CALENDAR OF EVENTS*

9/23    Special Playgroup, Storytime, at Community Center
9/30    Special Playgroup, J.P.Hoyer
10/7    Special Playgroup, Storytime, at Community Center
10/25   Special Playgroup, J.P. Hoyer
10/26   CPRC Potluck, see article.
11/4    Special Playgroup, Storytime, at Community Center
11/7    CPRC Planning Meeting: 7:30 p.m. at Community Center
11/20   School Information Workshop, see article.
11/22   Special Playgroup, Turkey Crafts at Community Center
11/25   Special Playgroup, J.P.Hoyer
12/14   CPRC Holiday Caroling Party, see article

ONGOING
Playgroups are every Monday and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Gast Park.  If below 60 degrees or rainy, then meet at the Cheverly Community Center.  If the Community Center is closed due to a holiday, the indoor playgroup will not be held.
Locations:
Gast Park:  Corner of Inwood and Parkway.
Cheverly Community Center: 6401 Forest Rd.
J.P.Hoyer,: Bellview Ave.(near 7-11)

From the Coordinator....

Happy September!  Hope you all had a wonderful summer.  September is National Baby Safety Month.  Of course, there are lots of issues associated with keeping your baby safe.  Car seats are a big safety issue, and we've devoted an article in this month's Newsline to specific issues of car seat safety.

September is also dues-paying month!  Our "fiscal" year is September - August, so 2002-2003 dues are payable now.  A few of you have already paid; to see if that's you, check your mailing label:  the two digit number after the P indicates the last year you paid dues.  If you don't see P02 then it's time to pay dues!  Please mail in your dues today.  Also be sure to fully complete the membership form so that we can double-check our database.  Thank you!

We had a planning meeting at the end of August and I was excited to see new faces at the meeting; some folks who are new to Cheverly and others with new babies.  We'd love to see you at the next meeting!  With more people involved in the planning and coordination of events, we can do more things.

We currently have one event planned per month over the next few months.   But if we have more ideas than months, we can certainly add to this calendar!  If you have ideas please send me email or call (see end of Newsline for contact info), and by all means, join us at our next planning meeting, on Thursday November 7 at the Community Center.

Morning playgroup started up in September.  Kimberly and I have attended three playgroups so far.  It was great to rejoin all the moms and dads, and see how much everyone's children grew over the summer!    And even better for me, we have a new Playgroup Coordinator; I can go and enjoy without any forethought or planning!  See Donna Brown's article for more about playgroup.

In October, Julie James will be hosting a potluck dinner.  In November we will have a School Information Workshop.  In December we'll have our annual Holiday Caroling Party.  In January or February we will have a Parent Workshop on teaching your children about stranger safety.  Workshops in the planning stage are: saving for your child's college education, and reducing stress in our lives.  Please see articles throughout Newsline for more details on our Fall and Winter events. I look forward to seeing you at the playgroups, at the various events, and at the planning meeting!

Until Then,
Tammie Nelson-Stringer
coordinator@cheverlyparent.org
(301) 386-3782

CPRC Potluck
The CPRC will have a family potluck on Saturday, October 26th at the James home from 6:00 - 8:30 pm (or whenever).  Please come so that you can meet the many new CPRC families!  You are invited (but not required) to come in a costume.  We will not have a "Halloween" theme per se, but we always like to dress up!  Please RSVP to Julie James by Sunday October 13th at (301) 773-5530 or JulieAndMike@att.net.   If you have never been to the James house, PLEASE call for directions. The address (3321 64th Avenue) will not help you find the house!

2002 TOT SOCCER SEASON
The fall soccer season is upon us!  The Cheverly Soccer Club offers the Tot-Soccer for 3-5 year olds on Wednesdays from 5-6pm at Cheverly Town Park.  The cost is $35 for the fall season, which last for six weeks, (includes ball and shirt)  For more information contact: Andy Lincoln (301)773-4844 or at Andrew.Lincoln@verizon.net

Holiday Caroling Party
I will again be hosting the Holiday Caroling Party at my house, 5714 Forest Road, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 14.  It was great fun last year and I'm really looking forward to it!  However, I am looking for some helpers for this event.  Specifically I'm looking for someone with some musical talent to be in charge of the music!  This is terribly important; even my daughters tell me not to sing.  So it cannot be me who tries to start us out on the right note.  :)  I am also looking for someone who knows the neighborhood around my house and can plan a route, coordinating with specific neighbors so that they will be at home when we ring their doorbell.  If you would like to volunteer for either of these items, please contact me!  tammienelson@comcast.net or 301-386-3782.  Thanks!

UNIVERSITY PARK Children's Clothing Co-op Fall Sale
It's time for the 25th annual Fall Sale.  Come for great deals on Gently Used Children's Clothing, Baby Items and Toys.  Saturday, October 12th, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  Riverdale Presbyterian Church, 6513 Queens Chapel Road, University Park, Maryland.

Mother's Day Out At the Cheverly United Methodist Church

The Mother's Day Out Program  has resumed classes for the 2002-2003 season.  Classes are held every Wednesday from 10AM to 2PM beginning September 18th thru June, for children 2-4 years old.  We provide a safe environment with caring teachers with a structured learning curriculum as the young child makes the first step from home to school.  For information call Mrs. Tamai 301.350.1155 or Mrs. Woodworth at 301.322.5281.

The Prince George Sports and Learning Complex
in Landover Maryland has open gym time for tots on Wednesdays 12:30 - 1:30; this is an unofficial CPRC afternoon playgroup.  If you go, you might see other Cheverly moms there.  But even if there aren't other Cheverly moms, you'll have fun on the tot-size gymnastics equipment with your toddler/pre-schooler.  Registration is required the first time, but there is no commitment; it is pay-as-you-go.  The fee is $3 per kid (adults are free), per session.  See their web site or call for directions: http://www.pgsportsandlearn.com
301-583-2400.

Breast Feeding Consultants
Right here in Cheverly!
If you have any breast feeding concerns please feel free to contact any of the following listed below:
        Julie James             301.773.5530
        Lisa Lincoln            301.773.4844
        Wendy Shenk-Evan     301.772.7304
        Sonja Braddock           301.772.1846

If you would like to be added to this list please contact Ena Ward at 301.322.8686.

Car Safety for Infants and Children

For children ages 0-14 years, car crashes account for nearly 42% of all childhood unintentional injury-related deaths.  You can make your child safer in the car by using a car seat or booster seat correctly each and every ride.  Some statistics show that 85% of all car seats are installed and/or used incorrectly.  We touch on a few safety seat issues in this article.  For a review of all safety seat issues please visit the websites listed at the end of the article.
 

Infant/Baby Seat Checks
By Amy Chevalier Efantis

As an expectant mother, I was eager to cover all my bases.  I bought plastic plugs for every outlet in the house, ordered a carbon dioxide detector, considered contracting for the construction of a hermetically sealed, germ-free bubble, and of course, intended to have the car seat inspected for proper installation.   I found was that, in our area, it seems the antiseptic bubble is easier to come by.  I searched the Web and found a number of sites that claimed to offer the service, but in following-up, I found that many had outdated certification or had discontinued the service.

There is an officer at the PG County headquarters who is certified and available.  It is advisable to call for an appointment.

Public Education Specialist
Community Srvs Div. Deborah McCombs
Prince Georges County Police Dept.
7600 Barlowe Road
Landover, MD 20785
phone: (301) 772-4664

There is also a useful website with guidelines and instructions: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps

At the top, center of the site you will find a link to a site that allows you to input either your zip code or state to find inspection centers nearest you.  Please note:  I've called all those listed in the 20785 zip code and found that only the above inspector is currently providing the service.
 

Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
By Tammie Nelson-Stringer

LATCH is a uniform attachment system for installing child safety seats in passenger vehicles.  A belt with hooks on the end goes through the appropriate belt path on the car seat and the hooks connect to LATCH anchors in the vehicle.  The LATCH anchors in the vehicle are found in the crack between the bottom seat cushion and the back cushion.  When you use LATCH, you do not use the car's seat belt for installation of the car seat.  Best of all, no more locking clips!  There is also a top tether to keep the top of the car seat more stable.

I am a recent convert to LATCH.  Kimberly (at 15 months and 22 pounds) has just graduated to a front-facing seat.  When I started researching seats, I learned about LATCH and found to my surprise that my car (a 2000 Toyota ECHO) is equipped with LATCH.  I found a LATCH-equipped car seat that I liked and that Kimberly thought was comfortable.  In minutes I had that seat installed so that it does not budge!  It didn't take superhuman effort or two people or repeated estimations/correction cycles with the locking clip.  It just worked.

A car seat properly installed with LATCH is not any safer than a seat properly installed with a seat belt.  The idea behind this new system is that it should be easier to get a proper installation.  Based on my limited experience, I think they have achieved that goal. Of course, it is still important to read the instructions, be sure the seat is the correct one for your child's age/weight/height, and be sure you're installing the seat in a valid position in the car.

The downside, of course, is that older cars do not have LATCH connectors installed. All car seats and vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2002, must be LATCH-equipped.  However, some cars began to include the LATCH connections as early as 2000.  Check your car's manual to see if your car has the connectors.

You must also have a LATCH-equipped car seat.  Car seat manufacturers sell LATCH retrofit kits for some car seats.  Check with the manufacturer of your car seat.  It is imperative that you only use the retrofit kit created specifically for your car seat.

Helpful Links:
http://www.car-safety.org/
"A not-for-profit, volunteer operated website.  We strive to provide other parents with correct and up-to-date information on the selection and safe installation of child safety restraints."

http://www.carseatsite.com/
"Heather's Car Seat Site -- This web site is designed to help you learn more about car seats, their selection, installation and use."

http://www.saferoads.org/issues/fs-child.htm/
A review of safety issues, existing laws, and pending legislation in Maryland.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/
National Highway Traffic Safety Adminitration's site.

SCHOOL INFORMATION WORKSHOP is coming this fall........

CPRC will be sponsoring a School Information Workshop on November 20, 7pm-9pm.  We plan to have a speaker, a panel discussion, and parent representatives from the neighborhood, magnet, and private schools.  We will also have a homeschooling representative.  Babysitting will be available. This will be a great chance for you to learn about the school choices in the Cheverly area!  The event is still evolving; watch CPRC Newsline, our website, and the Cheverly newsletter for location and complete event information.  Meanwhile, save the date!
We are looking for someone to coordinate the babysitting effort.  Other CPRC parents can help you to find the (teenaged) babysitters. It's a great way to meet potential babysitters!  E-mail coordinator@cheverlyparent.org if you can help.

Are You Proud of Your  Child's School?

We are looking for volunteers to be parent representatives at our workshop on area schools.  We will include schools that Cheverly kids attend, with one or two parents from each of the neighborhood schools, area private schools, and  magnet programs.  As a parent rep, you would answer one-on-one questions from other Cheverly parents in an informal, conversational setting.  (You are not expected to address the crowd as a speaker; just converse with other Cheverly parents.)  These will mostly be parents of very young children who are facing a decision you were faced with not very long ago.  Please consider providing your perspective on how you decided to send your child to his/her school, what is unique about the school, what you and your child(ren) like about the school, etc.  If you are interested in volunteering or learning more, please contact Daphne Felten-Green (dfeltengreen@yahoo.com or 301-772-1041) or Tammie Nelson-Stringer (tammienelson@comcast.net).

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

We've had quite a busy summer here in Cheverly with the following additions to these local families.

Ann and George Caldwell welcomed Erin Patricia Caldwell on August 23rd.

Tanya Marshall and Randy ZuWallack welcomed twins, Cole and Reid ZuWallack
on September 1st.

Amy Chevalier-Efantis and Dino Efantis were blessed with Angeliki (Kiki) Efantis on May 28th.

Kate and Brendan Heneghan welcomed Liam Heneghan on May 19th.

Sonya and Robert Braddock welcomed Sara Braddock on May 11th.

And last but not least, Shannon and Tyrell Taite welcomed lil' Asha Taite in May 2002.

The CPRC welcomes all of these little ones and wishes a good nights rest to their parents!!  In the future please send all baby announcements to Melanie Hartwig-Davis at welcome@cheverlyparent.org.

B U L L E T I N     B O A R D

For Sale: Antique-wicker white headboard, Twin size, $25.00.  "All-Terrain" stroller, great shape! $25.00.  Call Tracy Hartman, 301.772.8332.

To place an ad in the Newsline Bulletin, contact Jennifer Allegro at editor@cheverlyparent.org.  IT'S FREE !!!!

MEALS ON WHEELS
Needs you !!!!!
Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound neighbors.  You can work two or four days a month; weekdays, approximately 10:30 -12:30.  Please consider volunteering for this worthy cause.  Fellow CPRC mom Monique Mangrum drives for Meals on Wheels; if you'd like to ask her about it give her a call at 386-4476.  To volunteer call:  301-618-3930

***PLAYGROUP NEWS ***

The CPRC Playgroup was off to a happy start on Monday, September 9th with as many as 10 families showing up at Gast Park.  It was a beautiful day!  We had even more on the following Friday!  In case you do not know, CPRC Playgroups are open to all parents and caregivers and their little ones. We meet on Mondays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. In good weather (60 degrees or above and dry) we meet at the Gast Park playground. Otherwise we meet at the community center in the gymnasium
.
We have some special events scheduled this year.  So far for the fall/winter we have on September 23, October 7, November 4, and December 2,  storytime with the Prince George's County librarian; she will visit with us at the gym at 11:45 a.m. We are scheduled to meet at the J.P. Hoyer Resource Room on the following dates: September 30, October 25, November 25, and December 20. On November 22, and December 13, we will have crafts for the little ones at 10:45 a.m. in the gym.

Please note that November 29, and December 27 will not be official playdates since school is closed, and most people are either away or spending time with their families.

Finally, we need more designated parents who can be at the playground or gym by 10:30 a.m. to welcome and introduce the other parents/caregivers, and stay until at least 12:00 p.m.  If you can volunteer to do this wonderful task, please email me at playgroup@cheverlyparent.org, or call me at (301) 773-5036.  Many thanks to everyone for chipping in to help make the CPRC Playgroup a success, and hats off to Tammie Nelson-Stringer for the wonderful work she did as playgroup coordinator last year!  I look forward to seeing everyone over the next few months.

Donna Brown
Playgroup Coordinator

CPRC IS STARTING A LIST.....
The CPRC is compiling a reference list of good, reliable doctors (pediatricians, dentists, orthodontists, etc. ) to be shared with other families here in Cheverly.  If you would like to add someone to this list contact Ena Ward at 301.322.8686.

CPRC SUPPORTS THE "PARTY ANIMAL"

 Most of you have already heard about the "Party Animal" project that has placed 200 donkeys and elephants around D.C.  The project, sponsored by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, is a public art display to celebrate the city and encourage tourism.  The donkeys and elephants were painted by artists from around the world and will be displayed in DCthrough early October.

 One of the elephants, now on display at the Capital Children's Museum at 3rd and H Streets, NE, was painted by 26 children and their families.  Many of these artists live in Cheverly.  "Puzzle It Out" depicts multicolored puzzle
pieces, each representing a different piece of the learning puzzle, such as science, geography, art, history and music.

In the August Cheverly Newsletter, Mayor  Larry Beyna asked for support to bring this elephant to Cheverly.  He has initiated an effort to purchase the elephant at the public auction in October in order to permanently display it
 in Cheverly.  He announced that an anonymous donor has pledged to match the first $500 raised.

CPRC is proud to support this effort and has contributed $50 to the fundraising effort.  Anyone interested in contributing to the effort to bring this handpainted elephant to Cheverly should make checks payable to the "Town of Cheverly" (with a note that it is for "Puzzle It Out") and drop it off at Town Hall.  The Mayor has promised that he will make all contributors honorary members of C-PALS (Cheverly Public Art Lovers).

DID YOU KNOW THAT....
The town of Cheverly has an organized babysitting co-op?  It is true!!  Our successful co-op is currently looking for a few more members.  Could this be you? If so, contact Elizabeth Bou at 301-772-0377.

Ice scream...you scream....we all scream for ICE CREAM!
There's a great old-fashioned ice cream parlor in quirky Takoma Park that's worth the trip.  Summer Delights at 6939 Laurel Ave. 301.891.2880.  The shop offers 63 homemade flavors - from chocolate raspberry truffle to nutty doula.  Summertime lives on in Takoma Park!

KEEPING YOUR FAMILY SAFE By Elizabeth Bou

        It is a seemingly harmless-looking treat, yet it has been reported that a type of gel-like candy has killed at least 21 children over the last few years.  This gel candy is dangerous for two reasons: its plug like shape poses a choking risk,  and, it contains a binding ingredient called KONJACK, which DOES NOT dissolve in the mouth.  Which makes it nearly impossible for rescue workers to remove.  The FDA recently issued many recalls and an import alert for gel candy.  Still, the candy remains on store shelves across the country.  If you should find gel candies at your local grocery or drugstore, speak with the manager and let him/her know that this is a dangerous product.  KONJACK is spelled many different ways, including konjac, conjac, kanjac, yam flour, glucomannan, konnyaaku and konnyaku.  It is important to also note that the name isnt always on the package.

        With Halloween quickly approaching,  it is now even more important to pay attention to the "treat's" our kids receive!!

EDUCATIONAL ETC.....

There's a great resource right in our backyard.  Educational Etc. is a great store located in Largo for teaching supplies.  So if your looking for workbooks to supplement your child's education, pencils, stickers, educational posters etc. this is the place for you.  It also makes a great gift certificate for your child's teacher.  They are located at 10426 Campus Way in Largo.  For more information call 301.499.5002.

The Cheverly Parent Resource Center is collecting dues for September 2002 through August 2003. These dues will help us continue our regular activities such as the twice-weekly playgroups, educational seminars, and new initiatives. To continue receiving Newsline and to support CPRC's efforts to make Cheverly a great place for children, please send your $10.00 check made payable to CPRC using the CPRC Membership Form. If you're not sure if your paid up or not, check your label on the newsletter.  The last two digits reflect the last year you paid your dues.  XX means we have no record of payment.

Tammie Nelson-Stringer, Coordinator, (301) 386-3782, coordinator@cheverlyparent.org

Lisa Lincoln, Treasurer, (301) 773-1642, treasurer@cheverlyparent.org

Donna Brown, Playgroup Coordinator, 301-773-5036, playgroup@cheverlyparent.org

Tanya Marshall, Web Page Coordinator, (301) 772-4025, webmaster@cheverlyparent.org

Randy Zuwallack, Membership Database Coordinator, (301) 772-4025, database@cheverlyparent.org

Melanie Hartwig-Davis, Welcome Coordinator, (301) 386-5387, welcome@cheverlyparent.org

Jennifer Allegro, Newsline Editor, (301) 322-4952, editor@cheverlyparent.org