Costumes part of annual fun

By Amanda Wells
Special to The Clinton News

Melanie Thortis | The Clinton News

Five-year-old Ellie Scott and her sister, Emma Scott, 9, put on their best pirate face for the upcoming Halloween holiday. Ellie and Emma’s cousins will also dress as pirates this year for trick-or-treating fun.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

# Plan bright, reflective costumes. Make sure shoes fit and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.

# Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility. Because a mask can limit or block eyesight, consider instead non-toxic and hypoallergenic makeup or a decorative hat.

# When shopping for costumes, wigs, and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant.

# Think twice before using simulated knives, guns, or swords. If you must, make sure they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.

# Children and their escorts should use flashlights with fresh batteries. Plan ahead to use only battery-powered lanterns or chemical light sticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes.

# Review with your children the principle of “stop, drop and roll” should their clothes catch on fire.

# Eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check for flowerpots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that are hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.

Despite the tough economy, parents are still purchasing Halloween costumes for their little goblins or making them by hand.

That’s the finding of Angie Hicks, founder of the consumer awareness Web site www.angieslist.com.

She finds many people spend between $25-$50 on Halloween costumes.

At Party City on East County Line Road in Jackson, the economy hasn’t spooked off customers.

“Sales are really good. They’re comparable to last year,” said co-owner Alice Harrigill.

“You hear more people saying that it’s going to be one night of having a little bit of fun. They’re looking forward to it.”

Party City’s big sellers for kids: Characters such as Cody and Rex from Star Wars: The Clone Wars; Hannah Montana; and Sharpay from High School Musical.

“The adults like the couples’ costumes, like Fred and Wilma, or the funny ones, like ‘The Freshman 15,’ ” Harrigill said.

She’s had to reorder the Star Wars characters already. “Darth Vader is still a huge hit, too, with the young boys,” she said.

Prices start at $9.99 and go up from there, with the average price at about $19.99, Harrigill aid.

Heather Head said she enjoys making costumes for her children – Jake, 5, and Elizabeth, 3 – and saving money in the process.

“I enjoy being creative, and my kids love the outcome,” said the Byram mom. “I don’t sew, but I have found that you can do a lot with a cardboard box.”

Head credits her husband Keith with contributing imagination and energy in making sure the boxes will withhold the wear and tear of harvest carnivals and trick or treating.

“Last year, Elizabeth was Sally from the Cars movie and Jake was Underdog from the Disney movie,” Head said. “I fashioned an empty Pull-Ups box into Sally, which required a lot of cutting, taping and stapling.

“For Underdog, I bought red sweatpants and sweatshirt, cut out a ‘U’ in white felt, found some blue fabric for a cape and purchased a dog mask.”

Sarah Broadus of Clinton coordinates costumes for her two daughters, Madyson, 2, and Aubrie Kate, 7 months, to match those of their cousins.

This Halloween, the Broadus girls will be pirates. Madyson is fascinated with Dora the Explorer’s Pirate Adventure, Broadus said.

“Halloween has always been a fun holiday around our house,” she said. “Instead of walking the neighborhood this year, we are going to do a hayride with a pirate ship theme.”

Adults in the family join in the fun by dressing up, she said. “Madyson’s first year, we all went as a litter of kittens,” Broadus said.

“I added fur to her costume that year, but as for sewing, I usually leave that up to my mother-in-law.”

Broadus appreciates the once-a-year whimsy that Halloween offers.

“How many days of the year can you walk around as a pirate, princess, bottle of mustard or a pumpkin and not feel out of place?” she said.

Staff writer Ruth Ingram contributed to this article.

Katie is a 17-year-old sophomore who lives with her mother in Diamond Valley. She has an older sister named Megan who is 28 and lives in Connecticut.
Katie recently became an aunt as her sister proudly announced the newest addition to the family, Zoe.

Katie loves animals and has two cats, appropriately named Mr. and Ms. Kitty, who live harmoniously with two her two dogs, Holly and Snapper.

Katie has a huge interest in working with animals occupationally, and she would like to study in either the equine or zoology fields when she becomes an adult.

While Katie shines in the subject of mathematics, she also loves singing and the arts and currently takes drama.

Katie is a creative, outgoing girl with a spirited personality.

She would like an energetic Big Sister who enjoys being outside for hikes, horseback riding or camping trips.

Other favorite activities include simply hanging out and watching movies with soda pop and a big bowl of popcorn.

She loves cool jewelry, shopping, and going out for steak and hot wings.

Katie also loves the popular television show “Hannah Montana” and all her friends compare her to Hannah’s best friend Lilly.

Katie would greatly benefit and enjoy the company of a Big Sister. Maybe you could be the one to make a positive impact on Katie’s life. You don’t have to change your life to change hers.

You can single-handedly make a difference in your community for only a few hours a month.

Post 18 of 100 of Brad’s Tiny World Scribefire Challenge.

The story of this book is pretty straight forward and about a young girl named Tenar who is taken away from her family at the age of five. She has been determined to be a reincarnated priestess and is brought to the tombs of Atuan to fulfill her role as she has supposedly done for a thousand years.

One very remarkable thing about this story is the immense and complex labyrinth that lies under the temple of Atuan. This labyrinth is the central part of the story and holds many secrets and many treasures. Tenar spends much of her time wandering the dark corridors of this labyrinth and as a reader you will find yourself flipping to the map of the labyrinth at the front of the book. You will be drawn into the labyrinth and you will refer to the map often to track Tenar’s progress as she explores the treasure room, the painted room, the room of bones, and much more.

This story starts out gentle and slow and it takes a little time to really get the feel for the main character and for what is happening but after thirty or forty pages you are going to come to the realization that you have come under the influence of quite a remarkable spell of writing that has been cast upon you. This book, and this story is just remarkable in its beauty. If you love fantasy and are looking for something special to read then I recommend this book highly.

About the World of Earthsea

The story takes place on one small island in a large world called the Archipelago of Earthsea. It is a vast array of islands that are populated with many different people and cultures. Some of the islands even have dragons.

Does the story stand alone?

Being the second book in a series of books the question comes up as to whether or not the book can be read alone without reading the other books and the answer to that question is yes. It can be thoroughly enjoyed as a sole reading adventure. Everything in the story ties up very neatly by the last page. But a character in the first novel of the series (A Wizard of Earthsea) plays a central role in this second novel. I do highly recommend you read the Wizard of Earthsea before you read this novel.

The books have been reprinted many times and you can purchase the first three books as a complete set. And there are currently six books in the Earthsea cycle. The Other Wind is the sixth book and it was published in 2003. You will be drawn into the world of the archipelago and Earth Sea because things happen in this book that have an effect o the rest of the world and you are going to want to explore more of the world that LeGuin has masterfully crafted.

Theme and the Story within the Story

The book can be characterized as a young girls coming of age story but it is much more than that. It probes into the questions of reincarnation, balance and harmony in the world, and through the metaphor of the labyrinth it peeks into the mystery of everything. All of this is packed into 150 pages? Yes, and more. The book itself is a perfect example of a central theme of Earthsea – words and names are important. More words don’t mean much. What is really important is the right words, and the right names of things. And LeGuin parallels this perfectly in this novel. It does in 150 pages what is often attempted in 800 pages.

For more reviews and Guides to Fantasy books visit the authors website:
The Fantasy Guide – Your guide to Fantasy Books

Will Kalif is the author of two epic fantasy novels and a fan of all things fantasy and medieval. You can check out his blog on these subjects at: Heroic Dreams – Never Give A Sword to A Man Who Can’t Dance

Author: Will S. Kalif
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

What’s next? With temporary slut marks for your young ones available in vending machines is it possible the next step play tampons or maybe temporary popped cherries? Wait tiny battery operated cocks for your daughter dearest…

When did we lose ourselves? When was it a mark of a good parenting to have a kid grown up long before time? The problem is it isn’t a sign of good parenting. The fact is trying to make your children more adult is simply another way not take responsibility for them. In the end, yes, your kids need to be responsible, but so do you as a parent.

read more | digg story

The Oakland Press: The best place for news in and around Oakland County

Ex-dropouts attribute success to alternative high schools
Story Tools

Saturday, November 1, 2008 7:39 AM EDT

By DIANA DILLABER MURRAY
Of The Oakland Press

Former dropouts gave credit to alternative high schools Friday for providing a sense of belonging and individual academic help that has made them successful in school.

Several students at an Oa k land Dropout Prevention Summit Friday morning told of their heartaches and successes and praised principals and tea chers from Niles Alternative High School in Troy, Walled Lake Community High School and Ferndale’s high school completion program. In Oakland County, the combined dropout rate is 9 percent. Statewide, 21,000 students drop out annually.

Chelsea Hotchkin, 17, told the packed audience she just didn’t fit in at her former large high school. She would pretend to be sick to stay home.

“I went to Walled Lake Community High School. I had heard bad things about it. But they were like a family. They welcomed you. Now I am a mentor and an ambassador.

“I never before passed a class,” Chelsea said. Now she plans to go to Wayne State University and major in chemistry.

“When I saw my first report card, I started crying. It was my first A.

“My parents were so proud of me, they bought me a car,” she said.

Marlana Krolicki, Oakland Schools consultant, organized the countywide event and Robert Martin, a consultant in school quality, introduced the student panel.

Representatives from all of Oakland County’s 28 school districts attended the summit.

Also there to give advice on how to make high schools more welcoming were Southfield and Berkley students from Tri-County Educational Center, and Oakland County students who attend the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy in Battle Creek — a military-type alternative school open to 300 students.

Students told of ending up in alternative schools because of a death of a loved one, problems at home, bullying or harassment at school, pregnancy, not caring, getting into fights, truancy, wanting to be with friends, helping out with family, being bored or wanting a job and independence.

Besides a sense of belonging, the alternative schools provided one-on-one help, counseling, encouragement and work at their own level. Almost all students plan on going to college.

Erica Quick, 19, of Walled Lake, who dropped out and moved to Florida and got a job at age 15, now gets As and Bs at Community High and plans on attending college.

Tommy Yousif’s father died in 2005. In three years, he earned only eight credits. At Niles, he earned eight the first year.

“All the teachers are the best. They care about you.”

Sable Haney, 18, of Troy, who went to Niles after she got pregnant with her 2-year-old, will graduate in January. Shaun Asmar, 16, of Wixom, now gets As and Bs.

Shawna Graves, 16, of Clawson, struggled at five high schools and earned no credits before Niles. Tre Johnson, 17, of Troy, had been to three districts, missed classes and had falling grades. At Niles, he bonded with teachers for the first time.

It was a long, tough road that led Samantha Freeman, 24, of Detroit, to Ferndale’s adult education and her current success in school. She received a standing ovation

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Thankfully today’s Google Trends brings you Family Guy’s Meg Griffin in the top spot and acknowledges at best medium hotness.  We also have naked Aniston being popular.  While not unattractive, I have a hard time seeing what is so incredibly attractive about Jennifer Aniston, much less a naked Jennifer Aniston.  I wouldn’t turn her out of my bed, and she is certainly much improved over Amy Winehouse topless. I guess some  will do anyone even a medium hotness Meg Griffin.

In our getting old school Hotness Barbara Billingsley turns 93.  Go Mrs Cleaver!  I still think her best role though was in Airplane.  Other birthdays of mention and note Jordin Sparks is 18.  BFD on Jordin because the curvy girl who looked good in a pair of tight jeans on American Idol now looks like she has eaten Randy Jackson with a side of Simon and could use Paula Adbul as a toothpick.  Ralph Fiennes is 46 and inisists that his name is not pronounced like Ralph Wiggam.  Much Cooler than Ralph is Hector Elizondo  who is 72.  Brooke Nevin who is much prettier than Jordan Sparks turns 26 and thinking of her reminds how much I really enjoyed The 4400.  I think I’ll break out the DVD later.  I might have to put in some of my Favorite Dina Meyer movies too.  I wish I had Birds of Prey on DVD.  Moving on from The 4400 we have that other similar show Taken staring Heather Donahue as the adult Mary Crawford.   Heather Donahue turns 34.  The young but still pretty Samantha Bunton of the direct to video movie Sandlot is 17.

Other Celebrity Rumors include Michael Jackson is ill.  Michael Jackson ill?  Well many of us have thought for a long time he was positively sick, but it appears Jacko needs a lung transplant.  A Michael Jackson lung transplant if he gets one will probably mean an end to his singing career, which in my less than humble opinion ended some time in the early to mid eighties. A Michael Jackson lung transplant, probably means h will have to quit chasing young boys too.

That about does it for this edition of Google Trends, now why don’t you surf on over to something important like bowl game results for 2008.  You might need to think about which christmas presents to take back to settle with your bookie.

One post called Life is to Live has everything I know to be true right in the title. Most people think I’m completely correct for saying the point of life is to live and not merely exist, that is until they call me a bastard for suggesting it applies to old people and babies too.  Simply put my philosophy has always been keeping someone alive for the simple sake of keeping them alive is pointless, fruitless, and a waste of resources when there is no reasonable hope they will ever do more than exist.  it is the religious who yell and scream at me most for this notion, even though unlike me they believe in a grand afterlife the aged and babies could find their glorious way too.  What irony comes of life.

He also writes a fine post on online gaming and gaming in general putting forth this notion

Gaming may sound childish, but remember no adult can be happier than a child.

This is most certainly true on both accounts. As a former gamer who doesn’t get enough time to game it is a real let down of my day. I don’t think it matters what games you play either, if it revitalizes you,makes you feel youthful or just releases a fair amount fo stress from killing alien baddies then it is worth taking the time to play, no matter who calls it childish.

In the end sentimentality is never a substitute for substance, but sometimes you need to look beyond the sentimentality to get past your own surlieness.

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