Brian Vanderhoff's North Fulton Real Estate Blog

THURSDAY Oct. 30

DRESS UP: Kids up to age 12 can try out their trick-or-treat get-ups a day early and maybe win prizes at Discover Mills Halloween Costume Contest. Free. 5:30 p.m. (registration begins at 4 in the food court). 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville. 678-847-5000; www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=1241

TRUMP TUT: The Boy King and his entourage hit Atlanta next month, and adult tickets are almost $30. But you can see an impressive collection of mummies and other ancient Egyptian relics now at the Michael C. Carlos Museum for just $7 (suggested donation). 571 S Kilgo St. on the Emory University campus. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 404-727-4282; www.carlos.emory.edu

FRIDAY Oct. 31

GO HAUNTING: You know you want some candy. Well, head on over to Glenwood Park’s Halloween Costume Crawl, where children can trick-or-treat at area retailers from 3-5 p.m. then meet in the bocce ball court where a costume winner will be revealed. Adults can party from 7-9 p.m. Free. 3-9 p.m. Glenwood Park, 924 Garrett St. S.E., Suite E, Atlanta. www.glenwoodpark.com

FIND A FEST: There’s sweet stuff to be had at KidsFest in Woodstock City Park, too. There will also be moonwalks, carnival games, pumpkin bowling, apple bobbing, magicians and face painting. 3-7 p.m. Free. Arnold Mill Road at Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock. 770-926-8852; www.woodstockga.gov

GET GOODIES: Trick-or-Treat at Mall of Georgia. Participating merchants offer goodies and sweets to costume-clad children ages 12 and younger. Masks not allowed. 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive, Buford. 678-482-8788; www.mallofgeorgia.com

SATURDAY Nov. 1

GET ARTY: If you live in Fulton County, you can visit the High Museum of Art for free today (or any first Saturday of the month). Fulton County residents who show proof of residency may tour current exhibitions and the permanent collection. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-4444; www.high.org

GET SPOOKED: In Mexico, they call it Dia de los Muertos. On the Day of the Dead (which actually takes place over several days), some believe the spirits of the departed are allowed to visit the living. Young Blood Gallery will celebrate the holiday with the opening of a show of decorative miniature coffins by local and national artists. Free. 7-10 p.m. 636 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta. 404-254-4127; www.youngbloodgallery.com

GET READY: Guess who’s here already? While the Halloween candy is still rumbling in your belly, Santa’s on his way to the Mall of Georgia’s “Santabration.” St. Nick arrives at 3 p.m. in the Village Pavilion. Activities include live entertainment and holiday festivities culminating in the annual tree lighting at dusk and a screening of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Free. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 3333 Buford Drive, Buford. 678-482-8788; www.mallofgeorgia.com

Labels: discover mills, glenwood parks halloween costume crawl, Halloween, Kids, kidsfest, trick or treat mall of georgia

Safety officials announced a recall of 24,000 cribs Thursday and also warned parents against putting their babies to bed with pillows and other soft bedding that could suffocate them.

The 24,000 Indonesian-made cribs were recalled for putting children at risk of falling out. The cribs, imported by Munire Furniture Inc., have improper brackets that don't allow their mattresses to be fully lowered. This could allow children inside the crib to crawl over the railing and fall.

The recall includes the company's Majestic Curved Top, Majestic Flat Top, Essex, Brighton/Sussex and Captiva cribs with various model numbers. The cribs were sold at children's specialty stores between November 2005 and November 2007. No injuries have been reported.

What parents are placing inside their babies' cribs is another concern, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

From 2002 to 2004, 241 children under age 5 died in incidents involving nursery products, the CPSC said. About 40 percent of the deaths involved cribs, with soft bedding cited as the leading contributing factor. Many of the children suffocated when lying face down on pillows or other bedding, the agency said.

"Less is more when you're talking about the crib," CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese said, adding that cribs should be free of adult pillows and blankets, stuffed animals and baby quilts.

To reduce risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome, parents should place babies on their back in a crib that meets current safety standards, the agency said.

Among other incidents of death in cribs, babies became trapped when the mattress was ill-fitting, CPSC said. Old, broken and modified cribs should not be used, and parents should never allow a gap larger than two fingers at any point between the sides of the crib and mattress, the agency advised.

The agency said there were 36 deaths over the same period relating to baby baths and bath seats. All occurred when caregivers left the baby unattended. In many instances, babies slipped out of bath seats, fell out of baby seats or tipped forward or sideways into the water.

At no time, even for a few seconds, should babies be left unattended in the tub, Vallese said.

Deaths involving playpens also were high, with many resulting from the use of soft bedding.

Although CPSC has in recent years issued many crib product recalls, Vallese said there were no related deaths during 2002 through 2004 that involved a recalled product or a product that eventually was recalled.

In 2006, the most recent year in which injury data was collected, CPSC counted about 66,400 emergency injuries linked with nursery products among children under age 5. Infant carriers and cars seats, excluding motor vehicle accidents, accounted for 14,200 injuries and cribs and mattresses 11,300.

The most common injuries in 2006 resulted from falls, and the head was the most frequently injured body part.

For more details on the crib recall, call 866-586-9639 or visit http://www.munirefurniture.com.

Labels: Child, Children, Crib, Faulty Railing, Furniture, Kids, Recall, Recalled

Annual flu vaccinations should be given to all children ages 6 months through 18 years, a federal advisory panel said Wednesday.

The panel's decision represents a call for roughly 30 million more kids to get vaccinated. If heeded, it would prompt one of the largest expansions in flu vaccination coverage in U.S. history.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices panel's advice is routinely adopted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issues vaccination guidelines to doctors and hospitals.

The panel -- and the CDC -- have in the past recommended flu shots for people considered to be at highest risk of death or serious illness from the flu. That list includes children ages 6 months to 5 years of age, adults 50 and older, and people with weakened immune systems.

Kids ages 5 to 18 get flu at higher rates than other age groups, but they don't tend to get as sick from it. Of the 36,000 estimated annual deaths attributed to the flu, only 25 to 50 occur in children in that age bracket, CDC officials said.

But kids who stay home sick from school cause parents to stay home, so reducing the illness in this group should cut down days of lost work in their parents and adult contacts, some experts said.

Experts believe the recommendation may also reduce illness in adults and the elderly, although studies haven't clearly established that will happen.

Labels: CDC, Flu Shots, Kids

Scarecrow Harvest returns to downtown Alpharetta



September 26, 2007Creatures of straw, cloth and other materials will sprout around Historic Downtown Alpharetta as the second annual Scarecrow Harvest begins Monday, Oct. 1

.Students and teachers from local elementary schools spent time designing their own scarecrow creations for the event. The scarecrows will be on display on Main Street (Ga. 9) in downtown Alpharetta for several weeks.

The students in Bobbie Smith's second grade class have one of the scarecrows going on display, and the class spent a recent Friday morning crafting their entry.

The students crafted their scarecrow from straw, mop heads, lace, epaulets and other materials, picking an historical figure as their theme. By the end of the morning, straw was strewn around the classroom, paint was on the floor and on some of the students' clothes. But the second graders took to the task of cleanup as willingly as crafting the scarecrow. While the crafting continued, some of the students spontaneously recited historical facts learned in their class that related to their theme.

The city asked residents and businesses in Alpharetta to display their own scarecrows also.

A family celebration Saturday, Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be part of the Scarecrow Harvest. The Alpharetta Farmer's Market will host the event in the public parking lot beside Old Roswell Street in downtown Alpharetta. The Downtown Alpharetta Trade Association sponsors the farmer's market each Saturday from May through October.



The Scarecrow Harvest event features free hayrides, children's fall crafts, live folk music with High Cotton performing and the announcement of the winning scarecrows. Three classrooms creating the winning scarecrows in the category of "Most Creative," "Best Constructed" and "Best Personality" will each receive a $100 donation by DATA and Colonial Bank.

Barbecue sandwiches offered by Smokejack, A Southern Grill, and fall treats such as caramel apples will be available.

Motorists can find free parking at City Hall and Milton Center (old Milton High School).

Last year, the first year of the Scarecrow Harvest event, some 50 scarecrows from nine elementary schools lined Main Street. Winning 2006 scarecrows included entries such as Jack Spare Crow from Summit Hill Elementary School, Cat in The Hat from Manning Oaks Elementary School and Chef Martha from Alpharetta Elementary School.

For more information, visit www.alpharetta.ga.us or phone 678-297-6000, ext. 1008.

Labels: Holloween, Kids, October, Scarcrow, Trick or Treat