Anne's Cluster Blog

Over the next few months many of us have to deal with challenging driving conditions in winter weather conditions. For both host families and au pairs it is a good idea to sit down together and review some safe driving tips and make sure everyone is following the same family rules for your household. Here are some suggestions for your discussion:

* Check the weather forecast before any trip and avoid bad conditions whenever possible
* Don’t drive if you are very tired or hungry, you need sleep and nourishment in cold weather
* Remove snow and ice from the vehicle before you drive
* Add the phone number for a road side assistance company such as AAA or a tow truck company to your cell phone and always take your cell phone with you on any trip
* Never talk on the phone or text while you are driving, one second of distraction can cause an accident and it is illegal in many states
* Always keep the gas tank at least half full
* Keep a flashlight, batteries and blanket in the trunk
* Do not use cruise control on slippery road surfaces
* In snow, accelerate and decelerate slowly and leave lots of extra space between vheicles
* If in doubt about driving in bad conditions, stay home and make the most of some family time with the children, try some of our Winter A-Z activities and be safe

Click here for or a complete winter checklist. You can also go here for driving tips from AAA.

Wherever you go this winter, go safely!

Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day, celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, has officially been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863, when during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26.[1] As a federal and popular holiday in the U.S., Thanksgiving is one of the “big six” major holidays of the year (along with Christmas, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day). Together with Christmas and the New Year, Thanksgiving is a part of the broader holiday season.

The event that Americans commonly call the “First Thanksgiving” was celebrated to give thanks to God for guiding them safely to the New World.[2] The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days, providing enough food for 13 Pilgrims and 90 Native Americans.[3] The feast consisted of fish (cod, eels, and bass) and shellfish (clams, lobster, and mussels), wild fowl (ducks, geese, swans, and turkey), venison, berries and fruit, vegetables (peas, pumpkin, beetroot and possibly, wild or cultivated onion), harvest grains (barley and wheat), and the Three Sisters: beans, dried Indian maize or corn, and squash.[2][4][5][6] The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating “thanksgivings”—days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought.[7]

Veterans Day is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world and falls on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.)

National Veterans Day Ceremony

The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery . The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.

Did you know that the first Independence Day celebration took place in Philadelphia in 1776…on July 8th? It is believed that the Liberty Bell was rung on that day, which marked the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. The massive bell weighs in at over one ton! Speaking of national symbols, did you know that if Benjamin Franklin had gotten his way our national bird would be the turkey instead of the bald eagle? Franklin declared that the bald eagle was a “Bird of bad moral Character”, while the turkey was “a Bird of Courage”.

Hot dogs are as much a part of July 4th celebrations as fireworks and parades. Did you know that an estimated 150 million hot dogs are eaten in the U.S. on Independence Day? The hot dogs that everyone wants to know about are the ones eaten at the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. The contest has been held every July 4th since 1916 (except for 1941 and 1971).

The 4th of July celebrations in Washington, DC are among the most attended events of the year and many people arrive early to stake out a seat on the lawn. There are plenty of activities scheduled throughout the day to keep the whole family busy.

Washington, DC’s Independence Day Parade
Parade Start Time: 11:45 a.m.
Parade Route: Constitution Avenue and 7th to 17th Sts.
See a map of the parade route

Washington, DC’s 4th of July Parade features marching bands, military and specialty units, floats, and VIP’s. The parade draws a large crowd, so plan to arrive early to stake out a good viewing spot. Read more about the National Independence Day Parade

Smithsonian Folklife Festival-DON’T MISS THIS FESTIVAL WITH THE COUNTRY OF COLOMBIA BEING FEATURED THIS YEAR!
The annual event includes daily and evening music and dance performances, crafts and cooking demonstrations, storytelling and discussions of cultural issues. The themes of the 2011 program will be: Colombia, Peace Corps and Rhythm and Blues. The hours on the 4th of July are 11 a.m to 5 p.m. Read more about the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

4th of July at the National Archives
The National Archives celebrates the 4th of July with special family programming celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Visit the National Archives Building for this special birthday party from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. See the schedule of events.

White House Visitor Center Family Events
Between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., stop at the White House Visitor Center and enjoy games, crafts and other activities celebrating America’s Birthday. National Park Service rangers and volunteers will give you the opportunity to sample the sights, sounds, activities and personages that helped finalize the Declaration of Independence and create the United States of America on July 4, 1776.

Concert on the Washington Monument Grounds
Beginning at 6:00 p.m. the U.S. Navy Band perfroms on the Southwest corner of the grounds of the Washington Monument. The concert includes the talents of the U.S. Navy Concert Band, the Sea Chanters chorus, and the Cruisers, their rock and top-40 ensemble. That portion ends at 7:30 p.m., to be followed by a vignette by the National Park Service. At 8:00 p.m., the Navy Band Commodores Jazz ensemble will perform. This portion promptly concludes at 9:10 p.m. for the fireworks display.

A Capitol Fourth Concert-You can also attend a rehearsal on Sunday ,July 3rd t 8pm without the huge crowd of the 4th.
Time: 8 – 9:30 p.m. (Admittance begins at 3 p.m.)
Location: West Lawn of the U. S. Capitol

A 4th of July tradition in the nation’s capital includes a live concert by the National Symphony Orchestra and several pop artists performing patriotic music on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building. The concert and show is followed by a spectacular display of fireworks over the Washington Monument. The concert is free and open to the public. No tickets are necessary. The annual event will be broadcast live on WETA TV 26 with a repeat airing at 10:00 p.m. See photos of A Capitol Fourth

4th of July Fireworks on the National Mall
Fireworks Time: At dark, usually around 9:15 p.m. Rain Date: July 5th
Launch Location: The fireworks are launched from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and light up the sky over the Washington Monument. See Photos of the Fireworks

Spectacular views of the national fireworks from Arlington

Popular spots in Arlington to watch the national display are the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima) , and areas along the Virginia side of the Potomac River that can be reached from George Washington Memorial Parkway.

If you plan to watch the fireworks from Iwo Jima, take Metro’s Orange line to the Rosslyn Metro station. Approximate walking distance from Rosslyn Metro to Iwo Jima is 0.2 mile.

To reach the George Washington Memorial Parkway’s Gravely Point parking lot, head south on the Parkway until you reach Reagan National Airport. At the airport, circle back to head north onto the Parkway towards the 14th Street Bridge. About a quarter of mile before the bridge, turn right into the parking area. No glass bottles, alcohol or fireworks are allowed at the Gravely Point parking lot or anywhere along the Parkway.

Another place people can go to watch the fireworks is Gateway Park in Rosslyn and the Key Bridge, which crosses the Potomac River between Georgetown and Arlington. Take Metro’s Orange line to the Rosslyn Metro station. Get there early to grab a spot at the bridge. There’s no seating at the bridge, and you can stand on the sidewalks only.

A great place to watch fireworks is from the Air Force Memorial, located on a hill on Columbia Pike. Closest Metro stations are Pentagon and Pentagon City. You can park at Navy Annex parking lots (enter from Joyce Street or Columbia Pike) or park at Pentagon Mall; be sure to be parked no later than 7:30 p.m.

Traffic alert: a number of streets will be closed on July 4th. Take Metro where possible.

Arlington County residents and visitors are also reminded that:

Alcoholic beverages, grills, and fireworks are prohibited on county and federal parkland during Independence Day events.
Vendors will not be allowed in the area of the Iwo Jima Memorial.
Coolers and backpacks will be subject to search.

Independence Day event attendees are strongly encouraged to use public transportation. The Rosslyn Metro stop on the Orange Line is approximately 5 blocks north of the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the Air Force Memorial is within walking distance of the Pentagon City Metro station.

From AboutTown.com and Arlington Insider

Earth Day April 22

Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment. Earth Day was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970.

For over 40 years, Earth Day has mobilized and motivated people and organizations around the world to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection.

Visit http://www.earthday.org/

REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE

There are many ways to produce less waste:
* Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you throw away and reuse containers and products.
* Recycle as much as possible and buy products with recycled content.
* Practice composting by using microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) to decompose organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings.

REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE

Try this Earth Day Activity with your kids

Egg Cup Insects
Difficulty: Easy
Age: 5 and up

Let your imagination run wild when making these cute little egg cup insects. Kids can use whatever colors they like to create their own fun designs!

What you’ll need:
• Cardboard egg carton
• Scissors
• Paint: colors of your choice
• Chenille stems: colors of your choice
• Craft knife, small scissor, or sharp pencil
• White craft glue
• Medium and large pom-poms
• Wiggle eyes
How to make it:
1. Have an adult cut egg cups out of egg carton and trim clean. Paint in various colors of your choice and let dry.
2. While egg cups are drying, create insect wings by cutting and bending chenille stems into various different shapes.
3. Have an adult use a small scissor, sharp pencil, or craft knife to poke a hole in each side of the egg cup, insert wings into the holes. If you want the wings farther back on the body, poke the holes closer together.
4. Turn egg cup upside down and bend ends of chenille stems against the side of the cup to help hold them in place.
5. Using two large pom-poms for heads or one medium pom-pom for bulging eyes, glue them to the fronts of the egg cups.)
6. Use skinny chenille stems for legs and antennae. Antennae can be glued right to the pom-pom head. Legs can be inserted in the sides of the egg cup in the same fashion as the wings.
7. Glue on wiggle eyes on the pom-poms to complete the face.

Washington’s Birthday in United States
Washington’s Birthday is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of February. It originally honored the life and work of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Now, other presidents are also honored on this day, which is why it is often known as Presidents’ Day.
Please note:The US federal holiday is on the third Monday of February each year, but records show that George Washington’s birthday is on February 22.
What do people do?
Washington’s Birthday officially honors the life and work of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Some people see it as an opportunity to commemorate all past presidents of the United States. Washington’s Birthday is sometimes known as Presidents’ Day. This is because while most states have adopted Washington’s Birthday, some states officially celebrate Presidents’ Day.
Some states pay particular attention to Abraham Lincoln, as his birthday was also in mid-February. In the weeks or days leading up to the holiday, schools often organize events and lessons for students about the presidents of the United States and George Washington in particular. It is a popular day for stores to start their sales.
Public life
Many businesses are open as usual and many stores hold sales on Washington’s Birthday. Many delivery services, except for the Post Office, have a regular service and many, but not all, public transit systems operate on regular schedules. Some schools close for the whole week for a mid-winter recess. According to some government sources, Indiana observes the Washington’s birthday holiday in December.
Background
George Washington was the first president of the United States of America. His first term as president was from 1789 to 1793 and his second term from 1793 to 1797. Before he became president, he played important roles in the military, leading the American Continental Army to victory over the British in 1783. Washington is often seen as the father of the United States and is probably the best known American politician ever.
The likeness and name of George Washington can still be seen in many places in the United States. There is the portrait of him and three other American presidents carved into Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota. His image is also used on the one-dollar bill and the quarter-dollar coin. The capital of the United States, Washington D.C., Washington State and at least three universities are named after him.