Feel the Excitement

Just wondering how many exclamation points and smiley faces have been used in this blog. I'm guessing the number is in the thousands. I'm trying really hard not to use any right now. Just really excited about the park becoming a reality.


Oh, heck with it....


!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Silent Auction Update

OK - next showing of our OVER 70 BASKETS (!!!) is at the Hot Peas 'N Butter concert on November 12th. This is a fabulous group that entertains all ages, so bring the kids! The auction will end on November 28th at the Portage Lake District Library, where the baskets will be displayed from 10 am to 2 pm. There will be "mocktails" and "snackatizers", to make it a true highbrow experience ;). Check out the list of baskets to be auctioned off in the sidebar....

Renovations have begun on the site. Walls are being torn down, and things are moving forward at a very exciting rate! We're still on track to open in January! WOOOOO doggy.

WANTED/NEEDED:

Hello all you generous people....

We are in the "transformation" stage of the park now, and are getting ready turn a few square rooms into the great outdoors. In order to do that, we are in need of paint.... all colors. Does anyone have any excess wall paint that they'd be willing to donate? You know, that last little bit left over from painting junior's room? We'll take it! Whatever you've got! Browns, greens, reds, purples, blacks, grays... whatever. We are NOT picky ;). If you have any that you could spare for a good cause, please email me at monicaaho@gmail.com, and I will arrange to come and pick it up!

Fall Into Winter Preschool Family Fun Day

And fun was had by all! What a great way to spend a drizzly Saturday! We had an amazing turnout at Houghton Highschool... lots of games and crafts, lots of good food, and lots and lots of kiddos! Special thanks to Angela Campioni for organizing, and the MOMS club for running the bake sale. Trish Goggin deserves a high-five for organizing our "Greek" volunteers. Jason Cattalino was our very "patient" juggler (see last video below) and we so appreciate his willingness to do, well, just about anything to entertain the kids. Adam Johnson and Rebecca from Brockit Photography was gracious enough to document the event for us. Check this link http://www.brockit.com/ to see if there's pictures of YOUR child enjoying the day! Thank you to each and every one of the volunteers (and to their FAMILIES for letting us borrow them!) THANK YOU! :).

Our Treehouse!!!

Is this not adorable?????? SOOOOO excited! Our treehouse!! I feel like this is the ultrasound picture of our baby - our first glimpse of THE treehouse. AWWWWWW. It's so cute! :)

Be listening....

Cathy and Jess will be on WMPL radio at 8 am on Sunday morning, talking with Dick Storm about the Treehouse. Tune in to find out more about the park! Are ya'll handing out autographs, Cathy and Jessica? You're getting to be very "seasoned" media personalities!

Silent Auction Sneak Peek

Here's a sneak peek of some of the auction items that you.... yes YOU.... can bid on to support the Treehouse!

Call the KFRC at 906-482-9363 if you see something you like. It's for a REAAAALLLLYYY good cause, so give yourself a pat on the back for bidding! Auction items will be displayed live and in person at the Fall into Winter Family Fun Day this weekend (see sidebar for details), the Hot Peas 'N Butter Concert on November 12th, and at various craft and artists sales throughout November. Details to follow.

Silent Auction

The "goodies" are being prepared for the silent auction, and it sounds like some very very cool stuff. Get ready to do your Christmas Shopping at the Treehouse this year ;). Thanks again to Stef Cook and Amy Negro for wrapping everything up for us. Be checking back to the blog soon for a sneak peak at what's available!

The Magic Blog

This appears to be a "Magic Blog", wherein I throw out whatever we need for the park, and "SHAZAM!" Some wonderful member of our community comes forward with exactly the right thing. Need a water bed mattress? A frog-making chainsaw artist? Someone with paper-mache bug talent? No matter how obscure or strange our request, you wonderful people have stepped up and met the park's needs. I'm going to try it one more time....

Anyone out there have a sewing machine and the skills to do upholstery? We need a cover for our LilyPond. We'll be using some heavy duty fabric to make it one tough lily pad...
If this is YOU or someone you know, please contact me at www.monicaaho@gmail.com.

BIBBITY BOBBITY BOO!! :)

Kids Crooked House

Here's a little video to introduce you all to the company that's going to make our treehouse! We're very excited to be working with these very talented people!

Survey

Hey everyone - we need your input! Click on this link, print out the survey, and mail it back to the KFRC at 203 E Montezuma Ave Houghton MI 49931. Or email it back to aziemnick@kfrckids.org

http://www.kfrckids.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/the-tree-house-survey-questions.pdf

Tell your friends to fill it out too!! Let us know what YOU need for your kids!

Resolution from the City of Houghton

This resolution was unanimously passed last night at the City of Houghton! Good good news!

CITY OF HOUGHTON

RESOLUTION 2009-1281


The following was offered by Councilor:

WHEREAS, the City of Houghton recognizes the essential importance of play and physical activity to the health of children, and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that 22 percent of our preschool children are overweight, compared to 14 percent of 2-5 year olds nationally. Being overweight or obese increases the risks of developing chronic and debilitating illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. Long-term studies have shown that overweight children are more likely to become overweight adults.

WHEREAS, there are nearly 3,000 children age 0-5 in the Greater Houghton area, and

WHEREAS, the Keweenaw Peninsula regularly receives in excess of 200 inches of snowfall each year, and

WHEREAS, there are no indoor facilities that provide open play opportunities for exercise, gross or sensorimotor development of all children, or that facilitate interactions between parents and children within a minimum of 2 hours of Houghton, and

WHEREAS, a need has been identified for an indoor playground as well as a centralized location for information for all matters pertaining to families and parenting, and

WHEREAS, the Winter Park Task Force and the Keweenaw Family Resource Center (KFRC), an organization that has supported, enriched, and strengthened family lives in the Keweenaw Peninsula for nearly 20 years, have come together to plan, design and raise the funds necessary for “The Treehouse: A KFRC Indoor Playground” to respond to this critical need in our area, and

WHEREAS, Mayor Robert Backon, and the Houghton City Council wish to make it known that they fully support the efforts of citizens to bring an indoor playground to the City of Houghton.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Houghton City Council, at a regularly scheduled meeting held on Monday, October 12, 2009 at 5:30 PM at the City Offices, 616 Shelden Avenue, Houghton:

That the Houghton City Council authorizes the City Manager, or designate, to assist the Treehouse indoor playground, when feasible, in future grant applications.

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of the resolution enacted by the Houghton City Council at an official meeting held on October 12, 2009.



_____________________________
Kurt Kuure, Clerk

"In Our Dreams" List

We have tried very hard to be good stewards of our budget, and get as much "bang for the buck" as possible. One of the components we really wanted to include was a roller slide into the crash pit. Our first choice (the picture above) was out of our budget, so we decided on a second choice, which was a cheaper "therapy model", but requires direct supervision. Our safety guy (not a fun job, but he's very good at it, and we all trust his judgement!) had concerns about pinched little fingers and strangulation hazards when drawstrings get caught, so we're having to go with a standard, plain old slide. The slide we REALLY wanted is from Landscape Structures International, and would be plenty "safe", but is $5000. So I'm throwing it out there to the winds, just in case there's someone out there who really wants to help us go the extra mile and would love to buy us a really really cool roller slide, so the kids would have something safe, but loads funner than a plain old slide. So I'm officially starting the "in our dreams" list, and the roller slide is the charter member;) .

Speaking Of Kids

The MOMS Club of the Copper Country will host Joseph DellaValla, MD, FACP, as he presents a sleep medicine primer for parents. Topics will include thebasics of normal sleep, getting kids to sleep, keeping them asleep,sleepwalking, night terrors and pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. October 15, 10:30am - 11:30am at Grace United Methodist Church in Houghton, 201 Isle Royale St, Houghton. All are welcome (including children) so please bring a friend! Contact: Jessica DellaValla, 906-281-1353 or jess.dellavalla@charter.net. For more information about the MOMS Club of the Copper Country Contact Amy Evans, (906) 523-5342 or (906) 370-9615, goker7@hotmail.com.

Hi Tech Treehouse

The Treehouse now has a Facebook group. Show your support for the project by joining us! Invite all your Facebook Friends!

Upcoming Events

Want to know more about our little park? Join Cathy Benda (Director, KFRC) and Jessica DellaValla (Chair, Friends of WinterPark) for an Introduction to The Treehouse Indoor Playground Thursday October 15th at the Portage Lake District Library. 6:30 p.m. All are welcome and snacks will be provided!

Cathy and Jess have been making the rounds, drumming up community support. Kiwanis, Rotary, Moms groups. They are going anywhere there is a willing ear to listen:) On Monday, October 12th, at 5:30 pm, they'll be speaking at the Houghton City Council meeting to answer further questions and to seek support for the playground.

You GO guys!!!

Fall Into Winter Preschool Family Fun Day and Silent Auction

Mark October 24th off on your calendars, pack up the kids, and join us at the Houghton Highschool Multi-purpose room from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm for a really great time! Please see the flyer in the side-bar for all the fun details! There will be a photographer to get family photos or individual pictures of your kids! Decorate a cookie, make a craft, play a game...etc There will be a silent auction with some great items to come and check out! The auction items will also be displayed at the Hot Peas 'N Butter Concert at the Rosza Center on November 12th, with auctions ending later in November. You might want to come early if you didn't get a chance to check out the auction at the Fall Into Winter Preschool Family Fun Day! Hot Peas 'N Butter are winners of the "Parents Choice Award", they are a unique children's musical group infused with traditional Latin music, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, jazz, folk, and rock. They have developed a distinct way of inspiring care and creativity in kids and adults alike.

contact Angela Campioni with questions! angelasmassage@gmail.com.

October Update from Jessica

Greetings!
Great News! Winter Park will become a reality! The Keweenaw Family Resource Center has signed a lease. Winter Park will be located in Red Ridge Plaza next to Hairsmiths on Sharon Avenue in Houghton. The Task Force is now very busy planning and designing this playground. Check out the blog at http://houghtonwinterpark.blogspot.com/ for almost daily updates!
Monica Aho, the Chair of the Design committee continues to meet weekly at the site planning and designing everything from play structures to artwork for the walls. In addition to the engineers, interior designers, parents and therapists that she has recruited, Monica has enlisted the help of Professor Rick Loduha and about 20 of his students from Finlandia’s School of Design. It is a very exciting and inspiring experience to watch these talents at work. If you are interested in joining the design committee, please contact committee chair Monica Aho at monicaaho@gmail.com. All are welcome!
Winter Park will have a new name when it opens! It will be called The Treehouse. Dave Olsson of The Upper Peninsula Marketing Department has generously donated his time and talents to lead the branding and marketing plans for Winter Park. Thank you, Dave!
We have some exciting events coming up. Angela Campioni is chairing the “Winter Warm-Up” family fun event, to be held OCTOBER 24th at HOUGHTON HIGH SCHOOL from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Contact Angela at acampioni@chartermi.net. In addition to entertainment and food, we are hosting the preview of our silent auction, which will include items like a Nintendo Wii, many baskets of clothes and accessories for kids and their families, and even a piece of jewelry from Tiffany & Co.!
We will also be at the Rozsa Center on November 12th before and after the Hot Peas and Butter Concert.
On October 15th we’ll be speaking at the Portage Lake District Library at 6:30 pm. After an overview of the project and a brief update on our latest progress, we’ll be answering questions and taking suggestions. All are welcome and snacks will be provided!
We are working on the end date for our auction and plan for it to be in late November. Stay tuned for an update soon.
You may have also heard that the KFRC received a donation of three 1-carat diamonds to auction off. That is true. And they are beautiful! If you know anyone who would like to make an engagement ring, a pair of earrings, or anything else that sparkles, please pass on our information. We’re accepting offers. All three diamonds come with a formal appraisal and every penny of the purchase price will go to charity. Call Jessica (that’s me) at 281-1353 if you want to know more about the diamonds (cut, color, etc.)
Ruth Gill is chairing the grants committee and she has already helped identify several very promising grants. To volunteer with Ruth, please contact her at ruthphilippagill@hotmail.com.
If you do not have time to donate but still wish to be supportive of this very worthwhile project, please consider making a donation of money. No amount is too small and every bit will help. This is a concrete, finite project and you will see exactly where your donation goes. We are working on formal donation guidelines but there are many ways for donors to be recognized within the space and the community. Please call Cathy Benda at 482-9363 or me at 281-1353 to make a donation.If you have any questions about this project or just want an update on our progress between e-mails, please call me anytime. There are so many exciting things happening, I would love to talk with you about them.
Thanks again for supporting the KFRC and Winter Park and I hope to see you at The Treehouse soon!

Jessica DellaVallaChair, Friends of Winter Park

Status Update

OK. For the most part, the design phase of the project is complete. Thank you Design Committee!!!! You all are awesome!!! We're now busy assigning projects. We're also getting very close to finishing up with Kids Crooked House to build the main playstructure. How exciting is THAT??? We still have a few projects that need "creators". Most notably: we need someone handy with lumber and hammer to build us our lilypond and crash pit box. Both of these will be essentially "wooden boxes", so I wouldn't imagine they'd be especially difficult (although I'm far from a carpenter, so what do I know????) Also need someone to make us our Lateral Climbing Wall. Do you fit this bill? Know someone else who does? Send them our way! Again, I can be contacted at monicaaho@gmail.com. Thanks to everyone who's stepped forward already to help with constructing various pieces. We've gotten just a tremendous response. Renovations on the space will be completed by Chris Raasio Construction in the very near future. Does anyone else feel like Christmas Eve waiting for Santa? Probably not. But still. Very exciting. Stay tuned for more updates!