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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, December 2, 2008 Parents' resource fair is agency's swan song By Kristi O'Harran Herald Columnist A worthwhile, upbeat event Saturday will none-the-less remind us of a sad ending. It's the last event organized by the Snohomish County Human Service's Office of Children's Affairs and Prevention. The agency's doors close for good on Jan. 1 due to budget cuts. The closure ends more than 20 years of support to the Children's Commission that resulted in the creation of the Cocoon House Teen Advocate program, Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center, Imagine Children's Museum, Volunteers of America Childcare Resource and Referral, Early Childhood Education and Assistance Programs and more. Before they go, they wanted to do one more thing for families. They've planned a free parent resource fair and conference from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Snohomish Health District, 3020 Rucker Ave., Everett. Learn about teen stress, infant development, teen drug use, scholarships and parenting. "Our speakers are fantastic," said Joe Neigel, a program coordinator. "I'm personally excited about the grandparents raising grandchildren resources presentation, and Detective Lee Malkow's Internet safety presentation." Malkow does a live presentation, he says, posing in a chat room as a 13-year-old girl. "Within just a few minutes, and in front of the audience, she'll start taking questions from adult men and at least one will send a naked picture," Neigel says. "Then she reveals her true identity. It's all pretty shocking, but very needed information." To learn more about the fair schedule, www.wevaluekids.org. The agency is all about serving families, to the end. * * * It's a good thing Icy I-Spy is for kids. Older adults, like me, might have a little trouble with our memory banks. Icy I-Spy is a way to teach children how to pay attention to their surroundings. The game is played by taking a peek at a scene on a memory board. Then the scene is changed and kids report what is different. The game will be presented by the Lynnwood Police Department during the Lynnwood Lights Celebration, set for 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. SW. Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy music, hear stories, watch ice carving and see a puppet show. Please bring food and cash donations for a food drive at the free event. Toys and stuffed animals will be received gladly for the Starlight Starbright Foundation. * * * Let's hope folks are hungry at Deaconess Children's Services in Everett. On Saturday, 4-H members plan to bake 600 holiday cookies in south Everett to deliver to the agency. Lynette Bikos of Mill Creek, a volunteer 4-H leader, says youngsters in a foods and nutrition program will hit the kitchen to learn about doing good deeds in the community. * * * Fun fact: Troy Miller of Mukilteo received a draft notice in the mail at age 18. Then there was the time Miller was assigned to a boy's physical education class. "Two years ago, I got a letter inviting me to enroll in a military academy for young men," Miller says. Troy Miller, 56, a librarian at Picnic Point Elementary School in Edmonds, is a woman. "My dad came up with the name," she says. "He read it in a book and told my mom that was going to be my name. He loved it." Columnist Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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