"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!