Spending the break at home doesn't mean there isn't a lot to see and do in London and area for kids and families.
THE LONDON FREE PRESS, page B1
Sat. March 8, 2008
By MEGHAN MOLONEY, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA
Raise your hand if you've slipped on an icy driveway in the last week.
Keep it raised if your boots have soaked through after stepping in a pile of slush or you've been stuck waiting for a bus that never came.
Now, how many of you are heading south during March break to escape the winter blues?
Congratulations. Your colleagues, classmates and relatives probably hate you right now.
But for anyone sticking around to spend March break at home, don't despair -- there are lots of great ways to relax, get some exercise and learn something new with your family right here in the London area.
Finding ways to keep your kids happy and active doesn't have to break the bank, either. You can skip the pricey day camps and go for inexpensive activities.
An added bonus is that many events don't require you to register ahead of time, so you can be spontaneous with your plans.
One of the major attractions next week is sure to be the Children's Museum. With daily activities such as arts and crafts, scavenger hunts and karaoke, as well as special weekend guests, kids can do something different each day of the week.
"We have some favourites who've come back for another year of fun," said Dawn Miskelly, manager of visitor services and sales.
"Some of them are activities that are here a lot, but with more oomph over March break."
If you'd rather risk the snow and slush to get some fresh air, the London area offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing, as well as public skating in the city.
Been there, done that? There's always the time-honoured March break tradition of the sugar bush. Among the several maple sugar bushes running tours and activities in the area is the Kinsmen Fanshawe Sugar Bush.
Bill Reath, who's worked there for 15 years, recommends wearing warm clothes and a pair of boots you don't mind getting muddy.
"The old fellow who was there when I started there said, 'You can't make syrup until there's mud on the ground.' "
So instead of hiding at home next week, grab a thermos of hot chocolate and some warm, fuzzy socks and hit the town.
MARCH BREAK SURVIVAL GUIDE:
See the Free Press City & Region page for all the activity listings I compiled.
Showing posts with label London Free Press. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London Free Press. Show all posts
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Snowfest this year draws 20 sculptors to market
THE LONDON FREE PRESS
Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008
By Meghan Moloney, Special to Sun Media
The courtyard at Covent Garden Market will be transformed into a glittering wonderland this weekend for Snowfest 2008.
"I'm looking forward to it," said Ted Hayes, the event organizer and a sculptor with Frozen Impact in St. Thomas.
"It started dwindling last year with only four or five teams, but this year there will be over 20 sculptures," said Hayes, 51, who has co-ordinated Snowfest for 12 years.
This year's theme is "a magical crystal garden."
The admission-free event kicks off tomorrow as Hayes and his brother, Tyler, 41, begin creating the garden on a platform in front of the market.
The first competition will be Saturday, with 11 professional artists registered to make carvings based on the theme.
Sunday, carvers can create any piece they want for that day's contest.
Peter Lam, a London artist who has won first prize in the People's Choice competition several times, said he's excited about the event.
"This year I'm going to be carving a couple of rats," said Lam, who annually creates an animal corresponding to the current Chinese year.
"I'm looking forward to it."
The competitions are judged by the public.
While unpredictable weather has been an issue in the past, Environment Canada is predicting snow and a high of 1 Saturday and -5 Sunday.
And, Hayes said, the event no longer uses snow, partly because of weather worries but also because of the cost of transporting the snow.
This year, artists will each get two 136-kilogram blocks of ice with which to work.
Hayes said it's important to offer Londoners free events in the winter.
"This is the only thing -- you have to pay to go to everything else," he said. "You can bring your skates and have some lunch. There are going to be some beautiful things here."
IF YOU GO
- What: Snowfest 2008, an international ice carving competition.
- When: Friday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: Covent Garden Market.
- Admission: Free.
Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008
By Meghan Moloney, Special to Sun Media
The courtyard at Covent Garden Market will be transformed into a glittering wonderland this weekend for Snowfest 2008.
"I'm looking forward to it," said Ted Hayes, the event organizer and a sculptor with Frozen Impact in St. Thomas.
"It started dwindling last year with only four or five teams, but this year there will be over 20 sculptures," said Hayes, 51, who has co-ordinated Snowfest for 12 years.
This year's theme is "a magical crystal garden."
The admission-free event kicks off tomorrow as Hayes and his brother, Tyler, 41, begin creating the garden on a platform in front of the market.
The first competition will be Saturday, with 11 professional artists registered to make carvings based on the theme.
Sunday, carvers can create any piece they want for that day's contest.
Peter Lam, a London artist who has won first prize in the People's Choice competition several times, said he's excited about the event.
"This year I'm going to be carving a couple of rats," said Lam, who annually creates an animal corresponding to the current Chinese year.
"I'm looking forward to it."
The competitions are judged by the public.
While unpredictable weather has been an issue in the past, Environment Canada is predicting snow and a high of 1 Saturday and -5 Sunday.
And, Hayes said, the event no longer uses snow, partly because of weather worries but also because of the cost of transporting the snow.
This year, artists will each get two 136-kilogram blocks of ice with which to work.
Hayes said it's important to offer Londoners free events in the winter.
"This is the only thing -- you have to pay to go to everything else," he said. "You can bring your skates and have some lunch. There are going to be some beautiful things here."
IF YOU GO
- What: Snowfest 2008, an international ice carving competition.
- When: Friday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: Covent Garden Market.
- Admission: Free.
Report Reveals Daily Violence
My very first front-page byline!
*****
THE LONDON FREE PRESS
Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008
A study of sexual harassment, aggression and bullying at schools shows 'cause for concern.'
By MEGHAN MOLONEY, SPECIAL TO THE FREE PRESS
Sexual harassment, verbal aggression and bullying occur daily in Ontario high schools, but get less attention than more "dramatic" issues such as weapons, says the author of a report that surveyed more than 1,800 Southwestern Ontario students.
David Wolfe, principal investigator for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, released the report yesterday. It examines violence, sexual harassment and bullying at 23 schools.
"The cause for concern is that this is everyday violence and it doesn't get the same attention as more dramatic violence like kids carrying guns," Wolfe said. "But we do have to worry about it. We don't want kids to think it's OK to bully and harass others."
Wolfe, an honorary psychology professor at UWO, headed the research, conducted between 2003 and 2007. The study surveyed 1,819 students in Grades 9 and 11 in rural and city schools. Wolfe declined to say precisely where the surveys were conducted.
The study found:
- 29 per cent of Grade 9 girls and 33 per cent of Grade 9 boys reported feeling unsafe at school;
- 16 per cent of girls and 32 per cent of boys reported being physically harmed;
- 10 per cent of girls and 25 per cent of boys admitted they had harmed others;
- 12 per cent of boys and 14 per cent of girls reported being harassed online.
"Part of the reason we wanted to present this was because the only data that's been out there lately is from Toronto schools, which paints a pretty bad picture, and we wanted to indicate the picture can be similarly bad in other parts of the province," Wolfe said.
The important aspect of the research is change over time, Wolfe said. Results indicated Grade 9 students who experience violence are more than twice as likely to be harassed in Grade 11.
"We're looking at the pattern across time and that's a bit alarming," Wolfe said. "When you can predict by a factor of two or three times that someone will have a problem, that's significant."
The research showed students as young as Grade 9 are reporting suicidal thoughts.
"They're not happy and this is not innocuous," Wolfe said.
Grade 9 is a tough year for students, many of them being harassed by older students, he said. Some boys deal with the problem by harassing others.
Girls are more likely to spread rumours and use verbal insults as aggression, but Wolfe said name-calling can have similar consequences to physical violence.
"It's not just about a fear of safety, but a fear of emotional humiliation."
Researchers asked about students sexually pressuring or being sexually pressured by other students:
- Four per cent of Grade 11 males admitted they've tried to force someone to have sex with them;
- 10 per cent of males and 27 per cent of females were pressured into sexual acts they did not want to do;
- 15 per cent of girls said they had oral sex to avoid having intercourse;
- Girls were more likely to experience unwanted sexual comments, looks and touching, whereas boys were more likely to experience homo-phobic insults.
The study comes as Mike and Brenda Neuts mark the 10th anniversary of their son's being found hanging unconscious on a washroom stall door hook in Chatham-Kent. Ten-year-old Myles died six days later. His family continues to make anti-bullying presentations to school children and other groups. (A story is on Page C4).
Wolfe said schools have begun to add more education on healthy relationships and discrimination. He said parents and communities need to deal with harassment as well as students and schools.
"This is everyone's issue."
"The purpose of releasing this study is not just to scare people. The positive message here is we're starting to teach people that kids shouldn't have to put up with this, no more than (adults) should."
*****
THE LONDON FREE PRESS
Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008
A study of sexual harassment, aggression and bullying at schools shows 'cause for concern.'
By MEGHAN MOLONEY, SPECIAL TO THE FREE PRESS
Sexual harassment, verbal aggression and bullying occur daily in Ontario high schools, but get less attention than more "dramatic" issues such as weapons, says the author of a report that surveyed more than 1,800 Southwestern Ontario students.
David Wolfe, principal investigator for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, released the report yesterday. It examines violence, sexual harassment and bullying at 23 schools.
"The cause for concern is that this is everyday violence and it doesn't get the same attention as more dramatic violence like kids carrying guns," Wolfe said. "But we do have to worry about it. We don't want kids to think it's OK to bully and harass others."
Wolfe, an honorary psychology professor at UWO, headed the research, conducted between 2003 and 2007. The study surveyed 1,819 students in Grades 9 and 11 in rural and city schools. Wolfe declined to say precisely where the surveys were conducted.
The study found:
- 29 per cent of Grade 9 girls and 33 per cent of Grade 9 boys reported feeling unsafe at school;
- 16 per cent of girls and 32 per cent of boys reported being physically harmed;
- 10 per cent of girls and 25 per cent of boys admitted they had harmed others;
- 12 per cent of boys and 14 per cent of girls reported being harassed online.
"Part of the reason we wanted to present this was because the only data that's been out there lately is from Toronto schools, which paints a pretty bad picture, and we wanted to indicate the picture can be similarly bad in other parts of the province," Wolfe said.
The important aspect of the research is change over time, Wolfe said. Results indicated Grade 9 students who experience violence are more than twice as likely to be harassed in Grade 11.
"We're looking at the pattern across time and that's a bit alarming," Wolfe said. "When you can predict by a factor of two or three times that someone will have a problem, that's significant."
The research showed students as young as Grade 9 are reporting suicidal thoughts.
"They're not happy and this is not innocuous," Wolfe said.
Grade 9 is a tough year for students, many of them being harassed by older students, he said. Some boys deal with the problem by harassing others.
Girls are more likely to spread rumours and use verbal insults as aggression, but Wolfe said name-calling can have similar consequences to physical violence.
"It's not just about a fear of safety, but a fear of emotional humiliation."
Researchers asked about students sexually pressuring or being sexually pressured by other students:
- Four per cent of Grade 11 males admitted they've tried to force someone to have sex with them;
- 10 per cent of males and 27 per cent of females were pressured into sexual acts they did not want to do;
- 15 per cent of girls said they had oral sex to avoid having intercourse;
- Girls were more likely to experience unwanted sexual comments, looks and touching, whereas boys were more likely to experience homo-phobic insults.
The study comes as Mike and Brenda Neuts mark the 10th anniversary of their son's being found hanging unconscious on a washroom stall door hook in Chatham-Kent. Ten-year-old Myles died six days later. His family continues to make anti-bullying presentations to school children and other groups. (A story is on Page C4).
Wolfe said schools have begun to add more education on healthy relationships and discrimination. He said parents and communities need to deal with harassment as well as students and schools.
"This is everyone's issue."
"The purpose of releasing this study is not just to scare people. The positive message here is we're starting to teach people that kids shouldn't have to put up with this, no more than (adults) should."
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Another clipping in the London Free Press
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
London Free Press B2
WORK WITH SPECIAL-NEEDS KIDS HONOURED
By Meghan Moloney
Special to The Free Press
David Gosset doesn't usually seek the limelight.
But last night, he stood in front of a crown applauding him for his work with special-needs students.
Gosset was honoured as educator of the year for Special Olympics at the Thames Valley District school board meeting.
An athletics program services officer with the board, Gosset also is chair of the region's Special Olympics organization committee. He's been involved with the event since 2002.
"It's very humbling to be recognized," Gosset said. "We are passionate about kids and that's why we're in this role."
Gosset works with special education teachers, parents, volunteers, and members of Special Olympics Ontario to co-ordinate the three-day track and field meet at TD Waterhouse Stadium.
Investing In Children is a London organization that has provided funding and support to Special Olympics Ontario for six years.
Anita Gilvesy, the executive director, praised Gosset's organizational skills. "(He) has done an amazing job," she said.
London Free Press B2
WORK WITH SPECIAL-NEEDS KIDS HONOURED
By Meghan Moloney
Special to The Free Press
David Gosset doesn't usually seek the limelight.
But last night, he stood in front of a crown applauding him for his work with special-needs students.
Gosset was honoured as educator of the year for Special Olympics at the Thames Valley District school board meeting.
An athletics program services officer with the board, Gosset also is chair of the region's Special Olympics organization committee. He's been involved with the event since 2002.
"It's very humbling to be recognized," Gosset said. "We are passionate about kids and that's why we're in this role."
Gosset works with special education teachers, parents, volunteers, and members of Special Olympics Ontario to co-ordinate the three-day track and field meet at TD Waterhouse Stadium.
Investing In Children is a London organization that has provided funding and support to Special Olympics Ontario for six years.
Anita Gilvesy, the executive director, praised Gosset's organizational skills. "(He) has done an amazing job," she said.
Friday, November 2, 2007
...What next?
So I'm starting another blog. I figure since I've recently become an officially published journalist, I should keep up with the trends and create a "presence" for myself online. (I'm sorry, Wayne MacPhail... from now on, I'll try not to be such a technologically-incompetent 20-something.)
Unlike whatever daily drivel you may see me writing on Facebook, this is going to be where I post any articles or stories I get published in the real world. I'll post the ONE newspaper story that's out there so far -- and just so that one doesn't get lonely, I'll also post my old articles from my undergraduate student paper. This will also have the purpose of allowing me to feel better about myself by seeing the progress I've made in the last two years.
So without further ado... here are the very beginnings of my career.
The London Free Press
Tue, October 30, 2007
Witches favoured over princesses:
Costume choices this year lean toward the dark side.
By MEGHAN MOLONEY, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA
Cute is out. Scary and sleazy are in.
The preferences are clear for this year's hottest-selling Halloween
costumes -- and you might be surprised by what girls are wearing.
Or maybe not.
Disney and kittens aren't faring too well at cash registers this year,
say clerks at costume-specialty stores.
More popular -- and likely coming tomorrow to trick-or-treat at your
door -- are the darker, more adult costumes.
At the new Party Packagers store on Southdale Road, manager Michelle
Nemeth says girls' choices have leaned toward the dark side this year.
"The cutesy stuff is not popular. It's more witchy, goth stuff -- the
monster bride, the goth maiden witch."
For adults, she said, "skimpiest sells."
Even costumes for very young girls are more risque. Nemeth points to
Bratz brand cheerleader outfits.
For boys, a big seller has been Optimus Prime of the Transformers
movie -- Nemeth has sold out of them twice -- as well as the classic,
red-outfitted Spiderman.
Men favour the black-suited, bad-guy Spiderman, she said.
Tastes run to the more traditional at Value Village and McCulloch's,
with princess and fairy costumes still favourites for girls.
Crystal Sheridan at McCulloch's said teen girls are still keen on
fairy tales, only they're considerably sexier than the ones you'll see
in the Disney movies.
Boys, influenced by recent movies, have been going for army outfits
and comic-book superheroes.
Tiny pirates also will be sailing the trick-or-treat seas.
Jen Lee, an employee at the Wellington Road Value Village, said these
boys and girls "have probably been inspired by Pirates of the
Caribbean."
Unlike whatever daily drivel you may see me writing on Facebook, this is going to be where I post any articles or stories I get published in the real world. I'll post the ONE newspaper story that's out there so far -- and just so that one doesn't get lonely, I'll also post my old articles from my undergraduate student paper. This will also have the purpose of allowing me to feel better about myself by seeing the progress I've made in the last two years.
So without further ado... here are the very beginnings of my career.
The London Free Press
Tue, October 30, 2007
Witches favoured over princesses:
Costume choices this year lean toward the dark side.
By MEGHAN MOLONEY, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA
Cute is out. Scary and sleazy are in.
The preferences are clear for this year's hottest-selling Halloween
costumes -- and you might be surprised by what girls are wearing.
Or maybe not.
Disney and kittens aren't faring too well at cash registers this year,
say clerks at costume-specialty stores.
More popular -- and likely coming tomorrow to trick-or-treat at your
door -- are the darker, more adult costumes.
At the new Party Packagers store on Southdale Road, manager Michelle
Nemeth says girls' choices have leaned toward the dark side this year.
"The cutesy stuff is not popular. It's more witchy, goth stuff -- the
monster bride, the goth maiden witch."
For adults, she said, "skimpiest sells."
Even costumes for very young girls are more risque. Nemeth points to
Bratz brand cheerleader outfits.
For boys, a big seller has been Optimus Prime of the Transformers
movie -- Nemeth has sold out of them twice -- as well as the classic,
red-outfitted Spiderman.
Men favour the black-suited, bad-guy Spiderman, she said.
Tastes run to the more traditional at Value Village and McCulloch's,
with princess and fairy costumes still favourites for girls.
Crystal Sheridan at McCulloch's said teen girls are still keen on
fairy tales, only they're considerably sexier than the ones you'll see
in the Disney movies.
Boys, influenced by recent movies, have been going for army outfits
and comic-book superheroes.
Tiny pirates also will be sailing the trick-or-treat seas.
Jen Lee, an employee at the Wellington Road Value Village, said these
boys and girls "have probably been inspired by Pirates of the
Caribbean."
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