Hidden Danger Driveway Backovers in Suburbia
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ACTIVITY SeptemberGUIDE 2010 BROOKLYN FREE Family FALL www.webfamilyny.com Head of the class Get smarter about school Hidden danger Driveway backovers in suburbia Where to go in September? Check out our Going Places OVER OVER65% SOLD65% SOLD ROOM TO LIVE. ROOM TO PLAY. WithROOM spacious TOnew homes LIVE. inside Brooklyn’sROOM TO PLAY. Withfriendliest spacious new new residence. homes inside Brooklyn’s friendliest new residence. PENTHOUSE LIVING WellPENTHOUSE-priced 2-and LIVING3-bedroom homes Vast living room spaces, some with Well-priced 2-and 3-bedroom homes double-height ceilings Vast living room spaces, some with AMENITIESdouble-height ceilings AMENITIESIndoor pool with dedicated family swim time Prenatal and kid’s yoga classes Indoor pool with dedicated family swim time Regular story time in the library Prenatal and kid’s yoga classes Family movie nights on the terrace Regular story time in the library GREATFamily movie LOCATION nights on the terrace StepsGREAT from LOCATION Fort Greene Park, BAM, Mark Morris Dance School Steps from Fort Greene Park, BAM, Close to many of New York’s best schools Mark Morris Dance School 2 subway stops from Union Square Close to many of New York’s best schools 2ENHANCED subway stops fromVALUE Union Square 25ENHANCED-year 421-A Tax VALUE Abatement FHA & Fannie Mae approved 25-year 421-A Tax Abatement On track for LEED-gold certifi cation FHA & Fannie Mae approved Energy-effi cient systems powered by On track for LEED-gold certifi cation on-site co-generation plant Energy-effi cient systems powered by Advanced air fi ltration systems in on-site co-generation plant each home and low VOC fi nishes Advanced air fi ltration systems in each home and low VOC fi nishes torencondo.com SALES GALLERY AT 150 MYRTLE AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11201 The complete offering terms are in an offering SALES GALLERY AT 150 MYRTLE AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11201plan available from sponsor, fi le no. CD07-0666. torencondo.com DEVELOPMENT LOCATION: 150 MYRTLE AVENUE, 718.222.TOREN (8673) BROOKLYN, NY 11201 The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from sponsor, fi le no. CD07-0666. DEVELOPMENT LOCATION: 150 MYRTLE AVENUE, 718.222.TOREN (8673) BROOKLYN, NY 11201 BROOKLYN Family September 2010 FEATURES Letter from 6 Heading back! Get smarter about back to school this year the publisher BY CAROLINE A. SHEARER 12 Message in the music ummer is just about City kids empower their peers through song over and the kids BY HELEN KLEIN S are going back to school. How quickly it all 16 When fees go undercover goes. Everyone I talk with Getting savvy about hidden charges can save you big feels that the film of our BY CANDY SPARks COLUMNS lives has been put on a fast-speed cycle. Did time 18 Brooklyn bouillabaisse 2 Newbie Dad used to move more slowly The benefits of raising a family in Flatbush BY BRIAN KANTZ or was it only our imagination?Now the rush BY HELEN KLEIN is on to buy supplies and clothes and to begin 4 Lions and Tigers and Teens another year of juggling school, and after- 20 Square tactics BY MYRNA BETH HAskELL school for most parents. This issue presents Brooklyn design team toying with success 8 Good Sense Eating a special section to help you see many of the BY HELEN KLEIN BY CHRISTINE M. PALUmbO, RD possibilities that are available in your commu- nities. Dance, sports, music, martial arts, and 22 Family time 10 Our Relationships supplementary learning programs or tutoring Tom Chapin’s music appeals to moms, dads and kids BY JOAN EmERSON are just some of the offerings. Make sure you BY HELEN KLEIN sign your kids up for something, because the 14 Twice the Advice benefits are priceless. Whether it’s learning to 28 Can book bags cause scoliosis? BY JACQUELINE AND KERRY DONELLI operate on a team or an individual discipline, What to watch for in the new school year they are sure to build self-esteem and to ex- BY DR. DIANA D’ANGELO 24 Cinematters pand in ways that will enhance their overall 30 Kids & radiation BY LAURA GRAY development. What you need to know about X-rays for your child This issue is loaded with helpful columns and 26 Family Health BY HELENE PAVLOV, MD articles, and we are proud of our contributing BY DR. PRAMOD NARULA, MD writers and their fine efforts. In particular this 32 Hidden danger in the suburbs 34 Growing Up Online month, we focus on the serious and tragic real- Preventing the tragedy of driveway backovers BY CAROLYN JAbs ity of driveway deaths in our suburbs and in our BY RISA C. DOHERTY city communities where driveways are preva- 70 It Figures lent. This is both a local and national issue and 38 Surprising health facts Digital data and school stats deserves the involvement of every caring person BY KATHY SENA to see that laws are changed and that cars are 72 New & Noteworthy equipped with the necessary hardware to make CALENDAR OF EVENTS The hottest new products these accidents come to an end. You, too, can get involved, and organizations are mentioned that 63 Going Places SPECIAL SECTION could use your input and assistance. Take the family out and find out what’s going on September is usually quite a glorious month. in your town 40 Fall Activity Directory We typically have what they still call “In- dian Summer” days, and it’s a terrific time to use weekends to see surrounding scenery, or STAff CONTACT INFORMATION to visit our parks, preserves, beaches, play- PUblISHer: Clifford Luster ADVERTISING SALES Address grounds, or to be a sideline parent watching 718 260-2587 Family Publications New York/CNG your kids on the soccer fields, ball fields, or PUblISHer/MANAGIng edItor: [email protected] or 1 MetroTech Center North Susan Weiss swimming laps. Have fun with your kids and [email protected] 10th Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 have a great month. We hope you enjoy this issue EDItor: Vince DiMiceli CIrcULATIon as much as we did while putting it together. CreATIve DIrector: Leah Mitch 718 260-8336 www.webfamilyny.com [email protected] Thanks for reading! Art DIrector: On Man Tse EDItorIAL AdvertISIng SAles: 718 260-4551 Sharon Noble, Nancy Swiezy, [email protected] Richard Kramer, Linda Smith Brooklyn Family, Queens Family, Bronx/Riverdale Family, Long Island Family SPECIAL ASSISTANT: and Staten Island Family are published monthly. Copyright©2010. No part of Susan Weiss-Voskidis, Publisher Tina Felicetti our contents may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. September 2010 • BROOKLYN FAMILY 1 PARENTING Strange bedfellows Two boys in the same bedroom equals mayhem e own a three-bedroom his cell — whoops, I mean bedroom been established (toy train tracks house. Therefore, simple — and one of us take the 3-year-old to ran from one end of the room to the W mathematics (and believe his. Once they were each in bed, that other) and a full-court Fisher Price me, that’s all the math I can handle) was it. Nighty-night, sleep-tight, don’t basketball court was seeing some fu- dictates that our two boys should let the bedbugs bite, and my wife and rious “little boys can’t jump” action. NEWBIE DAD have their own rooms. Lucky dudes, I had the rest of the night off. The brothers’ teamwork didn’t BRIAN KANTZ I know. And that’s the way it was — But was this routine denying our stop there. Their first night together until recently. We just couldn’t leave boys essential bonding time? Were — and pretty much every night since well enough alone. they missing out on vital life lessons? — they collaborated on some world- You see, one day, some friends Would it be our fault if our two boys class bedtime stall tactics. Gotta began extolling the virtues of having grew up as perfect strangers? read one more story. Gotta go to the younger children share a bedroom. How could we be so cruel, forcing bathroom again. Gotta get a drink of Their kids loved the set up, they them to have their own bedrooms! water. Then the other one starts — said. Sharing a bedroom allowed We also began thinking of he’s gotta read one more story, go to the space benefits that such the bathroom again and get a drink a move would provide. We of water. could use the third bedroom Once the lights go out and my wife as a nice guest room. Or out- and I go downstairs, the late-night fit it as a home office. It could comedy routine begins. I must admit, be a very utilitarian space. it’s better than Conan. Knock-knock So, after mulling the idea jokes are a favorite, even though 99 around a bit — and envisioning percent of them make no sense what- our boys bonding blissfully over soever. Knock-knock. Who’s there? their shared estate — my wife and Pillow. Pillow who? Pillow who drinks I decided that we should orange juice. (Wild laughter ensues.) give it a try. They would Knock-knock. Who’s there? Blanket. share a bedroom. Blanket who? Blanket who drinks “Boys, your mom and orange juice. (More laughter.) I think it would be a great Once the boys finally do fall asleep, idea if you…,” I couldn’t even stranger things happen. When even get the sentence we check on them in the middle of the out of my mouth before night, we’ll find that they’ve switched pandemonium erupted. beds, or one is in bed and the other The kids began jumping is on the floor, or they are in bed up and down and, get this, together stacked up like firewood, hugging.