Healthy Toy Site

(From MomsRising) Dear MomsRising.org member, Sadly, one of the big stories this holiday season has been an epidemic of "toxic toys" -- exposing children to everything from lead to the date rape drug GHB. We've been horrified, not only at what this says about our national priorities, but also as moms we're left asking: "What toys are safe to buy for my own kids??" That's why we're thrilled to tell you about a new text-for-info service we've just set up. Our friends at HealthyToys.org1 tested over 1250 toys for common chemicals and have made the results searchable online. Because the time you really want to know which toys contain dangerous chemicals is when you're shopping, we've partnered with them to make their database searchable via your mobile phone. Here's how it works: Text healthytoys [toy name] to 41411 And we'll reply instantly with whether the toy tested "high" "med" or "low" for potentially dangerous toxins. Try it! Text "Healthytoys Elmo flashlight" to 41411. You'll get a reply right back to your phone with the test results for the Elmo flashlight by Sesame Street. Neat, eh? Take it with you shopping and tell your friends! Then sign this petition to tell Congress, "We demand safe, lead-free toys for children. Congress must strengthen the agencies responsible for protecting kids from toxic products and remove the bureaucrats who are standing in the way." We should be able to buy our kids toys off the shelf without having to wonder whether they're filled with dangerous chemicals. Glad we're in this together, -- Kristin, Joan, Katie, Donna, Roz, Mary and the whole MomsRising.org Team [1] HealthyToys.org is a project of the Ecology Center in partnership with the Washington Toxics Coalition and: California • Center for Environmental Health • Connecticut - Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut • Maine - Environmental Health Strategy Center • Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine • Massachusetts - Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow • Michigan - Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health • Minnesota - Healthy Legacy • New York - JustGreen Partnership • Oregon - Oregon Environmental Council • Washington - Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition • National - Center for Health, Environment and Justice P.S. SMS text wiz? Try a more complex search: Text "healthytoys [high/med/low] [toy name]" to 41411 -- to limit your search results to only those toys with a high, med, or low toxins rating -- e.g. "healthytoys low slinky" will only return the Slinky that got a "low toxins" test rating by HealthyToys.org. Text "healthytoys [retailer]" to 41411 -- to search for toys sold by a particular retailer -- e.g. "healthytoys low costco" will return the toys sold at Costco that got a "low toxins" test rating by HealthyToys.org. Text "healthytoys [search term]" to 41411 -- to search for toys with that term in their name, description, brand, or retailer. In other words, you can search not only for a toy name but also for Costco, or Leap Frog, or bracelet, or fuzzy, or rattle, or Spider-man, or Disney -- and any toys with those words anywhere in their listing will be returned. Too many results? Try typing the name of the toy just as it is printed on the packaging -- e.g. "healthytoys Disney Royal Shoes Set".

Listening Room Event -

When we were teenagers we swore we’d never forget what it’s like to be one. We swore that when we were parents we’d do it differently. But can we ever hope to remember the painful social struggles, the hopeless crushes, or even the simple frustration of not being able to drive ourselves around? Can we truly recall how hard it is to grow up? In the latest installment of a “Listening Room” series, local radio producer Josh Gleason (NPR, This American Life, Weekend America) presents an evening of radio stories made by teenagers, including some from WMPG’s own Blunt Youth Radio – stories about young people dealing with everything from the ordinary to the extraordinary, unrequited love to Tourette’s Syndrome. Featuring live music by Tempera and members of Over a Cardboard Sea. A moderated discussion with Blunt Youth Radio program director Claire Holman and Blunt producer Libby Donovan will follow the show. Tuesday, December 18th at SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland. 7:00pm, $5, free for members, all ages. Presented In partnership with the Public Radio Exchange. Gibson Fay-LeBlanc Executive Director The Telling Room 225 Commercial Street, Suite 201 Portland, ME 04101 (207) 321-2780 gibson@tellingroom.org www.tellingroom.org

Jim Weiss CDs

You can buy Jim Weiss storytelling CDs for $15 ($4.00 benefits the Friends School) through December 19th. You can purchase them in the office or special order a certain title if you'd like something different. (we only had 2 at the Hat Sale, but have since found the boxes with many, many more!)

Children's Books about Social Class

I have been thinking a lot about the ways that class shapes our experiences, how to deal with the consumption-drive of the holiday season, how we reconcile our fundraising needs with the need for diversity among us, and how it all feels to kids. This article seems really insightful and interesting for our community - I'd love to talk about it if anyone else is interested... Kim (I've provided more info and resources on my own blog, too, if you want it :-) Joan Arrowsmith, Lillian Polite and Elizabeth Saenger, all faculty members at an independent school in NY, have written an practical and provocative article about helping schools and children address class in an overt way. The article contains references for children's books and tips for creating equitable spaces at school and in homes.

Celebrate Dec @ Peace Action Maine

OPENING OF "CELEBRATIONS: A GROUP HOLIDAY ART SHOW" Friday, December 7th, 5-8pm Celebrations is a multimedia group art show bringing together diverse cultural, personal, and religious celebrations at the Meg Perry Center. From Chanukah to Christmas to Solstice to Kwanzaa to Hajj, cultures throughout the world celebrate holidays at this time of year. Celebrations brings together these cultural traditions in a group art show that will display art and documentation of celebrations in the diverse in the diverse cultures here in Portland. At the opening, locally made products and fair trade goods and other independent holiday gifts will be available for sale. This exhibit will be up at the Meg Perry Center throughout the month of December.

Phone Number Privacy

I am not a particularly paranoid person, but this e-mail from Partners in Ending Hunger seems worth sharing.. You may know this already, but just in case you do not: Google has implemented a new feature which enables you to type a telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and you will be given the person's name and address. If you then hit Map, you will get a map to the person's house. It's a nationwide reverse telephone book. If a child gives out his/her phone number, someone can now look it up to find out where he/she lives. The safety issues are obvious, and alarming. Note that you can have your phone number removed or blocked. In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to Google, Type your phone number in the search bar (i.e. 555-555-1212) and hit enter. If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private information, simply click on your telephone number and then click on the Removal Form. Removal takes 48-hours. "

AdVerb Productions - Friday night

One More Time to SAY IT LOUD! About Say It Loud! Say It Loud Season Finale~ This Friday, Dec. 7th @ 7pm One Longfellow Square Say It Loud!, Add Verb's artist development program for teenage girls, promotes personal and social change through writing and performance. Say It Loud! uses the power of hip-hop and spoken word to provide a safe and supportive environment for girls to speak up, express their ideas and opinions and say it like it is. Say It Loud Season Finale THIS FRIDAY! Say It Loud! Ensemble finishes their eventful fall season with their finale performance THIS FRIDAY. Come over to One Longfellow Square after your first friday ART WALK and be part of the celebration! Opening acts include local hip-hop artist SayLove and singer/songwriter Hanifa Washington! Past Say It Loud! participants will also be making an appearance. Please join us to support and celebrate Say It Loud's inspiring work this fall: Say It Loud Season Finale~ This Friday, Dec. 7th @ 7pm One Longfellow Square See you there!! Say It Loud! is supported by the Maine Community Fund's Community Building Grant, the Center for Cultural Exchange, and the National Recreation Foundation. Add Verb Productions info@addverbproductions.com Add Verb Productions | PO Box 3853 | Portland | ME | 04101

Simple Gifts

The community sang this song after morning meeting today -- it was so lovely and perfect for this season, I was compelled to find out more. A few renditions are on the YouTube sidebar. Simple Gifts (A bit of a detailed history and analysis can be found at the American Music Preservation site) Lyrics and music by Elder Joseph Brackett at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine, 1848. Aaron Copeland included it in his Appalachian Spring symphony in 1955. Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, 'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 'Twill be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gain'd To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd, To turn, turn will be out delight 'Till by turning, turning we come round right. "

Community Building @ FSP - -use comments to share your thoughts and new ideas!

PLease Send to the Parents... The Fun & Games (AKA community building) meeting notes 1) We believe that the community is diverse, interesting, and full of fun possibilities. We hope all community members will feel free to create spontaneous suggestion and invitations for various activities and outings. We'd love to see the parents group have some money available to support these projects. Many smaller chances to come together feels like the most sustainable model for creating an ongoing sense of community. 2) We feel like we need to choose simple and easy-to-execute ideas for now, perhaps building toward a few larger annual events. We'd like to put forward the idea of a holiday sing-a-long on the last day of school before the December break as a first event -- we are wondering about inviting Hans back to lead it. 3) We'd love to find a way to have a chunk of the parents meetings allow for more socializing, and dialogue, perhaps through a more traditional Quaker Meeting approach or through other shared activities or ice breakers. We suggest opening the next Parents Meeting with the Queries on Giving that the kids are thinking about. 4) Here's the list of brainstormed ideas, in total -- feedback, more ideas, etc. would be great - (I'll also post it on the blog) ... After School Activities * more arts & crafts * Ski Club -- shared transportation * Soccer Game was great model for community building -- more of those kinds of events * Community Service projects -- island clean up (weekly, monthly, quarterly?) -- adopt a school internationally -- Roots & Shoots * Choir * Sing-Alongs (Holidays?) * Peace Pals Club Evening Activities * talent show * art show (kids) * parent education -- reading groups, speaker series, conversation series, etc. * Games Night (at homes, at schools, as fundraiser or not) * Adults only party * Matt Loosgian Concert (see also in-service days) Bigger Annual Event Ideas * Ferry ride around the island (guided) * Common Ground Fair Retreat (would need this to be built into the schools calendar - go to Friday of CGF and stay in Friends Camp cabins) * Camping together * Winter Carnival * Spring Thing (need to debrief) * Children's Book Festival organized by Kirstin Cappy in June In-Service Day Ideas * community skiing -- shared transportation and participation on a weekly basis and/or a community trip on the March in-service day * Invite an artist in for an enrichement program * Matt Loosigian concert : He has his own website, and does his own parties and concerts completely separate from Music Together. His tagline is: "Teaching peace, compassion and environmental justice through silliness and song." He played at Common Ground this year. -- maybe for Earth Day? Other * Work on physical space together -- some parents have talent and expertise in the physical space and could help lead a beautification process inside and out * Strategies for welcoming new famllies -- concern that the pot-lucks aren't safe for kids (the hallway) and kids get bored with adult talk * Tidy up the lounge in the back (old entrance) as a family lounge Some of these ideas could be up and running with the ummph of one person, other ideas are fairly resource intense and would need more buy-in and resources. Again, please encourage kids to put ideas in the suggestion box and please share any of your best experiences from other schools / best ideas -- it is fun to capture the big list and then we can all be inspired to take action...

Healthy Toys for Our Kids

Are you angry that manufacturers of children's products use lead, vinyl, chemical flame retardants, and thousands of other hazardous chemicals linked to learning disabilities, cancer and other health problems? Are you worried that over 20 million toys have been recalled just in the past few months? Do you think our government should require testing of chemicals and products BEFORE they enter our homes and our bodies? You're not alone. Mainers like you are working to protect our families from unnecessary, hazardous chemicals in the products we use every day. But they need your help. On December 1st, we'll provide a one-day crash course in the Portland area that will prepare you to be part of our campaign, educate your friends and neighbors, and help make a difference. We'll cover: * major chemical threats to children's health; * the newest resources on safer products; * demystifying the chemical alphabet soup; * and how to help your family, friends, and neighbors take action. The workshop will last from approximately 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM and will be held in Portland or nearby. We'll also provide resource materials for you to take home and lunch. Please let us know if you are interested so we can plan ahead.