Discussions: The Northwest Voice

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Greetings, new Web site users!

So, whether you're here for the first time or have been surfing with us a while, you've probably read some articles, seen some photos and contests and (hopefully!) have enjoyed your time here.

We are citizen journalism, so the content you read on this site is lovingly submitted by people living in a the city of Bakersfield, California, in a small "niche" area we proudly call "the Northwest."

If you live in the Northwest part of Bakersfield, work in it, or if your children go to school in it -- or, if you simply have a story related in some way to people/places/businesses in the Northwest, then WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

To take your first (baby) step into our realm, become an official site user! To create a User ID, click here. It's rather painless and takes only a few seconds. The benefit of becoming a Northwest Voice site user is that you're immediately enrolled in my fabulous, fantastic, enriching, enjoyable club (it isn't really a club) of email receivers.

Twice a month (and more if I have free goodies), you'll get an email from me reminding you of our upcoming deadline. I usually try to let our readers know what's going on in town or what they missed in the last issue. Mainly, it's to keep our readers informed of important goings-on for our paper, The Northwest Voice.

Sometimes we do "theme" issues, where I give one lucky Web site user the opportunity to have his/her photo featured on the COVER of an upcoming issue. However, in order to learn about these opportunities, you MUST BE A WEB SITE USER!

So c'mon in... the water's fine. And I'm here with your life preserver if you ever have any questions.

~Dana Martin, Northwest Voice editor

Blog: NW Bakersfield needs more bike-friendly roads

As an avid bicycle rider, I can’t understand why Bakersfield, especially Northwest Bakersfield, doesn’t have better roads for bicycles. You can’t really ride anywhere without running into a narrow stretch of road or a bike lane so full of broken glass and other junk that you have to ride in traffic lanes just to get around it.

Some drivers aren’t very kind to bicyclists. I’ve been honked at and yelled at while riding down the road. Recently, I had turned onto Verdugo Lane from Holland Street. (I had to use Holland Street to avoid the Calloway Drive and Rosedale Highway intersection on my way home from Action Sports at Calloway Drive and Brimhall Road). On Holland Street, I had to ride away from the side of the street to avoid hitting parked cars. When I turned right onto Verdugo, a young woman in a truck yelled at me, “Get out of the middle of the street!”

Of course, I was pretty ticked off at the lady for saying that. She drove off and I just rode on, thinking if I could have responded to her, I would have said, “Shut up! You try riding a bicycle in nearly 100-degree heat for 10 miles!”

My word to drivers: Give us bicyclists care and respect on the road. We have enough to deal with already. We’re doing you a favor by helping to keep our air clean and reduce dependence on oil. So please do us bicyclists a favor and respect the fact that we’re riding bicycles and that we can’t go 50 mph like you can. By law, we have to be on the street, and you have to share the road with us.

I apologize if I was riding too far out in middle of Holland Street that day. When I ride, I try to respect drivers as best as I can. If I’m at a four-way stop and nobody is coming up behind me, you’ll often see me yield to as many as six cars just because I know they can clear the intersection faster than I can. I use the bike path whenever possible, too. Also, most bicyclists I see are riding on the right side of the road and away from traffic.

There is a pure lack of bike racks here in Bakersfield. Bike racks are places where riders can safely park their bikes and lock them up while at work or patronizing a business. I think most schools have bike racks for students who ride to school. I would like to see more bike racks here.

Want to respond to Bryan’s blog?

Gardening 101: Food for thought

This year at Robby’s Nursery we’ve seen quite an increase in fruit tree and vegetable sales. I guess with a slow economy and people staying home more they want to plant something they can use. Besides, it’s fun and rewarding to go out and pick a tomato or squash for a meal. Homegrown fruits and veggies taste much better than anything you purchase in a store. After all, you can let them vine or tree ripen to perfection and then race the birds for it!

When planning a garden area, pick a place with lots of sun. With the exception of a very few varieties, like blueberries or rhubarb, most garden fruits and veggies want full sun. You can get creative with your layout, everything doesn’t have to go in straight rows. Mix varieties up and pay attention to leaf texture and color like you would in a regular flower bed. Add “yard art” and maybe a bench to sit and enjoy your creation. Bird houses and scarecrows can really help set the stage for an interesting garden. This area is one that can change with each seasonal harvest and can show true holiday appeal.

Mulch the soil well with lots of organic matter before planting. After your garden starts to grow, use an organic fertilizer with trace minerals to fertilize at least once a month. Water fruit and vegetables well when they’re dry, but don’t forget that they hate too much water. Over watering will usually cause flower and/or fruit drop — many times you’ll see lots of leaf growth but no production. Over watering can also cause splitting of fruits and vegetables. You may even want your garden on a separate watering cycle than the rest of the yard.

Remember to place permanent plants, like fruit trees, artichokes and asparagus, in spots where they won’t be disturbed when switching out annual plants. Pots or raised beds are another option for growing food crops. Use a good potting soil that drains well and they will do quite nicely. Pots of herbs are also fun and easy to clip when needed in the kitchen.

Make sure to pick the correct varieties for the season. Like most plants, you need to pay attention to their requirements. Remember, Bakersfield does have “seasons” and your success or failure will depend on the varieties you choose. Our fall will begin mid to late October, so start preparing the beds as your summer harvest winds down. You can definitely start planning that fall garden now, because fall will be here before you know it.

Some cool-season plants are broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, beans, peas and Brussels sprouts. Fruit trees can be planted anytime from containers, and fall is an excellent time to plant all trees. In January, bare root trees will be available, usually arriving at Robby’s mid-month.

Remember, we do have four long growing seasons in Bakersfield, so let’s take advantage of them and grow some tasty treats! It’s fun and oh so yummy!

Reminder: Oct. 11 & 12 — 14th annual fall festival at Robby’s Nursery, 13129 Hageman Road.

Register Now ... Space Limited in Norris District Schools

The Norris School District has full grade levels. On our K-5th elementary school campuses Norris Elementary is full at every grade level. Bimat Elementary is full in four of the six grade levels, Olive Drive Elementary is full in two of the six grade levels and Veterans Elementary is full in one grade level. Even in grade levels that are not completely full, there may only be space for one or two students before becoming full. Late registering students, this includes any students registering right up and through the opening of school, will be assigned to campuses where there is space. It is possible that some students on each school’s attendance rolls will not return and have not informed the school. If space is created in this manner, the earliest registering student gets first shot at the vacancy. If late registrations require adding an additional teacher after school starts, the last registered will be the first moved out to a new classroom.

At the middle school grades, late registration may mean your child does not have an accurate class schedule for the first day of school. The earlier a student is registered the earlier we can get records from the previous school and get a student appropriately placed. Adolescents are nervous enough the first day in a new school without waiting in line to get registered, meet with a Dean, then eventually get a class schedule which may get changed once the student’s records are received.

It is important if you live within the Norris School District boundaries that you register your children as soon as possible (6940 Calloway at the District Office until August 1st).

Parents moving into any school district should always plan on registering early AND let the previous school know you have left.

Local Author Triumphs Over Depression!

I was diagnosed with autism at age fourteen.

I often felt like I was lost in a world that seemed to work so differently than I did, growing up as a child. I had a hard time understanding my fellow human beings, and I often felt misunderstood myself. My fondest sanctuary was in my creativity. I would write stories and draw pictures from my vivid imagination. My characters would become my heroes. I treasured their journeys, difficulties, and victories.

Then came my true personal trials...

At age fourteen I was struck by a grave depression, imparted by a chemical imbalance in my brain. Consequently, everything about me was affected: my interest, my sleep, my strength, and my joy. When I looked at my face in the mirror I saw a side of me I had never dreamed of. My face was bleak, despairing, and decayed.

As I was undergoing my depression, I began writing a book called The Anastasia Project, a fantasy story of a dolphin who awakened in a world where all was bleak. She was lost and abandoned, and the world in which she wandered was under threat of destruction by a deadly machine...

I soon found myself connecting with my main character. Like Anastasia, I was lonesome, despairing...but like her, I also had an unrelenting desire to be happy again one day.

As I wrote, Anastasia taught me that I couldn't give in! In all my pivotal despair, I had to hold onto that small light left in me...

Years later, after being treated with good medicine, my mood improved and I was able to publish The Anastasia Project! The book became a metaphor for my journey through absolute zero, and like Anastasia, I too conquered my fears, my despair, and found my way home...

The Anastasia Project is available at Russo's bookstore at the Marketplace. It is also available through Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com.

Keep home schooling legal

The right to home-school in California is under serious attack, but there are many reasons not to criminalize the homeschooling movement. Here are just a few.

Historical precedent. American history testifies to the reliability of homeschooling to instill patriotism, civic virtue and practical knowledge among young people. From the pilgrims to the founding fathers to our great-grandparents, home education has produced U.S. presidents, Supreme Court justices, inventors, military heroes, etc. More importantly, it has successfully groomed generations of hardworking men and women on whose backs America was built.

Religious conviction. There are homeschooling families, mine included, that believe God has given parents, not public school teachers, the primary task of raising their children. We think this is impossible to do if our kids are under someone else’s instruction most of the day. So I ask: What right has the state to trump our religiously motivated decision to home-school? Whatever happened to the rights of conscientious objectors?

Children’s rights. Liberal activists love to declare one’s right to throw off the chains of tradition to preserve one’s individual liberty. If that is the guiding premise, let’s apply it consistently: Honor the wishes of home schoolers who want to exchange America’s century-old tradition of public schooling for a home education.

Academic results. A National Home Education Research Institute study found that home schoolers outperform public school students by 30 to 37 percentile points in all subjects on standardized tests. Not only that, home-schooled students whose mothers never finished high school scored 55 percentile points higher than public school students in similar circumstances. It’s hard to argue with home schooling's academic track record.

Political freedom. It is unjust for the state to reach into homes, rip children out of secure environments and force them into government-run schools. Our children are not wards of the state, they are our heritage and our responsibility. If the simple right to train up our kids in our homes is denied, is any freedom truly safe?

Leftist politicians often promote diversity among subcultures, but their tolerance turns to hypocrisy when it comes to homeschooling. Everybody else’s “diversity” can be celebrated, but three intolerant judges in L.A. wish to crush the homeschooling community out of existence. Unwittingly, they are following the model of Nazi Germany, which outlawed homeschooling in 1938 for fear that it was creating subcultures disloyal to the State. Communist Russia had done the same in 1919. Communist China followed in 1959. Are these examples worth imitating in California?

To be clear, America’s home-school movement is loyal to our nation. In fact, homeschooling is the very expression of the American values we hold so dear: hard work, self-discipline, love of knowledge, respect for authority, religious expression and a thousand other virtues that have sadly fallen to the wayside in the public school system. Join me in protecting this prized expression of American liberty.

Gardening 101: First smells of spring!

As I walked through the nursery last weekend, I noticed different aromas wafting by. I realized that spring is truly coming. I’m a bit tired of cold days and really tired of cold wind. With some luck we will be saying hello to beautiful spring days from now on! Can I be experiencing the sweet smells of spring right now? I do hope so.

Many plants and flowers combine to create the perfumed air I encounter. I think I can single out some of the most impressive. As I walk through the shade area, I first come to the pink jasmine (Jasminum Polyanthum). This vine likes morning sun and actually has a pink bud opening to a white flower. It has a very strong odor and grabs my attention quickly not to mention the solid blanket of flowers it produces.

Next I pass by the sweet olive. This plant is not an olive at all but an osmanthus fragrans. That name should give you a clue that it is fragrant. This is an evergreen shrub with a very small non-descript flower. Maybe that’s why it’s named as such, so we’ll know it smells good!

Not to be outdone in the smell or name department is the Daphne — Daphne Odora to be exact. Winter Daphne has thick, waxy leaves rimmed in white with beautiful clusters of pink and white flowers. It hates to be over watered and likes some shade. I like to try it in pots. I say try it, because it is a hard plant to grow. If you are successful, what a bouquet it will produce!

Common violets are a good ground cover for shady areas. Be careful, they will multiple, but they are very easy to grow. Otherwise known as “sweet violets” they come in several colors. Pink, white and most commonly purple. Two other shade plants that will soon bloom are evergreen clematis and sarcococca. Neither plant is widely used but both are people stoppers when they’re blooming, generally saying, “What is that smell?” when strolling by.

When walking out into sunny areas of the nursery, I am greeted by some potted bulbs. Most of these were planted in the fall and are now in all their spring glory. Some of the most fragrant fall bulbs are paperwhite narcissus, hyacinths, and freesias. Upcoming will be lilies. Easter lilies are one of many bulbs with flowers springing forth very soon. You can “stagger plant” different varieties of lilies and get a long bloom time.

Who said lilacs won’t grow here? There they are, and in full bud and bloom. The lilacs are even blooming in the smaller one-gallon containers. Lilacs, like many bulbs, require some chill to bloom, and we have just enough here in Bakersfield. Plant in a well-drained, sunny area and fertilize with a bloom enhancer once a month and they do fine. (Prune right after they bloom.)

Walking further into the nursery, I’m hit by too many scents. Is it the bridal wreath spirea, or the yellow Carolina jasmine, or the lavender, or the viburnum? I just can’t tell! As I look around it occurs to me that even more plants are just about ready to start blooming. Roses, citrus and star jasmine are other good smelling bloomers almost ready to go. Thus, the perfume will continue all spring and into summer. What a treat!

I’m always surprised when a customer puts a six-pack of pansies on the counter, they really smell good! I guess since they’re a low grower we don’t smell them as often. If getting down on your knees to smell the flowers isn’t an option, how about a nice hanging pot of beautiful flowers. A good smelly mix for sun would be plants like sweet alyssum, carnations, crocus, stock and the often overlooked pansies. This pot would smell great and look beautiful to boot.

When thinking about the aromas in your garden don’t leave out rosemary, salvia clevelandii, thyme and mint. All these plants have great aroma from their leaves as well as flowers. Plant them where you might brush up against the leaves. Put out some coco mulch on pathways for a chocolate smell and mow your grass.

Oh the sweet smells of spring!

School Zone: Intelligence? So what!

I have a list of topics for future columns that keeps getting longer and longer due to suggestions mostly from teachers, but also from administrators, custodians, food service workers, bus drivers, and even parents. Almost all seem to focus on parent behaviors — but not this month. I’m going to give parents a rest and talk about something parents have little control over, intelligence. I’m also going to give parents a tip on one thing they can give their children that is more important than intelligence, a strong work ethic.

It is one of the great conundrum of democracy and education that all children are not equal when it comes to intelligence. There was a very good summary article in Scientific American, (“The General Intelligence Factor,” November 1998), if you want to read the results from real research. Even in that article the author apologized for what she had to say as if it were unethical to say that higher intelligence allows a person to learn, solve problems and master complexity more easily.

Teachers and even parents have a tendency to think intelligence is destiny. It is not. Intelligence is an advantage that can be wasted. Who are the worst at guessing a child’s intelligence? Hope this doesn’t shock you, but grandparents, parents and teachers are the worst. So what are these people who spend the most time with children they love actually measuring?

They are measuring being successful. Being successful, or as it is sometimes called a teacher pleaser, is a matter of work ethic, proper comportment, paying attention in class, turning things in on time and giving your best effort all the time. This has nothing to do with intelligence. Giving your child a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility can make the most of the hand that biology has dealt.

In a small district where I was superintendent and principal many years ago, there were two teachers at each grade level. Dividing up each cohort between the two teachers for the coming school year was virtually a yearlong guerrilla war. For example, fifth grade teachers would scout fourth grade students early in the year and start lobbying some parents to “request me.”

So I made each grade level fill out a card (yes, pink for girls and blue for boys — these were internal documents that helped me to balance class gender, so get over it) that rated students on a three-point scale in math, reading, writing, behavior, completing homework, positive parental support for the student, intelligence (back before the California banned IQ testing except in a few narrow areas) and about 10 other categories.

My plan was that if teacher A was requested by a parent (we had another form the parent completed for that) to be in her room, then teacher B could pick a similar student profile from the pile. In this way classes would be evenly split with high, medium and low performing students.

In implementing this procedure I noticed something. The teacher drawing from the pile would glance at the card, not reading it. There was a ton of information on the card so what were they looking for? I guessed intelligence. Nope. They only looked at it for the categories “if the child completed his homework” and “had parents that supported and helped their child in a positive manner.” Upon inquiry I was told, “Who wants a pain in the butt genius that never completes his work and has a parent always talking about how smart but bored their kid is but the kid never accomplishes anything?”

Intelligence is a “So what?” factor. By that I mean you and the school have virtually no control over what biology has already decided. However, we do have some control over how to raise the child to work with the hand they were dealt. A child who is in class every day, trying hard, completing homework and is supported by parents dedicated to getting every last ounce out of their child’s abilities is a treasure. Studies generally find that to graduate from college a student needs an average IQ of about 115 (an average IQ is 100). An IQ score of 115 is well above average and might partially explain why only about 25 percent of high school graduates complete college. However, it doesn’t explain why some students with a testable IQ of 89 complete college. I know many wonderful kids like that. They didn’t get straight As in college but they were in class every day, well organized, never late with an assignment and had a strong work ethic — oh yeah, and a supportive family.

The essence of good parenting is getting the most out of your child’s abilities and interests in a manner that is positive and looks for success in life. Unless you want your adult children living with you, attend to holding your child responsible for their work ethic. Future employers don’t want to know how bright your child is. They want to know if the job they are paying for is going to get done.

Fitness Corner: Hormonal weight gain - managing the midlife bloat

You’re not imagining the weight gain. Even though you swear you’re not eating any differently, the pounds keep on coming. According to the University of California, San Francisco Women’s Mood Hormone Clinic, our brains are changing as you enter perimenopause. It becomes less sensitive to estrogen, and this of course, can trigger a downrush of symptoms ranging from hot flashes, fatigue, depression, to changing libido. Unfortunately, we can add raging hunger to the list.

Estrogen affects your brain’s level of serotonin, the feel-good hormone. It also affects dopaminine, norepinephrine and acetylcholine, which are neurotransmitter that control eating, mood and memory. While you cannot control what your bodies are going through, we can, however, ease the symptoms of perimenopause by changing and/or modifying your diet. Changing your diet can also affect your sleeping patterns.

Sleep is interrupted at a higher rate during this time of our life. It could be a hot flash (or two!) or just plain nighttime awakening. Make sure you eat a proper breakfast as this can set the whole day in a manageable mood. Don’t reach for the sugar and caffeine combo. They just increase your hunger pangs and will set the tone for the day with more eating disasters to follow. Make sure to have some fruit, protein and carbs to start off your day on the right foot by a balanced breakfast and of course, exercise.

Exercising leads to muscles being fit and active. A perimenopausal body just plain functions better if you exercise it, because feel-good chemicals called endorphins will travel to your brain and signal feel-good emotions for at least a couple of hours. Think of taking a brisk walk with clean air, laughing and having no cares in the world — that is what endorphins can do for you

Mid morning snack attack: OK, so you have eaten a healthy breakfast, and went to your aerobic class. Oh no — on the way home from the gym, you really want that donut and cappuccino, but you were thinking ahead: you put low fat string cheese and a high fiber energy bar in your purse. Down it with a bottle of water and you’re good to go.

Lunch is approaching: Can you wait until noon? You really don’t think so. Feeling tired and irritable can stimulate cravings for sweets and comfort foods. It is so easy to gain weight in our mid 40s because of all of these hormonal changes. To curb your appetite and lift your mood, eat five to six high protein meals per day. Your blood sugar level will stay even, thus eliminating that high followed by that infamous low feeling. Make sure to eat the meals approximately at the same time each day. Don’t be afraid to eat when your hungry, just eat the right combinations and your cravings will diminish. I like the 55 percent carbohydrate, 30 percent protein, and 15 percent fat rule. A mistake most of us have made is cutting carbohydrates from our food groups, but cutting complex carbohydrates (whole grains, brown rice, wheat pasta, and high fiber vegetables) actually makes us sad, depressed and even crankier so we defeat the purpose and this tells our brain we are craving sugar again. Break that cycle! Fill up on low-cal fruits and vegetables with cottage cheese, yogurt, and some lean slices of turkey and you’re good to go until dinner time — well, maybe.

Mid afternoon: Whether at work or home, 3:30 p.m. is just an odd time. I know it’s 5:30 p.m. somewhere, but we must hang in there. You’ve done great all day, so here is some help getting to dinner time. Grab that spicy vegetable juice from the fridge, another piece of string cheese and some fruit. I promise you can break that “I need a some chocolate and soda right about now feeling.” Warning: Even diet sodas, with artificial sweeteners seem to switch on appetite the same way sugar does.

Dinner time has arrived: You’ve fought back all day and won! You’re actually not too hungry, or should I say you have it under control. How about some protein from a different source, say salmon, halibut or an egg white omelet for dinner? Have some broccoli, a salad. You want dessert don’t you? Well, I think you deserve some, but ask yourself this question while your having your dessert: Are you enjoying this bite as much as the first one. If not then stop!

The perimenopausal brain operates best on a schedule. Going to bed and getting up at the same time not only helps train you to sleep when you should, it provides the most available energy to your brain. It will help control weight gain by controlling appetite levels. Remember, when you’re tired you’re less apt to make better food choices, and exercising at least 30 minutes per day helps immensely.
Other tips for perimenopausal weight gain:

Keep alcohol levels to one drink per day. Limit white sugar and refined carbs (cookies, cakes, pies) as this just tells your brain to tell your stomach you want more. Drink plenty of water. Exercise on a daily basis, 30 minutes or more. It helps curb appetite and help your blood sugar stay level. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time. And don’t wait to have dessert! That’s right - eat dessert right after a meal. If you’ve eaten carbs, protein and a little fat, you’ve slowed your digestion down. This combo in your system will dampen the insulin impact of a sugary dessert.

Here is recipe for a great start to any day. Its perfectly ok to have this as a snack as well:

Gina’s Blueberry Smoothie
• 1 cup non-fat milk (soy is good too!)
• 1⁄4 cup unfiltered apple juice
• 1⁄4 cup blueberries (frozen are great for this recipe!)
• 1⁄2 banana (loaded with potassium)
• 2 teaspoons ground flax seed
• 1 tablespoon old fashioned oats
• 1⁄2 container any flavor yogurt, preferably less than 10 grams of sugar per serving
Blend together for approximately 30 to 45 seconds. Enjoy!

Questions? Comments? Send Gina e-mail at: Fitness4life5959@yahoo.com

Welcome new bloggers, Rusty Shoop and TSimpson!

What is a blog?

"A frequently updated journal or diary usually, often hosted by a third party (that's us, The Northwest Voice)."

The purpose? There are many. Share your recipes (I will try them, I swear!), share stories, even share your creative writing! Write what's on your mind today. Possible blog topics:

The upcoming presidential election
Spring break plans
School fund raiser events (excellent topic... let us all know where you are and when it is!)
Funny pet stories

Blogging is a relaxed manner of writing that doesn't need to be perfect. It's an online diary where you can share your voice within the community where you live.

Scroll down below and look on the left-hand side in a column---there are our community blogs. You never know what you'll find there. Check it out.

It doesn't have to be perfect or even newsworthy -- sometimes you just need to vent.

Blogging is great because it invites dialog. Rusty Shoop is going to start a blog on his faith, his favorite scriptures, and his thoughts. You can comment his blog or, if something he writes about triggers a memory or a thought, you can even start your own blog off the same topic.

Give it a try. Blog today! To create a blog (or online journal), go to "post something" and then click "blog." It's that easy. Give it a try...let's chat!

~Dana

What's going on with Northwest schools???

I don't know if anyone has heard the same rumors, but one Voice user and Northwest resident has heard some pretty disheartening news. We hope it's not true!

Scroll below to read kristimc's blog entry and feel free to offer any information you have.

You will need to create a user name to reply, but your replies can remain anonymous if you choose to post them anonymously.

Wow!!! Formal photos!

After publishing so many Centennial and Liberty High School winter formal photos in our last issue, we put out a call for students from Frontier and North High Schools to share their photos, too.

WOW! And the Frontier students are answering with a vengeance!

Check out all the photos submitted by Frontier formal attendees, and I have a feeling that there's still more to come!!!!

Do you think they will post more than Centennial's students did?

North Hiiiiiiigh.... where are youuuuu???? Red, Gray, Stars....huh?

Bakersfield Christian...ROCK ON!

Liberty High School...more gorgeous photos!

You guys are killing me!!!! What a FABULOUS issue this will be!

What do you think about this week's education column?

In this week's School Zone education column by Ernie Zarra, some issues revolving around the issue of cheating are brought up. Zarra contends that today's students are more willing to engage in unethical behavior than students were a decade ago.

What do you think? Is cheating a big issue? Are today's students any different than students of the past? Read Zarra's column and then join the discussion here.

We'd love to hear your opinion and we may include portions of the debate in the next print edition.

College decision time

At this time, many high school seniors have sent out applications to universities across the nation, maybe even closer to home.

Where is your student hoping to attend? What does your student want to study?

Any news on acceptance?

Share your college questions and comments here.

What are your holiday plans?

How does the family celebrate the holiday season? Share your photos! Tell us your traditions.