Kids Mountain Bike Race - Saturday August 21st

The Hilltop Reservation in North Caldwell will host a kid’s bike race on Saturday August 21. The event starts at the North Caldwell sports field parking lot on Courter Lane and Mountain Avenue.

This is the first chance for most youngsters to try bike racing really close to home on a track specially created for this event.

There's open fire roads and winding single track through the forest. Spectator viewing should be exceptional.

Racing starts at 9:00am

$10.00 fee payable on site for each competitor and all racers’ parents must complete and sign a rider release application.

There will be a minimum of four age groups competing (grouped by grade in Fall 2010 school year):

K – 1st grade boys 9:00am, girls 9:05, 0.6 miles

2nd – 3rd grade boys, 9:20am, girls 9:25, 1.2 miles

4th – 5th grade boys, 10:00am, girls 10:05, 2.4 miles

6th – 8th grade boys, 10:45am, girls 10:50, 3.0 miles

Boys and Girls will race separately but some boys and girls age classes may be combined depending on number of competitors in the classes.

Top prizes will be awarded for 1st – 3rd positions and everyone receives and award recognition for competing.

Some reading suggestions for kids about bikes and racing

Gracie Goat's Big Bike Race (Barnsville Sports Squad)

Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen

Mike and the Bike

Mike and the Bike Meet Lucille the Wheel

Franklin Rides a Bike

Duck on a Bike

9 Foods Not to Give Your Kids

9 Foods not to give your Kids: This article by By Joe Wilkes Shares some startling data about Childhood Obesity, common food choices, and healthier alternatives. Read this before you serve up your next meal.

HOMELESS: THE MOTEL KIDS OF ORANGE COUNTY

HOMELESS: THE MOTEL KIDS OF ORANGE COUNTY, premiering this Monday, July 26th explores the world of children who reside in discounted motels within walking distance of Disneyland, living in limbo as their families struggle to survive in one of the wealthiest regions of America. The parents of motel kids are often hard workers who don’t earn enough to own or rent homes. As a result, they continue to live week-to-week in motels, hoping against hope for an opportunity that might allow them to move up in the O.C.

For more information on the show: http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/homeless-the-motel-kids-of-orange-county

Despicable Me - Movie Review

Universal Studios most recent animated release Despicable Me with the voice of Steve Carell as Gru, a super bad villain who just became number two when a new Villain named Vector steals one of the great pyramids has a lot heart as well as laughs.
Through the course of the movie Gru's character make the transformation from a self centered villain with aspirations of grandeur to a selfless parent who realize that raising a child is indeed a grand undertaking with countless rewards.
Along the way there are plenty of laughs from Gru's um.. Dog and his minions who slapstick comedy steals most scenes. The movie is predicable but well done. There are a few scenes of that may be inappropriate for children 4 and under.
The girls are adorable especially the little one who unbridled joy can melt even the "despicable one's" heart.

Easter Egg - Stay during the final credits for some additional fun with the minions

If you were on the fence about seeing Despicable me jump off and get to a theater you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll boo, you'll hiss, most of all you'll have a good time.

Central Park Sandbox Program

Central Park Sandbox - July 12 through August 20, 2010

For children ages 3-8 years old and accompanying adults. No advance registration needed. All programs are FREE. Inclement weather will cancel these events.

Rock out in your favorite Central Park playground at free Sandbox Programs featuring dance, music and stories!
Now in its 21st consecutive summer, these Sandbox Programs happen in 15 different playgrounds.

Sandbox Dance: Mondays & Tuesdays, 11:00 am
Learn some new moves from a professional dance instructor as you feel the rhythm of musician Michael Wimberly's live African djembe beat at Sandbox Dance programs, co-presented by the Museum for African Art.

• July 12: Heckscher Playground (W/C 63rd Street)
• July 13: Bendheim Playground (East 100th Street)
• July 19: Adventure Playground (West 67th Street)
• July 20: East 96th Street Playground
• July 26: Billy Johnson Playground (East 67th Street)
• July 27: Spector Playground (West 85th Street)
• August 2: Diana Ross Playground (West 81st Street)
• August 3: East 110th Street Playground
• August 9: Wild West Playground (West 93rd Street)
• August 10: Heckecher Playground (W/C 63rd Street)
• August 16: Safari Playground (West 91st Street)
• August 17: Pat Hoffman Friedman Playground (East 79th Street)

Sandbox Music: Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays, 11:00 am
At Sandbox Music programs, you'll accompany live brass instruments with your own percussion rhythms under the guidance of professional musicians and educators from Central Park Brass.

• July 14: East 110th Street Playground
• July 15: Billy Johnson Playground (East 67th Street)
• July 16: Spector Playground (West 85th Street)
• July 21: West 110th Street Playground
• July 22: Mariners' Playground (West 84th Street)
• July 23: East 96th Street Playground
• July 28: Rudin Family Playground (West 96th Street)
• July 29: Wild West Playground (West 93rd Street)
• July 30: Diana Ross Playground (West 81st Street)
• August 4: Heckscher Playground (West/Central 63rd Street)
• August 5: Bendheim Playground (East 100th Street)
• August 6: Bernard Playground (East 108th Street)
• August 11: Spector Playground (West 85th Street)
• August 12: Diana Ross Playground (West 81st Street)
• August 13: Billy Johnson Playground (East 67th Street)
• August 18: Mariners' Playground (West 84th Street)
• August 19: Adventure Playground (West 67th Street)
• August 20: Wild West Playground (West 93rd Street)

Sandbox Stories: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays, 2:00 pm
Hear stories about goblins, shoemakers, witches, princesses, fools and much more at Dan Kitrosser's hilarious Sandbox Stories performances.

• July 13: Safari Playground (West 91st Street)
• July 14: Rudin Family Playground (West 96th Street)
• July 15: Adventure Playground (West 67th Street)
• July 16: Pat Hoffman Friedman Playground (East 79th Street)
• July 20: Bendheim Playground (East 100th Street)
• July 21: Rudin Family Playground (West 96th Street)
• July 22: Heckscher Playground (West/Central 63rd Street)
• July 23: Safari Playground (West 91st Street)
• July 27: Diana Ross Playground (West 81st Street)
• July 28: Mariners' Playground (West 84th Street)
• July 29: Pat Hoffman Friedman Playground (East 79th Street)
• July 30: West 110th Street Playground
• August 3: Spector Playground (West 85th Street)
• August 4: Billy Johnson Playground (East 67th Street)
• August 5: Adventure Playground (West 67th Street)
• August 6: East 110th Street Playground
• August 10: Spector Playground (West 85th Street)
• August 11: West 110th Street Playground
• August 12: Bendheim Playground (East 100th Street)
• August 13: Bernard Playground (East 108th Street)
• August 17: West 110th Street Playground
• August 18: East 96th Street Playground
• August 19: Rudin Family Playground (West 96th Street)
• August 20: Bernard Playground (East 108th Street)

For more information call 212-860-1370.

Save 20% on Season Pass to NYC Zoos and Aquariums

Last summer we went to the Bronx Zoo and NYC Aquarium we had a great time at both and plan on going again. This year we are going to take advantage of the family membership.

Now through May 31st you will get $20.00 off the premium membership so instead of paying $154 for 2 adults and 1 child you will pay only $134.

Included in that price you will receive

• FREE admission for two adults and children in their household up to age 18 to the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park, Prospect Park and Queens Zoos
  
  
• 4 FREE parking passes for the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium
  
  
• FREE unlimited access to Bronx Zoo attractions including Congo Gorilla Forest, Wild Asia Monorail, Children's Zoo, Butterfly Garden, Zoo Shuttle, and Bug Carousel PLUS the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium 4-D Theaters
  
  
• FREE admission for one additional guest or child caregiver
  
  
• FREE updates on zoo activities and events withMembers' News and Members' E-News
  
  
• Invitations to exclusive Members-only events
  
  
• 10% discount at select gift shops and restaurants at the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium and Central Park Zoo
  
  
• Discounts on Education programs and courses
  
  
• Priority entry for Members—no long lines!

If you plan to attend the NYC Wildlife parks this year then this is an offer too good to pass up

Register here and print you membership card and parking passes online

Shrek Forever After - The final Chapter

What happens when you cross every ones favorite Ogre with It's a wonderful life....You Get Shrek Forever After.

The final installment of the Shrek franchise finds our green friend in an alternate version of Far Far Away when Shrek is duped into signing a pact with the smooth-talking deal maker, Rumpelstiltskin. A place where ogres are hunted, Rumpelstiltskin is king and Shrek and Fiona have never met.

Can't wait to see it neither can I especially in 3D

Click here to get tickets

Storm Heaven with prayers

In times of desperation sometimes all we have is faith and the hope of a miracle. As a reader of kidzense you most likely have children or are connected to a child in some way. I am sure you will be able to relate to the story below and can only begin to imagine what a devastating event this is for this little girl and her family. What follows is the story of an eighth grade girl named Allyson Kafka and a tragic turn of events in her health.
Please think of Ally and keep her in your prayers.

Thank You,

Michael

---

Everything was going well for Allyson this year. She was loving her new school and making many new friends at Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke.
Ally got all A's and A+s on her first report card. She was enjoying her third year of ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop and looking forward to all of the 8th grade graduation events as well as confirmation.
She took the high school placement test at Catholic High and has been so excited about going to TCHS next year.

On December 9th, I took Ally and Megan for seasonal flu shots (Zack had already gotten his.) I asked the pediatrician for some blood work on Ally. When she had teeth fall out, she seemed be bleed a little longer than I would expect. When she got bruises (which was not often), they seemed a little bigger than I would expect.
My mom said she had this happen also so I thought maybe Ally had some clotting issue. We got the call the following day that Ally's platelets and white count were low and to bring her back on Friday, Dec. 11th for a repeat.
We were a little worried but thought it likely more a lab error. On the 11th, we were just about the head out the door to get Megan to her last final of the semester and then off for some shopping when the phone call came that Ally's platelets and white count were critically low and to get her to the ER at Bay view.

We were panicked and Ally was really scared. They talked about the possibility of an autoimmune issue and giving Ally some IV immunoglobulin to boost her own immune response.
They said that they were not fully equipped for pediatrics and sent us to downtown Hopkins. Ally was admitted and by Sunday, they were talking about doing a bone marrow biopsy. Again, panic. . . Ally had the biopsy done on December 15th and we were discharged on the 16th to outpatient services pending results. We took Ally there twice a week for platelet transfusions. On 12/23 we got the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome with monosomy 7.

Ally's bone marrow was not producing normal cells and there was actually a change in the chromosome. Ally would need a bone marrow transplant. More panic and many tears followed. The next step was testing for a match. Jason, Megan, Zack, and I were tested on 12/28 and on January 5th, we got the news that Zack was a full match!!!! Thank you God! We began the long process of pre-transplant testing. On January 19th, Ally had another bone marrow biopsy in preparation for the transplant. She was scheduled for admission on Feb.3rd for chemotherapy and then the actual transplant (Zack's bone marrow harvest day) on February 9th. On January 22nd we had an outpatient visit and got the news that the bone marrow biopsy from the 19th was back and that the bone marrow cells had already transitioned to leukemia.

There are no words to describe that moment. Shock, anger, sadness, complete disbelief. The bone marrow transplant would have to wait. They said we could have the weekend but needed to come back Monday, January 25th for Allyson to start chemotherapy. Ally was admitted, got her central line surgically placed and began chemotherapy. The admission was planned for about 4 weeks but ended up being 47 days. In the end we learned that the chemo did not work in getting Ally's leukemia into remission. We were going to be admitted for more chemo but then the MDs decided to try an outpatient chemo drug. The follow-up bone marrow showed that this too was not successful. A full match transplant would not help since Zack's marrow so closely matched Ally's that it too might not destroy the leukemia. It was decided to do a haplo or half-matched transplant with my marrow to give Ally's body an immune response to hopefully fight the leukemia. We were re-admitted for chemo 3/31/10 and had the transplant done 4/07/10. Now we wait and we pray.

This journey will not be an easy one and we will need the continued love, prayers, and support of each of you during this time. Please continue to pray with us that Allyson (and our family) will have the strength, courage, and faith to walk this path. Thank you.

Ally is currently in the PICU unit at Hopkins. Her body is rejecting the bone marrow and she has developed severe infections in her central line and blood stream. She has a condition called VOD that is just devastating and too horrible to describe. She was confirmed last night by our pastor and I believe he also did the sacrament of last rites. Sister has asked us to “storm heaven” with our prayers for a miracle because that is truly what Ally needs. I ask all of you to please remember Ally in your prayers. It is truly touch and go right now.

I thank you for your prayers. Maybe together we can work a miracle.