LexFUN! October 2014 Newsletter

Posted on October 1, 2014 by lexfiveandundernetwork

Guest Column: Cradles to Crayons Teen Leader Ilise Martel

With Many Thanks To…

Looking to access information on the LexFUN! website? Gain entry with the password “fiveandunder“.

Executive Board Letter

The fall has always been my favorite season and each year I am reminded of why. “In the entire circle of the year there are no days so delightful as those of a fine October, when the trees are bare to the mild heavens, and the red leaves bestrew the road, and you can feel the breath of winter, morning and evening–no days so calm, so tenderly solemn, and with such a reverent meekness in the air.” (Alexander Smith)

The beauty of fall and the fresh crisp air is certainly unmatched. And so are the goodies! It is the time for apple crisp, pumpkin pie, bread pudding, and cranberry coffee cake or something new like apple brownies or sweet potato cupcakes with toasted marshmallow frosting. Make any of those wonderful dishes, with your children, and even your kitchen will thank you for the delicious smells and warmth the whole experience brings to your heart, and tummy! It is also the time to get out on the soccer and football fields and cheer on our little and big athletes. I still get butterflies when it is time to start the fall sports season.

Three cheers for LexFUN!’s Membership Kick-off party! This event was an entire day filled with fun, information, connections, and of course, a lot of SWAG! We hope the members had as much fun as we did with the non-stop entertainment. The visit to the Fire Station proved once again to be a big hit! Our Lexington fire fighters are amazing and the children and adults were thoroughly entertained and informed. The Mom’s Night Out was well deserved and a blast. It was nice to see our friends at Youville, the monthly visit is always heart warming and just a joy to be part of. The Drop-in center is in full swing and welcomes new and returning visitors to stop on by and let the little ones run off some of the sweets of the season. When you are not apple picking or pumpkin carving, keep an eye out for upcoming events: Let loose at the Working Mom’s Night Out; Visit our friends at Youville; Plan your child’s preschool experience at the Early Education event; and end the month with the Halloween Parade that always promises to make you smile and enjoy a morning with the family.

Please also be sure to take part in our annual Winter Drive for Cradles to Crayons. We will accept collections throughout the month of October at the storage unit located in the parking lot of St. Brigid’s. We look forward to getting together with our members to sort through our community’s generosity on November 1st.

It is a busy time of year but reaps so many countless benefits, thanks to our children. “Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn.” (Elizabeth Lawrence). On behalf of LexFUN!’s Executive Board, enjoy the season and give your goblins and princesses an extra hug, they have probably earned it.

LexFUN! Executive Board:

Co-President: Lindsay Wedell
Co-President: Leigh-Ann Durant
Vice President, Membership: Emily Wildfire
Vice President, Community Service: Julie Callahan
Vice President, Advertising/Sponsorship: Sam Carreiro
Treasurer: Valerie Machinist
Secretary: Joyce Dvorak

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Guest Column: Cradles to Crayons Teen Leader Ilise Martel

Photo: Cradles to Crayons Teen Leaders Jazi Charbit and Ilise Martel in the Lexington Community Collection Unit in St. Brigid’s parking lot.

When I first heard about Cradles to Crayons (C2C) I was volunteering at Artspan, a summer camp in Lexington. I picked up a flyer and was surprised by what I read: over 300,000 Massachusetts children ages 0-12 live in homeless or low-income situations. At first, I couldn’t fathom this statistic. I have grown up with access to the essentials and was not aware of the scale of poverty in Massachusetts.

Brighton-based nonprofit Cradles to Crayons provides local children living in homeless or low-income situations with essential items they need to thrive – at school, at home and at play. They are able to supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need. Donations are processed and packaged by volunteers and distributed to children across the state through a collaborative network of social service agencies and school partners.

When I first volunteered at Cradles to Crayons I was deeply impressed. When you enter the C2C Giving Factory in Brighton, a sea of smiling purple people and shelves lined with clothes, art supplies, toys, and books greet you. I knew I wanted to stay involved. I started a C2C Club at Lexington High School and joined the organization’s Teen Leadership Corps (TLC). As a teen leader and team captain, I am connected with other teenagers throughout Massachusetts who have a passion for service. We attend C2C training and leadership development days, share our experiences, and complete service projects in our communities. I have helped organize bake sales, homemade recycled crayon sales, clothing drives, and “Give Back With a Bite”: a large fundraiser that took place last April at the East End Grille in Somerville. Through TLC, I have learned how to be a leader and active listener.

One of the most unique aspects of C2C is the organization’s emphasis on value. Volunteers at C2C’s Giving Factory come together at the end of each shift to celebrate the number of kids they impacted during their service. Whether it is through children’s items donated, dollars raised, or time spent, every contribution helps to carry out Cradles to Crayons’ mission. This year, C2C expects to serve 75,000 children in-need.

In addition to volunteering at the Giving Factory and holding fundraisers, I love engaging with my community through the LexFUN! Family Time to Give event at St. Brigid’s Parish. At this annual morning of service, volunteers of all ages sort, inspect, and pack donations collected by the community for children served by C2C. The generous donations from last year’s effort impacted 400 local children!

Learn what the Cradles to Crayons volunteer experience is all about at this year’s LexFUN! Family Time to Give event on Saturday, November 1^st from 9:00am – 11:00am at St. Brigid’s Parish. Clean out your closets and join the fun!

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Community Service

Lexington Fire Station
Some of Lexington’s best community helpers welcomed our group at the fire station on Bedford street. Our little ones sat in the ambulance, got to pretend to drive the ladder truck, slide down the fire pole, and learn some important fire safety things (such as changing the batteries in your smoke detectors regularly). Thank you to the fire fighters who were so kind to our group and generous with their time.

Youville Place
Last month, we had our first event at Youville and had a blast! It was so sweet to see the residents’ faces light up when they saw the children. Lots of laughs, love and an all-around good time! Come join the fun and bring your lil’ pumpkins to the October event on Wednesday, October 15th from 10:00am – 11:00am where we will be making pumpkins. Youville Place is located at 10 Pelham Road in Lexington (off Mass. Ave.). Please contact Elizabeth Restivo at restivodemunoz@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Meals on Wheels: Get Out and About!

It is a great time to get out and help the seniors in our community. Please consider delivering Meals on Wheels. You can do the deliveries with (or without!) your children, and you may sign up for as little as one delivery at a time, which means you can participate when your schedule allows. Many of our drivers find this a rewarding activity for themselves and their children. The seniors really look forward to the weekly interaction. To sign up or find out more about delivering meals, please email Anne Boulter at anne@boulter.com.

Upcoming Fall/Winter Clothing Drive
Don’t forget: The winter wear drive to benefit Cradles to Crayons is happening now! As you begin to organize your family’s gear, please set aside winter clothing to donate to this wonderful cause. The permanent Cradles To Crayons storage unit is located in the parking lot at St. Brigid’s church on Mass Ave. and can receive donations 24/7! Take advantage of the opportunity to clean out your closets and help children have clothes and gear to have when they enter this world as well as head off to school. The sorting event takes place on November 1st from 9:00-11:00am at St. Brigid’s Parish Hall.

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Ongoing Programs and Events

The Drop-In Center
When it comes to indoor play spaces in Lexington, LexFUN!’s weekly Drop-in Center can’t be beat! Every Friday, preschoolers, toddlers, babies and their parents and caregivers drop in to play, explore and learn in a huge indoor play area filled with age appropriate toys and activities. Children develop social, physical, and sensory skills through hands on free play activities, books and crafts.
WHEN & WHERE: Every Friday from 9:30 – 11:30am during the Fall, Winter and Spring (from September 19th through April 10th) at St. Brigid’s Parish Hall, 2001 Mass. Ave.

WinterFUN!
WinterFUN! is a drop-in arts and crafts program for toddlers and preschoolers. It is held every other Wednesday morning (9:30 AM – 11:00 AM) during the school year at St. Brigid’s Church Parish Hall (2001 Mass Avenue in Lexington). For a nominal fee of $2 per child ($5 max per family) we have a theme every week, a snack, toys and even coffee for the adults!

Our first craft of the year will be Oct. 8th making leaf sun catchers. On Oct. 22nd we’ll be doing a spider craft! It’s sure to be a good time, and I hope you’ll all join us. Make sure to mark it on your calendars, and we’ll see you on Wed. Oct. 8th!

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Sponsor Spotlight

Lexington Pediatrics is pleased to be the “medical home” for your children. We are affiliated with Children’s Hospital Boston and with Harvard Medical School. Our physicians are actively involved in teaching residents and medical students. We are also active in the community, serving as medical consults for area schools, day care centers, and area children’s groups.

All of our doctors and nurse practitioners are fully credentialed in pediatrics, and regularly attend conferences and workshops to keep our knowledge base up to date.

When your family joins Lexington Pediatrics, you will be asked to select a primary care physician (PCP). Routine well-child checks are scheduled with your Primary Care Physician or a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. We work in loose “teams” and make every effort to ensure that you see the same MD and PNP for most routine visits.

While we make every effort to ensure that most of your child’s visits will be with his PCP or PNP, there will be times–particularly for urgent care visits–when your regular doctor is not in the office or is unavailable when you need an appointment. For this reason, each practitioner in the office provides cross-coverage for the others. We all have ready access to your child’s chart, results of tests done in our lab, and notes from specialists at Children’s Hospital, and we do not hesitate to consult one another with questions.

Lexington Pediatrics is a proud “platinum “supporter of LexFUN!

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Membership Corner

A special thank you to all that attended our Kickoff Party in September. Don’t forget to check out all the swag and place your membership card in your wallet (and on your keychain!) so that you can start taking advantage of the expanded list of member benefits for the upcoming year. Present your membership card to:

Receive great shopping discounts at over 50 local participating businesses. These discounts are offered to member’s all-year round.
Receive discounted pricing when you purchase tickets to LexFUN! shows and events.

For more details about LexFUN! membership discounts please visit lexfun.org, the membership partners tab of the newsletter or look at the membership discount card you received at Open House. Check out all the new business that have joined this year. Start saving today and your membership will start paying for itself. Keep your card handy. You must present it at the time of purchase and please keep in mind that discounts cannot be combined with other offers. If you have questions about your card or shopping discounts, please email stcarreiro@yahoo.com.

If you were unable to attend Open House and have renewed your membership you will be receiving a membership discount card in the mail in the next few weeks.

Each month we highlight retail news from local merchants offering members discounts year round.

Lexington Power Yoga
Lexington Power Yoga offers heated and unheated vinyasa flow classes as well as Pure Barre classes for beginners through seasoned yogis and those wanting to get toned and in shape. Visit www.lexingtonpoweryoga.com for schedule and more information and be sure to take advantage of the coupon from your swag bag for your first class (or 10% off a 10-pack with you LexFUN! card)!

Pinot’s Palette
Whether you like to paint, enjoy a glass of wine, or do both together, Pinot’s Palette is the place to be for a night out in town. They even have family-friendly events and can host parties (for adults or kids!). Use your lexFUN! discount on a regular night, or attend one of their upcoming special events like the Glow in Dark painting event On Thursday October 2^nd. Or the Paint your own pumpkin events being held each Sunday in October. Bring your own Pumpkin big or small and we will help you and your kids paint your favorite Pumpkin painting. You can choose one from us or create your own. See the website to sign up for an event or for more information. http://www.pinotspalette.com/lexingtoncenter

Stephanie Louis Salon
Stephanie Louis Salon is a full service hair salon for both men and women in the heart of Lexington Center. Our team is dedicated to providing our clients with both modern and classic looks, while keeping with the most current trends and techniques of hair cutting and coloring. We truly care how you look and feel not only while you visit our Salon but also in between visits. Use the coupon in the swag bag or your discount card to take advantage of the LexFUN! discount on hair services and products. http://www.stephanielouissalon.com

Keeper’s Massage
Stressed? Tightly wound? Check out Keeper’s Massage! On of our Board members recently visited Keeper’s and her massage with Paula was “heavenly!”. LexFUN! members get $10 off any massage. Make sure to show your discount card and also look for a special coupon from Keeper’s Massage in the Swag Bag! Book your treatment at www.keepersmassage.com

Pure Solutions
Pure Solutions, a local company, offers organic solutions to controlling ticks, mosquitoes, and deer around our homes. They use exclusively non-toxic, organic products that are safe around children, pets, pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Adult deer ticks that can transmit Lyme disease are most active in October and November. Sign-up for a fall, organic tick control program (3-4 sprays) and receive 10% off the season.

Receive great shopping discounts at over 50 local participating businesses. These discounts are offered to member’s all-year round.
Receive discounted pricing when you purchase tickets to LexFUN! shows and events.

Laurie Lane Design, Interior Design & Fine Art
Whether you need guidance with color selection or want to redesign an entire house, through finding function, comfort and beauty, together we can create a beautiful and comfortable destination. We specialize in: All aspects of interior design, Space planning, Furniture and accessory selection, Lighting, Color selection, Flooring selection, Conceptual computer drawings in 2D & 3D, Art selection or personally created artwork and Staging. Laurie offers a generous LexFUN! discount for her services. Contact Laurie Lane at laurielanedesign@gmail.com for more information.

Jungle Jim’s Parties

A Party with Jungle Jim is a memory making extravaganza! Jim entertains the children; keeps them seated, behaving, and laughing longer than anyone should reasonably expect. Each show is fully interactive and focused on the birthday child. Your party guests will be delighted and amazed by Jungle Jim’s combination of comedy, magic, storytelling and improvisation. After the magic part of the show, each child receives a fantastic balloon sculpture of their choice to take home. Check out Jungle Jim at JungleJimBoston.com to see why he is award winning and and don’t forget, you receive 10% off any birthday party (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Balloon Magic, etc) by mentioning this advertisement and LexFUN!

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With Many Thanks To…

We would like to send out a big thank you to Tara Greiner for all of her hard work on our new and improved Membership Kick-Off Party! We had a great turn out and there was a ton of entertainment for all the little ones!

Thank you to the ladies of the Drop- In Center, Sarah Carter, Jenna DiMaio McCracken and Candice Lind. The new year has started off with a bang!

Special thanks to Jessica Paul and Christine Manavian for coordinating the amazing playground meet ups. We had fabulous turn out and the donuts were delicious! Thanks ladies!

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Newsletter brought to you by LexFUN!

Tuna Chatterjee, Editor ~ Hello, Fall!

LexFUN! September 2014 Newsletter

Posted on September 1, 2014 by lexfiveandundernetwork

Executive Board Letter

Guest Column: Sun Safety for Our Kids!

Community Service

The Buzz

Ongoing Programs and Events

Sponsor Spotlight

Membership Corner

With Many Thanks To…

Looking to access information on the LexFUN! website? Gain entry with the password “fiveandunder“.

Executive Board Letter

“Labor Day is a glorious holiday because your child will be going back to school the next day. It would have been called Independence Day, but that name was already taken.” ~ Bill Dodds, acclaimed children’s poet and novelist

After weeks of hitting the pool, picking up wet swim suits, driving to camps (SummerFenn-loved it!!), cleaning up popsicle stains and swatting mosquitoes, some of us might see the beginning of school as a much needed break from the summer. Especially those parents, like me, who straddle two worlds – the elementary school world and the toddler world. The start of school is a time for us to catch our breath.

And it’s a time for everyone in my family to look forward to Fall fun with LexFUN! As my 8 year old heads off to third grade at Bridge, my 2 year old is looking forward to spending her days with all the fun things LexFUN! has to offer in the Fall –WinterFUN! on Wednesdays, Drop-In Center on Fridays, fire station visits, playgroups, and monthly crafts at Youville. Even though he’s technically aged out of LexFUN!, my 8 year old still loves attending LexFUN! events and is looking forward to the Membership Kick Off Party, especially the party with DJ Mike and Einstein’s Workshop.

Me? I’m looking forward to a grown-up evening at Moms’ Night Out and snagging my Swag Bag with goodies at the all new Membership Kick-Off Party on Tues. Sept. 16th (Swag bags are in limited supply so stop by early!) My husband? Well, he looks forward to the Halloween Parade every year. (Don’t tell anyone, but for the past 5 years he has secretly slipped into an Elmo costume and emerged at the center of town to lead all the children in the Halloween parade. Then, with the patience of a saint, he poses for photos with all the little tykes, until the very last one has left….)

There are just so many things to love about LexFUN! in the Fall. We hope you’ll take advantage of all of them. We’re looking forward to another amazing year!!! We hope to see you at our Membership Kick Off Party on Thurs. Sept. 16th at St. Brigid’s from 9 am – 7 pm!

– Leigh-Ann Durant for the LexFUN! Executive Board

LexFUN! Executive Board:

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Guest Column: Sun Safety for Our Kids!

LexFUN! has now joined the thousands of other organizations nationwide who have joined the “SunWise” Program! The SunWise Program is a national health education program sponsored by the EPA that teaches children and their caregivers sun safety and how to protect themselves from overexposure to the sun.

What’s the goal of the SunWise Program?
Unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays during youth puts children at an increased lifetime risk for skin cancer. Overexposure to the sun can also lead to eye damage and immune system suppression. By educating ourselves and our children about UV-related health effects and steps for sun protection, we can ensure a healthy future for the next generation. LexFUN!’s goal is to promote public awareness about the importance of sun protection in an effort to decrease the incidence of skin cancer in our children.

Why be SunWise?
Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the US and Massachusetts.

The ozone layer forms a thin shield in the upper atmosphere, protecting life on Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. In the 1980s, scientists began accumulating evidence that the ozone layer was being depleted. Depletion of the ozone layer results in increased UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. Overexposure to UV radiation can lead to serious health effects, such as skin cancer, cataracts, and immune suppression.

From 2001-2005, the rate of new melanoma diagnoses, responsible for 75% of all skin cancer deaths, was 26% higher in Massachusetts than the national average. An estimate 2,000 Massachusetts residents were diagnosed with melanoma in 2008 (the latest national statistics). More than 200 people in Massachusetts die of melanoma every year. Massachusetts had the 15^th highest melanoma death rate nationally from 2001-2005 – 7% higher than the national US average.

What is LexFUN! doing to be SunWise?
The national SunWise Progam has demonstrated success in raising awareness and changing behaviors related to sun safety. LexFun! will be actively working to promote the sun safety message with its 600+ member families throughout the entire year. LexFUN! wants to make sure that every single one of its LexFUN! children is protected against overexposure to the sun.

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Community Service

Lexington Fire Station
Start the school year off in style while we honor some of Lexington’s best community helpers! Please join Community Service as we visit the Lexington Fire Station on Bedford Street on Tuesday, September 9 at 10:00am (barring emergencies!). At the visit, we will also be distributing homemade baked goods to show our appreciation for everything the Firefighters do for our community. If you are unable to join us, please consider contributing something delicious from your kitchen, which can be delivered on your behalf. Due to the nature of this event, space is limited and only open to members who are 3-5 years old. For more information about baking or to RSVP, please contact Julie Callahan at callahanseven@gmail.com

Youville Place
Youville is a monthly event where LexFUN! families join Youville Place residents to do a craft, read stories, have a snack, and make new friends. Join us on Wednesday, September 17th from 10:00am until 11:00am to see what the fun is all about. Youville Place is located at 10 Pelham Road in Lexington (off Mass. Ave.). Please contact Elizabeth Restivo at restivodemunoz@gmail.com if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!

Meals on Wheels: Get Out and About!

Upcoming Fall/Winter Clothing Drive
Don’t Forget: The winter wear drive to benefit Cradles to Crayons is coming soon! As you begin to organize your family’s gear, please set aside winter clothing to donate to this wonderful cause in October!

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The Buzz

LexFUN! Donates New, State-of-the-Art Baby Changing Stations for the Old Res

LexFUN! is the voice for young families in Lexington and is always looking to make Lexington a better place for our little ones. Case in point – the new baby changing stations at the Old Res.

How did this come about? A few months ago, a LexFUN! member took her toddler to the Old Res. While changing her diaper in the bathroom, the toddler almost fell off the “changing table”. The “changing table” was nothing more than a piece of wood nailed to the wall. As the LexFUN! member looked closer, she saw a little old faded sign which said the “changing table” was donated by LexFUN in 1984 – over 30 years ago! She brought this to the attention of LexFUN! and LexFUN! immediately decided to address the situation. Within 7 days, LexFUN! had secured permission from the Town to upgrade the tables and had 2 changing tables on order – one for the women’s bathroom and one for the men’s (we support equal opportunity for diaper changing!).

So next time you’re at the Old Res, check out the new changing stations! We hope they make the lives of young families just a little bit easier.

LexFUN! Celebrates the Opening of the Lincoln Park Bathrooms

The Lincoln Park Bathroom Project has been in the works for a long, long time but this summer they became a reality.

LexFUN! was one of many local organizations who made donations and helped raise funds for the project. So to all the LexFUN! members who contributed to this effort – thank you!!!!!

At last, no more Port-a-Potties at Lincoln Field!

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Ongoing Programs and Events

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Sponsor Spotlight

Wingate Wealth Advisors

Plan for the Expected, Prepare for the Unexpected

LexFUN! is proud to have again partnered with Wingate for the 2014-2015 year and values their sponsorship and the services that they offer to young families.

Do you picture yourself owning or upgrading to a new home, saving for your child’s education, starting a business, building a or retiring comfortably? These are a few of the financial goals that may be important to you, and each comes with a price tag attached.
That’s where financial planning comes in. Financial planning is a process that can help you reach your goals by evaluating your whole financial picture, then outlining strategies that are tailored to your individual needs and available resources.Wingate Has Solutions for Your Specific Needs

Wingate Wealth Advisors is an independent wealth management and financial planning organization dedicated to serving the personal financial needs of individuals and families. Families with young children have so much to think about that financial matters such as life insurance, investments, college savings and retirement often seem overwhelming and get pushed to the wayside. Wingate helps you take charge of your financial future in an easy and organized manner.

Wingate has been providing financial guidance for over 25 years. Their integrated approach begins with financial planning to ensure your investment plan is aligned with your particular needs, goals and circumstances. In the initial conversation they’ll discuss your hopes and dreams, as well as your concerns and what keeps you up at night. You will talk about your goals – personal, family, financial and professional – about where you’d like to be in five or ten or twenty years. In short, they want to understand where you are now, how you got here and where you’d like to go so they can develop, implement and monitor you’re the best financial plan for your family. Afterwards, they’ll meet and talk with you often to ensure it stays that way even as your life changes.

The Wingate staff is comprised of highly credentialed associates with broad experience developing effective solutions for a wide range of personal financial situations. Their job is to help you plan for the expected, and prepare for the unexpected.

Contact Susie Neal at susie.neal@wingatewealthadvisors.com today to learn how to get started and to take advantage of the genererous LexFUN! discount offered to members and be sure to attend their seminar on college savings this month.

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Membership Corner

LexFUN!’s New All-Day, Non-Stop Membership Kick Off Party!Tuesday, September 16th, 9:00 am – 7:00 pm St. Brigid’s Parish – Keilty Hall

The crowd enjoying the magic show!_8016836732_l

LexFUN! (Lexington’s Five and Under Network, Inc.) invites all families with young children to celebrate the start of a new LexFUN! season at its All-Day, Non-Stop Membership Kick Off Party at St. Brigid’s Parish, 2001 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA 02421 on Tuesday, September 16, 2014. The event will run from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm with non-stop programming throughout the day.

Ready for the best part? The event is open to the public and free of charge! LexFUN! invites both members and non-member families who would like to learn what LexFUN! has to offer to this event.

Parents can learn about all of LexFUN!’s social and recreational events, such as Drop in Center, WinterFun!, Playgroups, Halloween Parade, and Moms Nights Out. They can learn about LexFUN!’s educational programs, such as its seminar series on parenting skills, nutrition and preparing for kindergarten. They can also see first-hand the various charitable programs LexFUN! engages in with our young children and their families, such as Cradles to Crayons, food drives, and visiting local seniors. New families may become members of LexFUN! at the Kick Off Party. Existing members should renew online before the Party.

While parents learn about LexFUN!, children can enjoy our non-stop entertainment from 10 am to 7 pm. No matter what time you stop by, something fun will be going on! Older school-aged siblings will also enjoy the entertainment.

Schedule of Events

10:00 am Big Joe the Storyteller
11:00 am Interactive Baby Zumba Class **first time appearance at event**
12:30 pm Story and Songs with Cary Librarian
1:00 pm Karen K and the Jitterbugs musical performance
2:30 pm Dance Party with DJ Mike **first time appearance at event**
5:00 pm Interactive Einstein’s Workshop Class **first time appearance at event**Plus, there will be face paintings, crafts, balloons, snacks and surprises throughout the day.

LexFUN! Swag Bags filled with goodies, giveaways and coupons from businesses in Town will be given out on a first-come first-serve basis to Members who renew or sign-up on Big Tent prior to September 15th and to New Members who sign up for the 1st time at the Kick Off Party. Limited quantities will be available so come early. Swag Bags will also include:

● The 2014-2015 edition of The LexFUN! Guide For Young Families. This go-to book is an invaluable resource for all types of activities happening in and around Lexington and provides LexFUN! Family Favorites, a detailed list of child-care centers and preschools in Town, as well as a full listing of over 40+ summer camps. The Guide will also be available in an on-line version on our web site.

● The 2014-2015 Membership Card, now a convenient key tag, is your ticket to shopping, dining and entertainment discounts at local businesses in and around Town. This year’s discount list has been expanded to include even more businesses and discounts than ever, such as Bella Sante, Ruyi, Catch a Falling Star, MyCleaners,Via Lago and Pinot’s Palette! The Membership Card is also your FREE pass to our Member Appreciation Party in November.

Bring your children, re-connect with old friends, make new friends and see first-hand why everyone says “LexFUN! is your connection to EVERYTHING for young families in Lexington.” Sign up for a playgroup, a book group, or an evening seminar. Find out more about our upcoming family and parent-only programs, and stay for the fabulous FREE entertainment. There is ample free parking in St. Brigid’s parking lot so you can stay for as long as you want.

Learn more about member only benefits on Big Tent. (Big Tent is an online community that allows non-profits like LexFUN! to share information, communicate, and organize in an online community – Bigtent.com).

LexFUN! is a volunteer organization of families providing social, educational and charitable programs and activities to families with children ages 0-5. A non-profit organization, LexFUN! is not affiliated with any public or private school. Membership ($35 annually per family) is open to anyone in Lexington and surrounding communities. More information can be found at www.lexfun.org. To join today, log onto http://www.lexfun.org/join-lexfun

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With Many Thanks To…

We would like to send out a big thank you to our SummerFUN! Co-Chairs, Natalie Fieldgate and Colleen Gallagher. They helped promote our LexFUN! community this summer by hosting our outdoor arts and crafts series and I know the kids around town enjoyed seeing their friends over the summer! Great job ladies!

Thanks to Samantha Carreiro, Shannon Duffy and Gretchen Mather for a stellar year of sponsors and booklet ad sponsorship! They had a very busy summer of collecting sponsors for our Annual Guide and our Annual Sponsors. Thanks to them, we’ve had a record year of ad sales for the booklet, which helps us give more to our LexFUND! Scholarship program! Awesome job!

Laura Wilkas our new LexFUN! Graphic Designer has been hard at work this summer updating and making us look more professional than ever! Thank you for all of your hard work!

Lauren Funk and Patrice Cleaves and the entire scholarship committee, have been hard at work this summer making decisions for LexFUND! We were able to send more children to preschool and we thank them for all of their hard work and dedication!

And finally, we would like to thank Natalie Cohen and Susannah Hoch for their work on the Annual Guide. This is such an important resource for all the young families in Lexington and we thank you for your hard work on this project!

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Newsletter brought to you by LexFUN!

Tuna Chatterjee, Editor ~ Hello, Fall!

LexFUN! June 2014 Newsletter

Posted on May 30, 2014 by lexfiveandundernetwork

Executive Board Letter

Guest Column:Thank you from Cradles to Crayons!

Consignment Sale Wrap-Up

Community Service

Kindergarten Korner

The Buzz

Ongoing Programs and Events

Membership Corner

With Many Thanks To…

Looking to access information on the LexFUN! website?

Gain entry with the password “fiveandunder“.

Executive Board Letter

We’ve finally made it! It’s June and the spring showers are slowly turning into those warm summer breezes we’ve all been craving since mid February. The kids are fighting to get out and play until the last bit of light retreats beyond the horizon, and the faint sound of Mo’s Ice Cream truck can be heard at playgrounds all around town. We’ve made it to summer, and with that this will be our last newsletter before the hustle and bustle of September rolls around.

Last month brought our biggest fundraiser of the year, the LexFUN! Consignment Sale. We had to deal with a new location, new time of our pre-sale and public sale as well as a completely new layout! Our team of moms and dads pulled off the near impossible and we had a very successful sale.

Our last visit at Youville happened in May as well. We know how much the children and the seniors enjoy their time together. Don’t fret, the visits will resume in September!

While our intro has an air of closing out the school year and jumping into summer, we have several events in June to be excited about, including our Babysitters Social, the last of our Seminar Series (It’s Not Fair: Understanding Sibling Relationships) and the 1^st Annual Family Movie Night under the Shake It! tent. In addition, June brings back the concerts in the park, with the first one scheduled for June 24th at the Gazebo in Hastings Park. LexFUN! hosts our Annual Potluck that evening, so look for more information in Bigtent.

As we look back over the course of the past nine months, we cherish the new friendships and connections that our organization has been able to help jumpstart between all of our members. The summer is a wonderful time in Lexington to stay connected with your community, as you get out and explore everything that the town has to offer. From warm days at the Old Res, to Friday evening concerts in the park, we encourage you to remain connected with the people you have met through LexFUN!, and we cannot wait to hear about your experiences in the fall.

With warm regards on behalf of the LexFUN! Executive Board,

~ Lindsay Wedell, Co-President LexFUN!

LexFUN! Executive Board:

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Guest Column:

Thank you from Cradles to Crayons!

How much impact can one organization have in an afternoon? A lot if it’s the LexFUN! Consignment Sale! Your support helps Cradles to Crayons (C2C) provide critically needed items to 300 local children in-need! From strollers, car-seats, toys and books to bath, clothing and bedding, many of the items donated by the sale help C2C address the needs of the infants and toddlers we serve. A social service partner from South End Community Center tells us of the tremendous impact baby items can have: “Razile, 9 months old, was living with her mom. Their home caught on fire and they lost all of their belongings. Razile’s mom was distraught and had no idea how she could afford to replace all of the items she relied on and also find new housing. I immediately laced a request with Cradles to Crayons. When I delivered the new clothes, a stroller, and other critical baby items, she was completely overcome with gratitude and had tears in her eyes.”

Thousands of families are unable to afford basics baby items they need to care for their young children, which can compromise healthy development. Thank you LexFUN! for helping us address this need, and equip families with the essentials they need to keep their children safe and grow.

To learn more about the Gear Up for Baby program, visit Cradles to Crayons’ website at www.cradlestocrayons.org/gearupforbaby

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Consignment Sale – Wrap-Up

This year we held our inaugural Consignment Sale at the Lexington High School FieldHouse. Making the decision to move from St. Brigid’s was not an easy one, but one we had to make to support the growth that our sale has enjoyed over the past few years. Just seven years ago the LexFUN! Consignment Sale, had total proceeds of about $12,000 and it has grown by leaps and bounds ever since. This year 214 consignors sold over 10,000 items. The top preschool earner once again was Hancock Nursery School with $2,624 in sales. The top individual seller was Jane Stollenmeyer.

Almost $20,000 will go to support LexFUND, LexFUN!’s Preschool Scholarship and Community Fund. LexFUND provides preschool scholarships and other financial assistance to young families in need, as well as monetary donations to local organizations that support young families.

We also received hundreds of donated items, the entire proceeds of which go directly to LexFUND. We would like to thank all who consigned and donated items directly to LexFUN! for making this Sale so successful.

This year’s Sale continued to offer the online bar-coded tagging so that sellers could track their sold items. We also offered the convenience of allowing buyers to pay with credit cards again, which is a big hit – more than half of our total proceeds came from credit cards. consignment 3

After the close of Sale, all remaining clothing, toys and equipment are donated to local charities. This year, all unsold items were donated to a variety of charities:

Cradles to Crayons supporting homeless and low income children up to age 12.
Safe Harbor Shelter and Angel House Shelter, both of which are for battered women and children, located in Hyannis.
Room to Grow, dedicated to enriching the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development
South Sudanese Education Fund, serving South Sudanese families in the greater Boston area, located in Arlington.

We would like to thank all of the consignors for working so hard to deliver quality items and following the ever-evolving guidelines. The majority of sellers also volunteered their time to the Sale! We’d like to thank the more than 180 volunteers who spent many hours helping to tag, organize and reorganize the thousands of items on our selling floor. Finally, we would like to thank all of those who came out to shop and support LexFUN!’s largest fundraising event of the year.

In particular, we are indebted to the following people for their help throughout the months of planning for the Sale: Patrice Cleaves, Lindsay Wedell, Leigh-Ann Durant, Jill Tierney, Valerie Machinist, Kim Ryan, Jessica Paul, Kim Voce, Maria Klubnichkina, Carrianne Jung, Elizabeth Restivo, Trisha Perona, Kimberly Lowrance, Liz Zevallos, Nancy Carson, Jin Sung, Alix Fox, Becky Barrentine, Sam Carreiro.

We would also like to extend our thanks to all the people who lent us their folding tables which enabled merchandise to be displayed so efficiently at the Sale, and computers so we can run efficient check-out lines…and finally to all the people who let us put up our blue and yellow sale signs in their yards to advertise our sale.

We would also like to thank our friends at Wales Copy for printing many of our sellers’ tags, Wilson Farms for their generous donation of food to feed our hungry volunteers, Trader Joe’s for the brown bags for our Bargain Bag Sale, the Town of Lexington for allowing us to display our signs on town property, and EMD Serono, Inc. for printing all our sale flyers.

And finally, we would like to thank Laurie Lucibello of the Department of Public Facilities who helped make it possible for LexFUN! to make the move to this new space, which will allow us to continue to grow the sale year to year with the addition of a maternity section next May. Endless thanks also go to the custodial team at Lexington High School. And last, but certainly not least, to Julie Callahan for agreeing to provide storage for the coming year.

Planning has already started for 2015! If you enjoyed the sale and want to be more involved, please let us know. You can contact us at lexfunconsignmentsale@gmail.com.

What a success this year’s sale was, thanks to you all!

The 2014 Consignment Sale Team: Puja TenPas, Jill Tierney, Kim Ryan, Leigh-Ann Durant, Valerie Machinist, Patrice Cleaves

Community Service

Youville Place Time with Seniors

Author and journalist Mignon McLaughlin said it best when she said,”Only where children gather is there any real chance of fun.” LexFUN! families would probably say the same about the Youville residents! We truly enjoyed our monthly visits with the residents making crafts, reading stories and getting to know one another. We would like to extend a very special thank you to everyone at Youville for hosting us and we look forward to doing it again next year. Have a great summer and we’ll see you September 17th!

SAVE THE DATE FOR CLUB SHAKE IT 2014! A pop-up dance club on Hayden Field, benefiting COMPASS for Kids on Saturday June 14, 2014 – Hayden Lower Field, Lexington.

Arrive in style to Club Shake It: I love the 80s and get home safely! R&M Corporate Transportation is once again donating car service so 100% of proceeds will go straight to COMPASS for homeless families. Details:

Bookings to be made directly with R&M by calling 978-670-1700; $20/person for a one way transfer, $35/person round trip. Maximum of 10 passengers per reservation at one location; Request a 10 minute window for pick-ups. Reservations need to be made by 3PM Friday June 13, 2014. Payment made at or before the event. Gratuity not included but would be appreciated.

Club Shake It is a pop-up dance club on Hayden Lower Field – Lexington, benefiting COMPASS for kids’ COMPASS for homeless families* program Saturday, June 14, 2014. Purchase tickets and tables at www.clubshakeit.org.

For more information or to get involved please contact Sarah Humphreys, COMPASS for kids, friendmaker, sarahhumphreys@compassforkids.org, 781-862-4446 *There are now close to 300 homeless families living in Lexington, Bedford and Waltham motels.

If you can’t attend Club Shake It or don’t want to wait in line at the event to bid, then bid or buy items BEFORE Club Shake It on June 14!

VIEW AUCTION ITEMS NOW – START BIDDINGTHURSDAY AT MIDNIGHT

-Many items are available to purchase via “Buy It Now” – so no bidding, no waiting to see if you won!

-Some items will finish bidding at the event (as indicated)

-Some items will only be offered at Club Shake It!

Don’t miss out – get your tickets or tables now!

NEW IN 2014 – Shake It Family Movie Night – Friday June 13!

6-7pm: Doors open, Cradles to Crayons truck open for donations

7-7:10: Jodi and partners invited to speak

7:10-8:30: movie shown (Ice Age, 81 min, PG)

Check out www.clubshakeit.org for details

Meals on Wheels: Get Out and About!

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Kindergarten Korner

Is your child going to Kindergarten this fall?

Preparations are underway!

If you have a rising Kindergartener, don’t miss all the great programming available to help you get ready for the fall! Whether you attended the Town-Wide Kindergarten Orientation in March or not, there are many more opportunities to learn all about Kindergarten. Read on for Kindergarten Connection details and an event you won’t want to miss – mark you calendar, and double check our helpful to do list below!

Fall 2014 Kindergarten To-Do List:

• If you have not yet received your Kindergarten registration packet, please call your elementary school directly

• Fill out your registration forms and bring them to your Kindergarten Screening appointment

• Schedule your child’s Kindergarten screening

• Visit www.lexfun.org/kindergarten to register for Kindergarten Connection and meet new friends this summer!

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The Buzz

Baby Sitter Social, Mon Jun 9, 2014, 6:30 – 8 pm, Cary Library – Large Meeting Room

Join us on Monday, June 9th for our next Baby Sitter Social. No this is not a “social” event, but attending may help improve your social life overall. Come and meet potential sitters.

LexFUN! Potluck at the Bicentennial Band Summer Concert Series, Tue, June 24th 6pm, Gazebo at Hastings Park

Join us to kick off the summer with food, friends and fun. Come and enjoy one of the favorite LexFUN! activities of the summer – a pot luck dinner at a local outdoor concert (concert begins at 7:15 pm).

Food assignments are as follows. Check back to sign up in Big Tent

A-I Desserts
J-R Salads
S-Z Main Dishes

Paper products will be provided. Please bring your own beverage and blanket. LexFUN!’s potluck will be over at 8 PM, so please plan on retrieving any serving plates for food by then at our tables! If the weather looks questionable, please call (781) 862-0500 x707 for a cancellation. We hope to see you there!

– LexFUN! Social Committee

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Ongoing Programs and Events

Book Groups

Would you like to participate in a LexFUN! book group? LexFUN! book groups are a great way to connect with other parents of preschoolers. Once you are a LexFUN! member, you are welcome to join our book groups (and there is no charge for joining them). Book clubs meet at book club members’ houses and/or local restaurants at mutually determined times. You certainly don’t have to be a reading buff to join!

As you consider joining a LexFUN! book group, please think about your preferences in the following areas:

• Day of the week and time of day/night for regular meetings • Possible book suggestions or theme for a specific genre you might be interested in • Location (meet at each other’s houses or try out a new restaurant)

Please look for the book group subgroup on Big Tent to get connected. Alternatively, you can email Jessica Paul, Book Groups Chair at jessicabpaul@gmail.com.

Subgroups / Interest Groups Like running but need some motivation to get out there? Want to find another LexFUN! Member to go biking with? How about a “Last Minute” play date? LexFUN! Subgroups are for you. Join a sub-group to connect with others who share your specific interest(s). Current subgroups include running moms, cycling moms, outdoor playgroup, foreign language playgroups (French and Spanish), LexFUN Dads and “last minute” play dates. If you are interested in joining an existing group, please visit the Big Tent Home Page www.bigtent.com, click on the subgroups tab and join one! Group leaders are still needed for most of the subgroups, so please email Jessica if you would like to take the lead in organizing outings and helping to moderate a group’s activity.

OR start your own group! Don’t see a group here that your were hoping to see? Contact Jessica Paul to get the ball rolling or with any questions: jessicabpaul@gmail.com or (617) 417-9137.

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Lexington Pediatrics, P.C. is a group pediatric practice. Our mission is to provide quality, compassionate, thorough, up-to-date pediatric care for all of our families regardless of age, sex, race, medical complexity, or method of payment. We are affiliated with Children’s Hospital Boston and with Harvard Medical School. Our physicians are actively involved in teaching residents and medical students. We are also active in the community, serving as medical consultants for area schools, day care centers, and area children’s groups. The Lexington Pediatrics staff is made up of MDs as well as pediatric nurse practitioners. Our RN nursing staff handles most clinical phone calls through our nurse triage phone line, runs the flu clinics, and helps in assessing children who are being seen for sick visits. Lexington Pediatrics is the oldest pediatric practice in the area. Founded in 1971, we have worked hard for 40 years to create and maintain a medical ‘home’ for our pediatric patients from birth through their early 20’s. For more information, please call 781.862.4110 or visit our website at www.lexpeds.com.

Membership Corner

A big thanks you to all of our members from 2013-2014. This year we had over 500 members of LexFUN! Thank you for joining us in over 100 LexFUN! sponsored activities and for your generous donations of time and gifts to our many community service activities this year. Our members help make LexFUN! such an exciting and worthwhile organization and we are so happy to have you all a part of our group! We hope you enjoyed your year and that you will join us again for another year of LexFUN!

Your 2013-2014 membership runs until September 2014. If you would like to re-join LexFUN! for 2014-2015 you will need to renew your membership after June 1st, 2014 and before September 30, 2014. Renewal invitations will come directly from Big Tent to your email. Please watch your email over the coming months for reminders and links on how to renew your membership through Big Tent.

Here are a few details about membership for 2014-2015:

As per above, all renewals will be done through Big Tent. Be on the look out in your email over the summer for a reminder email and link to renew
Dues for membership year are $30.
Look for a save the date for our annual Open House event hosted in September. Come and pick up your swag bag and membership materials, socialize with LexFUN! friends, and enjoy free entertainment, children’s crafts, and snacks.
Please remember to continue to use your current membership discount card over the summer. Your card is valid through September. For a full list of participating businesses, see the membership partners tab above or visit www.lexfun.org.
If you have any questions about membership benefits or renewals please email Emily Wildfire, VP of Membership at ewildfire@hotmail.com.

Don’t forget to Renew or sign up for LexFUN! On Big Tent this summer and we’ll see you in September at the open house when you pick up your swag bag, membership card and annual guidebook!

Each month we highlight some of our sponsors.

Wagon Wheel Farmstand and Nursery, 927 Waltham St.

Now that we are finally able enjoy the outdoors, it is time to start thinking about your yard and garden. Stop in to the Wagon Wheel for all your lawn and garden needs including Annuals, Perennials, Sod & Grass Seed, Bark Mulch & Loam, Potting and Top Soil, Fertilizers, Bird Seed & Statuaries. While you are here pick up some veggies at the farmstand or some fresh fish (delivered daily!) LexFUN! members save 15% off total sale (excluding landscaping services). www.wagonwheelfarmstand.com

Cycle Loft, 28 Cambridge St. Burlington. With spring finally here, check out Cycle Loft in Burlington for all your bicycle needs. They have everything including bike accessories, clothing, shoes, and even car racks. Use your LexFUN! Discount card and receive 10% off helmets and 5% off bikes for kids. cycleloft.com

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With Many Thanks To…

Board Members, Take a Bow

LexFUN! ready to roll for the opening of the consignment sale! Back: Valerie Machinist, Kim Ryan, Puja TenPas, Samatha Carriero, Courtney Lauriat, Carolyn Coppe-Peacock Front: Leigh-Ann Durant, Joyce Dvorak, Patrice Cleaves, Lindsay Wedell

Many thanks to…

Puja TenPas for her strong leadership, dedication and TONS of hard work in transforming the High School Field House into one of the Best Children’s Consignment Sales in the region and raising thousands, thousands and thousands of dollars for our LexFUND! scholarship (and thanks to Puja’s family for sharing her with us).
Jill Tierney who helped lead the Consignment Sale Team, even though she gave birth to Baby Matilda just a few weeks before the Sale (and thanks to her expanded family for sharing her with us too!).
Valerie Machinist who shared all her experience and wisdom with the Sale Team to help them transition to the Field House.
Kim Ryan who really stepped up and took on more than she bargained for to help us execute a tremendous Sale.
Lindsay and Rick Wedell for coming up with the fabulous idea of building our own clothing racks AND for hosting a rack building party to actually build all of them (didn’t the selling floor look like a real department store!).
LexFUN! Dads Brian Machinist, Jim Durant, Dan TenPas, Tommy Reilly and Rick Wedell for helping to build all the clothing racks.
Patrice Cleaves for her unwavering support, leadership and cheerleading all during the Sale (while juggling her daughter Ava’s dance recital which happened to be at 3:00 pm on Sale day).
Wendy Bertsekas for helping us get all the remaining clothes and toys from the Sale to Cradles to Crayons (over 300 needy children were served with leftovers from the Sale!!).
Becky Barrentine (former Sale Co-Chair) for coming out of LexFUN! retirement to help us with the Sale.
Laurie Lucibello of the Department of Public Facilities who helped make it possible for LexFUN! to make the move to this new space, which will allow us to continue to grow the Sale year to year with the addition of a maternity section next May.
Pete Durant (Leigh-Ann’s Dad) who flew up from Florida to set up and run all the computer and scanning check out stations for the Sale.
Joyce Dvorak who was, once again, the top cashier/scanner at the Sale.
Leigh-Ann Durant for her constant support and undying love of everything Consignment Sale.
Our top customer, an unnamed Dad from Cambridge expecting twins who spent $616 to outfit his little bambinos and thought he got the best deals in the world.
Hancock Nursery School for once again being the top seller at the Sale.
All the members of the Consignment Sale Team, the Board Members and LexFUN! alums who put in countless hours, who flew in parents to watch their children for Sale weekend, who gave up time with their spouses, partners and family to work on the Sale. Many, many men and women on the LexFUN! Board and beyond helped us bring it all together to provide a Sale that was better than it has ever been! We thank you ALL for your dedication to not only LexFUN!, but the community at large.

~ Best, Lindsay & Leigh-Ann LexFUN! Co-Presidents

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Newsletter brought to you by LexFUN!

Joyce D. Editor ~ Have a wonderful summer!

LexFUN! May 2014 Newsletter

Posted on May 1, 2014 by lexfiveandundernetwork

Executive Board Letter

Guest Column: Intentional Organization, by Jane Stollenmeyer

Community Service

Kindergarten Korner

The Buzz

Sponsor Spotlight

Ongoing Programs and Events

Membership Corner

With Many Thanks To…

Special link to All Things Consignment!

Looking to access information on the LexFUN! website?

Gain entry with the password “fiveandunder“.

Executive Board Letter

Spring

By Teresa Underwood

The air is cool, the breeze is light.

The clouds in the sky are fluffy and white. The flowers open to show their bright faces, as the garden snail alongside paces. The trees unfold their bright green leaves. The spider a silken web she weaves. The birds sing their notes high and clear. Cheer up! Cheer up! Spring is here!

It’s May 1^st and I know spring is coming when flowers will be blooming and frolicking in the park will become routine again! I personally crave this time of year and as much as I love skiing, there comes a point when we as a family are just ready for hiking in the woods, playing outside, riding our bikes and ICE CREAM cones!

Of course, with spring along comes spring cleaning…which I had the pleasure of doing this past Sunday. The winter coats went to the basement and upon arrival down the stairs, I realized it was high time to say goodbye to the high chair, the bouncy, the exersaucer, the swing and the many bins of clothing that my little ones won’t fit into again…although I did save some of the cute handmade hats my sister-in-law made for each kid when they were born! What am I doing with it all you may wonder…bringing everything to the Annual LexFUN! Consignment Sale.

LexFUN!’s Annual Consignment Sale is an incredible one-day sale on Sat, May 17^th from 10am-2pm offering gently used children’s clothing, toys, games, books, baby gear and equipment, furniture and bikes ALL at greatly reduced prices. This year we are moving into our new space at the Lexington High School and will be there from 5pm-9pm on Fri, May 16^th for donations and consigned items to be dropped off. You still have time to tag too as the deadline is May 10th. Volunteers are always needed to make this event run smoothly and it’s one of the most fun events we have so volunteering your time flies by, PLUS, it gives you access to sell the presale on Sat from 8am-9:30am.

For those of you who have a little one starting kindergarten in the fall, be sure to sign up for Kindergarten Connection, a truly great way to meet other families with incoming kindergartners. Playgroups start up in June! On the hunt for a babysitter, look no further after you attend the LexFUN! Babysitter Social on June 9^th.

Have multiple kids and trying to understand the whole sibling rivalry phenomenon!? Mark your calendars now for the “It’s Not Fair! Understanding Sibling Relationships and Responding to Sibling Conflicts”, taking place June 11^th at Youville Place.

May also marks an end to another great season of LexFUN! and as we welcome new Board Members, we say goodbye to so many incredible women who have dedicated many years of time to the families LexFUN! and the surrounding community. We could not be who we are today without the ideas, creativity and spirit that bursts from so many of our LexFUN! Board Members. I began my own journey with LexFUN! after we moved here from San Francisco four years ago, starting with Indoor Movie Night, moving on to Advertising and Sponsorship and have spent the last two years as Co-President. I knew no one with kids my own age and quickly joined a playgroup, which met every week for two years and helped me adjust to life in the burbs, life with kids and discover a whole new community to love. I have made lifelong friends, worked alongside immensely talented women, and taught my children the importance of giving to others, while having fun along the way! To all of you “graduating”, I wish you the best of luck and hope our paths continue to cross and that the sun is always shining for you.

~Patrice Cleaves, Co-President LexFUN!

LexFUN! Executive Board:
– Patrice Cleaves, Co-President
– Lindsay Wedell, Co-President
– Julie Callahan, Vice President, Community Service
– Sam Carreiro, Vice President, Advertising & Sponsorship
– Courtney Lauriat, Vice President, Membership
– Kristina Santonelli, Vice President, Events
– Valerie Machinist, Treasurer
– Leigh-Ann Durant, Secretary

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LexFUN! marches in the Patriot’s Day Parade!

Guest Column: Intentional Organization, by Jane Stollenmeyer

We’ve made it through an incredibly frigid, prolonged winter season and spring has arrived! In contrast to winter’s dormancy, spring is all about activity. Vibrant green lawns will soon need mowing, small buds are growing round and plump, ready to offer bright color to our bare landscapes. Before long patio furniture will be dusted off and barbeques will fire up. Soccer practice, swim practice, activities galore!

Get into the swing of spring by shaking out winter’s cobwebs and refreshing your space. Below you’ll find a list of tips on how and what to organize first, so you’re ready to dive headlong into New England’s finest season. If you’d like hands-on help with these or any other organizing tasks, please visit my website at www.intentionalorganizing.com or contact me at janestollenmeyer@gmail.com

Mudroom: Store winter gear, launder coats, snow-pants, etc. and immediately separate out any gear that is too small, worn out, etc. Remove winter boots and shoes from mudrooms. Use a small basket to hold sunscreen, sunglasses, and bug spray. Keeping it right by the door will remind you to apply it before heading out.

Garage: Gather sleds, skis, snowshoes, etc. into one area. If possible, move them from the garage to the basement/shed to make room for summer gear. Sweep out the garage to remove dirt and salt. Pump up bike tires and hang helmets from bike handles. Create separate zones for yard-work tools, kids’ toys, and sport equipment.

Closets: Purge kids’ clothing first. Anything that is damaged or no longer fits can be bagged for consignment or donation. Don’t forget to add the winter gear to this bag. Thin out your own closet and send wool garments to the cleaner’s for one final laundering before storing for the summer. (Always remove clothing from dry cleaning bags to air out any chemical residue. Use garment bags if items must remain covered. Recycle plastic with your grocery bags and return wire hangers to dry cleaner for reuse.)

Kids’ school work: Help children curate their favorite projects or artwork. Group them by school year. Snap photos with your camera or phone and use an app like Artkive to catalog artwork. Its simple and intuitive interface allows you to create books of your children’s artwork without having to save the actual hard copies.

Paperwork: Tax season is over, so take this opportunity to shred any old receipts, etc. pertaining to 2012 that you’ll never need again. Copies of old bills can be requested online as can many other financial documents. For a list of what to keep and what to toss see this link.

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Community Service

Lexington Education Foundation (LEF) Celebration for Education — Lex Vegas Night! – Sat, May 3rd!

WHEN: Sat. May 3rd at 7:00 pm

WHERE: Double Tree Bedford Glen Hotel in Bedford.

Purchase tickets online at http://www.lexedfoundation.org/

Youville Place Time with Seniors – Next visit May 14th at 10 am

Sunshine, blooming flowers and birds chirping can only mean one thing … Spring is finally here! We will be celebrating the season with the residents of Youville by making some beautiful caterpillars. Please join us for the LAST event of the year at Youville Place on Wednesday, May 14th from 10:00am until 11:00am. Youville Place is located at 10 Pelham Road in Lexington (off Mass. Ave.). Please contact Elizabeth Restivo at restivodemunoz@gmail.com if you have any questions.

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Youville residents getting their spring on with LexFUN! during our April visit.

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SAVE THE DATE FOR CLUB SHAKE IT 2014! A pop-up dance club on Hayden Field, benefiting COMPASS for Kids on Saturday June 14, 2014 – Hayden Lower Field, Lexington.

NEW IN 2014 – Shake It Family Movie Night – Friday June 13! More info TBA – check out www.clubshakeit.org for details

Meals on Wheels: Get Out and About!

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Kindergarten Korner

Is your child going to Kindergarten this fall?

Preparations are underway!

Fall 2014 Kindergarten To-Do List:

• If you have not yet received your Kindergarten registration packet, please call your elementary school directly

• Fill out your registration forms and bring them to your Kindergarten Screening appointment

• Schedule your child’s Kindergarten screening

• Visit www.lexfun.org/kindergarten to register for Kindergarten Connection and meet new friends this summer!

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The Buzz

CNS 41st Annual Yellow Balloon Fair

WHEN: Sat. May 11th from 10 am — 2 pm, rain or shine

WHERE: Community Nursery School, 2325 Mass Ave., Lexington

RSVP: Admission $2 per child (adults free); buy your tickets at the door

Come one, come all to the 41st Annual Yellow Balloon Fair!!! The fair promises to be filled with fun and laughter, rain or shine! There will be a variety of preschool oriented games, prizes, face painting, and crafts. In addition to a raffle focused on family-centered prizes, the highlights of the fair include a petting zoo, a bounce house, a drum circle, and BBQ lunch with home baked goods. There will also be a silent auction. Nothing symbolizes the spirit of Community Nursery School better than the opportunity for the entire school community and its town to come together for the Yellow Balloon Fair. Hope to see you there.

Estabrook Run of the Mill 5K Sunday, May 18 at 9:30am

Estabrook School, Lexington, MA

Kids Fun Run at 9:30 a.m., 5K Run & Walk at 10 AM Post race party and kids fun. This USATF sanctioned race will be bib-timed by Racewire. Contact estabrook5k@gmail.com for questions. Adults and Kids Registration for 5K: $20 in advance, $25 on race day. T-Shirts for the first 200 registrants. Go to https://racewire.com/register.php?id=3539 to register.

Baby Sitter Social, Mon Jun 9, 2014, 6:30 – 8 pm, Cary Library

Join us on Monday, June 9th for our next Baby Sitter Social. No this is not a “social” event, but attending may help improve your social life overall. Come and meet potential sitters. Location TBA so watch for the announcment from BigTent.

LexFUN! Potluck at the Bicentennial Band Summer Concert Series, Tue, June 24th 6pm, Gazebo at Hastings Park

Food assignments are as follows. Check back to sign up in Big Tent

A-I Desserts
J-R Salads
S-Z Main Dishes

– LexFUN! Social Committee

Sponsor Spotlight: Yamaha Music School of Boston

At Yamaha, we believe that all children have an innate ability to learn, enjoy, and express themselves with music. The Yamaha method develops each student’s comprehensive musical ability in an environment that inspires a love of music and a lifetime of active music participation.

Lessons are taught to a group of students (typically 8 to 10 per class) and, in the case of the Junior Music Course, one parent attends with each child. This format motivates children and provides an opportunity to develop ensemble skills and cooperation within a supportive community of friends and parents. With their peers, children become part of a musical team making music together. With their teacher and parents, the group becomes a musical community.

As their education progresses, students build performance, improvisation and composition skills. This approach has produced award-winning professional musicians, successful music teachers and millions of music lovers worldwide.

A LexFUN! sponsor and partner since 2011 the Yamaha Music School is a wonderful place to begin your childs musical journey. Sign up for a trial class today, and if you decide to enroll, please do take advantage of the generous discounted tuition (15%) offered to LexFUN! members.

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Ongoing Programs and Events

Book Groups

As you consider joining a LexFUN! book group, please think about your preferences in the following areas:

Please look for the book group subgroup on Big Tent to get connected. Alternatively, you can email Jessica Paul, Book Groups Chair at jessicabpaul@gmail.com.

OR start your own group! Don’t see a group here that your were hoping to see? Contact Jessica Paul to get the ball rolling or with any questions: jessicabpaul@gmail.com or (617) 417-9137

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Membership Corner

2013-2014 membership materials (annual guide and discount cards) have been distributed to all members. For new members who sign up throughout the year, it will take a week or two to receive your materials, so please check your mailbox a few weeks after you sign up. Contact Emily at ewildfire@hotmail.com if you have questions.

We hope you have been taking advantage of all the benefits your LexFUN! membership has to offer. Don’t forget to use your LexFUN! discount card at many of the retailers in town who offer discounts to our members. Some of our participating businesses such as Crafty Yankee and Catch a Falling Star even offer free gift-wrapping! Your membership also allows you to receive discounts when you purchase tickets to LexFUN! special events throughout the year and to attend all of our seminars for free. The more you use your card, the more your membership pays off, so keep it in your wallet so you always have it when you need it!

MEMBER DISCOUNTS For more details about LexFUN! membership discounts and for a full list of participating businesses please click on the Membership Partners tab above, visit lexfun.org or look over your new card! Check out the new companies that have joined this year. Start saving today and your membership will soon pay for itself. You can also enjoy the fact that you are supporting local businesses. Remember to keep your discount card handy. You must present your card at the time of purchase and please keep in mind that discounts cannot be combined with other offers. In addition each month we will highlight retail news from select local merchants offering members discounts.

Each month we highlight retail news from local merchants offering members discounts year round.

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With Many Thanks To…

Board Members, Take a Bow

Thank you to all of our board members for the 2013-2014 season. We have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you and your little ones, but most of all thank you for spending your ‘free’ time with our organization. We couldn’t do it with out the help of our volunteers and we are truly grateful for such dedication!

Thank you to Jill Tilem, Katie Quick and Kimberly Ryan for a fun Date Night at ALoft! The night out was a must for all of the parents after braving such a treacherous winter!

A special thank you to our own design and decorating team of whiz’s who took second place this year in the float decorating for the Lexington Patriot’s Day Parade! With our red, white and blue theme we were clearly showing our patriotic colors that day! Three cheers to Leigh-Ann Durant for her continued passion for our float on Patriots Day!!

A big thank you to Kristina Santonelli, Courtney Lauriat, Michelle Andronaco, and Jill Canes for your time and efforts as part of this year’s LexFUN! Nominating Committee. LexFUN! is poised for another wonderful year in 2014-2015 thanks to your many contributions!

This Newsletter is put out every month with creativity, comedy and just a little bit of FUN and it would not be possible without our amazing Newsletter Editor. Joyce Dvorak has taken hold of this newsletter and has really made it her own. Joyce, thank you so much for all your hard work and for keeping us so informed!!!

And while we are in the midst of writing and spreading the word, we’d like to say a special thanks to Rebecca Smerling our PR Queen and the Web Team: Ching Lai and Denise Moering who were both very important in getting our new website up, running and way more user friendly! Thank you ladies!

Lastly, LexFUN! is backed by one amazing group of women, our Board. With all the hectic tasks of everyday life with small children, they still find time, energy, and creativity to give back to our organization. Speaking of hardworking, there’s one other woman I’d like to thank, my co-President, Patrice Cleaves. Although in the beginning when she told me she was taking on a full time job and it would be fine with one of us working, I still had my doubts. But now after working a year side by side with her, she truly is one amazing mama. She is so very dedicated to LexFUN! and the families that we affect and it shows in her never ending pursuit to make LexFUN! the best it can be. Patrice, you will be truly missed. To all of our graduating board members, we thank you for all you’ve done to make LexFUN! what it is today. We couldn’t do any of this with out your support and dedication. Thank You!!!

~ Best, Lindsay LexFUN! Co-President

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Newsletter brought to you by LexFUN!

Joyce D. Editor – Good work mamas! Put those feet up for a well deserved 5!

LexFUN! April 2014 Newsletter

Posted on March 27, 2014 by lexfiveandundernetwork

Executive Board Letter

Guest Column:Sun Safety By Valerie Machinist, MS, RD, LDN

Community Service

Kindergarten Korner

The Buzz

Sponsor Spotlight

Ongoing Programs and Events

Membership Corner

With Many Thanks To…

Special link to All Things Consignment!

Looking to access information on the LexFUN! website?

Gain entry with the password “fiveandunder”.

Executive Board Letter

As I am writing this letter, it’s a freezing cold March day but I’m hopeful that spring is around the corner. Hopefully by the time you are reading this, the temperature outside has risen! It’s been what feels like an eternal winter for our family. In the fall we welcomed our second child, who joins his big sister who is four. Having an infant during an extremely cold winter has made us all a little stir crazy, and made me appreciate LexFUN! even more than I had before.

I joined LexFUN! when my daughter was a few months old and I can’t even count the benefits I’ve gotten from this organization over the past four years. The drop-in center and playgroups helped me feel connected and brought me out of the isolation I felt from having a newborn at home. It gave me a sense of community as I volunteered to deliver meals through our Meals-on-Wheels program. It gave our family activities to participate in during the long winter months. And now, LexFUN! is easing my anxiety about my first child entering kindergarten in the fall through the Kindergarten Connections program. However, my favorite event of all has always been our annual consignment sale in May.

That first year of belonging to LexFUN! I signed-up to volunteer at the sale, not knowing much about the event. All I knew was I got to shop the presale, and shop I did! I have found remarkable deals through the years at the sale and I can’t wait to shop again. Since that first year of volunteering, I’ve served in many roles on the sale committee, and I ran the sale last year with the help of an outstanding team of volunteers.

I wanted to organize the consignment sale because what I really saw (aside from the great bargains on kids’ clothing and toys) is what it does for our community. We raised $25,000 last year that went directly to preschool and community scholarships. We are helping ease the financial burden of early childhood education for local families who really need the assistance.

At its core, LexFUN! is a charitable organization that does so much to serve families with young children. All of the events and fundraising we do always circle back to the community. I’m excited that I get to be a part of LexFUN! for several more years and can take advantage of all of the things it has to offer once again.

Happy spring! ~ Valerie Machinist for the Executive Board

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Guest Column

Sun Safety, By Valerie Machinist, MS, RD, LDN Valerie has been a health educator and Registered Dietitian for over 15 years and frequently lectures and writes on a variety of health, fitness and nutrition-related topics. This summer, you will find her at the town pool chasing down her children with sunscreen and hats.

When most people think of “sun safety,” they think of the summer months, when they are outdoors more and wearing lighter clothing. While this is certainly the time of year to pay extra attention to sun exposure, especially in the Northeast, being safe in the sun is something to consider all year long. As we come out of this frigid New England winter, it’s hard to even think that we’ll be able to wear shorts or bathing suits anytime soon, but warmer weather is just around the corner and with it comes the need to make sure you and your family are safe in the sun.

sun safety The main reason for this is that exposure to the sun can increase your risk for developing skin cancer, which is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Rates of skin cancer also continue to rise about two percent every year.

The two primary ways to protect yourself from the sun are to physically block exposure with clothing or certain sunblocks, or to chemically block exposure with sunscreen. Both have advantages and disadvantages, and it’s largely a personal choice. However, there are some basic guidelines that everyone should follow to protect themselves.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came out with new rules and regulations for sunscreens, and as of last summer, most of the sunscreen on store shelves must conform to the new labeling rules. Based on these new rules, here is some advice for selecting sunscreen:

First and foremost, experts urge people to limit their time in the sun, especially at midday, and protect their skin with hats, shirts and cover-ups instead of relying exclusively on sunscreen.
Look for products with an SPF of 15 to 50, and that are labeled “broad spectrum protection,” meaning they protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Higher SPF values are misleading.
Keep babies younger than 6 months out of the sun, as their skin is especially sensitive. Sunscreen should not be used on infants. If they are outdoors, keep them completely covered and in the shade.
Try to keep older children inside when the sun is harshest, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A bad sunburn in childhood or adolescence doubles the risk of melanoma later in life, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Avoid sunscreen sprays if possible. The concern is twofold: that not enough sunscreen makes it onto the skin, and that the spray may be inhaled into the lungs.
The Environmental Working Group recommends avoiding products with oxybenzone, a chemical that may disrupt hormones. Though research has found this effect, many scientists say the effect is so weak as to be insignificant. The advocacy group, however, recommends products that use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as active ingredients. (These products may leave a milky white film on the skin.)
Look for fragrance-free products. Scents bring more unnecessary chemicals and potential allergens to the mix.
Take endorsements and seals of approval with a grain of salt. The Skin Cancer Foundation gives a “seal of recommendation” to sunscreens, but only if their manufacturer has donated $10,000 to become a member of the organization.
If you take medicines, ask your health care professional about sun-care precautions; some medications may increase sun sensitivity.

Protect your eyes too – sunlight reflecting off snow, sand, or water further increases exposure to UV radiation and increases your risk of developing eye problems. When buying sunglasses, look for a label that specifically offers 99 to 100 percent UV protection. Children should wear real sunglasses (not toy sunglasses) that indicate the UV protection level as well.

Tips for Applying Sunscreen

Apply the recommended amount evenly to all uncovered skin, especially your lips, nose, ears, neck, hands, and feet.
Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going out in the sun.
If you don’t have much hair, apply sunscreen to the top of your head, or wear a hat.
Reapply at least every two hours.
Give babies and children extra care in the sun. Ask a health care professional before applying sunscreen to children under 6 months old.
Apply sunscreen to children older than 6 months every time they go out.

Resources: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm049090.htm http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/the-new-rules-for-sunscreen/?src=me&ref=general

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Community Service

Youville Place Time with Seniors – Next visit April 9th at 10 am

Cold, snow, go away, it’s time for us to go out and play! Welcome back Spring by joining the residents at Youville to make some beautiful flowers. Please join us for the April event with LexFUN! families and Youville Place residents on Wednesday, April 9th from 10:00am until 11:00am. Youville Place is located at 10 Pelham Road in Lexington (off Mass. Ave.). Please contact Elizabeth Restivo at restivodemunoz@gmail.com if you have any questions.

SAVE THE DATE FOR CLUB SHAKE IT 2014! A pop-up dance club on Hayden Field, benefiting COMPASS for Kids on Saturday June 14, 2014 – Hayden Lower Field, Lexington.

Club Shake It: I love the 80s tickets and tables are now available to purchase at http://www.clubshakeit.org. LEXFUN! members receive a special discount for Silver level VIP tickets & tables! The Silver VIP level includes 7pm pre-party access (with open bar and hors d’ouevres), bleacher seating and 2 drinks per person. Silver ticket – $100 ($125 without discount) or Silver table of ten – $1000 ($1250 without discount). Must use promo code LEXFUN at check out for discount to apply.

WHEN: Mon. April 21th, parade line up by 1pm WHERE: along Mass Ave (exact location TBA) RSVP: on BigTent http://www.bigtent.com/group/calendar/event/84545419 or email Leigh-Ann at ladurant02421@gmail.comOnce again, LexFUN! will be having a float in Lexington’s Patriots Day Parade. Little ones of all ages (along with parents) are invited to join the fun and ride on the float. RSVP to reserve your spot!The LexFUN! float will be a tribute to Boston Strong. Although our children may be small, they are Boston Strong! The float design was inspired by the children of LexFUN! and will be built and decorated by LexFUN! families. We will be decorating the float shortly before the parade. If you’d like to help decorate, email Joyce Dvorak at joycev3@juno.com or Leigh-Ann at ladurant02421@gmail.com.

Lexington Education Foundation (LEF) Celebration for Education — Lex Vegas Night! WHEN: Sat. May 3rd at 7:00 pm WHERE: Double Tree Bedford Glen Hotel in Bedford RSVP: Purchase tickets online at http://www.lexedfoundation.org/

Do you have your tickets to LEF’s LexVegas night yet??? If not, buy your tickets, mark your calendar and book your babysit ASAP! This will be a fun-filled night of casino-style gambling, dancing, food, and live and silent auctions. Anyone interested in volunteering to plan the event or donate auction items should contact Michelle Mabardy at mmmabardy@aol.com

Meals on Wheels: Get Out and About!

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Kindergarten Korner

Is your child going to Kindergarten this fall?

Preparations are underway!

Getting Ready for Kindergarten: What every parent wants to know!

Parent Panel Discussion, Wednesday, April 30th 2014 from 7 – 9 pm

Temple Emunah 9 Piper Rd., Lexington

Presented by LexFUN!

RSVP to lexfunkconnection@gmail.com by Sunday, April 27th

New this year, LexFUN! presents an evening of discussion and Q&A with parents of current Lexington Kindergarteners. Parents from all six elementary schools will be represented on the panel. Get answers to all your questions and honest advice directly from other parents:

• Preparing your child and yourself for Kindergarten

• Tips on school supplies, lunches, daily routines, practical dos and don’ts

• Bussing, walking or driving to school

• Options for after-school care

• Ask questions specific to your school at the end of the program

Submit your questions to our panel ahead of time! Send e-mail to lexfunkconnection@gmail.com

Fall 2014 Kindergarten To-Do List:

• If you have not yet received your Kindergarten registration packet, please call your elementary school directly

• Fill out your registration forms and bring them to your Kindergarten Screening appointment

• Schedule your child’s Kindergarten screening

• Visit www.lexfun.org/kindergarten to register for Kindergarten Connection and meet new friends this summer!

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The Buzz

Date Night, April 5th 7:30pm, Aloft Lexington

Are you in need of a fun night out? Well, mark your calendars for LexFUN!’s annual Date Night! Enjoy some good food, drinks and great company at Aloft on April 5 at 7:30 pm. Aloft is located at 727 Marrett Road. Bring a date and leave your kids at home! Hope to see you there!

Please RSVP on Big Tent HERE

Sponsor Spotlight: Summer Fenn

Why send your young child to camp this summer? If you’ve been to camp, you’re not surprised when you hear about the benefits of summer camp. Experiencing life at camp yourself as a child, you know the profound positive effects that still matter to you as an adult, and you also know that you want the same thing for your own kids.

But if you didn’t go to camp as a child, you may not realize just how good the experience is for children. You may not know why so many parents are committed to sending their kids to camp. So, here is a list of we believe to be the most important reasons to send your kids to Summer Fenn Day Camp.

At camp, children:

1. Spend their day being physically active – As children spend so much time these days inside and mostly sitting down, camp provides a wonderful opportunity to move. Running, swimming, jumping, climbing! Camp is action!

2. Experience success and become more confident – Camp helps children build self-confidence and self-esteem by removing the kind of academic, athletic and social competition that shapes their lives at school. With its non-competitive activities and diverse opportunities to succeed, camp life is a real boost for young people. There’s accomplishment every day. Camp teaches kids that they can.

3. Gain resiliency – The kind of encouragement and nurture kids receive at camp makes it a great environment to endure setbacks, try new (and thereby maybe a little frightening) things, and see that improvement comes when you give something another try. Camp helps conquer fears.

4. Unplug from technology – When kids take a break from TV, cell phones, and the Internet, they rediscover their creative powers and engage the real world— real people, real activities, and real emotions. They realize, there’s always plenty to do. Camp is real!

5. Develop life-long skills – Camps provide the right instruction, equipment and facilities for kids to enhance their sports abilities, their artistic talents, and their adventure skills. The sheer variety of activities offered at camp, makes it easy for kids to discover and develop what they like to do. Camp expands every child’s abilities.

6. Grow more independent – Camp is the perfect place for kids to practice making decisions for themselves without parents and teachers guiding every move. Managing their daily choices in the safe, caring environment of camp, children welcome this as a freedom to blossom in new directions. Camp helps kids develop who they are.

7. Have free time for unstructured play – Free from the overly-structured, overly-scheduled routines of home and school, life at camp gives children much needed free time to just play. Camp is a slice of carefree living where kids can relax, laugh, and be silly all day long. At camp we play!

8. Learn social skills – Coming to camp means joining a close-knit community where everyone must agree to cooperate and respect each other. When they travel in groups with others, compromise, resolve disagreements, and see firsthand the importance of sincere communication. Camp builds teamwork.

9. Reconnect with nature – Camp is a wonderful antidote to “nature deficit disorder,” to the narrow experience of modern indoor life. Outdoor experience enriches kid’s perception of the world and supports healthy child development. Camp gets kids back outside.

10. Make true friends – Camp is the place where kids make new friends. Free from the social expectations pressuring them at school, camp encourages kids to relax and make friends easily. All the fun at camp draws everyone together— singing, laughing, talking, playing, doing almost everything together. Every day, camp creates friendships.

By Beth Johns-Thomas, Director of Summer Programs at The Fenn School. Located at 516 Monument Street in Concord MA (http://www.fenn.org/SummerFenn/GeneralCamp)

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Ongoing Programs and Events

Book Groups

As you consider joining a LexFUN! book group, please think about your preferences in the following areas:

Please look for the book group subgroup on Big Tent to get connected. Alternatively, you can email Jessica Paul, Book Groups Chair at jessicabpaul@gmail.com.

OR start your own group! Don’t see a group here that your were hoping to see? Contact Jessica Paul to get the ball rolling or with any questions: jessicabpaul@gmail.com or (617) 417-9137

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Membership Corner

Each month we highlight retail news from local merchants offering members discounts year round.

Summer Fenn

Summer Fenn Day Camp is for girls and boys ages 5-15 and is accredited by ACA. Most of the staff are teaching professional and college aged student studying education or recreation. The heated swimming pool, 35’ climbing tower, high and low ropes course, air-conditioned classrooms, state of the art performance hall and gymnasiums are only some f the things your children will experience. General Camp is offered in single week sessions. We also offer special programs for a full or half day. Hot lunch is served daily. Transportation is available from St Brigid Parish in Lexington. LexFUN! families are offered a 10% family discount upon registration. For more info see www.summerfenn.org

Super Soccer Stars

Spring is on the way and Super Soccer Stars will be offering classes through Lexington Recreation and the Boston Sports Club. Discount code is LEXFUN. This 10% discount code would be available for Boston Sports Club in Lexington but can also be applied to the Lexington Recreation classes.

*Greater Boston Running Company:

Train with Coach Margaret for your first 10K or half marathon! Beginner 10k & Half Marathon Training Program April 1 – June 8 . Make to any of the weekly runs: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays at 9:30 AM and Saturdays at 8AM Sessions meet at GBRC Lexington at 1728 Mass Ave Races include Runner’s World Heartbreak Hill Festival 10k and Half Marathon on June 7 Cost: $50. See the website for more info: www.greaterbostonrunningcompany.com; And LexFUN! members get 10% off full price shoes and apparel

Keepers Therapeutic Massage

After that run (or not!) come by Keeper s for a wonderful massage. Please note-the discount on membership card reflected for Keepers is listed at 15% but it is actually 20% for LexFUN! Members. A GREAT deal…take advantage and treat yourself! keepersmassage.com

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With Many Thanks To…

Board Members, Take a Bow

Thank you so much to the entire Barn Babies team for putting together such a fabulous event! Ila Shah made sure we all had a great time. The WinterFUN! ladies, Katherine Mahony and Anne Boulter, made sure we all had something to do while waiting to see all those cuddly animals. Great job ladies!!! Thank you to Jill Tilem for putting together a fun and much needed Working Mom’s Night Out! It was extremely well attended with a lot of new faces. Great job Jill!!!

Thanks so much to our dynamic duo Kristin Pechinsky and Lisa Glenn who host our Seminars each month and brought us the smarts of David Adams with Everything You Need to Know to Get Your Estate Planning Done!

And finally a big thank you to both WinterFUN! and Drop-In Center this year. This was a tough winter with lots of cold days. Sarah Carter, Nadia Minter and Jenna Di Maio-McCracken helped to keep Drop-In Center running smoothly and Michelle Andronaco, Anne Boulter and Katherine Mahony kept those little ones happy with crafts at WinterFUN! Thank you for dedicating so much time and effort to LexFUN! We couldn’t do it with out you!

Best, Lindsay and Patrice – LexFUN! Co-Presidents

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Newsletter brought to you by LexFUN!

Joyce D. Editor – April Showers? No thank you….

LexFUN! March 2014 Newsletter

Posted on February 26, 2014 by lexfiveandundernetwork

Executive Board Letter

Guest Column: What’s New at Cary Library by Alissa Lauzon, Head of Children’s Services at Cary Memorial Library

Community Service

Kindergarten Korner

The Buzz:All Things Consignment!

Sponsor Spotlight

Ongoing Programs and Events

Membership Corner

With Many Thanks To…

Executive Board Letter

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Congratulations! We have almost made it through yet another New England winter. March is a transition month-winter is at our back door, and spring is just around the corner. Just like Charles Dickens expresses above, March sometimes feels like summer, and sometimes feels like winter. We never know what each day will bring. And just as the weather changes from day to day and hour to hour, I feel like my mood changes on a daily basis. On sunny, almost-spring days, people are out walking, working on their houses, and you can feel the hustle and bustle in town. I feel rejuvenated, refreshed, motivated to get outside and be active. But when the March snows come, I feel like I can’t deal with one more day of winter, and I just want to hunker down inside and wish the snow away.

As we say good-bye to winter and hello to spring, we will also say goodbye to Winter Fun at the end of the month. Join us for our last two Winter Fun sessions of the year on Wednesdays, March 12 and March 26. We also welcome spring with one of the most popular LexFUN! events of the year the already sold out Barn Babies. What a perfect way to welcome spring by visiting with baby animals! Another perfect way to welcome spring is to get things done that we haven’t been motivated to do over the winter months. If doing your estate planning is hanging over your head, the time is now, and David Adams can help at his seminar, Everything You Need to Know to Get Your Estate Planning Done, on March 4. We hope you’ll also join us for another great seminar this month, Oral Health for Children on March 26, with Dr. Carolyn Coppe. Both seminars have been presented to LexFUN! in the past and are proven winners. Or maybe you’d like to teach your kids about Community Service. Join us on March 19 at Youville for our monthly visit with the senior residents there. They always enjoy seeing the children’s smiling faces!

Enjoy this lovely time of year. Not only are the days growing longer and brighter, but spring tends to slow down after the hustle and bustle of the holidays and before the busy-ness of the end of the school year and summer travel. We hope you will find time to enjoy the outdoors, start planning your garden, begin spring cleaning, don’t forget to pull things out for the LexFUN! Consignment Sale on May 17th-it is not too early to start tagging! Make sure to note of the updated sale time and location information below in The Buzz! Clean those closets or do whatever makes you feel rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready for spring!

-Courtney Lauriat for the Executive Board

LexFUN! Executive Board:

– Patrice Cleaves, Co-President
– Lindsay Wedell, Co-President
– Julie Callahan, Vice President, Community Service
– Sam Carreiro, Vice President, Advertising & Sponsorship
– Courtney Lauriat, Vice President, Membership
– Kristina Santonelli, Vice President, Events
– Valerie Machinist, Treasurer
– Leigh-Ann Durant, Secretary

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Guest Column: What’s New at Cary Library by Alissa Lauzon, Head of Children’s Services at Cary Memorial Library

The Children’s Room at the library is a busy place and has many exciting offerings for families with young children. 2014 at Cary Memorial Library is the “Year of Discovery,” a major initiative that will focus on community driven programming around science and technology. The Children’s Room is thrilled to be offering a variety of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) programming for children of all ages in support of this initiative. Particularly of interest to families with children under the age of five are our monthly Lego® Block Party where we invite children of all ages to bring an adult and come create with our Lego® and Duplo® bricks. Our next Block Party will be Saturday, March 8th. In addition, we have added a special new Saturday story time for ages 3 – 5 called Story Explorers where we explore science, math, art, and music through picture books and hands-on activities. Registration is required and our next session will be on March 8th (registration beginning March 3rd).

in addition to our scheduled programming, here are some fun science stories and activities to explore with your child:

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stohl Walsh
Explore primary colors and color mixing! Give your child red, blue, and yellow fingerpaint and let them explore what happens when you mix colors.

Who Sank the Boat? By Pamela Allen
Play a game of “Will it float?” at bathtime! Pull together a variety of objects and have your child guess whether the item will sink or float.

Just A Little Bit by Ann Tompert
Turn your children into human scales! Have them stand with their eyes closed and their arms out to their sides, palm up. Place one item in each hand and then have your child decide which item is heavier and lower that arm down and raise the arm of the object that is lighter. You can also make your own scales and have your children experiment with weight by putting a heavy object on one side and have them add weight to the other until the scale balances.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Have your child act out the lifecycle of a butterfly. Egg: have the children round their body into the shape of an egg. Larva: have the children wiggle like a worm. Pupa: have them crawl into a sleeping bag, or under a blanket, with colorful handkerchiefs or strips of colorful paper inside. Have them emerge from the cocoon as a butterfly, swaying with the handkerchiefs in hand

In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming
Talk a walk around a pond and see what kind of life you can find!

Seeds, Seeds, Seeds by Nancy Wallace
Long term science fun! Plant some seeds and watch them grow!

The Glorious Flight by Alice and Martin Provensen
Make and fly paper airplanes. Fly them in different condition (throwing up the stairs and down, with a fan and against a fan) and talk about how their flight changes.

All of these stories can be found in the Children’s Room-come in and check them out!

In addition, new this year at Cary Library we have a bi-weekly Saturday morning story time geared towards ages 0 – 5! Story Play is a low-key, interactive program of stories, songs, and rhymes, and is followed by a time to play and socialize. Stop by March 15th at 9:30 am and check out the fun!

The Children’s Room at the library is a great place for families with young children to read and explore. We hope that you and your children will be able to join us for some of our upcoming STEAM programming or explore some of the above science and art activities on your own. Have fun-and happy reading!

Alissa Lauzon is the Head of Children’s Services at Cary Memorial Library. If you see someone running around in a purple tutu, fairy wings, or another crazy costume, it’s probably her! Please stop by the Library and say hi! She loves visiting with the kids and parents about what they want to see at Cary Library!

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Community Service

Youville Place Time with Seniors – Next visit March 19th at 10am

Come stay warm and make some new friends at Youville. Your children will have a lot of fun doing a craft and reading books with the residents. They bring so much joy to one another! Please join us for the March event with LexFUN! families and Youville Place residents on Wednesday, March 19th from 10:00am until 11:00am. Youville Place is located at 10 Pelham Road in Lexington (off Mass. Ave.). Please contact Elizabeth Restivo at restivodemunoz@gmail.com if you have any questions.

SAVE THE DATE FOR CLUB SHAKE IT 2014! A pop-up dance club on Hayden Field, benefiting COMPASS for Kids on Saturday June 14, 2014 – Hayden Lower Field, Lexington.

Pull out the hair spray & shoulder pads as

Shake It goes clubbing again this year – 80s style!

Club Shake It is a pop-up dance club on Hayden Lower Field – Lexington, benefiting COMPASS for kids’ COMPASS for homeless families program on Saturday June 14, 2014
Support life-change for local homeless families* by:
-Joining the committee (buy or put together a table with your friends)
-Soliciting/donating auction items
-Helping us market the event

*There are now close to 300 homeless families living in Lexington, Bedford and Waltham motels. For more information or to get involved please contact Sarah Humphreys, COMPASS for kids, Friendmaker,sarahhumphreys@compassforkids.org, 781-862-4446

Meals on Wheels: Get Out and About!

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Kindergarten Korner

Is your child going to Kindergarten this fall?

Spring is upon us, and with it comes the beginning of preparations for fall! Registration packets have been mailed from the LPS (Lexington Public Schools) Office, and the Town-Wide Kindergarten Orientation is on Thursday, March 20th at 6:45 pm at the Harrington School.

Please also consider signing up for Kindergarten Connection, a playdate-based program that enables you and your child to meet other Kindergarteners and their families at your school over the summer – it’s a great way to ease the transition in the fall with some familiar faces! To sign up, visit www.lexfun.org/kindergarten

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Kindergarten Parents’ Panel is coming on April 30, 2014!

LexFUN! presents an evening of discussion and Q&A with parents of current Lexington Kindergarteners. From what supplies to buy and daily routines, to food services and whether to bus, walk or drive to school, our panelists are available to answer all of your questions about the Kindergarten experience from a parent’s perspective, and maybe a few you didn’t even know you had!

Fall 2014 Kindergarten To-Do List:

• If you have not yet received your school registration packet from Lexington Public Schools, please call your elementary school directly.

• Prepare for Kindergarten Registration – fill out those forms!

• Meet new friends this summer through Kindergarten Connection – visit www.lexfun.org/kindergarten to register.

• Attend Town-Wide Kindergarten Parents’ Orientation Night,

Thursday, March 20th starting at 6:45 pm

Harrington Elementary School, 328 Lowell St, Lexington.

Hosted by Lexington Public Schools.

• Watch this space for details on our upcoming Kindergarten Parents’ Panel!

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The Buzz: All Things Consignment!

#1: Shopper Tip: SAVE THE DATE!

DATE: Saturday, May 17th

TIMES: Presale is now 8am-9:30am *for registered sale volunteer’s only
Public Sale is 10am-2pm
Brown Bag sale is 2:15pm-3pm $20 to fill a brown shopping bag
NEW LOCATION: Lexington High School Field House

LexFUN!’s Annual Consignment Sale is a fantastic one-day sale of high quality, gently used children’s clothing (newborn to 8 – all seasons), toys, games, books, strollers, car seats, high chairs, cribs, baby furniture, bouncy seats, baby gear and equipment, bikes and wagons. We bring together hundreds and hundreds of buyers and sellers under one roof for this exciting one-day shopping event! Also, to make shopping as convenient as possible, we accept Visa, Mastercard & Discover credit cards.

*No strollers allowed inside while you shop; you’ll be asked to leave your stroller in our designated stroller parking area

#2: Seller Tip: Tagging items is easy with

“Power Tagging”

Would you like to get rid of your clutter, make some money AND help a very worthy cause in your community? Then sign up to consign your children’s outgrown clothes, toys, books and baby equipment at LexFUN!’s Annual Spring Consignment Sale! Now is the perfect time to start collecting and tagging items for the Sale.

Selling items at our Sale is super easy! Just log onto our special Consignment Sale Website at www.myconsignmentmanager.com/lexfun and create your own barcode price tags. If you consigned last year, use the “Returning Sellers” section and click “register” (to sign up for the 2014 Sale). If this is your first year consigning, use the “New Sellers” section. All sellers receive 50% of the proceeds, with the other 50% going towards LexFUND, LexFUN!’s Community and Preschool Scholarship Fund.

Save Time with “POWER TAGGING”

Discover the time-saving feature used by many of our high volume sellers – Power Tagging!

If you have more than one item that you want to sell for the same price (e.g., 10 pairs of boy’s pants for $3.00 each or 20 books for $1.00 each), you can save a lot of time by using the “Power Tagger” feature on our Consignment Sale website. It’s really easy!! You can create over 200 tags in one minute!

You only have to enter 3 fields– price, size (but you can chose “Not applicable”) and category (but you can choose “Miscellaneous” to cover many different items). You can enter other fields if you want to, but you don’t have to.

In the section called “Power Tagger: I want to create ___ items(s) with the same information”, chose how many tags you want to create (pick any number of tags up to 20 tags).
Then click “Add Item(s)”.
- This saves the items to your “inventory” list (in blue at bottom of screen).

To create 20 more tags, go through the same steps again.

Tagging Deadline: All tags must be printed by midnight on Saturday, May 10^th, 2014. The Consignment Sale Website will be locked down and closed at midnight on Saturday, May 10^th. This means tags cannot be printed after this date. So please plan accordingly. This deadline is only about 10 weeks away.

Drop-off Date and Time

Items can be dropped off to the Lexington High School field house Friday, May 16 only from 5:00pm – 9:00pm. This includes donated items as well. Have your items already sorted by size, gender, and type to make this process easier for yourself.

Questions?

Contact the Consignment Sale Co-Chairs Puja TenPas and Jill Tierney at Lexfunconsignmentsale@gmail.com

#3: Super Power Tip:

Be Eligible to Shop the Private Pre-Sale – Sign up to Volunteer today!

We are looking for volunteers to help us with our 7^th Annual Consignment Sale on May 17^th. To make the Sale a success, we need lots of help from volunteers!

Last year, over 300 people – LexFUN! Members, family members, grandparents, Lexington high school students and other Lexington residents – donated their time and helped with the Sale.

Who can volunteer? You don’t have to be a LexFUN! Member or even a Lexington resident. Anyone can volunteer!

Moms looking to meet other moms in town
Parents and grandparents who want first selection at our spectacular Private Pre-Sale Event
High school students who need community hours

Volunteer Benefits: Shop Early! All volunteers will be eligible to shop at the Private Pre-Sale Event on Friday night for the best selection of items.

To receive volunteer benefits, you must register on our website as a volunteer. Go to www.myconsignmentmanager.com/lexfun and go to the “Volunteer” section.

Volunteer responsibilities will vary by shift and day. Volunteers are asked to give 2.25 hours of their time and will be assigned a particular role when they arrive for their shift.

Below are some of the volunteer jobs.

Organization & set up
Check-in of items being dropped off
Sorting and tagging donated items
Assisting Consignors in placing their items on the sales floor
Greeting customers
Keeping sales floor organized & straightening racks
Cashier and check-out
Cleaning up & breaking down of tables/racks

Can’t work the day of the sale? We do have some volunteer opportunities that you can do before the sale and still qualify for shopping the Pre-Sale. These jobs include things such as posting flyers around town and helping to distribute lawn signs. To volunteer for these jobs, please contact one of our Sale Co-Chairs Puja or Jill at Lexfunconsignmentsale@gmail.com

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Sponsor Spotlight: Pathway Law

James Gandolfini’s Last Will and Testament

(click here for a PDF version of this article)

James Gandolfini, who played Tony Soprano on the HBO hit series The Sopranos, died unexpectedly of a heart attack last year at the age of 51. He is survived by his wife Deborah, son Michael (age 13) and daughter Lillian (age 1). You can review Mr. Gandolfini’s Last Will and Testament here: http://wills.about.com/library/James-Gandolfini-Last-Will-and-Testament.pdf.

This much-loved actor’s will is instructive on many fronts for those wishing to get their estate plan in order. Here are a few observations.

He had a will. On the positive side, Mr. Gandolfini had a will in place. This allowed him to appoint an executor to carry out his instructions described in his will. Mr. Gandolfini was known as a generous man and his will reflects this. In addition to providing for his wife and children, he left meaningful gifts to several friends, nieces, a godson, and his personal assistant. Absent a will, the state of New York’s “laws of intestacy” would have directed his estate to be distributed only between his wife and his children, clearly not what Mr. Gandolfini intended.

He chose a guardian. Mr. Gandolfini’s will also appointed a guardian in the event of his and his wife’s deaths. Had he and his wife died without a will, other relatives would have had to come forward to seek court appointment. Having a judge decide on who should be your child’s guardian can lead to significant family strife and very likely the wrong decision.

I think we have a tax problem! This estate is said to be worth around $70 million. If so, a quick calculation would estimate the New York and federal estate taxes to be as much as $20 million. It is unclear why Mr. Gandolfini did not use a revocable trust that could have been drafted to carry out his apparent goals of providing first for his spouse, then his children, but would have avoided a significant amount of this estate tax. The technicalities of such planning are stuff for another article, but “marital” trusts (also known as “A-B” or “credit shelter” trusts) are basic planning tools for couples in New York and Massachusetts, both states that tax individuals at their deaths once an estate reaches $1 million. Using such a trust can reduce estate taxes for families with even modest estates by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Do we want a one-year old to inherit $14 million? If the estate is worth $70 million, then daughter Lillian inherits $14 million. (Interestingly, son Michael appears to be receiving $7 million from a separate life insurance trust.) Under the terms of the will, Lillian will receive this money at age twenty-one. This is quite curious. Most parents, even with much more modest estates, would think twice about their child having complete control of a large amount of money at such a young age. Would their child be motivated to go to school and work hard to accomplish personal goals? What about a poor decision regarding a partner and this inheritance being lost in a divorce? What about bad decisions being made in a child’s early twenties regarding investing these assets? Mr. Gandolfini’s gift to his daughter, as well as sizeable gifts to nieces and his godson, could have been left in trust for their benefit, but with the oversight of a trustee. The trust would allow the trustee to use funds for proper purposes (spelled out in the trust) and provide protection from a host of things that life can throw at our children, which would deplete their inheritance. The trustee can also been instructed to distribute trust assets outright to our children when they a reach a certain age, like thirty or forty.

Let’s avoid probate. There is no reason this estate needed to go through the public probate process. Trusts avoid the probate process, including associated costs and delays before distributions can be made. In New York, an executor is entitled to a fee based on the total value of the estate. A $70 million estate means an executor fee of $1.5 million! A little estate planning could have avoided the probate process altogether.

We should find a good Italian estate planner. Finally, Mr. Gandolfini left a home in Italy to his two children. Typically, foreign property should be controlled by a foreign will, in order to minimize tax exposure and the probate costs and fees in the country where the property is located. It is important, therefore, to coordinate a person’s U.S. will with the non-U.S. will. The cost of this planning will typically be significantly less than the fees your heirs will have to pay to sort through a legal mess after your death.

David Adams is a trusts and estate attorney at Pathway Law LLC (www.PathwayLaw.com). Even if you are not a famous mob boss actor, you can contact him at (617) 484-6610 with any estate planning questions.

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Ongoing Programs and Events

Book Groups

As you consider joining a LexFUN! book group, please think about your preferences in the following areas:

Please look for the book group subgroup on Big Tent to get connected. Alternatively, you can email Jessica Paul, Book Groups Chair at jessicabpaul@gmail.com.

OR start your own group! Don’t see a group here that your were hoping to see? Contact Jessica Paul to get the ball rolling or with any questions: jessicabpaul@gmail.com or (617) 417-9137

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Inspire – Play – Create For over 50 years, 5 million families worldwide have trusted Yamaha Music School to inspire a lifelong love and appreciation for music learning, playing, and creative expression. Featuring innovative lessons for children through adults, Yamaha’s programs are designed to meet the unique needs and abilities for beginner through advanced students. The method combines a comprehensive curriculum with a fun, engaging classroom environment to promote a strong, well-rounded educational foundation. Now it’s your child’s turn! Enroll in a class today. See your membership card for special LexFUN! discount.

Membership Corner

We hope you have been taking advantage of all the benefits your LexFUN! membership has to offer. Don’t forget to use your LexFUN! discount card at many of the retailers in town who offer discounts to our members. Some of our participating businesses such as Crafty Yankee and Catch a Falling Star even offer free gift-wrapping! Your membership also allows you to receive discounts when you purchase tickets to LexFUN! special events throughout the year, such as our Barn Babies going on this month and to attend all of our seminars for free. The more you use your card, the more your membership pays off, so keep it in your wallet so you always have it when you need it!

Each month we highlight retail news from local merchants offering members discounts year round.

Newbodi.es: enlighten.your.body: (http://www.newbodi.es)
Check out Newbodi.es to achieve your health, fitness, and general life goals. Their offerings span three major categories – in-home personal training (or at BSC in Lexington), health/diet/wellness coaching and high protein bars to help people get to their goals. They also have several free resources including a podcast and blog that are great. Contact Bryan Falchuk at the above website to discuss a 10% discount for LexFUN! members. Newbodi.es, is offering a 10% discount to LexFun! members on coaching and personal training services. Learn more at www.newbodi.es/lexfun or email lexfun@newbodi.es.

Lexington Power Yoga: LPY is now offering heated Barre and Soul classes in addition to the unheated classes. The teachers are great and you get an excellent workout. You can use your LexFUN! card for 10% off a 10 pack. lexingtonpoweryoga.com

YMCA of Woburn: This top of the line facility provides a wide variety of services and programs, including 2 indoor pools, gym, mind-body studio, kids’ gym, climbing wall, steam room, sauna, personal training and wellness classes. Use your LexFUN! card for 10% off monthly membership. www.ymcaboston.org/northsuburban

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With Many Thanks To…

Board Members, Take a Bow

Thank you to our Seminar team, Lisa Glenn and Kristin Pechinsky, for bringing us a great speaker about healthy eaters! Hopefully some of those techniques will work on our pickiest of eaters.

Thank you to Laurie Lane and Alissa O’Shaughnesy for organizing what turned out to be a fabulous Tanglewood Puppet Show. The Fairy Circus was a hit! The kids were really excited for the show and afterwards being able to touch and ask questions about the puppets was fantastic!

As we move into March, we want to thank our Consignment Sale team for all of the work they have done already to help make our sale one of the biggest and best in our area! Hats off to Puja Tenpas, Jill Tierney and Kimberly Ryan, and everyone involved on the Consignment Sale Committee for already motivating and recruiting other moms out there to lend a hand during our largest fundraiser of the year!

Every month we each get to read lots of good stuff within the LexFUN! Newsletter. This could not happen without Joyce Dvorak pulling it all together for us! Many thanks Joyce!

And lastly, Thank you to Leigh-Ann Durant, who every week keeps us on our toes with all the happenings via Big Tent, Board Mtgs, Events around Town and all in all, keeping Lindsay and Patrice in line with everything we have going on!

Thanks so much to all of you for your incredible service and amazing company!
Best,
Lindsay and Patrice – LexFUN! Co-Presidents

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Newsletter brought to you by LexFUN!

Joyce D. Editor – March: In like a lion, out like a lamb – let’s hope so!

LexFUN! February 2014 Newsletter

Posted on January 30, 2014 by lexfiveandundernetwork

Executive Board Letter

Guest Column: The Ins and Outs of College Planning

By Matt Lasker, CFP® and Carol Khouri, CFP®, CDFA™

Partners at Wingate Wealth Advisors, Lexington

Community Service

Kindergarten Korner

The Buzz:All Things Consignment!

Sponsor Spotlight

Ongoing Programs and Events

Membership Corner

With Many Thanks To…

Executive Board Letter

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Happy February! Although February is the shortest month of the year, there’s no shortage of things to celebrate this month – Groundhog Day (2^nd), Chocolate Fondue Day (5^th), Send-a-Card-to-a-Friend Day (7^th), Chinese New Year (10^th-12^th), Valentine’s Day (14^th), Random-Act –of-Kindness Day (17^th), Love Your Pet Day (20^th), Black History Month, and the birthdays of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony and Elmo (yes, the Elmo from Sesame Street who leads our LexFUN! Halloween Parade every year).

Many of these celebrations revolve around themes of love and kindness. So why not incorporate a little love and kindness into everything you do this month? Here are some easy ways to do that:

Talk to your children about love, often. Explain that there are many different kinds of love to celebrate. It can be love for parents, love for grandparents, love for siblings, love for nannies and caregivers, love for teachers, love for friends, love for neighbors, love for pets, love for the environment, love for a sports team, love for your country, love for school, love for LexFUN! activities, love for a favorite food, etc. Tell them sometimes we have special days to celebrate love – like Valentine’s Day – but you never need a special day to tell someone you love them.
Hug your children today. Twice. Examples abound to remind us all too well how fragile life is.
Brainstorm with your children about ways to express love and kindness. Maybe it’s giving out Valentines at preschool. Maybe it’s giving a friend a box of chocolates. Maybe it’s giving mommy some flowers. Maybe it’s sending their arts and crafts project from WinterFUN! to a grandparent. Maybe it’s taking that arts and crafts project to one of the Seniors at Youville. Maybe it’s inviting a friend to come to the Tanglewood Marionettes Puppet Show with you.
Then brainstorm with them about how to express love and kindness in ways besides giving cards, flowers and other material things. Maybe it’s asking a friend over for a playdate or inviting them to join you at LexFUN’s Drop In Center. Maybe it’s telephoning grandparents to say “Have a nice day!” Maybe it’s offering to walk the neighbor’s dog. Maybe it’s gathering up outgrown clothes and donating them to Cradles to Crayons. Maybe it’s delivering Meals on Wheels to seniors. Maybe it’s holding the door open for someone. Maybe it’s telling your mommy she looks very pretty today. Maybe it’s just smiling extra big for the Seniors at Youville. The possibilities are endless!

“The one thing we can never get enough of is love. And the one thing we never give enough is love.” ~ Henry Miller.

“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” – William Arthur Ward

From all of us at LexFUN!, we wish you a month filled with much love and kindness.

~ Leigh-Ann Durant for the Executive Board

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Guest Column: The Ins and Outs of College Planning By Matt Lasker, CFP® and Carol Khouri, CFP®, CDFA™ Partners at Wingate Wealth Advisors, Lexington

There is no denying the benefits of a college education for your children: increased earning power and expanded horizons among them. But these advantages come at a price: COLLEGE IS EXPENSIVE!!

The average annual cost of a 4-year private college for the 2012-13 school year was approximately $44,300.
If costs continue to rise 5% annually (as they have been), the four-year sticker price for today’s newborn will be about $460,000.

For many parents, especially those who started families in their 30s and 40s, the problem of saving for college and retirement at the same time is a nagging reality.

The key to saving for both is to tailor monthly investments to the particular investment goal: college or retirement. You will then need to determine time frames and liquidity needs for each goal, which may require the assistance of a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).

What are the options? It is important for parents to start putting money aside for college as early as possible. But where should you put your money? Most people think college savings equals 529 Plans. There are actually over 15 different strategies that can be used for building a college fund for your children, each with varied features. For example, some options offer tax advantages, some are more costly to establish, some charge management fees, some require parental income to be below a certain level, and some impose penalties if the money is not used for college.

Factors to take into consideration when choosing a college savings strategy:

Tax advantages: Money saved for college goes a lot further when it’s allowed to accumulate tax free or tax deferred. To come out ahead in the college savings game, it’s wise to consider tax-advantaged strategies, such as a 529 Plan.

Beware of the “Kiddie tax”: Many parents believe they can shift assets to their child in order to avoid high income taxes. This strategy works best if the child is generally age 24 or older. If the child is under age 24, the kiddie tax rules apply.

The basic tax rules are as follows:

For children age 18 or under age 24 if a full-time student, the first $1,000 of annual unearned income (e.g., interest, dividends, capital gains) is tax free, the second $1,000 is taxed at the child’s rate, and any unearned income over $2,000 is taxed at the parents’ rate. This latter tax is referred to as the kiddie tax. So, after the first $2,000 of investment income, a child under age 24 will end up paying the same tax as if the parents had retained the asset.

Financial aid: Predicting whether a child will qualify for financial aid many years down the road is an inexact science. Some families with incomes of $100,000 or more may qualify for aid, while those with lesser incomes may not. Income is only one of the factors used to determine financial aid eligibility. Other factors include amount of assets, family size, number of household members in college at the same time, and the existence of any special personal or financial circumstances.

Time frame: Most college savings strategies work best when the child is many years away from college. With a longer time horizon, parents can be more aggressive in their investments and have more years to take advantage of compounding.

When the child is a baby up until about middle school, most professional financial planners recommend putting more money into equity investments because historically, over the long term, equities have provided higher returns than other types of investments (though past performance is no guarantee of future results). Then, as the child moves from middle school to high school, it’s usually wise for parents to start shifting a portion of their equities toward shorter-term, fixed income investments.

Amount of money available to invest: The amount of money parents have to invest at a particular time might affect their savings strategies. Working with a professional financial planner can help you figure out how much to save now and in the future and what type of saving option best fits your situation.

We would be delighted to help you with your College Planning Strategies or answer any questions you may have.

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Community Service

Youville Place Time with Seniors – Next visit February 12th at 10am

Love is in the air! This month, bring your sweeties to makesome special valentines with the residents of Youville. Please join us for the February event with LexFUN! families and Youville Place residents on Wednesday, February 12th from 10:00am until 11:00am. Youville Place is located at 10 Pelham Road in Lexington (off Mass. Ave.). Please contact Elizabeth Restivo at restivodemunoz@gmail.com if you have any questions.

SAVE THE DATE FOR CLUB SHAKE IT 2014! A pop-up dance club on Hayden Field, benefiting COMPASS for Kids on Saturday June 14, 2014 – Hayden Lower Field, Lexington.

Help us make this the most successful year yet. Support life-change for local homeless families* by joining the committee! Buy or put together a table with your friends, help us market the event or solicit/donate auction items!

*There are now close to 300 homeless families living in Lexington, Bedford and Waltham For more information or to get involved please contact Sarah Humphreys, COMPASS for kids, Friendmaker,sarahhumphreys@compassforkids.org, 781-862-4446

Meals on Wheels: Get Out and About!

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Kindergarten Korner

Do you have a rising Kindergartener?

Incredibly enough, it is time to start thinking (just a little bit!) about starting Kindergarten in the fall of 2014! Kindergarten Connection enables you to meet other Kindergarteners and their families at your school over the summer – it’s a great way to ease the transition in the fall with some familiar faces.

Fall 2014 Kindergarten To-Do List:

• Keep an eye out for your registration packet sent by Lexington Public Schools to incoming Kindergarteners – usually mailed just after February vacation.

• If you don’t receive a packet by the end of February, call LPS Central Office, 781-861-2580.

• Register for Kindergarten – fill out those forms!

• Sign up for LexFUN!’s Kindergarten Connection to meet new classmates and friends this summer – see form in your packet.

• Attend Town-Wide Kindergarten Parents’ Orientation Night, Thursday, March 20th, 2014 – see packet for details. Hosted by Lexington Public Schools.

• Watch this space for updates on Kindergarten 2014 and the 2nd Annual LexFUN! Kindergarten Parent Panel!

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The Buzz: All Things Consignment!<

LexFUN!’s Annual Spring Consignment Sale: Turn your Children’s Outgrown Clothes into Cash: Sign up to consign with us today!

SAVE THE DATE!

DATE: Saturday, May 17th

TIME: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm; Bargain Bag Sale ($20) from 1:00-2:00 pm

PLACE: St. Brigid’s Church, 2001 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA 02421

Become a Seller: Sign-up Now!: Would you like to get rid of your clutter, make some money AND help a very worthy cause in your community? Then sign up to consign your children’s outgrown clothes, toys, books and baby equipment at LexFUN!’s Annual Spring Consignment Sale! Now is the perfect time to start collecting and tagging items for the Sale.

Selling items at our Sale is super easy! Just log onto our special Consignment Sale Website at www.myconsignmentmanager.com/lexfun and create your own barcode price tags. If you consigned last year, use the “Returning Sellers” section and click “Register Here” (to sign up for the 2014 Sale). If this is your first year consigning, use the “New Sellers” section. All sellers receive 50% of the proceeds, with the other 50% going towards LexFUND, LexFUN!’s Community and Preschool Scholarship Fund.

Gather Your Items: What can you sell? You can sell gently used children’s clothes (newborn to size 8), outerwear, shoes, boots, Halloween costumes, toys, musical instruments, craft paper/chalk boards, children’s books, movies, games, backpacks, children’s suitcases, strollers, car seats, high chairs, swings, bikes, riding toys, wagons, baby equipment and gear, monitors, baby carriers, cribs, pack-n-plays, and baby and children’s furniture. Go through your attic, garage, basement and closets and see what gems you have!

consign

Over the years, LexFUN! has developed a reputation of having high quality merchandise at our sale so we have a few restrictions on the items you can consign. Please, no clothes with stains, tears, missing buttons or broken zippers. Also, by law, we cannot sell car seats that are more than 5 years old or drop-side cribs. Before our pre-sale, a team of volunteers checks the manufacture date on every single car seat and throws away any that are over 5 years old. A few other things, such as stuffed animals, violent toys (i.e., guns or weapons), used bottles, pacifiers, teethers or sippy cups, and undergarments, cannot be consigned. Also, please no outdated media, such as cassette tapes or VHS tapes; and no maternity books. If any of these items are brought for sale, we will have to unfortunately send them back or throw them away.

Helpful Hints for Success: Spending a little extra time getting your items ready will make a HUGE difference on your profits. Clothes that are clean, pressed, and smell fresh, with buttons and zippers closed, look better and generally sell first. Sets tend to sell better than separate items. So match up separates if you can. Starch, a little bleach, an iron, or a needle and thread work wonders! The same applies to furniture, large toys and outdoor play equipment. Remove all dirt, grime and marks. Make sure all parts are included; place any small parts in zip-lock bags, then securely attach the bag to the main part. Pants, jeans, overalls and shorts should be folded and price tags attached with a safety pin in upper-right side. All other clothes should be put on wire hangers if possible (wire hangers take up less room on the racks than plastic hangers). Hangers should be positioned so that the top of the hanger forms a question mark when looking at the front of the garment. Price tags should be attached with a safety pin in upper-right corner (when looking at front of garment).

Enter Items and Create Barcode Price Tags: With our Consignment Sale website, you can quickly enter items and create barcode price tags (www.myconsignmentmanager.com/lexfun). To help you set prices, we have some suggested Pricing Guidelines posted on our website at www.lexfun.org.

Drop-off Your Items: Items can be dropped off on Thursday, May 15, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Friday, May 16, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The drop off location is St. Brigid’s Church at 2001 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA 02421.

Get Paid! : You will earn 50% of the proceeds of your items which sell and the balance goes towards LexFUNd, LexFUN!’s community and preschool scholarship fund. All unsold items will be donated to local charities, such as Cradles to Crayons.

So what are you waiting for? Register to consign today!

Questions? Contact our Sale chairs: Puja TenPas at pujatenpas@gmail.com or Jill Tierney at jekoplow@yahoo.com.

Volunteers Needed for Our Fifth Annual Consignment Sale

We are looking for volunteers to help us with our Annual Consignment Sale in May. To make the Sale a success, we need lots of help from volunteers!

Last year, over 300 people – LexFUN! members, family members, grandparents, Lexington high school students and other Lexington residents – donated their time and helped with the Sale.

Who can volunteer? You don’t have to be a LexFUN! member or even a Lexington resident. Anyone can volunteer!

Parents looking to meet other parents in town
Parents and grandparents who want first selection at our spectacular Private Pre-Sale Event
High school students who need community hours

Volunteer Benefits: Shop Early! All volunteers will be eligible to shop at the Private Pre-Sale Event on Friday night.

To receive volunteer benefits, you must register on our website as a volunteer. Go to

www.myconsignmentmanager.com/lexfun and go to the “Volunteer” section.

Volunteer responsibilities will vary by shift and day. Volunteers are asked to give 2.25 hours of their time and will be assigned a particular role when they arrive for their shift.

Below are some of the volunteer jobs.

· Organization and set-up

· Check-in of items being dropped-off

· Assisting consignors in placing their items on the sales floor

· Greeting customers

· Keeping sales floor organized

· Cashier and check-out

· Cleaning-up and breaking-down of tables/racks

Can’t work the day of the sale? We have other volunteer opportunities that you can do before the sale and still qualify for shopping the Pre-Sale. These jobs include things such as posting flyers around town and helping to distribute lawn signs. To volunteer for these jobs, please contact one of our Sale chairs: Puja TenPas at pujatenpas@gmail.com or Jill Tierney at jekoplow@yahoo.com.

There’s Still Time to Join the Consignment Sale Committee

If you’re looking for an opportunity to become more involved with LexFUN! or a way to meet other parents in town, then consider joining the Consignment Sale Committee! There’s still time to join.

Some people have asked about the time commitment for the sale and the Committee. You can give as much or as little time as you want. We only have about 3 or so Committee meetings during the next 3 months, and have large and small jobs that you can do whenever they fit in with your schedule (days, nights, weekends, via email, via phone, etc.).

To join the Committee, please contact one of our Sale chairs: Puja TenPas at pujatenpas@gmail.com or Jill Tierney at jekoplow@yahoo.com.

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Sponsor Spotlight

Summer Fenn Camp: Winter Fest & Open House 2014 Sunday February 9th from 2:00-4:00 pm

There will be campfires, s’mores, hot chocolate and tours of our campus.

Join us for a fun afternoon and see what Summer Fenn is all about!! Enter to win a free week of General Camp at Summer Fenn. Raffle drawing to be held on the day of the Winter Fest–you must be present to win.

At Summer Fenn, Our General Camp program provides campers ages 5-15 with the opportunity to experience a variety of active, creative and fun activities under the guidance of our talented staff. It allows campers to build self confidence, create lasting friendships, make their own choices and try new activities in a safe and supportive environment.

General Camp counselors lead campers through a well-balanced and diverse schedule that includes Red Cross Swim Lessons, Adventure, Arts & Crafts, Nature and Sports & Games, getting to know their campers individually and as a group. They assist campers in all program areas, ensuring that each camper has a positive experience along the way. Experienced Activity Specialists join groups to lead our program areas, engaging campers with thoughtful, age-appropriate activities and projects and allowing each camper to be successful and participate at a comfortable level.

Campers are placed in coed groups based on their age and the grade they will be entering the following fall. Younger children follow a pre-established, well-rounded program. Campers experience a variety of activities designed to meet the needs of each age group (arts and crafts, adventure, sports and games, music and drama, special events, and afternoon electives) All programs are supervised by Activity Specialists with the assistance of General Camp counselors. Instructional and recreational swimming is offered daily for all General Camp age groups.

General Camp is offered all eight weeks of Summer Fenn in either one- or two-week sessions. The schedule and activities change weekly to encourage campers to join us for multiple weeks. Campers are placed in co-ed groups based on their age. Hot Lunch and snack included in tuition. For More information click HERE.

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Ongoing Programs and Events

Book Groups

As you consider joining a LexFUN! book group, please think about your preferences in the following areas:

Please look for the book group subgroup on Big Tent to get connected. Alternatively, you can email Jessica Paul, Book Groups Chair at jessicabpaul@gmail.com.

OR start your own group! Don’t see a group here that your were hoping to see? Contact Jessica Paul to get the ball rolling or with any questions: jessicabpaul@gmail.com or (617) 417-9137

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Membership Corner

2013-2014 membership materials (annual guide and discount cards) have been distributed to all members, either at Open House or by mail. Contact Emily at ewildfire@hotmail.com if you have questions. For new members who sign up throughout the year, it will take a week or two to receive your materials, so please check your mailbox a few weeks after you sign up.

We hope you have been taking advantage of all the benefits your LexFUN! membership has to offer. Don’t forget to use your LexFUN! discount card at many of the retailers in town who offer discounts to our members. Some of our participating businesses such as Crafty Yankee and Catch a Falling Star even offer free gift-wrapping! Your membership also allows you to receive discounts when you purchase tickets to LexFUN! special events throughout the year, such as our Tanglewood Marionettes Puppet show in February, Barn Babies in March, and to attend all of our seminars for free. The more you use your card, the more your membership pays off, so keep it in your wallet so you always have it when you need it!

Each month we highlight retail news from local merchants offering members discounts year round.

Ruyi Restaurant: Ruyi, located at 27 Waltham St, offers Japanese Hibachi, Chinese cuisine and sushi. The hibachi chefs can entertain you and your friends while serving up delicious food for everyone to enjoy. The sushi bar offers a more intimate setting. Use your LexFUN! discount card and get 10% off your total bill. http://www.ruyilexington.com/

Via Lago: A cafe, restaurant and catering business all rolled into one fantastic eatery at 1845 Mass Ave. They offer an assortment of breakfast and lunch options, such as sandwiches, soups, salads and daily hot lunch specials. In the evening, enjoy a romantic dinner at Via Lago, with wonderful entree options and a tasty drink from the bar. They also offer catering options, both corporate and full service catering. You can take advantage of 10% off the total bill (excluding catering) when you use your LexFUN! card. http://vialagocatering.com/

Avenue Deli: Grab a tasty sandwich at Avenue Deli, 1806 Mass Ave, and get a free poland spring water or can of soda with purchase using your LexFUN! card. They use 100% Boar’s Head premium meats which make for great tasting sandwiches. http://www.1806avenuedeli.com/

Pinot’s Palette: lexingtoncenter@pinotspalette.com: Located at 7A Meriam St, Pinot’s Palette is the place to “Paint. Drink. Have Fun.” In a session which is either two or three hours long you can get your artistic juices flowing and create any number of their beautiful paintings. Sign up for a class or private party today, no art experience required. Please note, the Lexington center location is BYOB. Customers can take advantage 20% off classes through February by using discount code GO-LEX at check out. To book classes or private parties, please visit www.pinotspalette.com/lexingtoncenter.

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With Many Thanks To…

Board Members, Take a Bow

Thank you to our board members who have continued to provide excellent entertainment and information to our membership in the New Year!

Thanks to our very own Jill Tilem for organizing a very successful (and fun!) White Elephant Party on January 16th. It was well attended and everyone had a ball.

Thank you to our WinterFUN! gals, Michelle Andronaco, Anne Boulter, and Katherine Mahoney for starting the year out with a bang. The kids are really enjoying all the crafts and play time during all of these cold spells we seem to be getting!

Emily Wildfire reading for the Drop-In Center’s Chinese New Year Celebration!

Special Thanks to Kristina Santonelli who put together the Chinese New Year Celebration on January 31st at the Drop-In Center. Thank you for a great morning of culture and celebration.

January has been a very cold and snowy month and hopefully LexFUN! has helped you keep all those little ones entertained and happy. We look forward to some warmer days and as always we thank you for all of your continued support.

– Patrice Cleaves and Lindsay Wedell, LexFUN! Co-Presidents

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Newsletter brought to you by LexFUN!

Joyce D. Editor ~ “Love is in the air!”

LexFUN! January 2014 Newsletter

Posted on December 31, 2013 by lexfiveandundernetwork

Executive Board Letter

Guest Column: Handling the New Year from a Position of Strength by Kenji Freedman MS.ed, Certified Personal Trainer

Community Service

The Buzz: LexFUN! News and Announcements

Ongoing Programs and Events

Membership Corner

With Many Thanks To…

Executive Board Letter

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Welcome back after what I hope was a fantastic holiday season. The gifts are unwrapped, the decorations are put away, resolutions have been made, and most importantly, the kids go back to school in the next few days (hooray!). We started December with the Holiday Shoppers Night on the 6th and Santa was a hit, as he is every year. WinterFUN! had two events last month with pinecone birdfeeders and holiday ornaments! Drop-In Center is going strong with an idea for a Pampered Parent Day in the near future (stay tuned for more info!) and Youville Place finished their year by making ornaments and jewelry and reading books about snow. Lastly, we were able to collect gift cards for COMPASS families in need this holiday season. They were able to purchase what they needed for themselves and their children to help make this holiday special.

As we look forward into 2014, we have an exciting line up for the months ahead. We start the month on January 7th with our Seminar Series: Helping Children Cope: Putting Humpty Back Together Again where Jeanine Fitzgerald speaks about resiliency as an active ingredient to a life at peace with its past, content with its present and optimistic about the future. She’s a wonderful speaker, with a lot of information to share, definitely a seminar not to miss! Later in the month, if you are wondering what you are going to do with that (insert obscure gift) this year, the answer is re-gift!! The LexFUN! Annual White Elephant is happening Thursday, January 16th at 7:30pm. It’s a great night to relax and catch up with friends as well. RSVP in bigtent to receive location information. And don’t forget, Drop-In Center starts back up again January 3rd!

The New Year gives us an opportunity to reflect on the time that has past, and to set plans and goals for the future. While we are proud of what we have accomplished in the past year, LexFUN! is working hard to make sure that the next twelve months are even better than the last. Whatever your aspirations for 2014, we wish you the best of luck in achieving them!

~ Lindsay Wedell for the Executive Board

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Guest Column: Handling the New Year from a Position of Strength by Kenji Freedman MS.ed, Certified Personal Trainer

In the New Year we start to reflect on all the things from the past year both good and bad. We also think about what will be our ONE new years resolution. Why one when you can have many? Two of the most popular resolutions are to get fit and lose weight. Both are great resolutions….great ideas. What those great ideas should be though, are goals. Great goals. Goals require a concrete plan. How are you going to accomplish these goals? If you come up with an answer to this, then that is an important tool in your battle to reach your goal.

A concrete plan to get fit sounds like “Tomorrow I’m going to make an appointment at my local health club and join, I’m going to set aside 2 hours every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to workout. I’m going to hire a personal trainer to work with me to make sure my form is good and help me with a plan to reach my goals, I’m going to make sure I have a babysitter those days so I can stick with a program”, etc… These are just a few things you can say to get the ball rolling.

I can tell you that as a trainer and nutritionist, one of the most common things I hear is, “I want to be skinny”. The problem with that is nobody knows what skinny means anymore. My client who tells me they want to lose 20 lbs and follows the plan and loses the 20 lbs but still says, “I’d like to lose more here and a bit more there”. Sure, I can help you lose weight and I can help you do it the right way, but what I’d really like people to focus on is getting strong. It’s better to be strong than skinny. Strong brings confidence, strong brings ability, strong is a sense of well-being. Skinny is a smaller pant size and by the way, strong often does that as well. Strong is a lifestyle.

Have you ever looked at the faces of people when they cross the finish line of a race? It’s the feeling of great accomplishment. They feel strong. They’ve hit their goals that they’ve worked so hard for. It’s a really healthy way of looking at your lifestyle because it focuses on how you feel rather than you how you look or how you feel society wants you to look.
Need some motivation? Great!! We all do. How about grabbing a friend or loved one as a workout buddy and creating a workout plan with them. This way you’re accountable to each other and picking each other up when you need it.

Personally, I like to find charity based athletic events to train for. This way your goal has a built in motivator. There certainly is no shortage of charity based fitness events around for many great causes. Five years ago I started the Reach Athlete program to benefit The Family Reach Foundation. I really like being fit and I wanted everybody to feel this good. By bringing in a purpose folks are able to challenge themselves physically and have a built in motivation. In the case of The Family Reach Foundation, we were able to help families dealing with the financial hardships that often accompany pediatric cancer. I saw many kids lives saved by great doctors at local hospitals but due to the financial devastation that’s often brought on by long term illness and parents time off from work they had little or no life to go home to. The house was sold, family is bankrupt, they went without heat during the very cold months of winter so they could pay hospital co-pay and all kinds of horrors. This was unacceptable to me but I had my purpose and I needed an army of great people to help. Now, when we train we “suffer in solidarity” with the kids we want to help. The goal’s not about winning races. The goal is about helping people. Feels really good. Feels good to be strong enough to do that. The folks who join the team have no requirements except they want to get involved and use fitness and athletic events to help others. Great motivator. Before you know it you’re fit!! Yes you did it!!

Sounds so simple. It is. It’s just not easy. Fitness is a lifestyle. It requires a plan. With a plan of action you’re much more likely to follow through. Ultimately you have to believe that you’re important and that you deserve it. You are and you do. We all do in fact. Just like with anything that you do, you should be able to answer the question. “Why am I doing this?” “What’s the purpose?” Think about the answer and when you can answer it you’re ready. Talk to a trusted fitness professional who’s been recommended to you by a friend if you like. This is your year. Time to get strong my friend.

Kenji Freedman MS.ed, Certified Personal Trainer coachkenji@gmail.com Fitness Ambassador-Family Reach Foundation www.familyreach.org

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Community Service

COMPASS Gift Card Drive

Thank you very much for the wonderful support from LexFUN! Your generosity helped support the families that COMPASS provides so many opportunities for this holiday season. COMPASS for kids’ is a non-profit organization based in Lexington. Their COMPASS Community Collaborative program provides homeless parents with a structured education and workforce training program that leads to jobs, sustained employment, increased self-sufficiency and a brighter future. The COMPASS Community Collaborative has operated in Lawrence for over two years, graduating 40 parents. More than 90% of these parents have become employed, and many are making steady strides in their work and in their lives. For more information please visit their website at www.compassforkids.org

Youville Place Time with Seniors – Next visit January 15th at 10am

The visit to Youville in December was full of fun and cheer. The residents of Youville joined the children in making ornaments and jewelry while singing festive songs and listening to stories about snow. Please start the new year off with an enjoyable visit to a warm and welcoming place right here in Lexington. Bring your child(ren) and join us for the January event with LexFUN! families and Youville Place residents on Wednesday, January 15th from 10:00am until 11:00am. Youville Place is located at 10 Pelham Road in Lexington (off Mass. Ave.). Please contact Elizabeth Restivo atrestivodemunoz@gmail.com if you have any questions. Happy holidays!

Meals on Wheels: Get Out and About!

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The Buzz: LexFUN! News and Announcements

Run the Lexington 5K Resolution Run with the LexFUN! Team!

January 4 at 11am

Join other LexFUN! members in the first Lexington 5k of 2014.

A 5k is a great starter run/race – you can walk it too!

Bring your husband! Bring your partner! Bring your friend! Or just bring yourself!

You can register and learn more at: http://resolutionrun2kickcancer.org/Site/5K_Run.html

When you join, you can either register with a team (“Join a team”) or as an individual. We hope you’ll join the LexFUN! team! Any questions? Please contact Jessica Paul at jessicabpaul@gmail.com or 617.417.9137 (text or call).

LexFUN! Seminar Series: January Seminar

Helping Children Cope: Putting Humpty Back Together Again!

Jeanine K. Fitzgerald
Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 7:00 pm

Cary Library Large Meeting Room *Fee for Non-members

As the nursery rhyme goes…“all the King’s horses and all the King’s men, couldn’t put Humpty together again.” While that may be true, professionals and parents can by tipping the scale from vulnerability to strengths. This evening will explore resiliency as an active ingredient to a life at peace with its past, content with its present and optimistic about the future. It offers field-tested strategies so every child can navigate stormy waters without capsizing and how to create safe harbors for those whose storms continue to crash their shores and toss them about in the surf.

Jeanine K. Fitzgerald is a Certified Human Behavior Specialist, speaker, consultant, trainer and author. She draws on more than 30 years of professional experience to empower teachers and parents to achieve more with children “at risk.” As a certified Human Behavior Consultant and Specialist, and Owner of The Fitzgerald Institute of Lifelong Learning, Jeanine specializes in research-based strategies in educational leadership, relationship-building, motivation, preventing the factors that compromise the fulfillment of a child’s maximum potential and implementing positive interventions in “real life” settings. Jeanine has worked with thousands of children, professionals and parents across the country, and has taught at the college level and presented on the campuses of The University of Rhode Island, Bryant University, Lyndon State College, and Harvard University. As an author, Jeanine has published The Dance of Interaction and a national training program entitled Education with Insight. RSVP Now!

White Elephant Social Event – Thursday, January 16th at 7:30 pm

Whether you like your wines or your elephants white (or red!), don’t miss LexFUN!’s annual White Elephant night! We’ll start off with some wine tasting and then everyone brings a small or ‘gag’ gift worth under $20 for a ‘White Elephant/Yankee Swap’ gift exchange! Join us for a night of laughter, relaxation, friends, and wine, and unload the crazy gifts you received over the holiday season

Please RSVP in Big Tent HERE by Friday, January 10th. We will send out an email to everyone who RSVP’s a couple weeks before the event letting you know the location of the event.

FREE Barre & Soul class for LexFUN! members at Lexington Power Yoga

LPY_logo

Monday, January 27th: 7:30-8:30 pm Space is limited! RSVP to yolandataylor@mac.com to save your spot

What is Barre & Soul?

This one-hour class combines ballet conditioning, interval cardio, Pilates, yoga and meditation to strengthen your core, lengthen your muscles, center your mind and lift your spirits! This barre class picks up where others leave off by incorporating even more of the beneficial practices of yoga-playful arm balances, back strengthening and back bending to counter deep core work and keep the body in balance, inspiring mantras, meditation, and a philosophy centered in mindfulness, gratitude, compassion and interconnection.

Start Tagging Your Clothes and Toys Now for our Spring Consignment Sale!

Saturday May 17th at St. Brigid’s Parish

As you clean out your closets and toy boxes after the holidays to make space for new items, remember you can start tagging now for LexFUN!’s Annual Consignment Sale!

LexFUN!’s Consignment Sale is a fantastic one-day sale of high quality, gently used children’s clothing (newborn to 8 – all seasons), toys, games, books, strollers, car seats, high chairs, cribs, baby furniture, bouncy seats, baby gear and equipment, bikes and wagons. We bring together hundreds and hundreds of buyers and sellers under one roof for this exciting one-day shopping event!

Consigning your clothes and toys is super easy! Just log onto our special consignment sale website at www.myconsignmentmanager.com/lexfun and create your own barcode price tags. If you consigned last year, use the “Returning Sellers” section and click “register” (to sign up for the 2014 Sale). If this is your first year consigning, use the “New Sellers” section. All sellers receive 50% of the proceeds, with the other 50% going towards LexFUN!’s Preschool Scholarship Fund.

Top 10 tips for Sellers:

1. Start tagging early!

2. Spend a little extra time getting your clothes ready. It will make a huge difference in your profits. Clothes that are clean, pressed and small fresh with buttons and zippers closed, look better and sell quicker.

3. Print your price tags on white card stock (60,67 or 110 pound) – our bar code scanners can’t read bar codes printed on regular printer paper; so if you use regular paper, the cashiers will have to manually enter inevery number from your tags, which slows down check-out lines!

4. Use wire hangers whenever possible (plastic hangers take up more space on the racks).

5. Put all clothes on hangers except pants, overalls, shorts and skirts.

6. Hang clothes so the top of your hanger forms a question mark when looking at the front of the garment.

7. Using a tagging gun to add price tags to your clothing can be a tremendous time saver when tagging clothing. Tagging guns can be purchased on Amazon and through other retailers. Alternatively, you can use safety pins (please NO straight pins without clasps!) to attach your price tags and pin them to the upper-right side of your clothes. When placing your tags, either with a tagging gun or safety pins, please be mindful of creating holes in conspicuous places on the garment. Seams are an excellent place to place a tagging gun barb.

8.Tie shoes together or put them in a plastic bag. Attach your price tags with clear packing tape, but don’t tape over the barcode (the scanners can’t read through tape).

9. Put working batteries in all toys and equipment – items that work are the first to sell.

10. Help us spread the word about the Sale – tell your friends and fellow moms. Remember, as a seller, the more people you let know about the sale the more of YOUR items will sell.

For more information, including our 2014 Pricing Guidelines and Directions for using our consignment sale website, visit the “Consignment Sale” page on the LexFUN! Website or contact our Sale chairs: Puja TenPas pujatenpas@gmail.com or Jill Tierney jekoplow@gmail.com. Please also “like” us on Facebook for sale updates, photos from past sales, previews of items for sale at the upcoming sale and pre-sale pass giveaways https://www.facebook.com/LexFUNConsignmentSale

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Ongoing Programs and Events

Book Groups

As you consider joining a LexFUN! book group, please think about your preferences in the following areas:

Please look for the book group subgroup on Big Tent to get connected. Alternatively, you can email Jessica Paul, Book Groups Chair at jessicabpaul@gmail.com.

OR start your own group! Don’t see a group here that your were hoping to see? Contact Jessica Paul to get the ball rolling or with any questions: jessicabpaul@gmail.com or (617) 417-9137

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Membership Corner

We hope you have been taking advantage of all the benefits your LexFUN! membership has to offer. Don’t forget to use your LexFUN! discount card at many of the retailers in town who offer discounts to our members. Some of our participating businesses such as Crafty Yankee and Catch a Falling Star even offer free gift-wrapping! Your membership also allows you to receive discounts when you purchase tickets to LexFUN! special events throughout the year, such as our Tanglewood Marionettes Puppet show in February, Barn Babies in March, and to attend all of our seminars for free. The more you use your card, the more your membership pays off, so keep it in your wallet so you always have it when you need it!

Each month we highlight retail news from local merchants offering members discounts year round.

Barefoot Books: Visit our Concord Studio! It’s the perfect place to meet your favorite Barefoot Books author, do arts and crafts, have story time, or even participate in a yoga class. You can also make a beautiful masterpiece at the Paint-Your-Own Pottery Studio, The Barefoot Potter.

Use your LexFUN! discount card and get the pottery studio fee waived. Located at 89 Thoreau St., Concord.

Greater Boston Running Company: Indoor Cycling Classes with Ride Studio Cafe: GBRC is teaming up with their neighbors Ride Studio Cafe to bring you an indoor cycling training program twice a week from Dec 10-March 6. Bring your bike and trainer to sessions that will meet in the GBRC Lexington community room. You must pre-register through Ride Studio Cafe, where you’ll find pricing and more details: ridestudiocafe.comSessions run from 5:30pm to 7pm every Tues and Thurs. Grab a new pair of sneakers while you’re at GBRC and use your LexFUN! discount card for 10% off. Located at 1728 Mass Ave.

LeDerm Laser and Medical Aesthetics: Visit LeDerm to keep your skin looking radiant all year long. They offer customized skin care solutions to maintain your skin’s firmness, volume, and brightness. LeDerm is a full service medical spa with state-of-the-art laser procedures, medical and clinical skin care, massage therapy, wellness services and an array of additional treatments for the ultimate skin care experience. Use your discount card to receive discounts on your next treatment. Located at 428 Marrett Road.

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With Many Thanks To…

Board Members, Take a Bow

Thank you to all of our hard working board members throughout the fall and early winter. We couldn’t have all of these great events without your help and dedication!

A big thank you to Julie Callahan for organizing the COMPASS for Kids gift card drive in early December. These donations directly effect the local families in need, especially during the holiday season. Thank you for all of your donations.

A special thank you to Denise Moehring and Ching Lai. They have been instrumental in getting our new website up and running, and making it functional and fabulous! Thanks again ladies for all of your hard work!

A Big shout out to our entire Advertising/Membership Card Team: Sam Carreiro, Shannon Duffy, Jill Canes and Jessica Paul! Thanks to these gals for getting LexFUN! Members so many great discounts to our local businesses – it was wonderful to save some dollars AND support our local merchants at the same time!

And with a big heartfelt thank you to Lauren Funk and the members of the LexFUN! E-Board who helped us determine the most deserving families to be able to donate to this past December. We were able to donate close to $10,000 to help more preschoolers attend preschools this year in Lexington. The donations we are able to give through LexFUND, make what each of you do everyday so important and vital to the success of our community at large. Thank you ALL!

This year has been full of so many events and our board continues to amaze us with all the great things each and every one of you do from delivering meals every week, to crafts and play at Youville, WinterFUN, and the Drop-In Center, to the many educational seminars we have had in such a short time period, to the festivities of the Open House, Halloween Parade, Early Ed Open House and many many other offerings to our members. Thanks to each of you for your love and support of LexFUN! and the preschool community of Lexington!

– Patrice Cleaves and Lindsay Wedell, LexFUN! Co-Presidents

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Newsletter brought to you by LexFUN!

Joyce D. Editor ~ “Baby its cold outside!” Happy New Year!

LexFUN! December 2013 Newsletter

Posted on November 29, 2013 by lexfiveandundernetwork

Executive Board Letter

Guest Column: Why you should be selfish this holiday season
by Kathryn Postulka

Community Service

The Buzz: LexFUN! News and Announcements

Sponsor Spotlight

Ongoing Programs and Events

Membership Corner

With Many Thanks To…

candy canes

Executive Board Letter

Well, hello December! It seems that just last week,we were trick-or-treating and raking up the leaves. Yet we knew all along you were just around the corner…and so we welcome you and all that you bring. Hello to snow, scarves and wool socks. Hello hot cocoa,cookie exchanges, carols and crafts. Hello Elf. Hello parties, presents and lights. Oh Hello December, oh how we’ve waited for you!

There is so much to do and see around town this month. On Friday, December 6th, join your friends and neighbors at the “Holiday Festival Night” in Lexington Center for an evening of shopping, dining and musical performances, along with a much anticipated visit from Santa himself at the tree lighting ceremony (6:30 p.m. in Depot Square). This is such a fun event and is a perfect way to jumpstart the revelry! Also, on December 6th, The Lexington Symphony hosts two performances of their “Holiday Pops” in Cary Hall, an early show for young children at 4:00 p.m along with the main performance at 8:00 p.m.

On December 11th, join fellow LexFUN! families at Youville Place for story time and a craft with the senior residents. Stop by WinterFUN! on the 18th to make another holiday project, because why not let LexFUN! help you keep the kids busy with glitter and glue, so you can save your creativity for other things this month, like finding places to hide a mischievous elf!?! And If you are looking for even more fun this month, be sure to check out the events tabs at the top of the Newsletter.

As busy as we are and much fun as there is to be had this time of the year, the holidays are also a time for giving and helping those in need. Once again, LexFUN! is holding a gift card drive in support of COMPASS for kids. Gift cards can be dropped off at 22 Hancock Street (place in mail slot on front of house). Any amount is greatly appreciated and suggested stores include: Walmart, Gap, Target, Kmart, Old Navy, Kohls, TJ Maxx, and Toys R US. Your donations empower parents who otherwise may not have the resources, to be able to shop and select food and gifts for their families.

When shopping for gifts for your own families and friends, don’t forget use your membership card to take advantage of the many discounts offered at our local retail and dining establishments. From toys, to tea cups, socks to stationary, you can find something for everyone on your list right here in town. And while December is inevitably packed with shopping trips, marathon baking sessions, and parties galore (on top of our already busy lives!) I hope you can find time to savor the special moments with your family. There’s something so magical about celebrating the winter season, and all that it entails, with little ones and whether you are starting new traditions, or celebrating old ones, enjoy the season. All the cheer, sparkle, snowflakes, roasting and toasting and everything else that it brings!

~ Sam Carreiro for the Executive Board

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Guest Column: Why you should be selfish this holiday season
by Kathryn Postulka

‘Tis the season for unselfish giving, unbridled generosity and selfless acts of heroism. This conjures up ideas of standing in freezing cold midnight lines waiting to snag that perfect toy and barreling through the Holiday season with a fake smile plastered on your face while you bake cookies and buy the perfect present for the 300 people on your Christmas list. No time to sleep? There’s always January!

This is no longer the warm and cozy holiday season you experienced as a child. Oh no, this is the get-down-to-business-super-mom-decked-in-red-and-green-and-going-to-save-the-day type of holiday now. Ugh, exhausting. For your sanity and well being, this year must be different. This year, YOU get to go on the very top of your list. That’s right, be selfish! I’m giving you full permission. Here are 3 reasons why being selfish will give you the calm, serene, peaceful and joyful holiday season you crave.

1. Selfish is the new generous. You are your family’s #1 asset. Not sure what I mean? Oh, hello Santa Claus, cookie baker, chief present shopper, wrapper and bow tier. Hello all the million other things you do for your family every day. Killing yourself by neglecting your own needs and running yourself ragged does nobody any good. By taking care of YOU, you are giving your family a gift. They get the fully present, calm and happy mama you want to be. And in turn, you get to fully experience the peaceful, joyful moments you want.
Not sure how to do this? Try more online shopping and less running around. Only say yes to the parties and obligations that you truly want to go to. Keep everything simple from the decorations to the presents and the parties. Give yourself some time and space each week to recharge and do something just for you.

2. Eat clean and be serene. There are two places in your life that get uprooted and can wreak havoc on your life during the holiday season: eating and sleeping. The parties can cause you to overindulge in the wrong things which make you sick and tired. And the stress of the season and all you have to do can ruin a good night sleep. Reframing these two areas as your top priorities for yourself is the ultimate act of self care. Giving yourself the gift of healthy, beautiful food and quality stress-free sleep will keep you energized and healthy (as well as keep the holiday pounds off).
Not sure how to do this? Take some time to plan and prepare simple but healthy snacks and meals for yourself, always thinking of it as a gift. Listen to your body and don’t get caught in the sugar roller coaster. Develop a nighttime routine that is calm and peaceful and make it a priority every night.

3. The holidays start with you. How’s that for selfish? But it’s true. You have more control over the holidays than you think. Your kids will look to you to control the tempo and pace. When they see an overly stressed mom trying to force every ounce of joy out of the season, they too will feel tired and stressed (without even knowing it). Take a deep breath Mom, and your kids will too.

Not sure how to do this? Reflect on what you’d like the season to be all about. What are you truly craving? Prioritize. Slow down. Focus on serene. Then, only do the things that fit into your plan. Listen to your intuition and create a holiday that nourishes and fills your soul.
Kathryn Postulka is a certified health coach who loves helping busy women realign their lives and create a plan to live in the healthiest and most fulfilling way possible. She’s always working on living authentically and believes it’s completely possible to design your life to be exactly what you really want, even in this crazy, stressed-out world. You can find her at www.inspiredhealthylife.com.

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Community Service

The annual Cradles To Crayons Winter Drive was a huge success! The outpouring of support was incredible during this year’s sorting event. With the efforts of our LexFUN! community combined with the wonderful folks at Cradles to Crayons, we were able to provide necessary items to hundreds of children this winter! Having parents, grandparents, children, aunts and uncles examining, sorting, and bagging such a tremendous amount of clothes as well as cleaning shoes and toys was truly a gift.

The sorting event for 2013 has past but the need for all items is ongoing. You can donate at your convenience by placing your donations in the permanent storage bin in St. Brigid’s parking lot. Currently the areas to focus on are children’s clothing (all seasons, ages zero up to adult size medium), winter coats, boots, sneakers, books, toys, baby gear, baby bedding, and new school supplies. For more information on items we collect, visit cradlestocrayons.org. Thank you for your time, effort, and generosity!

COMPASS Gift Card Drive – Now through December 10th

It is that wonderful time of year again when LexFUN! asks our community to consider contributing to the drive for gift cards to support COMPASS. Thank you to the generous soles who have already donated. We will continue to collect gift cards until December 10 so they can be distributed to those in need in time for the holidays. COMPASS for kids’ is a non-profit organization based in Lexington. Their COMPASS Community Collaborative program provides homeless parents with a structured education and workforce training program that leads to jobs, sustained employment, increased self-sufficiency and a brighter future. The COMPASS Community Collaborative has operated in Lawrence for over two years, graduating 40 parents. More than 90% of these parents have become employed, and many are making steady strides in their work and in their lives. COMPASS is developing a similar program in the Lexington area, where more than 250 homeless families live in motels in Lexington, Bedford and Waltham. Massachusetts now shelters more than 4400 families a night – every night, with more than 2000 of these families living in motel rooms. The COMPASS Community Collaborative partners broadly with public, private, non-profit and community organizations to leverage existing resources and ensure that families have the resources, supports and access that they need to move forward. COMPASS provides work readiness education, job search and connections, and intensive, long-term coaching. We work with shelter and housing organizations, employers who offer internships and on the job training, financial literacy programs, education organizations, state agencies, child care providers, and organizations that meet basic needs. Other partners include emergency assistance funders, volunteers, and community organizations, like LexFUN!, that provide a range of resources.

LexFUN!’s gift card drive helps moms buy gifts and clothes, as well as essentials for their children and their family. Gift cards provide parents with choices. They also ensure that the parents, who are newly employed or still students in the COMPASS Community Collaborative program, can stay on track over the holidays.

We will be collecting gift cards of any amount- although if you are interested in donating a large amount, please consider purchasing several smaller amount gift cards so the generosity can be spread out. You can drop your donation in the mail slot of the front door of 22 Hancock Street in Lexington from November 1 – December 10. If you do not find yourself near a gift card stand, please feel free to donate cash and we will gladly purchase gift cards off of the list of suggested stores (provided by COMPASS). Thank you for giving less fortunate families the opportunity to help their families this holiday season.

The suggested stores to purchase gift cards from are:
Market Basket, Walmart, Haffners Gas Card, Target, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Payless Shoes, Supercuts

Youville Place Craft Time with Seniors – Wed, Dec 11th 10am-11am

Take a break from the holiday rush and spend some quality time with the residents at Youville. Bring your kids and spread some holiday cheer as we do a craft, read books and make music together. Please join us for the December event with LexFUN! families and Youville Place residents on Wednesday, December 11th from 10:00am until 11:00am. Youville Place is located at 10 Pelham Road in Lexington (off Mass. Ave.). Please contact Elizabeth Restivo atrestivodemunoz@gmail.com if you have any questions. Happy holidays!

Meals on Wheels: Get Out and About!

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The Buzz: LexFUN! News and Announcements

FREE Barre & Soul class for LexFUN! members at Lexington Power Yoga

LPY_logo

Monday, January 27th: 7:30-8:30 pm Space is limited! RSVP to yolandataylor@mac.com to save your spot

What is Barre & Soul?

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Sponsor Spotlight –

Wingate Wealth Advisors

Plan for the Expected, Prepare for the Unexpected

LexFUN! is proud to have partnered with Wingate for the 2013-2014 year and values their sponsorship and the services that they offer to young families.

What Keeps You Up at Night?

Wondering if your financial goals are within reach?
Protecting your familyâ€™s financial security?
Sending your children to college?
Ensuring care for an aging parent or special needs child?
Changing careers or lifestyle?
Leaving a legacy to support the people and causes that mean the most to you?
Purchasing a second home?
Selling or acquiring a business?

Wingate Has Solutions for Your Specific Needs

Wingate has been providing financial guidance for over 25 years. Their integrated approach begins with financial planning to ensure your investment plan is aligned with your particular needs, goals and circumstances. In the initial conversation they’ll discuss your hopes and dreams, as well as your concerns and what keeps you up at night. You will talk about your goals – personal, family, financial and professional – about where you’d like to be in five or ten or twenty years. In short, they want to understand where you are now, how you got here and where you’d like to go so they can develop, implement and monitor youâ€™re the best financial plan for your family. Afterwards, theyâ€™ll meet and talk with you often to ensure it stays that way even as your life changes.

Contact Wingate directly (and mention you are a LexFUN! member to receive your discount!) at:

Wingate Wealth Advisors, LLC

phone. 781-862-7100 or by email at info@wingatewealthadvisors.com

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Ongoing Programs and Events

Book Groups

As you consider joining a LexFUN! book group, please think about your preferences in the following areas:

Please look for the book group subgroup on Big Tent to get connected. Alternatively, you can email Jessica Paul, Book Groups Chair at jessicabpaul@gmail.com.

OR start your own group! Don’t see a group here that your were hoping to see? Contact Jessica Paul to get the ball rolling or with any questions: jessicabpaul@gmail.com or (617) 417-9137

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Membership Corner

Now that we are several months into the year, we hope that you have been taking advantage of all the benefits your LexFUN! membership has to offer. We have had some great seminars this fall, and our Membership Appreciation Party was a huge hit! Thank you to all the members who joined us at our Membership Appreciation Party at Hayden in November. We hope that you and your kids enjoyed the new location, and that your kids had an afternoon of FUN! We really do appreciate all that our members bring to our organization, so thank you for joining us.

2013-2014 membership materials (annual guide and discount cards) have been distributed to all members, either at Open House or by mail. If for some reason you have not yet received yours, please email Emily at ewildfire@hotmail.com. For new members who sign up throughout the year, it will take a week or two to receive your materials, so please check your mailbox a few weeks after you sign up.

Now that the holiday season is upon us, don’t forget to use your LexFUN! discount card at many of the retailers in town who offer discounts to our members. Some of our participating businesses such as Crafty Yankee and Catch a Falling Star even offer free gift-wrapping to make your holiday shopping even easier! Another great gift idea for the holidays is to sign your child-or yourself-up for a class, many of which offer discounts to our members. Try something new like a music, gym, or soccer class for your child. Or gift yourself with some special “parent” time at a yoga or dance class, or with a health or beauty treatment. There are many options for gifts with our membership card, so keep them in mind this holiday season. Shop local and enjoy a discount-it’s a win-win for everyone!

Don’t forget, your membership also allows you to receive discounts when you purchase tickets to LexFUN! special events throughout the year, such as our Tanglewood Marionettes Puppet show in February, Barn Babies in March, and to attend all of our seminars for free. The more you use your card, the more your membership pays off, so keep it in your wallet so you always have it when you need it!

Each month we highlight retail news from local merchants offering members discounts year round.

Catch a Falling Star has it’s Midnight Madness Sale in both stores. The store will be open late from 6:00pm to 12:00am and will be offering savings up to 20%, on everything
in the store. The Lexington Sale will be on December 9th (The Winchester store will hold its sale on December 2nd). This is your chance to shop after work and when the kids are asleep! No need to go to the Malls- Shop local and support your downtown! www.catchafallingstartoys.com

Keys for Kids-Give the gift of music to someone you love… And save money while doing it! Join Keys for Kids dynamic interactive music program, group or private lessons, piano, strings, voice, guitar, woodwind brass, and percussions.
Our program for kids as young as age 2, through teens to adults, has garnered praise from parents, students, and leading music educators. www.keys-for-kids.com
Purchase a CLASS TUITION HOLIDAY GIFT CARD and receive FREE introductory class, FREE registration for a year, and a Keys for Kids music carrying bag (total saving of $95).

Crafty Yankee– Participate in CRAFTY YANKEE’s 19th Annual Holiday Giving & Sharing Tree projects! Help us Support local charities from MINIUTEMAN SENIOR SERVICES & COMPASS for KIDS… and bring a smile to those less fortunate.
The GIFT CARD Tree works in a very simple way. Donors stop by the Crafty Yankee and pick a NAME TAG from the Giving and Sharing Tree. The tag provides information on a needy senior or a homeless family living in Greater Boston areas and provides gift card suggestions: Essentials for groceries, pharmacies, convenience and department stores, public transportation, etc. – all of which offer accessible, essential goods and services, and enable these people to meet basic needs. In short, Just choose a name – Purchase a gift card of your choice – Return to Crafty Yankee no later than December 16th. www.craftyyankee.com

Joyful Music/ Music together– Come and check out Music Together, an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for children from birth through age 5—and the grownups who love them. Free Demo Classes are being held on Monday, 12/9 at 10:30 and Tuesday 12/10 at 10:00 and 4:15 in Lexington. Sign up at www.joyfulmusic.com

Colby Yee Photogtaphy- If you still are in need of a holiday photo call Colby. He’s a Lexington High Student and an aspiring photographer who can capture that perfect shot for your holiday cards. He has fast turnaround and charges $20/hour, with total time (photo shoot and editing) averaging about 2 hours. colbyyeephotography.weebly.com

Lexington Power Yoga is having an open house day on December 14th. Stop by the studio for Free hot yoga from 1230-145pm and Free hot barre and soul from 2-3pm. Vendors will be onsite from 1230-330 – providing you with the perfect opportunity shop! Snappy accessories, Stella and dot, sanctuary jewelry, young living oils, twine and wine bracelets and several more vendors will be onsite, providing you the perfect opportunity to sweat and then shop! lexingtonpoweryoga.com

Flash Photo is offering a Holiday Portrait Special. For $19.99 you receive 1-8×10, 2 5×7 and 4- wallets. Let Flash Photo capture your priceless moments. Call 781-862-8909 to arrange your photo session today! www.flashphotostudio.com

Jitterbugs Is offering FREE TRIAL CLASSES in December. Sing, wiggle, shake and giggle with Jitterbugs music classes, a joyful introduction to music for kids newborn to five years and the adults who love them! Created and taught by Parents Choice Award-winning Karen “K” of the family music band Karen K & the Jitterbugs, this retro-style music class will have your tot singing, clapping and dancing along, and leave you feeling like a kid all over again.Email Karen at jitterbugsboston@gmail.com to reserve your spot! Lexington: Hancock United Church of Christ, 1912 Massachusetts Ave.Arlington: Arlington Dance Place, Studio 3 182 Broadway, Arlington

FREE TRIAL CLASS DATES:
Mondays (Arlington Dance Place) @ 10:00 & 11:00 – December 9th and 16th
Wednesdays (Arlington Dance Place) @ 10:00 – December 11th and 18th
Fridays (Hancock United Church of Christ) @ 9:45 & 10:45 – December 13th and 20th

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With Many Thanks To…

Board Members, Take a Bow

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered and donated their time and clothing/toys to support LexFUN! Family Time to Give. You helped provide essential items to hundreds of children in-need across the Commonwealth! Thank you to Julie Callahan, Lauren Funk, and Wendy Bertsekas for all your support, mentorship and encouragement to create such a fantastic event this year!

Thank you to Lisa Glenn and Kristin Pechinsky for bringing Cristina Pachano, of the The Family Center, to Lexington with the Parenting is a Journey that does not come with a road map seminar! Families found it very insightful and educational!

The Lexington Education Foundation (LEF) hosted its 18th annual Trivia Bee at Cary Hall in Lexington and our very own competed for a coveted LEF Trivia Bee award! Thank you to Sarah Carter, Joyce Dvorak, and Kristin Pechinsky for your amazing efforts, great hat making and over all good spirits at the Trivia Bee!

Thanks to everyone who came and enjoyed a very festive Membership Appreciation Party this year at Hayden Recreation Center!

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It was so amazing to keep our celebration local and Hayden clearly is the perfect spot for it! There was face painting – thank you to our younger helpers!, and tattoos, and fun puppet and flower crafts!; not to mention Zumbini! Thank you Jan Swartz*! A big shout out to Hayden as well and all of their hard-working staff who helped make sure our children were safe AND having fun!!! It was so nice to have this event at home! It takes a lot to put together such a great event and Kristina Santonelli really did a fabulous job thinking up ideas for the 3 hours to be busy and stress-free for all of us as parents! We couldn’t do it without all our LexFUN! and younger volunteers, including Candice Lind who also helped a ton!

Thank you to Samantha Carreiro, Leigh-Ann Durant and the many, many babysitters who attended at our Babysitter Social event on Nov 17th. So many babysitters and over 25 potential parents employers enjoyed getting to know each other this evening.

– Patrice Cleaves and Lindsay Wedell, LexFUN! Co-Presidents

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Newsletter brought to you by LexFUN!

Joyce D. Editor ~ Happy Holidays!

LexFUN! November 2013 Newsletter

Posted on October 28, 2013 by lexfiveandundernetwork

Executive Board Letter

Guest Column: Nourish Your Family with Healthy Apple Pie & More

by Danielle Shea Tan

Community Service

The Buzz: LexFUN! News and Announcements

Sponsor Spotlight

Ongoing Programs and Events

Membership Corner

With Many Thanks To…

Executive Board Letter

Happy November everyone! With Thanksgiving on the horizon, this is the time of year that my stomach fills with butterflies. I am as excited for all of the celebrating to come, as I am nervous due to the fact that my to-do list triples in length. In fact, the more I realize what I must accomplish in the next few weeks, the more I tend to panic. It is at this moment that I always try to remind myself to simplify things and to remember what is truly important about this holiday; which is to be with the people that I love and to be thankful for all the gifts in my life. With this said, there is no doubt that the holidays can be emotionally messy. Therefore, I figured I would share some extremely helpful tips that have been passed down to me over the years.

Number 1: Spanks. Spanks are good for hiding all the pieces of Halloween candy that you stole from your kids’ Halloween bags, as well as for preventing the consumption of too many pieces of pie.

Number 2: Do a “Martha Stewart Reality Check”. If one is not a “Martha” in everyday life, one should not expect the awakening of a hidden inner “Martha” on the holiday. There is no shame in take out.

Number 3: Be specific when asking for help. If in a crazed panic you scream, “just help me” to your husband, he will most likely go clean the garage. He thinks this is helpful. We certainly wouldn’t want the guests to see a messy garage on the way to the beer stash.

Number 4: Practice your politician smile and borrow those invisible earplugs that your kids wear. When the unwanted parenting or life advice comes from that annoying family member, just nod and smile through it. As the British say, “keep calm and carry on.”

Number 5: Know your wine to whine ratios. A glass or two of wine may enhance your happy, but too much wine may bring out the emotional side and make you a “whin-o.” Don’t go there. It ain’t pretty.

Number 6: This is most important- Make memories with your kids. Make sure you have fun with your kids. Remember what your favorite parts of the holidays were as a child? For me, it was not the food, the décor, or the perfectly clean house. It was the board games that my family would play after dinner and playing hide and seek with the whole family. Make sure you bring these things back for your children. Plus, what better way to show thanks than to fully live and appreciate the day with your family.

I hope this month and Thanksgiving will be a great one for all of you! I hope that love and gratitude fills the hearts of your families and that you remember those that are less fortunate than you.

In the spirit of the saying ‘thank you’ and ‘giving this month, LexFUN! has two fantastic ways to get out and about. The 1st is the Lexington Family Giving Day on Sat, Nov 2nd from 9am-12pm as we partner again with Cradles to Crayons (C2C). Many preschools are accepting donations through Nov 1st as well as the C2C permanent bin at St. Brigid’s that you can drop off fall and winter clothing at any time. Please join us with your kids on Sat, Nov 2nd from 9am-12pm. As a Thank You, LexFUN! will be hosting the Member Appreciation Party on November 9th from 2pm – 5 pm at the Hayden Recreation Center in Lexington. There will be a bouncy house, climbers, games, face painting, snacks, pizza, and more. We want your children to have a wonderful time. Please join us – your Membership Card is the key to getting in.

Cheers to the beginning of the holiday season! Happy Thanksgiving and good luck!

Kristina Santonelli for the Executive Board

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Guest Column: Nourish Your Family with Healthy Apple Pie & More
by Danielle Shea Tan

I’m a self-declared foodie. So if it’s going in my mouth, it ought to taste good! I’m also a nutritionist so it’s important for my food to be healthy too. If I want moms and families to fuel their bodies with nutritious foods I can’t expect them to eat anything except food that tastes good. How often have you tried a dish that was declared “healthy” by the chef only to realize once you’ve taken a bite that it tastes terrible? Ugh. I hate that! Not all healthy food tastes like crud. It’s possible for moms to make recipes that are nutritious, simple AND delicious. It just takes a little courage and a lot of passion for raising healthy families.

When working with moms and families on adopting healthy habits, I encourage them to take small steps that together add up to big positive changes! A simple step you can take right now is to start making your favorite recipes more nutritious. Adding or swapping a few ingredients will go a long way to improving your family’s health! Below are three simple recipe makeover tips. Which one could you adopt in a favorite recipe today?

1. Swap Coconut oil for butter I’ve been dairy-free for years, so butter is out for me. But it’s no problem because extra virgin coconut oil is just as rich and tasty plus it adds loads of plant-based nutrients including lauric acid – a germ-fighting, anti-fungal, anti-viral medium chain fatty acid that’s been shown to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Feel free to swap it 1:1.

2. Add ground flaxseed or swap in for flour Did you know a healthy adult eats 40g of fiber per day? Fiber is needed to produce waste and remove toxins (think excess cholesterol) from our body. You can boost your immune system and improve digestive issues by just adding fiber. Add 1-2 TBS ground flaxseed to your oatmeal or granola. Or replace some (not all) flour in a recipe with ground flaxseed. Check out my Simply Delish Mini Banana Pancakes for a tasty option.

3. Add greens to soups and sauces Leafy greens are the #1 food missing from our diets. How often do you eat a serving of greens? If I had to choose one food that would improve the health of your family, I’d have to pick greens. Greens are a powerhouse of nutrition that contain vitamins A, C, E & K plus calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium and zinc. In the Fall months, add hearty greens like kale and collards to soups, or puree delicate ones like baby spinach into smoothies or bean dips. Check out my Chicken Soup with Kale recipe, it’s a cozy immunity booster. Other favorite recipe swap-ins include: • Coconut sugar for sugar • 1 TBS chia seeds + 2 TBS hot water for eggs (maximum of 2 eggs) • Coconut milk for cream • Plain greek or coconut yogurt for sour cream or mayo

I hope your mind is racing with new ideas on how to make your favorite recipes more nutritious! In the meantime, fuel your family with my favorite Hearty Apple Crisp Pie (with steps to include your kids in the process). Apple pie never tasted so good plus it’ll make you feel good too! Enjoy!

Hearty Apple Crisp Pie Ingredients: For filling:

4-6 cooking apples, Splash of orange juice Cinnamon For crisp topping ¼ C rolled oats ¼ C ground flaxseed ¼ C chopped nuts (like pecans or walnuts) ¼ C brown rice flour (any flour will do) ¼ C plus 1 TBS extra virgin coconut oil ¼ C coconut sugar (or brown sugar) 1-2 tsp cinnamon

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 2. Core and cut apples into thin wedges (if you have the time, peel them too) 3. Toss with 1-2 tsp cinnamon and a splash of 100% juice orange juice Fun step w/kids: Use an extra large bowl and let them toss the apples with cinnamon & oj 4. Transfer apple mixture to pie plate 5. In a bowl, combine all ingredients for crisp except coconut oil. Mix well. 6. Using two butter knives, cut the coconut oil into the nut/oat/flax mixture until you create a sandy/rocky type of mixture. Fun step w/kids: Let them create the sandy mixture by using their fingers to mush the coconut oil with the nut/oat/flax mixture 7. Spread the crisp topping across the top of the apples in the pie plate. (If you like more crisp, add more –you just need equal amounts of rolled oats, ground flax, flour, chopped nuts, coconut oil & sugar) 8. Cook for 40 – 50 minutes until topping is crisp.

For more information on my nutrition and lifestyle coaching services for busy moms and to receive a free gift to further enhance your healthy lifestyle, visit www.healthymamasforhappyfamilies.com. Use the savings code “healthymama15” to receive 15% off any of my programs through December 31, 2013. In the meantime, you can also follow me on my blog, Facebook and Pinterest.

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Community Service

UPCOMING EVENTS:

LexFUN!’s Lexington Community Drive: Annual Cradles To Crayons Winter Drive Saturday, November 2nd

C2Cgivfc It has been a great month filled with generosity from many of you! We have happily been collecting donations at various locations around town to support the much needed demand for the recipients of Cradles to Crayons. Please join us tomorrow, November 2, any time for any amount of time from 9:00-12:00, at the Parish Center at St. Brigid’s.

The sorting event for this Fall is tomorrow but the need for all items is ongoing. You can donate at your convenience by placing your donations in the now permanent storage bin in St. Brigid’s parking lot. Currently the areas to focus on are children’s clothing (all seasons, ages zero up to adult size medium), winter coats, boots, sneakers, books, toys, baby gear, baby bedding, and new school supplies. For more information on items we collect, visit cradlestocrayons.org. Thank you for your time, effort, and generosity!

WHEN: On Saturday, November 2nd from 9am – 12pm, we invite families to join us at St. Brigid’s to sort through donations collected as a community.

THE NEED: We are anticipating a 15% growth in number of children served since last year. To help fill this need, we hope to ramp up our collection efforts to meet the demand. This is an easy way to make a difference and a great way for kids to give back and help other kids in their community.

COMPASS Gift Card Drive – Nov 1 – Dec 10

It is that wonderful time of year again when LexFUN! asks our community to consider contributing to the drive for gift cards to support COMPASS. COMPASS for kids’ is a non-profit organization based in Lexington. Their COMPASS Community Collaborative program provides homeless parents with a structured education and workforce training program that leads to jobs, sustained employment, increased self-sufficiency and a brighter future. The COMPASS Community Collaborative has operated in Lawrence for over two years, graduating 40 parents. More than 90% of these parents have become employed, and many are making steady strides in their work and in their lives. COMPASS is developing a similar program in the Lexington area, where more than 250 homeless families live in motels in Lexington, Bedford and Waltham. Massachusetts now shelters more than 4400 families a night – every night, with more than 2000 of these families living in motel rooms. The COMPASS Community Collaborative partners broadly with public, private, non-profit and community organizations to leverage existing resources and ensure that families have the resources, supports and access that they need to move forward. COMPASS provides work readiness education, job search and connections, and intensive, long-term coaching. We work with shelter and housing organizations, employers who offer internships and on the job training, financial literacy programs, education organizations, state agencies, child care providers, and organizations that meet basic needs. Other partners include emergency assistance funders, volunteers, and community organizations, like LexFUN, that provide a range of resources.

While these parents are making great strides toward building a better life for themselves and their children, in the short-term they struggle to provide their families with even the basics. This problem is even more pronounced during the holiday season, when single mothers not only worry about how they’re going to meet the basic needs of their growing kids but how to provide them with a memorable, fun holiday. That’s where wonderful donors, like LexFUN!, step in to make sure these children and families experience a great holiday season. LexFUN!’s gift card drive helps moms buy gifts and clothes, as well as essentials for their children and their family. Gift cards provide parents with choices. They also ensure that the parents, who are newly employed or still students in the COMPASS Community Collaborative program, can stay on track over the holidays. On line @ http://www.compassforkids.org/.

The suggested stores to purchase gift cards from are: Market Basket, Walmart, Haffners Gas Card, Target, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Payless Shoes, Supercuts

Youville Place Craft Time with Seniors – Wed, Nov 13 – 10am-11am

Give thanks for your family – kids, parents, grandparents – this Thanksgiving season by spending some time with the residents at Youville. Together, we will craft a turkey decoration for your holiday table, read stories and make music. Please join us for the November event with LexFUN! families and Youville Place residents on Wednesday, November 13th from 10:00am until 11:00am. Youville Place is located at 10 Pelham Road in Lexington (off Mass. Ave.). Please contact Elizabeth Restivo atrestivodemunoz@gmail.com if you have any questions. Happy Thanksgiving!

Meals on Wheels: Get Out and About!

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The Buzz: LexFUN! News and Announcements

Stop & Shop A+ Rewards to Benefit Lexington Schools 2013-2014

There’s Still Time to Sign Up for Stop & Shop’s Free A+ Rewards Program and Benefit the Lexington Schools of Your ChoiceLexFUN! members with Stop & Shop cards can help Lexington schools earn cash just by registering their cards each year with the A+ program. Once you register, you’ll start earning A+ points for up to two schools of your choice and at no cost to you just by using your card every time you shop through March 2014! Last year, Lexington schools received nearly $15,000 through this program. And since the money comes with no strings attached, schools can spend it on whatever they need—computers, field trips, teacher grants, special programs, anything! Please help us match (or beat?) last year’s total by joining the more than 600 families that have signed up so far! This program is open to everyone—friends, families, neighbors are all invited to participate, even if they shop at Stop & Shops in other towns or states. Best of all, the program is free and doesn’t impact other Stop & Shop programs, like Gas Rewards. Peapod purchases count too! Because this is an annual program, you have to re-register every year, but participating is easy! To register, just grab your card and go online to http://www.stopandshop.com/aplus or call 1-877-275-2758. You will need your 13-digit Stop & Shop card number. When prompted, submit one or two of the following registered school ID#’s:

Bowman Elementary – 07679 Bridge Elementary – 07624 Estabrook Elementary – 07495 Fiske Elementary – 06124 Harrington Elementary – 10572 Hastings Elementary – 08801 Clarke Middle School – 09297 Diamond Middle School – 08168 Lexington High School – 09208 Lexington Christian Academy – 10573 Minuteman Regional High School – 10575

Not sure if you’re already enrolled? Take a look at your Stop & Shop receipt. If you see an A+ Bonus Bucks total at the bottom, you are already registered, so thank you! If not, there’s still time to register, but if you sign up before the end of October, all your purchases in this program year will count. Stop & Shop plans to give away $2.5 million dollars to participating schools. Help us earn Lexington schools their share!

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Sponsor Spotlight – Dr. Coppe Pediatric Dentistry

Why Choose a Pediatric Dentist?

A pediatric dentist is a dental specialist who is well-trained to treat infants, children, adolescents and children with special needs.

At Dr. Coppe’s, we have tailored our dental practice to specifically cater to children. Our dentists and staff have years of experience treating children of all ages with the highest level of care. During their first visit, our staff will use comforting words, asking younger children if they want to have their teeth “counted and brushed” rather than asking if they are ready for a “dental cleaning”.

We know that for very young children visiting the dentist may be scary at times. We strive to minimize any anxieties or fears. Our staff uses the “Tell, Show, Do” method to help kids understand what is happening dung their appointment. We carefully word the use of fear provoking terms as we explain the procedures your child is about to experience during each visit. If you feel the need to “prepare” your child for their dental visit you should avoid projecting your own anxieties about dental care. If uncertain about what to say, tell your child that “Dr. Coppe will explain it all to you.” Most often, the less you explain to them with specifics and details and the more you place the onus and opportunity on our team to explain the specifics and details of the treatment your child will receive, the more positive and enjoyable your child’s experience will be.

Children enjoy, and expect, to be with other children. This social interaction is what they see at school, in playgroups, and the sports they participate in. To expand on that idea, we have three dental chairs in a large, single room so your child doesn’t feel alone during their dental procedures. The added benefit is that your child will see other children being treated, and this can be reassuring to them during their own visit.

To help put children at ease and feel comfortable with our staff members will often play games with your child, sing or let them get out of the dental chair to explore the treatment area. We make your child’s dental visit interactive, and we will be sure to talk to you and your child to decide what treatment methods will be most successful.

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Since 1986, Wingate Wealth Advisors has provided independent financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, retirement plans and organizations. Our approach is comprehensive, helping clients define and achieve their financial goals through a prudent, long-term plan of action. At Wingate, we’ll guide you through a meticulous planning process, develop and then implement an action plan that is both comprehensive and customized to your specific needs. Financial planning is a dynamic process, not a one-time event. In the years to come, we’ll review your financial plan often to ensure it captures any changes in your life, your goals and, of course, economic conditions. Call to learn more or to schedule your initial consultation today-781-862-7100. See your membership card for special LexFUN! discount.

Ongoing Programs and Events

Book Groups

Would you like to participate in a LexFUN! book group this year? LexFUN! book groups are a great way to connect with other parents of preschoolers. Once you are a LexFUN! member, you are welcome to join our book groups (and there is no charge for joining them). Book clubs meet at book club members’ houses and/or local restaurants at mutually determined times. You certainly don’t have to be a reading buff to join!

As you consider joining a LexFUN! book group, please think about your preferences in the following areas:

Please look for the book group subgroup on Big Tent to get connected. Alternatively, you can email Jessica Paul, Book Groups Chair at jessicabpaul@gmail.com.

Please note that the bookgroup gmail account will no longer be active. All book group activity will be conducted through the Big Tent Book Group Subgroup. If you are already a member of the LexFUN bookgroup and wish to remain involved, please sign up on Big Tent. Thank you!

OR start your own group! Don’t see a group here that your were hoping to see? Contact Jessica Paul to get the ball rolling or with any questions: jessicabpaul@gmail.com or (617) 417-9137

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Membership Corner

Thank you again for joining us for another great year of LexFUN! We hope you have already had the opportunity to join us for a seminar or event, and that you are finding this year’s new and improved annual guide useful. If you were unable to attend the Open House and pick up your membership materials you should have received a membership card and booklet in the mail by now. If you have not, please email Emily at ewildfire@hotmail.com. Don’t forget to place your membership card in your wallet so that you can start taking advantage of the expanded list of member benefits. Present your membership card to:

▪ Attend Membership Appreciation Night on November 9th from 2-5 pm at Hayden. Join us for an afternoon of fun at this year’s new location!▪ Receive great shopping discounts at local participating shops. These discounts are offered to members all-year round. So whether you are trying a new restaurant, working out, starting your holiday shopping, or grabbing a last minute birthday gift, be sure to bring along your membership card.
▪ Receive discounted pricing when you purchase tickets to LexFUN! shows and events throughout the year.
▪ Attend a LexFUN seminar. This year, most LexFUN seminars are free to LexFUN members, but there will be a small charge for non-members, so be sure to bring your card along!

For more details about LexFUN! membership discounts please visit lexfun.org. Start saving today and your membership will start paying for itself. Don’t forget to keep your card handy. You must present it at the time of purchase and please keep in mind that discounts cannot be combined with other offers.

Don’t forget to start using your membership card for local discounts! It is also your ticket to the Membership Appreciation Party on November 9th, so keep it handy!

iDance -an open class studio blending dance & fitness for adults

Are you looking for a fun way to raise money for your charity or nonprofit organization? Step up and bring the community together to dance with us for the cause of your choice (and get fit doing it!). iDance Boston in Burlington sponsors a different non-profit in the community on the third Sunday of each month with an “iDance for my community event”. Host a 1½ to 2 hour event with 100 percent of the proceeds go to your charity. Participants pay $10 to come take Zumba®, PILOXING, Barre Fitness or any other of our other great classes of your choosing. Booking your event is as easy as this.

1. Call or email us to see if your date of choice is available and to request an application. 2. Complete and submit the short application form providing us with the details and point person’s contact information. 3. Get the word out!!!! Start promoting your event. We will provide you with electronic versions of your event’s flier for you to copy/email and post on Facebook, etc. to create awareness amongst family, friends, and colleagues. 4. Come to the event, raise money and dance your heart out!!

HelpAroundTown: help around town

HelpAroundTown.com is a hyperlocal marketplace promoting small jobs & small businesses in your neighborhood. You can post a job or find a job or promote your business on the website: www.HelpAroundTown.com. Or you can visit them on Facebook at:www.facebook.com/HelpAroundTown or call (617) 504-4756. HelpAroundTown will offer one free month of advertising with any paid ad. They recently won the Lexington Chamber of Commerce’s Rising Star Award, 2013.

A Pocketful of Posies: Posies

A Pocketful of Posies is a second generation gift store that justrecently opened in historic Lexington Center. It is named in honor of the owner’s mother’s store in Essex, CT.

As posted by Kristin the owner in the Lexington Patch, “We are so excited to be joining Lexington’s wonderful retail community and hope that you’ll stop in to see the beautiful and unique things that we’ve been working hard to find for you. We will have a wide array of offerings: high quality gifts, bath products, clothing, jewelry, gourmet foods, home fragrance, and custom made wreaths. We’ve put a lot of effort in to finding merchandise for every budget, without compromising quality. Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/apocketfulofposieslexington, and check out some of what we have in store for you!” Located at 1656 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington. Online @ http://apocketfulofposies.com/ If you have any questions about the membership card discount program please email Sam Carreiro at stcarreiro@yahoo.com.

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With Many Thanks To…

Board Members, Take a Bow
Early Education Open House: Thank you so much to Kate Finegan for bringing together the preschools of Lexington for yet another successful Early Education Open House. Cary Hall was filled with over 75 young families eager to learn about the various preschool and child care options in Lexington, and directors/staff from 25 preschools and child care centers were there to interact with them in person and provide them invaluable information to help their decision making process. Thank you for making this annual tradition such a success and thanks to the directors/staff from each of the schools for taking the time to prepare materials and attend this event.

Drop-In Center: Thanks to Nadia Minter, Sarah Carter, and Jenna DiMaio-McCracken for making the Drop-In Center Halloween costume swap and drive a success! Thank you to all who donated costumes to benefit From the Pumpkin Patch, a non-profit that provides free costumes and accessories to low-income children.

Social Committee: Three cheers for our Social Committee, who planned many great events in October that brought lots of families together! Thanks to Katie Quick, Jill Tilem and Kim Ryan, for making the Cider Donuts Playground Meet Up and The Working Moms’ Night Out so successful. It’s so wonderful to be able to get together with so many during the busy fall season – thank you!

WinterFUN!: Kudos to our WinterFUN! Team, Katherine Mahony, Michelle Andronaco, and Anne Boulter, for an amazing start to the season! It takes a lot to pull together all the great crafts you offer – not to mention creativity to keep our wee ones engaged! Thank you so much for all you do and will do this season!

Youville Place Crafts with Seniors: Thank you so much to Elizabeth Restivo for creating such fun and entertaining monthly get togethers with our seniors. So many look forward to this montly event event and warmly enaging with our friends at Youville Place, while creating an amazing craft and singing songs! Thank you!!!

Halloween Parade: Thank you to Heather Ford, Priscilla Fainelli, Kristina Santonelli, Leigh Ann and Jim Durant, and everyone who volunteered for creating a stellar Halloween Parade this year, including Wilson Farm, Dunkin Donuts, Lexington Police Department, and many LexFUN! Board Members!

An amazing time was had by all from crafting pumpkins, having fun in the hay, to sack races and getting tattoos and of course to visiting with Elmo! Thank you to everyone for helping us support the Lexington Food Pantry in a big way through all your donations. Thank you ALL so much for taking the time to make today extra special for so very many families!

– Patrice Cleaves and Lindsay Wedell, LexFUN! Co-Presidents

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Newsletter brought to you by LexFUN!

Joyce D. Editor ~ Gobble Gobble!

LexFUN!

Your connection to all there is to know for young families in Lexington!

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