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Editorial Mission: RichmondParents Monthly is dedicated to providing parents and
professionals with the best information and resources available to enhance all aspects of
parenting and family life. It is also an avenue to facilitate a shared sense of community
among parents by providing useful information, support and a forumfor dialogue on issues
that are important to all parents and families.
Richmond Parents Monthly
8010 Ridge Road Suite F Henrico, VA 23229
804-673-5203 Fax: 673-5308
E-Mail: mail@richmondpublishing.com www.richmondparents.com
Richmond Parents Monthly is published 12 times a year and distributed free of charge. The advertising
deadline is the 10th of each month for the upcoming issue. Richmond Parents Monthly welcomes reader
comments and submissions; however, the publication is not responsible for unsolicited materials. All materials
received become the property of the publisher and will not be returned. We reserve the right to edit any material
used for publication. The entire content of Richmond Parents Monthly is 2014. No portion may be repro-
duced in whole or in part by any means without the express written consent of the publisher. The views and
opinions expressed by writers and columnists do not necessarily represent those of Richmond Parents
Monthly or its staff.
Publisher: Mark E. Fetter
Editor: Tharon Giddens
Art Director: Jennifer G. Sutton
Contributing Writers: Chris Miller, Stuart
DuBreuil, Marsha King Carter, Carolyn Hax
Volume 24, No. 13, OCTOBER 2014
Talk to us!
Send your comments,
opinions or feedback to
Richmond Parents
Monthly, 8010 Ridge Rd, Suite
F,
Henrico,VA 23229
or e-mail to:
rpmeditor@richmondpublishing.com.
Please include your full name and
address. Comments selected for
publication may be edited for clari-
features
6 Petz Luv
Columnist Chris Miller has tips on keeping
your furry friends safe this Halloween
8 Quick cooking
Frosting makes the cake, according to colum
nist Ginnie Manuel Or is it icing?
10 Get Involved
There are many options available to get your fam
ily involved in its community
13 Learning
There are ways to boost grades in this digital
age
14 Spooky decor
Trick out your house for some scary fun
14 Healthy kids
Heres what you need to know about heart
health and your child
17 Lets Go!
Whats happening this month
contents
Above and on the cover: Victoria Fortune is getting into the swing of home schooling. Check out
why Victorias family opted for home-schooling - story on page 8. Photos by Stuart DuBreuil.
Saturday, February 7th, 2015 10am - 3:00pm
The Place at Innsbrook
4036 Cox Road Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
A great opportunity to exhibit your camp, business or school to Richmond area families!
Spaces are limited and filling fast!
Send in your registration and payment today to guarantee placement.
For questions call (804) 673-5215, visit www.RichmondParents.com,
or email mfetter@richmondpublishing.com.
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www.richmonddancecenter.com
Pre-allet !azz 1ap allet Peinte tyrical Bip Bep Yega
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Pre-Ballet Jazz Tap Ballet Pointe Lyrical Hip Hop Modern
If your child is showing signs of extreme distress, come to
us. Our team of behavioral healthcare specialists provides
acute care when your child is feeling overwhelmed. With our
newly renovated facility and programs that meet the needs
of adolescents, were here to give young people and their
families the tools needed to get through the tough times. We
provide free assessments 24/7, at the regions only freestanding
psychiatric facility. And, our evidence-based programis tailored
to treat patients dealing with a wide range of emotional issues.
At Poplar Springs Hospital no emergency room visit, or referral, is needed.
For more information visit poplarsprings.com, or call 804-733-6874 or 866-546-2229.
When your child is
nding it hard to cope,
we are here to help.
W
ith Halloween just around
the corner, here are tips
from the Richmond SPCA
for making it a howl-free evening for
your animal family members:
No candy. Chocolate can be dan-
gerous for dogs and cats, and
candy wrappers pose a potential
choking hazard. Keep a separate
bowl of pet treats nearby. Con-
tact your veterinarian immedi-
ately if you suspect your pet has
ingested a potentially dangerous
substance, or call the ASPCA
Animal Poison Control Center at
(888) 426-4435.
Strangers in unusual garb can
be scary and stressful for many
pets, keeping them in a separate
room or their crate can lessen
their anxiety. Some trick-or-
treaters may be fearful of ani-
mals, and some may open fence
gates or tease them, so keep all
pets inside. Ensure all pets have
ID or are microchipped in case
they do escape.
Putting up a baby gate can be
a good way to keep pets from
darting out the door. Consider
spending the evening handing
out candy on the front porch to
avoid the bell altogether.
Even if your pet is a real angel
(or a little devil), he may not be
ready to suit up in a Halloween
costume. If he is, be sure to ex-
amine each piece carefully to
be sure he can see, move eas-
ily, breathe and bark if needed.
Watch out for small pieces that
may pose a choking hazard.
Be pet-safe with decorations.
Pumpkins and decorative corn
are relatively non-toxic, yet they
may cause gastrointestinal upset.
Use caution if you choose to add
a candle to your jack-o-lantern.
Wires and cords should be kept
out of reach of pets. Use paper
towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, or
PVC pipe to keep pets safe from
chewable wires.
ITS A DATE
OCT. 11: Paws for a Cause dog
walk, noon to 4 p.m., Rockwood
Park, Chesterfield; contest, food,
demonstrations, silent auction,
vendors, games; benefits K-9
Alert Search and Rescue Inc.;
(804)763-5600, genitovet.com
OCT. 18: History Hounds walk-
ing tour, Monument Avenue, 10
a.m. to noon; take your dog on a
walking tour of Monument Av-
enue, sponsored by Richmond
SPCA and Valentine Richmond
History Center; www.thevalen-
tine.org
OCT. 25: Herico Humane Soci-
ety Pet Expo, Richmond Interna-
tional Raceway, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
henricohumane.org
OCT. 26: Mutt Strutt dog walk,
1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Deep Run Park,
sponsored by FETCH a Cure;
fetchacure.org
Chris Miller is a Richmond dog mom, writ-
er and owner of Petz Luv magazine. Visit
www.petzluv.com for additional articles.
She also directs the Sprites HERO Paws
to R.E.A.D. program, employing therapy
dogs to help improve childrens literacy. Visit
www.spriteshero.org for more info.
ideastations.org/radio
ENCORE:
Tune in to 88.9 WCVE Public Radio for
highlights from last years festival including
select musical performances, guitar and fiddle
competitions, plus locally produced features
and conversations. Well also take a look ahead
at this years Festival.
Join us in October for live coverage from the
Altria Stage throughout the Festival weekend.
The Richmond
Folk Festival
Saturdays at 1:00 pm through October 4
OCTOBER 10-12, 2014
Pet Safety tips for a Happy
Halloween!
M
onica Ruiz found herself
suddenly without a dog
when she had to let go
of her greyhound due to cancer in
2012. She needed a dog fix but was
not yet ready to adopt. A friend led
her to Dogs on Deployment and, It
was the best decision I ever made,
Monica says.
Dogs on Deployment, www.
dogsondeployment.org, provides
foster homes for pets of military
members giv-
ing them peace
of mind during
the most stress-
ful of jobs.
Thousands of
animals have
been taken to
shelters be-
cause military
owners had no
place to leave
them when
they were de-
ployed.
Volun-
teers like Mon-
ica are helping
change those
statistics. She
has fostered at
least five Dogs
on Deploy-
ment since 2012 and adopted one
along the way. Using Facebook and
Skype shes kept the military parents
informed of the care and antics of
their canine family members. Most
of them become close friends liter-
ally and virtually and stay friends
long after they return home and re-
unite with their pups. They choose
to serve. Its the least I can do to sup-
port them.
Corrine Browell is the vol-
unteer Richmond Coordinator for
the organization. You will see her at
dog friendly events all around town
educating both military personnel
and potential foster families about
the program.
Corrine and Monica describe
the matching process for owners and
families as similar to on-line dating,
only easier! Military dog owners
complete a profile online about their
dog and deployment situation. Po-
tential foster families do the same,
noting type of house, fencing, kids
and other pets who might already
be in the house. Both can then scroll
through the profiles to find a match
for them. Details are coordinated be-
tween the two families and if all goes
well, they meet and the dog has a
temporary, safe and loving home.
Jude, quite the goofy guy,
is Monicas cur-
rent boarder.
His dad, Zach, is
in Afghanistan,
due home in
November. He
checks in with
Skype and FB
to see Jude play-
ing with Sasha,
Monicas own
dog.
To see the
happiness, re-
lief on their face
to know their
dog is having a
great time while
theyre away
makes me so
happy, Monica
says.
DoD has
placed nearly 500 animals in foster
homes since 2011. Any animal could
need a home: cats, lizards, even a
llama; and they have needs all across
the United States. A foster arrange-
ment could last three to six weeks
or up to two years depending on the
owners situation. Retired military
and wounded warriors are also en-
couraged to use the service.
Sometimes its hard for Mon-
ica to say goodbye to the dogs shes
grown to love, but its so beautiful
to see their reunion. It makes it all
worthwhile.
For information on volun-
teer opportunities here in Richmond,
email Corrine at
va-richmond@dogsondeployment.
org
OCTOBER 4-5, 11-12 & 18-19
Noon to 5 pm | Admission is FREE
Tour 70 New Homes in the Greater Richmond Area
PLUS, See Remodeled Home, October 18 & 19
Prices Range from the $190s to $1,450,000
Special Events on Select Weekends
Pick-up Parade of Homes Plan Book at Martins or Kroger
THE HOME BUILDING ASSOCIATION OF RICHMONDS
RichmondParadeofHomes.com
Sponsored by
Serving the Pets of Those
Who Serve Us
PETZ LUV
By CHRIS MILLER
A
mong the many responsibilities of parent-
hood, the education of their children ranks
near the top. Families have several options
for how and where their child will be schooled.
For Gosia and Ken Fortune of Henrico
County, home-schooling seemed the best choice for
now for their 5-year-old daughter, Victoria.
Gosia, who migrated from Poland 18 years ago, is
soft spoken but firm when needed as her daugh-
ters primary teacher.
She is fluent in Polish and English and
would like Victoria to be the same. They are off to
a good start, as mom and daughter often speak in
Polish together, and the family has traveled to Po-
land to visit relatives on four occasions. WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u OCTOBER 2014 u 9
harder for her to compete against
the older kids in sporting events,
for example.
They plan to make a de-
termination at the end of each
school year as to what would
be best for their child in the fol-
lowing year, whether its public
or private school, or more home
schooling.
The Fortunes have fam-
ily and friends in Poland, Ger-
many, and other places and they
would like for Victoria to enjoy
traveling and have many differ-
ent experiences. She has already
visited Poland, Germany, France
and the Czech Republic.
The decision to home-
school is based on each familys
unique circumstances, and phi-
losophy on education. It can be
a tough decision for a family to
make. The Fortunes have made
their decision for this year, and
it seems to be working well for
them.
HOME SCHOOL RESOURCE GUIDE
Interested in learning more about home-schooling in Richmond?
Here are some links.
VAHOMESCHOOLERS, THE ORGANIZATION OF VIR-
GINIA HOMESCHOOLERS: Offers information on all aspects of
home-schooling in Virgina, including a guide to getting started, your
rights and a helpline; vahomeschoolers.org
HOMESCHOOLING IN RICHMOND: Resources include list
of homeschool groups in Richmond, links to classes open to home-
schoolers, athletics guide and an events calendar; http://www.
homeschoolinginrichmond.com/
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: Link to VDOE
information on home-schooling, including its Home Instruction
Handbook; http://www.doe.virginia.gov/students_parents/pri-
vate_home/
HOME-SCHOOLING BY THE NUMBERS
CHESTERFIELD: 1,610 students
HENRICO: 636 students
RICHMOND: 272 students
Source: Virginia Department of Education, 2012-2013 school year
Victorias Dad, Ken, a financial analyst
in Richmond, was born in Canada. He says jok-
ingly that he speaks two languages, English and
Canadian. Both parents would like for Victoria
to have a broad education, which may include
extended time being educated in Poland, Ger-
many, or another country, as well as in the Unit-
ed States.
Victoria is a bright child, with striking
bluish-gray eyes, flowing, curly blond hair, and
a beaming smile. She is friendly, energetic and
involved in many activities. She takes piano les-
sons, plays soccer, does gymnastics, is on a lo-
cal swim team, and helps her mom out at the
YMCAby reading to younger children.
Victoria has two older step-brothers,
Michael, a student at Tuckahoe Middle School,
and Sam, a student at Maggie L. Walker Gover-
nors School for Government and International
Studies. The boys are an influence on her intel-
lectual growth, too; for instance, they recently
taught her how to play chess.
Her father notes that beyond learning
the basics, life is about experiences. This has in-
fluenced their decision to home-school Victoria,
at least for one year.
There were many components to that
decision:
They want her to have regular Polish les-
sons
They want the flexibility to be able to travel
out of state during the school year (They
have a favorite uncle in Pittsburgh who is 88
and a great mentor, who they like to spend
time with)
There are other home-schooled children
around her age in their area that Victoria can
get together with
Victoria also has plenty of opportunities to
socialize through play dates with other
children in the neighborhood
Victoria can get more beneficial sleep, by
not having to get up so early to catch the
school bus
The Fortunes have read that the typical
school day provides only about three hours
of actual classroom learning time, beyond
the time taken for kids to line up, go to the
bathroom, and other administrative tasks
The Fortunes had to inform the county
of their decision to home-school Victoria, and
then had to submit a curriculum that they will
follow in teaching her.
Gosia came up with the detailed cur-
riculum that was approved. They keep a struc-
tured schedule similar to regular school, but
ease off some in the summer.
Victoria has already progressed to first
grade level work. Her parents dont want to
place her in a first grade class at a regular school
at this time, because of concerns that she would
be younger than classmates, so it would be
Home-schooling: The Right Choice for the Fortune Family
By Stuart DuBreuil
10 u RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u OCTOBER 2014 WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM
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OTHER PROPERTIES FOR LEASE
While most schools offer a baseline level of music education, many
programs are limited and sometimes classroom instruments can be scarce.
Exposure to music, however, offers people of all ages a number of benefits
- from reduced stress to improved coordination and academic outcomes.
There are many things families can do to enrich their musical lives. Here are
some fun ways to make more music together.
Gather Round the Piano
Playing the piano can improve hand-eye coordination and can be a
great way to gather the family together. Whether you have an ace musician
or a beginner in your midst, no home should be without a piano or keyboard.
Look for features that allow a budding musician to pick up and play without
any prior musical experience.
For example, Casio offers a range of digital pianos and keyboards for
every skill level. Its Privia line of digital pianos is ideal for at-home music les-
sons; the PX-150 digital piano has a duet mode that splits the keyboard into
two equal ranges, allowing student and teacher to use the piano simultane-
ously. Designed with simulated ebony and ivory textured keys, it reproduces
the touch and feel of an acoustic piano, while its tri-sensor keyboard captures
the dynamics of a performance with speed and accuracy. See CasioMusic-
Gear.com.
Sing-Along Night
You dont need to be the Von Trapp family to exercise your lungs
or experience the benefits of doing so. Singing has been proven to improve
quality of life, according to many studies. Whether it is impromptu karaoke
night or your family is watching a favorite musical, dont be shy about creat-
ing opportunities for your household to sing.
Extracurricular Programs
Investigate your schools extracurricular programs. While general
class sizes can be large, extracurricular programs such as band, chorus and
school plays can offer a better teacher-to-student ratio and more access to
instruments. The benefits of music education are numerous and learning
piano can open the gates to a wide range of musical interests in the future.
To get your children interested, encourage the whole family to make more
music at home.
- Courtesy of StatePoint
If you want to help a local non-profit organization, but are strapped
for time, making a difference is easier than ever.
There are a variety of new ways you can make an impact in your community
even from your computer or mobile device, as a virtual volunteer.
Go Viral
Youve probably heard about the recent ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
The movement not only raised awareness about an important cause, it also
raised an impressive sum of money.
The viral success of this campaign means that good deed doers can
expect similar projects to crop up down the line. If all you need is an internet
connection and a few spare minutes, then most anyone can help raise aware-
ness for a cause theyre passionate about. Be on the lookout for the next op-
portunity or get creative and start your own campaign.
Nominate Your Cause
As an individual, you may not have the means to bestow a large do-
nation upon your favorite charitable organization, but that doesnt mean you
cant help out in a big way.If youre inspired by the work of a non-profit and
want to say thanks, theres now a simple way to get involved, says Susan
Dewhirst, goodness programs manager at Toms of Maine.
Show Support, Remotely
Toms of Maine 50 States for Good program is spotlighting a proj-
ect that aims to revitalize a distressed park in Detroit. Anyone can show sup-
port with just a few clicks by helping decide what new items should go into
the park, such as a swing set, art installation, upcycled benches or a bas-
ketball court, among other items. Like, share and post your social support
for the project by visiting www.50StatesforGood.com and follow the parks
progress at www.Twitter.com/TomsofMaine.
Make Connections Online
One-on-one tutoring is one of the most useful ways to help children
succeed academically. But traditional face-to-face tutoring requires more
than just the one productive hour of instruction since the commute is a factor
as well. Look into online tutoring programs that eliminate that hurdle. For
example, TutorChatLive recruits volunteers to remotely tutor underserved
students.
Even if youre busy, new avenues for giving back are making it pos-
sible for anyone to make a positive contribution.
- Courtesy of StatePoint
Making Music Part of Daily
Life Can Beneft Kids
Volunteer in Your Community
and Beyond
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Spooktacular
Halloween
Fest i val
Oct. 25
th

1-4pm
Rain or Shine
on the
Village Green
Trick-or-Treating
Pumpkin Painting
Wagon Rides
CostumeContest
Rt. 288 and Midlothian Tnpk
SOUTHSIDE 9770 Midlothian Tpk., Steinmart Shopping Center 804-272-2229
WEST END 9127 W. Broad St., T.J. Maxx Shopping Center 804-346-5552
Visit us at: www.onceuponachildrichmond.com
*No appointment necessary. Call for store and buying hours.
KIDS' STUFF WITH PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
BRING IN THIS AD TO RECEIVE $5.00 OFF ANY PURCHASE OF $30 OR MORE
Offer not valid with any other offer or discount. Limit 1 coupon per customer/per visit. Offer expires October 31, 2014
2 RICHMOND AREA LOCATIONS!
Costumes may come and go,
but here, savings stay.
Low prices on the cutest costumes around.
And we'll pay cash on the spot
for last year's costume.
Nothing tricky about that!
Deals on kids' costumes
that are really a treat
W
ith classes, sports, home-
work and other activi-
ties, weekdays are action
packed for kids. Unfortu-
nately, some students deal
with an unwelcome addi-
tion to their daily routine
-- bullying. An estimated
13 million students are bul-
lied annually, according to
government statistics.
With online social
media so widely available
to kids today, bullying
doesnt necessarily stop
after school. The repercus-
sions can be missed days of
school, depression and even suicide.
Fortunately, kids are getting
more help these days as bullying
prevention efforts are growing na-
tionwide.
Cartoon Network has been
a pioneer in this space and its Stop
Bullying: Speak Up campaign has
been empowering bystanders to put
a stop to bullying since it launched in
2010. On average, more than 100,000
people visit the initiatives website
monthly to learn prevention strate-
gies.
Speaking up to a trusted
adult is the safest, most effective
way for victims and bystanders to
bring an end to a bullying situation,
says Alice Cahn, Cartoon Network
vice president of social responsibil-
ity. Bystanders in particular can be
powerful agents for change when
they report incidents.
Support for Cartoon Net-
works award-winning pro-social
effort has come from such diverse
organizations as Facebook, Boys &
Girls Clubs of America, LG Mobile,
and CNN. President Obama even
invited Cartoon Network to the first
Bullying Prevention Summit at the
White House, and later introduced
the initiatives first documentary,
Speak Up.
Cartoon Networks Speak
Up Week (Sept. 29 - Oct. 3) kicks off
National Bullying Prevention Month
in October and is a great time to re-
view ways that adults and kids can
stand up to bullying:
Cyberbullying: Dont contrib-
ute to the problem by sharing,
saving, forwarding or reposting
information. If youre on the re-
ceiving end, resist the urge to get
back at the person or fix the issue
online -- both can make the prob-
lem worse. Get offline and deal
with it in real life. Parents can
help prevent cyberbullying by
monitoring kids use of comput-
ers, mobile phones and tablets.
Dont stand by: Research has
found that when bullying occurs
and a bystander intervenes by
speaking up, more than half of
bullying situations stop within
just 10 seconds.
Share your voice: Cartoon Net-
work is recruiting students,
parents, teachers, legislators
and anyone concerned about
bullying prevention to submit
user-generated videos that fea-
ture individuals declaring the
phrase, I Speak Up! You can
use a smartphone or go online
to upload your own video to
the www.StopBullyingSpeakUp.
com website.
Participants are also encour-
aged to use the hashtag, #ISpeakUp
to share videos via their own social
media platforms to help spread the
word and enlist friends to take part
in the challenge. Select videos will
appear on-air as part of new cam-
paign spots for Cartoon Network, its
digital platforms and Boomerang.
Listen: Parents should check in
with kids periodically to make
sure theyre safe and happy at
school, on the playground and
online. If youre an adult and a
child tells you about a bullying
situation, listen. Either let the
school know about the issue or
talk to the other childrens par-
ents about putting a stop to the
behavior.
- Courtesy of StatePoint
I
t happened again this year:
The kids are back in the class-
room before youve had the
chance to blink. Thankfully, new
developments in education are
making it easier than ever for stu-
dents to hit the ground running.
These days, technology
has the power to dramatically im-
prove how kids digest, retain and
apply information, if you know
how to use it. Check out these
great study tips that can help
your student achieve the grades
they strive for.
Quit Cramming
All-nighters are relics of
the Saved by the Bell era. Re-
search shows that students who
cram the evening before a test
or quiz are less likely to perform
well the following day. Rest is
critical for academic success.
Instead of packing learn-
ing into marathon sessions, stu-
dents should maintain a regular
study schedule leading up to
their tests and should make sure
to get plenty of shuteye.
Create a Digital Tool-
Kit
There are unique tech tools
available that make the studying
process more efficient, engaging
and effective.
For example, McGraw-
Hill Educations LearnSmart pro-
vides an adaptive digital tutor
that continuously assesses a stu-
dents knowledge and skills and
provides personalized recom-
mendations that help them mas-
ter content over time. By helping
students focus their study time
more on learning what they dont
know and less on what they al-
ready know, LearnSmart can help
turn C students into B students
and B students into Astudents.
The company also offers
SmartBook, a personalized digital
textbook that adjusts on the fly
and highlights important infor-
mation based on each students
strengths and weaknesses. See
www.mheducation.com/back-to-
school.
Jump Around
When prepping for a test,
most students review course
materials in chronological order.
While this approach may seem
logical, research suggests that
studying out-of-order
helps students retain
standalone knowl-
edge more effectively.
This allows them to
recall information in
a randomized fashion
(the way it appears on
tests).
If your children
apply themselves and
use these tips to guide
their studies, theyll
have a leg up.
This is the era of digital
education, said Jeff Livingston,
senior vice president of McGraw-
Hill Education. We must contin-
ue to develop adaptive technolo-
gies that streamline the learning
process and increase the potential
of students everywhere.
- Courtesy of StatePoint
Put a stop to bullying
Study Tips for the
Digital Age
14 u RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u OCTOBER 2014 WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u OCTOBER 2014 u 15
What Every Parent Needs to Know
about Childrens Heart Health
When thinking of heart disease, older adults typically come to mind,
but children also can have heart disease, often with devastating outcomes.
Pediatric cardiomyopathy is a potentially life-threatening disease and the
leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in children. Cardiomyopathy is
a chronic disease of the heart muscle that affects the hearts ability to pump
blood. About 2,000 people under 25 die of SCA each year, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but there are preventative mea-
sures.
In many cases, if cardiomyopathy is detected early and managed
properly, sudden cardiac death can be prevented, says Lisa Yue, a parent
who lost two children to cardiomyopathy and founder of the Childrens Car-
diomyopathy Foundation (CCF). Knowing the symptoms and risk factors
for cardiomyopathy can help save lives.
While pediatricians can respond to more obvious symptoms, iden-
tifying pediatric cardiomyopathy can be challenging because some affected
children are symptom-free. It is not uncommon for cardiomyopathy to be
missed or misdiagnosed as a cold, flu or asthma.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, fainting, chest pain,
dizziness, heart palpitations and fatigue. Infants may experience poor weight
gain, difficulty breathing, excessive sweating or lethargy. It is important for
parents to communicate concerns to the pediatrician.
Cardiomyopathy can be inherited or acquired through a viral infec-
tion or from cancer chemotherapy, according to Dr. Steven Lipshultz, pedia-
trician-in-chief of Childrens Hospital of Michigan and chair of CCFs medi-
cal advisory board.
Since most cardiomyopathies are inherited, understanding a fam-
ilys cardiac history is the best way to prevent premature death. Hereditary
risk factors include having a family member who is disabled by heart dis-
ease, has died of heart disease before age 50, or was diagnosed with Long
QT syndrome, cardiomyopathy, Marfan syndrome or a heart rhythm issue.
Family members who exhibit symptoms such as chest pain, discomfort upon
exertion, fatigue, fainting or high blood pressure should be evaluated by a
cardiologist.
Adolescents with an underlying heart condition like cardiomyopa-
thy are at a higher risk for SCAdue to increased physical activity and certain
body changes. SCAis the top cause of death on school property, and accord-
ing to the American Heart Association these deaths occur most commonly in
high-intensity sports.
For more information about cardiomyopathy, visit www.childrens-
cardiomyopathy.org.
- Courtesy of StatePoint
LUTHER MEMORIAL SCHOOL LUTHER MEMORIAL SCHOOL
OPEN HOUSE OCTOBER 12 2 - 4:00P.M. OPEN HOUSE OCTOBER 12 2 - 4:00P.M.
WWW.LUTHERMEMORIAL.COM WWW.LUTHERMEMORIAL.COM
804-321-6420 804-321-6420
For more than a century and a half, a dedicated faculty has
cultivated the scholastic, spiritual and social development of
each student. Permeating the academic, social, and personal
environments at Luther are the schools religious origins and
philosophy.
Faith-based school for students in
preschool through eighth grade.
Founded in 1856, Luther Memorial
School is the oldest
parochial school
in the Richmond region.
Luthers spiritual underpin-
ning provides a secure place
for young children to go forth
from home for the rst time, for
elementary students to explore
and learn with guidance, and
for middle school students to
begin their adolescence.
The citys oldest school for PK-3 through 8th Grade
Luther is accredited by the National Lutheran Schools Association and the Virginia Council for Private Education.
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H
alloween trails only behind
Christmas when it comes
to spending on decorations.
Americans spent an estimated $6.9
billion on Halloween in 2013, accord-
ing to the National Retail Federation.
You can make more of your Hallow-
een spending with a few spooky tips.
Here are some tips from Larry Kirch-
ner, owner of Hauntworld.com,a re-
source for building haunts, and a na-
tional directory of haunted houses,
corn mazes, hayrides, and pumpkin
patches.
Spooky Faade
Give your home an abandoned,
dusty look by spinning cobwebs
and creepifying doors and windows.
Hang aged and shredded curtains
and add lights to each window.
Change outdoor lights with flicker
bulbs. Add spooky sounds for at-
mosphere. Lastly, you can purchase
affordable computer graphic effects
from HauntedHouseSupplies.com
and with a TV pressed into your
window, add anything from ghosts
to werewolves to your haunt.
Cemetery
Let the leaves collect for a few weeks
in your yard. Add a gothic fence and
a few zombies popping up through
the ground. Add jute material or
aged cheesecloth to your fence. Add-
ing bodies under trees or creepy
birds helps set the scene. Make
gravestones by using a hot knife to
carve foam into shapes, and add an
epitaph. To give the tombstone a real
stone look, coat in plaster or light-
weight concrete. Two simple doll
rods driven into the ground can hold
the tombstone in place. For a cof-
fin, nail together 1 by 6 and 2 by 2
pine boards. For the extra effect, add
mulch in front of the tombstones or
use paving bricks in the shape of a
grave filled with mulch.
Spooky Maze
Empty the garage and set up walls
to create two to three scary scenes.
If your garage isnt big enough,
start the attraction inside and have
it exit into the backyard graveyard.
Start by sketching a design. You can
build simple walls from plywood or
drywall. For the old rotting look, cut
odd shapes into the walls and screw
in thin slats of wood behind the cut
out holes. For best results, cake on
plaster between the slats, then use
raised wallpaper for the rest. Paint
the entire wall one color and add
some watered down black paint for
an aged look.
Eerie Effects
Spooky sounds, special effects and
lighting make all the difference. Play
a spooky soundtrack from a movie
or find music online. Buy a couple
of cheap skeleton speakers, available
online for as low as $10. For home
haunters on a budget, air cannons or
any loud noise are great for scares.
Create special effects with fog ma-
chines and air compressors. Finally,
dress up in your spookiest costume
and make your guests scream for
candy!
To prepare for next year, stock up on
deeply discounted props the day af-
ter Halloween. For more inspiration
on Halloween or haunted houses,
see www.Hauntworld.com.
- Courtesy of StatePoint
Great ways to haunt
your house
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16 u RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u OCTOBER 2014 WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u OCTOBER 2014 u 17
October
2014
OCT. 1-5
STATE FAIR OF VIRGINIA: 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Satur-
days, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays-
Thursdays, Meadow Event Park,
Doswell, Exit 98 off Interstate 95;
Weekends, $15 adults, $10 youth
and senior; weekday, $12 adults and
$8 seniors and youth; season pass
$30 at the gate; admission is free
for ages 4 and younger; www.state-
fairva.org
OCT. 1
ELI YOUNG BAND: Innsbrook
After Hours performance with guest
artist to be announced, 4901 Lake
Brook Drive, Glen Allen; gates open 5
p.m., $15-$99; innsbrookafterhours.
comfor information, ticketstobuy.com
for tickets
BOB TROTMAN: BUSINESS AS
USUAL: Gallery talk 6:30 p.m. by
North Carolina native artist at Visual
Arts Center of Richmond, 1812 W.
Main St.; exhibit continues through
Oct. 31; visarts.org
OCT. 2
AGING WITH GRACE SUP-
PORT GROUP: 9 a.m., 7050
Coachman Lane, Henrico; for indi-
viduals and family members dealing
with issues of aging and age-related
challenges; rst Thursdays, spon-
sored by the Aging in Grace Ministry
of the Virginia Council of Churches;
(804) 313-6297
OCT. 3
BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR
CELEBRATION LUNCHEON:
Noon to 1:30 p.m., The Jefferson Ho-
tel; Ninth annual Survivor Celebration
luncheon with featured speaker Jody
Kerns, a comedian and breast cancer
survivor; luncheon, fellowship and
celebration with other breast cancer
survivors, their friends, family and
supporters; $25 for breast cancer
survivors and $35 for guests; Virginia
Breast Cancer Foundation; vbcf.org
ASHLAND BERRY FARM
HAUNTED EVENINGS: Four
haunts: Booger Woods, Morbid Man-
or, Old Ridge Asylum and Sinister
Sideshow; 12607 Old Ridge Road,
Beaverdam, ashlandberryfarm.com
CREEPY HOLLOW SCREAM
PARK: Opening night; scary hay-
ride, haunted forest, 14435 Stone
Horse Creek Road, Glen Allen; $15
each event, $24 for both with online
coupon; various days through Nov. 1,
richmondscreams.com for dates and
time and additional information
OCT. 4
BON AIR JUNIOR WOMENS
CLUB FALL BRAZAAR: Fourth
annual free health festival for women
that features healthcare providers
and cancer care agencies, support
group and experts in holistic health
and nutrition; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Up-
town Alley, 6101 Brad McNeer Park-
way, Midlothian; also features arts
and crafts and other vendors and mu-
sic, with performers including Nekkid
Country, Matt Via, Red Reign, The
Kind Eye Project, Richard Moore and
No Last Names; www.fallbrazaar.
com
INTERNATIONAL FOOD FES-
TIVAL: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Cathedral
of the Sacred Heart, 800 S. Cathedral
Place; food fare from Richmonds
faith community, with participants in-
cluding Our Lady of Lourdes Filipino
Festival, St. Benedicts Oktoberfest
and the Sacred Heart Hispanic Fes-
tival; full portions ($4 to $6) and sam-
ple sizes ($2) available, free event,
parking available at Virginia Com-
monwealth University parking deck
at the Altria Theatre; cathedralfood-
festival.com
FREE FLU SHOTS: 9 a.mm. to 1
p.m. St. Francis Watkins Center, 601
Watkins Center Parkway off Midlo-
thian Turnpike; also features family
activities including free hot dogs and
snacks and rafes and giveaways;
also offered 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18;
richmond.bonsecours.com
SEARS SAFETY EVENT: Regen-
cy Square, 1420 N. Parham Road;
(804) 740-7467
OCT. 7
FLU SHOT CLINIC: Garden
Room, Regency Square; 1420 N.
Parham Road; (804) 740-7467
OCT. 8
EARTH, WIND & FIRE: Inns-
brook After Hours performance with
guest artist to be announced, 4901
Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen; gates
open 5 p.m., $20-$99; innsbrookaf-
terhours.com for information, ticket-
stobuy.com for tickets
OCT. 10
BLOOD LAKE HAUNTED
TRAIL: Opening night, three attrac-
tions: Grimms Reapers, Sandmans
Nightmare and Z-Alamo; Windy Hill
Sports Complex, 16500 Midlothian
Turnpike; tickets $7 kids, $8 adults to
$16 kids and $19 adults for all three;
bloodlakeva.com
OCT. 11
Jody Kerns, Cancer Event Speaker
18 u RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u OCTOBER 2014 WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM WWW.RICHMONDPARENTS.COM RICHMOND PARENTS MONTHLY u OCTOBER 2014 u 19
Lets Go! October 2014
SUBSCRIBE
TODAY!
FOR YOUR
HOME DELIVERY
Send payment,
Name & Address to:
Richmond Parents
Subscription
8010 Ridge Road, Suite F
Henrico, VA 23229
For more information
call 673-5203
$
25
00
ONLY
per year
Entries are subject to change;
call to confirm dates and times.
Entries for the November calendar
are due October 9; send items to
calendar@richmondpublishing.com.
LUNCHEON AND FASHION
SHOW: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,
Victory Tabernacle Church of God
fellowship hall, 11700 Genito Road,
Midlothian; Central Virginia Chapter
of the Virginia Breast Cancer Foun-
dation and Red Hat Friends event;
breast cancer survivor models in
fashions provided by Stein Mart; $35,
benets local breast cancer founda-
tion; wear pink to the event; vbcf.org
OCT. 17-18
RICHMOND OKTOBERFEST:
Family-friendly celebration of Bavar-
ian culture; 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. each
day, Old Dominion Building, Rich-
mond International Raceway Com-
plex, 600 E. Laburnum; http://www.
richmondoktoberfestinc.com/
OCT. 17
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY
AGE-WAVE COALITION FO-
CUS GROUP: 10:30 a.m. to noon,
free; adult volunteers needed to
participate in focus group to explore
ways to better meet the needs of the
countys aging population; Debbie
Leidheiser, (804) 768-7878
OCT. 18
STEP OUT: WALK TO STOP DI-
ABETES: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.,
Bon Secours Washington Redskins
Training Center; fundraiser features
5-K walk, Wellness Village, Kid Zone,
entertainment and lunch for walkers;
check in at 8:30 a.m., walk begins at
9:30 a.m.; diabetes.org/stepoutrich-
mond, (804) 225-8038 extension
3255 for information or to register
GRANDPARENT CONNEC-
TION CONFERENCE: 8:30 a.m.
to 1:30 p.m., Southminster Presby-
terian Church, North Chestereld;
conference for grandparents and
other kin raising a child; workshops
for adults include sessions on posi-
tive discipline, legal issues, special
needs child, ADD and ADHS, tech
savvyness and family dynamics; ac-
tivities for children durings sessions;
Chestereld Ofce of the Senior Ad-
vocate event; chestereld.gov/senio-
radvocate
HARVEST FESTIVAL: Noon to
4 p.m., Meadow Farm, 3400 Moun-
tain View Road, Glen Allen; tradi-
tional harvest activities at 19th cen-
tury park; also features All-American
Lumberjack Show, wagon ride pulled
by steam-powered tractor and pump-
kin patch; (804) 795-2334
OCT. 24
EERIE NIGHTS GHOST
TOURS: 8 and 10 p.m., ghastly
ghoul takes you on a walking tour of
haunted places and spaces of Rich-
mond; for mature audience, but fami-
lies welcome, younger than 16 must
be accompanied by adult; $10-$13,
17th Street Farmers Market; eerien-
ights.com
OCT. 25
POWHATANS FESTIVAL OF
THE GRAPE: Celebration of Virgin-
ia wines, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Powhatan
Courthouse Square; 30 wineries, arts
and crafts, entertainment and food;
Hat Parade, design your own hat,
at 1:15 p.m.; $25 advance, $30 ad-
vance for tasting ticket, $15 advance,
$20 at gate for non-tasting ticket;
powhatanwinefestival.com
OCT. 30-NOV. 2
FIRE, FLOUR & FORK; Four-day
culinary gathering in celebration of
ne food in Richmond for the culinary
curious; with heirloomdishes, kitchen
secrets and stories that link past to
present; events include 13 dinners
with local and out-of-area chefs, 6
signature dinners; 48 demonstrations
and talks, a Festival of the Hun-
gry Ghosts and Mary Randolphs
Moveable Feast; DNA and Virginia
Tourism Corporation event benets
local charities; prices vary be event;
reourandfork.com
OCT. 30
BIG BAND HALLOWEEN COS-
TUME BALL: John Marshall Hotel,
101 N. 5thSt.; doors open 5:30 p.m.,
music 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; $58, prizes;
(804) 775-2323
OCT. 31
REGENCY MALL TRICK OR
TREAT: Mallwide, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.;
1420 N. Parham Road; (804) 740-
7467
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Call 8-1-1
Before You Dig!
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Utility Buddy is DPUs friendly,
life-sized natural gas meter.
Getting ready to install a fence,
or maybe putting an addition
onto your house?
Contractors, Homeowners &
Do-It-Yourselfers, ALWAYS call 8-1-1
before you dig.
Calling 8-1-1 helps to avoid expensive
fines and knocking out utility service.
And its the law.
Brought to you by the City of
Richmonds Natural Gas Safety Program.
Natural Gas.
A clean, safe, domestic energy for years to come.
Receive a
FREE
8-1-1 APRON!
Email us at: utilitybuddy@richmondgov.com
with the phrase:
I always call 8-1-1 before I dig!
Know whats below.
Call before you dig.