Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 The Braselton News Page 11A Wacky Facts I Gel, 15 is National Grouch Day, I The first public television broadcasts were made in England in 1927 and in the United Stares in 1930. I The PBS show “Sesame Street” made its debut on Nov. 10, l%9 — World Almanac for Kids Chatter Box “I might be the most unknown famous person in America,” Carroll Spin/icy, who has provided voices for Ilig Bird and Oscar the Grouch, in his book. “The Wisdom of Big Bind (find l h e Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons from a Life fa Feathers." t? »vW A milk jug, snack ■cups and a baseball cap,, topped with silver foil tape Stuffed-stocking ice cream topped with drinking straw sprinkles Vinyl fabric decorated with a brown marker Foil roasting ‘pans suspended on duct tape flexible duct from the hard ware store Ordinary shoes made techno with foil tape sweet cone Created with fiberfill, foam and fabric, this ice-cream cone is truly soft-serve — and very comfy. RETRO ROBOT Make your own metallic masterpiece with a few household odds and ends. iNCREDiBLY FuN COSTuMES Use a few simple tricks to turn ordinary household supplies like dryer ducts and stuffed stockings into costumes that are total treats. The best news of all: Creating these amazing getups makes the lead-up to Halloween almost as much fun as the big night itself. Full instructions and printable templates are available at familyfun.com —just search for the costume’s name. — Fam tty Fun magazine Milk jug wrapped in crepe pap Baby pj's stuffed and folded into a carrier from felt Mum s pajama pants and slippers (worn by the “baby") Foam pipe Insulation arms and paper I towel hands i LOVE MuMMY This tricky trick-or-treater carries his “mummy,” rather than the other way around — her sheet-of-cardboard body is suspended on backpack-style straps. FAB ‘50s WAITRESS AND A GOOD EGG No sewing is required 1br the diner diva's uniform — all the trimmings are glued in place. Her eggs-cellent companion can be as runny as he likes, thanks to a lightweight costume that’s easy to get on and off. Cotton-ball ice cream with shoelace sauce A folded, trimmed and bobby-pinned piece of felt Plain tee dolled up with glued-on felt, lace trim and buttons Permanent marker on plain white sneakers Painted plastic bowl A foam egg white hung by a ribbon strap PHOTOS COURTESY OF FAMUYFUN MAGAZINE In The News | What’s for lunch? Food for thought We asked some Time For Kids kid raponers to get the local lowdown on changes to school lunch menus, rules about vending machines and other news about food in school. As we suspected, them was plen ty to report. Every school district our reporters represent has made changes to try to improve the nutritional value of what kids eat in school. Here are some highlights: GETTING FRESH The first step for schools aiming to upgrade lunch: more fresh produce. "We are offering more fruits and vegetables,” J. Laurie Cartrelt told kid reporter Virginia Lambert, Cartrelt is the nutrition director for the Fayette County, Ga, Hoard of [Education. Audrey F, a sixth-grader at Fayette Middle School has noticed the change. “Vending machines have been removed," sire told Virginia, “Now they only serve, like, apple juice, and (the lunch program) provides more friiit." Kid reporter Sun one Nelzi asked the physical educa tion coach at her school, Deborah Mansilla, whether more fresh food at school will change kids’ health. “It’s a start,” Mansilla said. “Fating vegetables and fruit is much better than eating cookies and cakes. What worries me is how kids cat when they get home.” SO LONG, SODA In kid reporter Noah Bjork’s territory, Minnesota, they call it pop. But the sugary stuff, by any name, did n’t stand a chance when school leaders took a hard look at what kids were consuming at school. 1 Wc now only liave skim white, skim chocolate and 1 percent (milk),” Ron Schinners told Noah, Sohirmers is the head of food service for Independent School District 77 in Mankato, Miiui. ‘*We got rid of pop,” Some kids really miss the fizz. 'The best tiling about the change is that we can still cat pizza,” fifth-grader Xomora D. told Simone. ‘The worst is that we can’t have soda.” LOW FAT. BURGER-LESS BURGERS? Bread and rolls have gone multi-grain. French fries arc often oven-baked now. (So can they still be called fries?) Meat choices are getting leaner, and some meat dishes are made without any meat "We serve cur hamburgers with soy meat ... Our corn dogs arc now chicken dogs with less Fat’’ says Pat I ,aNovara, the cafeteria manager at Simone's school. ARE KIDS CHANGING THEIR WAYS? The reviews arc in for the new, improved school lunch. Healthful eating has its fans, but some kids are slower to pick up neu r habits than others. '“I like that there are more choices, more variety” Trey Kolcnda, a tburth-giadcr in Illinois told kid reporter Machaela Jensen, ‘They need a bit more fun foods along with all the healthy stuff,” Ashley D. told Noah, “(am still not used to eating the school lunch,” said Hayly O,, who brings her lunch to Simone’s school every day. “I still like junk food,” Third-grader Jeremy Gould of Illinois knows that this year’s holiday parties will he different than in years past. "We don’t have doughnuts or anything like that any- more,” he told Machaela. ‘^We just play games.” — Martha Pickerill ffl 2C07 Tim* H8 AJ Riifiit R(i0^d TIME FOR KIDS and Timefortods.com are registered trademark of Time Inc. Help! | Try This Boost a copycat’s confidence DEAR AMERICAN GIRL: My best friend never stops copying me! She blows I real ly hate it, but she does it anyway. I tried to talk to her about it, but she just $ay$ M we have the same taste. / can 'i take it ™ anymore. — Coping with a Copycat ■ Ask yourself, “Do ( make fiin of other people a lot?” If you answered yes, your friend may be copying you because she's afraid you'll lease her about her own taste. But if that's not it, you might just be a trendsetter, and your friend likes fol lowing your lead. Either way, try giving your friend a compliment every time she wears something unique. That should help her feel mote confident about showing her own style. American Girl’” DEAR AMERICAN GIRL: My best friend is biown to be the smartest bd in school. She's pretty and wears cool clothes. Last week our school had a contest where the best song, poem or essay would win $10. Of course, she won! She has everything! —Don't mean to be mean ■ You’re friend sounds great. But she must think you’re petty great, too, or she wouldn’t be your friend. So get out of your mean mood by thinking about why she likes you. ]>o you tcU great jokes? Are you a good listener? Just plain fun to he with? Don’t let your jealousy wreck what makes you special, Visi/ omerieangiri.com to get or give advice. O W07 flmtnc*ndiil. LUC All notil* ivwrv^d Take the thumbless challenge Here’s an instant activity to help you gel a grasp on what separates you from most crea tures: your diumbs! Write the tasks below on slips Of paper, put them in a box or hag, and challenge your pals to pick one to complete w ithout using their thumbs. Fust to finish gets to choose a treat (and eat it with her hands — thumbs included!). Button a shirt Z Tie your shoes ■ Write your name ■ Drink a glass of water Z ITnow and catch a ball DID YOU KNOW? Like humans, chimpanzees. oranguUms, and gorillas have opposable thumbs, hut they aren’t the only animals that can get a grip on things. See if you can guess which of these critters have those helpful digits. A. koala B. grizzly bear C. sea otter D. opossum — Family Putt magazine PHOTO COURTESY OF FAMILY! 1 UN MAGAZiNi ANSWER: A AND 0. KOALA AND OPOSSUM. OPOSSUMS HAVE OPPOSAflte DIGITS ON THilB BACK FEET*