…
