Archive for August, 2009
August Meeting at the Bowling Alley!
No Comment |Posted by: Amy Bryan on August 29, 2009
As we have had to change plans due to the cancellation of the luau, we will now meet at 6:30 pm at Mid-County Lanes in the Middletown Square Shopping Center on North Broad Street in Middletown, where we will do some bowling!
The cost is $4.75 per game, plus $3.00 to rent proper bowling shoes. Please wear proper attire, including socks (or at least bring a pair with you!)
There is a snack bar that offers drinks and, of course, snacks.
If you need directions, please check your email or visit their website for a map. The street address is 875 North Broad Street, if you wish to use Google maps or a GPS.
I hope it will be a fun time and I will be posting some pictures later this week!
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Hawaiian Luau CANCELLED due to weather
No Comment |Posted by: Amy Bryan on August 28, 2009
I got word from the organizers of this event this morning that this year’s luau has been cancelled due to the impending bad weather.
I have made the disappointing decision to cancel the Hawaiian Luau for this year based on the current and forecasted amount of rain. I have been watching closely trying to hold out, but am concerned about the parking situation, in the field, and condition of the grounds with additional rain.
I have sent an email to all au pairs with a couple of ideas for alternate plans, which would also be for tomorrow evening for consistency. We will meet locally, most likely in Middletown or somewhere in this general area. I will post final plans late tonight, so please check either later tonight or first thing tomorrow for our alternate plans.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We LCCs can do a lot, but we cannot control the weather. 
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September Meeting & Host Family Event at Milburn Orchards
No Comment |Posted by: Amy Bryan on August 25, 2009
Our September meeting will be held on Sunday, September 27th. We will meet at Milburn Orchards in Elkton, MD to enjoy one of their Fall Festival weekends and to take a hayride to do some apple picking, a popular fall event. We will meet at 11 am in front of the farm market. Fall weekends tend to be crowded, so I thought it might be best to get an early start.
Milburn Orchards is less than 10 minutes from downtown Newark. You can find directions, maps and GPS coordinates here.
This is also a great family fun event, and as such, host families are invited to join us to fulfill your host family day requirement.
I have included more information below, courtesy of the orchard’s website.
Fall Festival Admissions:
- Ages 2 and under, Free
- Seniors age 60 and over, $4
- All others, age 3 to 59, $8
- Admission fees do not include games,
arts & crafts, food & craft vendors, or Pony Rides sponsored by Fairwinds Farm. October weekends only, 11am-3pm - Pre-paid tickets now available.
Fall Festival Weekends
Starts September 19th through November 1st
Saturdays & Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In celebration of the fall harvest, the Pumpkin Patch has a special theme for each weekend, offering families lots of variety and fun activities.
Of course, our Barnyard Buddies zoo is always here, and we have tons of activities going on at thePumpkin Patch:
INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION:
- Hayrides
- Corn Maze
- Boo Barn
- Bale Trail (Straw Maze for kids)
- MilkySway Tunnel
- Cycle Circle
- Straw Jump
- Tractor Tunnel
- Farmyard Playground & PlayBarn
- BarnYard Buddies Zoo
- and other mini-family fun events!
Not Included with admission & additional fee applies:
Games (Super Sling & Spooky Shootin Gallery)
Arts & Crafts (Make-Your-Own Scarecrow, Face Painting, Sand Art)
A variety of vendors will be on hand with tasty treats such as hotdogs, pulled beef, crab cakes, pizza, funnel cakes, french fries, and of course, our Milburn Orchards apple cider and yummy apple cider donuts and giant Royal Gala caramel apples!
Wagons available to rent for the kids (and your pumpkins!) or you are welcome to bring your own.
Pick Your Own apples & Raspberries are available every weekend. NO admission charge for any “Pick Your Own” events.
This will be our monthly au pair meeting as well and au pairs are expected to attend regardless of whether or not their host family joins them!! Au pairs should wear their blue CCAP T-shirts. If you don’t have one, I have ordered some, which I hope to have before the event!
Please RSVP by September 15th!
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Back to School Time — Be Careful When Driving
No Comment |Posted by: Amy Bryan on August 25, 2009
Here in Delaware, it’s back to school time–kids and buses will be out all over. It’s important to be aware of this and to know how to drive safely around school zones and bus stops. This article from AOL.com brings up some great tips to remember now and throughout the school year!
Au pairs should be aware of local traffic laws regarding school zones and bus stops, so host families should discuss this at your weekly meetings!
Back-to-School Safety
Time to keep an eye out for students
by Bengt Halvorson
Posted: Sep, 27 2006
Be familiar with school zones. Get in the habit of noticing where school zones and crosswalks are onroutes that you normally take. Accidents, including pedestrian accidents, are far more likely to occur locally on routes with which drivers are more familiar and comfortable.
Stop for school bus lights. Always stop for school buses with flashing red lights. Drivers approaching the bus must come to a full stop for the duration that the red lights are on. Some school buses have flashing yellow lights also, which means that drivers may proceed with extreme caution. Bus drivers often engage the flashing yellow lights before the flashing red lights, signaling that they are about to stop.
Obey crossing guards. School crossing guards are given police training and the same authority as local traffic police in most areas, so disobeying a crossing guard could get you in some serious trouble. Remember that driving on major streets where crossing guards and crosswalks are observed is safer than taking “short-cut” side streets where children may be unattended.
Anticipate the worst. The speed and distance away of oncoming cars is more difficult for young children to judge. Always anticipate the chance that a small child may run in front of you by slowing down and preparing to brake.
Be careful around parked vehicles. Be especially careful in areas with parked vehicles on the side of the road. Children waiting to cross may be especially difficult to see behind parked sport-utility vehicles.
Turn your headlights on. Drive with headlights on in areas with children and pedestrians. The AAA says that the use of headlights can reduce pedestrian accidents by about 25 percent.
Avoid using cell phones when driving. Cell phones are a known distraction. Never use hand-held cell phones while driving, and never use hands-free cell phones while driving in school zones or areas with children. The same goes for activities that distract the driver, such as changing CDs, looking at notes and reading maps.
Avoid reversing. Try to avoid reversing your vehicle in areas with children. It’s more difficult to see short children and attend to your car’s blind spots while reversing.
Don’t speed. Remember that the speed limit in most school zones during school times or when children are present is 25 miles per hour. Bad weather, or areas with limited visibility, will require a lower speed. Your visibility to pedestrians, your ability to see them and your stopping distance all may be greatly impaired by weather or road conditions, so follow common sense and slow down.
Don’t honk at pedestrians or bicyclists. Honking at a child, whether on foot or on a bicycle, is generally not a good idea. The noise could possibly cause the startled child to trip or fall and be in a dangerous position for other approaching traffic.
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REMINDER - August Meeting
No Comment |Posted by: Amy Bryan on August 12, 2009
Our August meeting will be a gathering of au pairs from around the Philadelphia area! We will be attending the annual end of summer Hawaiian Luau hosted by some of my LCC colleagues in the West Chester area.
The luau is Saturday, August 29th and it begins at 7 pm. Last year, over 100 au pairs from the area attended. There will be chances to win some great prizes, including gift cards and movie tickets. There will be a karaoke competition, led by a professional DJ, as well as an International Food competition. All au pairs are asked to bring a homemade dish from their native country. There is also a pool, so if you enjoy swimming, plan accordingly.
I will be happy to assist au pairs in getting there, but can only take 5 people. If you need a ride, please contact me no later than August 21st–I will take “reservations” on a first come, first served basis. Please get permission from your host family first if you wish to get there on your own, or try to form a carpool. I know some families do limit car usage, which is why I am offering to help drive people who may need it. It will take us about 1 hour to get there from my house in Middletown and I plan to leave no later than 6 pm.
I will send out details through email later this month for people who wish to ride with me or follow me there.
If you cannot make it, you can check in with me on Wednesday, August 26th. We can plan individually as to time and location.
I really hope everyone can make arrangements to come to the Luau! It will be a great way to meet some new au pairs and connect with your peers!
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Hello & Goodbye
No Comment |Posted by: Amy Bryan on August 12, 2009
As is the case in the summer months, host families are busy welcoming new au pairs and saying goodbyes to ones returning home.
Welcome this month to Nina from Germany. Nina just arrived last week from the Training School to her new family in Bear, DE. She is 19 and from Berlin (one of my favorite German cities!). If you haven’t yet gotten in touch with her, email me and I will send you her contact info. Don’t forget to welcome her to Delaware and include her when making plans!
We also bid farewells to Nadine and Frauke from Germany, as they will be heading back home, as their year here in the States comes to a close. We wish you a safe journey home and much luck in the future!
September will also be bringing us some new arrivals, so stay tuned for some more info later!
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