Free Thursday Night Flu Prevention Seminar in Ann Arbor

After spending the past few days in bed with a nasty bug of one kind or another, I have begun to re-think this winter's strategy on fighting germs in my home. My kids are in school now, and are bringing germs home on a weekly basis, and the fear of seasonal flu as well as the H1N1 virus is lurking in the news everywhere - What's a family to do?

This Thursday, October 8 at 6:00 p.m., the Children's Orchard resale shop (Colonnade Shopping Center on West Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor) will be hosting a free parental educational seminar presented by a local University of Michigan pediatrician discussing the H1N1 Virus.

“We’re seeing growing concern among moms who shop at our store about the H1N1 Virus and its potential impact on their children and families,” said Taylor Bond, CEO of Children’s Orchard. “The goal of this event is to ease parents’ worries by educating them about the proper procedures in preventing and treating this virus.”

The presentation will be led by Pediatrician Dr. Jill Noble, a practicing physician for the University of Michigan Health System as well as Clinical Assistant Professor for the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases. She will answer parents’ questions about H1N1, including:

• How is the H1N1 virus different from the regular flu?
• How do I know if I have H1N1?
• What should I do if I think someone in my family has H1N1?
• If I do not have insurance, where can I get treatment?
• Should I have my children vaccinated?
• Should I get vaccinated?

Parents who are interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP by emailing Children’s Orchard at annarbor@childrensorchard.com, calling (734) 995-8889 or stopping by in-person.

Antique Truck Show in Ypsilanti

There will be trucks of every kind rolling into Riverside Park (5 E. Cross Street) tomorrow for the annual Antique Truck Show - It's a great addition to the area's already famous antique car shows & events. Unique antique and classic trucks will be displayed by the American Truck Historical Society.

Bring your family, kids of all ages enjoy looking at cool old trucks!

Free Resource for Parents With Preschoolers Learning to Read

I found a great resource the other day - a free and fun story-based learning tool available for preschoolers to help them with their language development. The Social Language Story “Maddie Gets Ready for Bed” was created especially for young children learning language, including those who have language problems.

It's a free, web-based story can be read on-line or printed and used as a readable coloring book. It is being offered through the University of Michigan’s University Center for the Development of Language and Literacy.

Make sure to check back with the site often, as new story's will be released in the series!

Events: Making Halloween Mobile

When we think of October, most of us think of cider and donuts, colorful fall leaves, hayrides and Halloween. I think of candy, kids, scary stories, activities and modes of transportation…

“Wait, what did you say," you ask, “Modes of transportation?”

“Why yes, thanks for asking!”

This Halloween enjoy family friendly events from train rides to a trick or treat journey down the Huron River - For Mummy's, Daddy's and on-the-go families these make for the perfect ghoulishly good time!

The City of Ann Arbor has come up with another fun family event. On Sunday, October 25 your family can experience the Huron River in a whole new way by trick-or-treating by canoe or kayak! Come to the Argo Canoe Livery between noon and 4 p.m. to enjoy the splendor of the Huron River in all its fall beauty while stopping along the way to collect candy and drink swamp muck given out by costumed characters on the banks of the river. The fee is $22 per boat with no pre-registration required. For details call 734.662.9319.

Not far from Ann Arbor are two trains offering family Halloween experiences - The Pumpkin Express in Blissfield and the Hobo Halloween Train in Walled Lake.

On October 24, hop on-board the rails of the Pumpkin Express with donuts, Halloween candy, apple cider and seasonal activities on board. What a unique and fun way for young families to celebrate the Halloween season, and is a perfect outing for grandparents and grandkids, too. This seasonal special train runs once yearly, so don’t miss the fun, call (888) 467-2451 for information or visit the Blissfield Railroad website.

Rail Entertainment USA offers 25th Annual Hobo Halloween Trains. Children of all ages should wear a favorite costume for great Halloween family fun with the “Wacky Witch Revue” on a one hour “Hobo Halloween Express Train”. See the “Dead Man’s Diner” and “Haunted Railcar” along with fall colors and the graceful elegance of Woodpecker Lake. Dine on traditional snacks along with season favorites including “Frankenstein Franks”, “Spider Cider”, “Caramel Apples” and “Deadly Donuts”. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is provided to guests holding confirmed reservations. Halloween Trains run various weekend days throughout October, for more information, call Rail Entertainment USA at (248) 960-9440 or visit the Rail Entertainment website.



Photo: Wachy Witch Revue courtesy of Theatre Arts Productions.

Several Fall Celebrations This Weekend

I ran across a couple of events for this weekend, to be specific they are all celebrations of autumn and the end-of-summer harvest season. They all appear to be fun family events and very inexpensive or free.

Webster Fall Festival and Pig Roast

On Saturday September 26, the Webster United Church, in conjunction with the Webster Township Historical Society will be having a fall festival that includes a luncheon, an auction, country store, antique cars, kids pony rides, hayrides, a horseshoe contest, crafts and so much more - All of this for FREE.

The event the swings into the evening with a pig roast from 5:00-7:00 pm with additional children’s activities, crafts and live music. Cost for the pig roast only: Adults $9, children $5.

The Webster United Church is located at 5484 Webster Church Road in Dexter. For more information visit the Webster Fall Festival event website or call 734-426-5115.

Harvest Time in Saline

Another fun Saturday event can be found at the Rentschler Farm in Saline (1265 Michigan Avenue, Saline). From 11:00 am – 4:00 pm families will be able to enjoy guided tours of the farmhouse and barns and many exhibit areas with turn of the century interpreters. There will also be a kid’s petting farm, a merry-go-round, and many more fun activities.

If you’d like to see how turn of the century Saline harvested their fall crops, be sure to stop by!

Cost is a $1 donation for adults, and is free for children. For more information check out the Saline Rentschler Farm webpage or call 734-944-0442.

Clinton Fall Festival

Enjoy a leisurely Sunday drive along US-12, 11 miles past Saline, and you’ll run into the annual Clinton Fall Festival. Stop by anytime from Friday through Sunday and you will find over 200 juried artists and crafters in Clinton, food, plenty of entertainment, Ann Arbor Hands On Museum activities, a softball tournament, lost arts a silent auction and a motorcycle show. There will be plenty to do for the entire family so be sure to check out the entire list of scheduled events! Most events are free too...

For more information visit the Clinton Fall Festival website or call 517-456-7396.

Clinton and Webster Fall Festival photos courtesy of the independant festival websites. Rentschler Farm photo by bgivens.