Salmonella Recall - check your labels

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has issued another massive recall. This time, it's all about Salmonella in a batch of Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein distributed by Basic Food Flavors Inc. to several different mass kitchens. Please check the list, then your shelves and keep yourself safe.

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Dolly Parton's Giving Away Books!

There's something about having books in the house that turns children toward reading. Sure, we can check them out from the library, then return them and keep the house spotless, but if there are books lying around, children will, eventually, flip through them. If someone (a parent, a sibling, a friend) reads to those children, they're more likely to take up reading themselves. If others in the household model reading, children are more likely to do it joyously and voluntarily.

But not everyone can afford to have books for their kids, even at used bookstore prices. That's where Dolly Parton is stepping in! Preschool age children receive a free book every month until they begin kindergarten. Books begin with "The Little Engine That Could" and wrap up with "Kindergarten, Here I Come!" There's NO COST to families taking part in the program. The only commitment - "Read to your child." (Oh, and keep them updated on any mailing address changes so those books keep comin'.)

I just read about this at Northern Santa Barbara County Parent, and wanted to help spread the word. While the NSBC Parent site refers to the local program sponsored by the Central Coast Untied Way, the singer's national program may extend to YOUR neighborhood. Just follow this link, then enter you ZIP code to find out if your community qualifies.

This sounds like a great program, particularly for low-income families who cannot afford to buy books for their preschoolers, and those who don't live within striking distance of a good children's library section! If you know anyone who might benefit from this, but doesn't have internet access or has language barriers, perhaps you can volunteer to help them get registered.

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Free Museum Day - Santa Ynez, CA - 3/6/10

Maybe you’re daunted by the idea of taking kids to a museum. You shouldn’t be. Really. It’s a fabulous opportunity to show them something new, allow them to see history, art, even science in ways not available in most people’s everyday travels. Best of all, if you follow them rather than lead them, it gives you great insight. What do they see? What interests them? Take their hands, then let them lead.

This Saturday, seven museums in Santa Ynez Valley offer free entry for the whole family (friends, too). While kids already have one free entry to many Santa Barbara County museums through April 15, 2010, those entries include only one accompanying adult. This weekend’s event is open to all.

Participating venues include:

Wildling Art Museum, 2928 San Marcos Avenue , Los Olivos. wildlingmuseum.org, Phone: 805-688-1082 – a nice place to see California’s special places depicted by artists of varying styles.

Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Carriage House, 3596 Sagunto, Santa Ynez. santaynezmuseum.org Phone: 805-688-7889 – reportedly the largest collection of American-made carriages in the Western U.S., plus information about the area’s old railroad and more.

Old Mission Santa Ines Museum, 1760 Mission Drive, Solvang. missionsantaines.org Phone: 805-688-4815 – The nineteenth in California’s chain of 21 historic missions.

Los Alamos Historical Display T &T building. Bell (Hwy 135) & Helena Streets, Los Alamos. losalamosinfo.com Phone: 805-260-8233 – a growing collection dedicated to this small ag town.

Hans Christian Andersen Museum, upstairs in The Book Loft.1680 Mission Drive, Solvang. bookloftsolvang.com/museum.htm Phone: 805-688-2052 – Books, miniatures, sillhouettes and more featuring Andersen, his tales and his characters.

Elverhøj Museum of History & Art, 1624 Elverhøj Way, Solvang. elverhoj.org Phone: 805-686-1211 – celebrates Danish-American heritage of this town, designed specifically for preserving Danish culture in the New World. This is, by far, our kids’ favorite museum in Santa Ynez Valley. The docents are wonderful, helpful, and entirely child-friendly.

Buellton Historical Society History Room In Andersen’s Pea Soup Restaurant, 376 Avenue of Flags, Buellton. buelltonhistory.org
Phone: 805-688-7829 – A room dedicated to the history of the area, from Buell Ranch to present.

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