GIFT GUIDE & RESOURCES

The WaterRower delivers comprehensive cardio, muscle & calorie burning in the comfort of your homeCompiled by Tricia White | Managing EditorDid you know that rowing is one of the best exercises for developing aerobic fitness? Not only does working out with rowing machines allow people to develop their cardiovascular system, but they also place considerable demands on your muscular system as well!Unlike cardio machines such as treadmills, exercise bikes and stair climbing equipment, a rowing machine exercises your upper body as well as your lower body and recruits all major muscle groups. The rowing stroke when using an indoor rower is composed of 65-75% leg work and 25-35% upper body work.Other benefits of indoor rowing are getting a full body aerobic workout with one machine, and the ...

No action on a home surveillance camera means all’s well while you’re awayby Karen Brodsky | Staff WriterNow trending in your neighborhood: the installation of indoor and outdoor security cameras to keep your family safe and deter crime.With more dual income families, the need for a means to monitor children is paramount. Security cameras allow parents to check on their child’s wellbeing, and cameras can offer kids a sense of security knowing that they are not completely “alone”. Many parents install nanny cams to monitor their child’s caregiver, and cameras are also a great way to make sure minors are not getting into trouble when unsupervised (for example, a camera strategically placed near the liquor cabinet).It may seem a bit “big brother-esque”, but using cameras to keep watch on your...

Dangers In The Drink Aisle:The Truth Behind Energy Drinks & Dietary SupplementsBy Karyn Brodsky | Staff WriterHow many times have you kicked back an energy drink just to get through the afternoon at the office? How many times have your kids done the same thing before a big exam? And how many times per year have people visited the ER due to this very activity?The results are startling. Data collected by the McKinney, TX-based Taylor Hooton Foundation (THF), an organization dedicated to educating people about the dangers of Appearance and Performance Enhancing Drugs (APEDs), reveals that “over 20,000 emergency room visits per year are credited to high-energy drinks and shots” and several deaths result from their use each year. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, w...

The Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance is dedicated to preservingthe memory of the Holocaust, and to teaching the moral and ethical response to prejudice, hatredand indifference for the benefit of all humanity. Located in Dallas’ Historic West End, the Museumhosts more than 65,500 visitors annually, among them 31,000 school children. The Museum hasbeen recognized for its compelling and creative programming, internationally recognized exhibits,and world-class speakers. North Texas is home to about 125 survivors, refugees and hiddenchildren from the Holocaust.NOW ON EXHIBIT: THE WAR TIME ESCAPEThe War Time Escape of Margret and H. A. Rey’s Journey from France is currently on exhibit. Margretand H. A Rey are the husband-wife team that created the Curious George series ...

This content was taken from a PTA lecture presented by William McLaughlin, principal of Shepton High SchoolGetting the most effective use of the internet can be challenging, but with the right information and tools, students (and parents!) can benefit from this amazing technological “revolution.”Create a Social Network to form a Group Study Hall: Students should seek to collaborate with family friends or other students (possibly those that have taken a particular class) to seek help with their studies.Check out the internet sites available to help with homework:*Khan Academy – which is now funded by the Melinda & Bill Gates Foundation. It contains a broad set of topics such as: Test Prep, Science, etc. https://www.khanacademy.org/.*Wolfram Alpha – This site has the ability to solve any...

We’ve all heard the saying, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” Even though we know better, we sometimes let ourselves believe that other families are faring better in the child-rearing department. Peering through rose-colored windows into their homes, we think we see better adjusted, higher-achieving, problem-free, perfectly behaved children who are gliding happily through adolescence toward becoming model teens and successful young adults.We need to get over that notion. It’s just not true. The statistics tell us that one in five adolescents has a diagnosable mental health disorder, and about one in three show clear symptoms of depression. However, the majority are not getting any kind of treatment because the symptoms go unrecognized and undiagnosed.If you’re s...