SanTan Sun 01-03-15: STFF by Times Media Group

Kids and energy drinks: A potentially dangerous combination

By Alison Stanton

Like many parents, Renee Gerber shuttles her three kids between various sports-related activities.

To prep for the athletic events, Gerber’s 16-year-old son Brady, and daughters, Regan, 12, and Reese, 9, munch on healthy snacks or down bottles of water. She doesn’t allow them, however, to consume energy drinks.

“My kids never even ask for them because I have made it very clear to them that they do not need them and that I do not think that they are good for your body,” Gerber says.

The National Institutes of Health quotes a study that found 28 percent of 12- to 14-year-old kids, 31 percent of 12- to 17-year-old students, and 34 percent of 18- to 24-year-old young adults reported regularly consuming energy drinks. A few studies have been also conducted that focus on deaths directly related to energy drinks, according to the NIH.

Dr. Rick Singh, area medical director for the East Valley NextCare urgent care clinics, says he applauds parents like Gerber. Singh, who practices in Chandler, says the risks of energy drinks far outweigh any potential benefits. He says the combination of high doses of caffeine plus herbal ingredients can cause kids and teenagers to suffer from cardiovascular-related side effects like heart palpitations.

Singh says he recently read a study that found that in a three-year period, more than 40 percent of poison control centers across the country got calls about kids younger than age 6 having a negative reaction to energy drinks that they found in the home and unintentionally consumed.

“The calls were about caffeine and its side effects, as well as possible neurological symptoms like seizures,” he says.

Cardiovascular issues could potentially lead to death, Singh adds.

“Parents of kids who are less than 6 years old should keep energy drinks away from them and store them up high on a shelf like they would bleach or medications,” he says.

The herbal ingredients found in most energy drinks are also a concern, Singh says.

“They contain herbal products that were not really well-studied either, and when incorporating these ingredients along with caffeine, you can get even more side effects.”

In addition to cardiovascular symptoms, Singh says teens who consume an excessive amount of caffeine can have problems with sleeping, acid reflux and gastritis.

These issues are so commonplace that Singh asks the parents of patients with sleeping issues if they are consuming energy drinks.

Singh is also concerned about the dangers of caffeine powder products, which he says, has the equivalent of 20 cups of coffee. They have been linked to death, too.

had a negative impact on her adult son. Like Gerber, she will not allow her younger children to drink them.

“It’s just way too much caffeine ingested in a short amount of time. Then their heart rates get too fast, their hands get shaky and they get nauseous, and then they have a caffeine crash,” she says. In addition to healthy snacks, Gerber says if her kids complain about being low on energy before a game or competition, she suggests that they take a short “power nap.”

“Brady and Regan also listen to music prior to anything. They usually listen to something upbeat that gets them motivated and that picks them up.”

Alison Stanton is a freelance writer who lives in the East Valley. She can be reached at alison@santansun.com.

Old-fashioned hydration is the healthiest and most effective way to boost energy levels. Water and Gatorade are ideal choices, he says.

“Being hydrated will give them more of an energy boost, so we have to teach kids how to replenish their fluids after a workout,” he says.

Proper nutrition and sleep are also extremely important.

Debi Duvall, a group leader at Weight Watchers Kiowa Village in Gilbert, says she has seen for herself how energy drinks as well as caffeine have

Resources

• www.kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_center/ healthy_eating/power_drinks.html

• www.cbsnews.com/news/kids-and-energydrinks-a-dangerous-mix/

• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC3065144/

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Meet the Creature, 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Children will get up close and personal with live animals while receiving a fun lesson in wildlife rescue and conservation. Environmental Education Center at Veterans Oasis Park, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $6 to $9. Registration required. (480) 782-2890, https://activenet011.active.com/ chandleraz/.

3, 4

Zoppé Family Circus, various times. Entertaining audiences since 1824, this circus is full of acrobatic feats, canine capers, equestrian showmanship and plenty of audience participation. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. $15 to $40. (480) 782-2680, www.chandlercenter.org.

3 Family Birdwalks, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Desert Rivers Audubon leads free-guided bird watching tours through Veterans Oasis Park. One-hour walks begin every 30 minutes. Environmental Education Center at Veterans Oasis Park, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. Free. Registration required. Call in advance for groups of 10 or more. (480) 782-2890, www.chandleraz.gov.

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Makutu’s Island, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Just before kids head back to school for the week, enjoy an afternoon at Makutu’s Island. Makutu’s Island, 6919 W. Ray Rd., Chandler. $10. (480) 344-3740, www.makutusisland.com.

5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30

Tumbleweed Tots, 12:30 p.m.

This indoor play area is designed for children ages 5 and younger to play under parental/guardian supervision. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $2 to $3. Fee included in all TRC family passes. Registration required. (480) 782-2900, www.chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29

Tumbleweed Tumbling Tots, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This indoor play area is designed for children 5 and younger to play under parental/guardian supervision.

This fun, safe and clean area will have plenty of toys, equipment and activities that are sure to keep the kids entertained. There is a maximum of four children per adult. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $2 to $3. Registration required. (480) 7822900, www.chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

LEGO Club, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The library supplies the LEGO sets, you supply the imagination. Ages 5 to 12.

Sunset Library Monsoon Room, 4930 W. Ray Rd., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800, www.chandlerlibrary.org.

6 LEGO Store Monthly Mini Model Build, 5 p.m. Visit the Chandler Fashion Center LEGO Store to build an alien and space dog. Ages 6 to 14. LEGO Store, Chandler Fashion Center, 3111 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. Free while supplies last. (480) 899-0228.

7, 14, 21, 28

STEAM, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Explore science, technology, engineering, art and math through interactive and exciting activities. Ages 6 to 11.

Sunset Library Monsoon Room, 4930 W. Ray Rd., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800, www.chandlerlibrary.org.

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Family Night at the TRC, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Enjoy a variety of different recreational activities and entertainment. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $2 to $5. Registration required. For more information contact Michael Fenzel, (480) 782-2908. www.chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

8, 15, 22, 29

Teen Create-Space, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Enjoy an open, create-friendly environment where teens are invited to create projects like crochet, coding, duct tape art, 3-D printing/3-D pen doodling and more. Ages 12 to 18. Sunset Library Monsoon Room, 4930 W. Ray Rd., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800, www.chandlerlibrary.org.

Discovering Outer Space, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. An introduction to astronomy, led by an amateur astrophysicist. The group will take a walk through Veterans Oasis Park and explore the vast solar system. The class will conclude with a telescope viewing of the night sky. Environmental Education Center at Veterans Oasis Park, 4050 E Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $6 to $9. Registration required. https://activenet011.active.com/ chandleraz/

Teen Talent Competition, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Watch students between the ages of 13 and 18 sing, dance, rap or play an instrument during the 11th annual Teen Talen Competition. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Call for admission charge. (480) 782-2746.

Science Saturday: Play with Your Food! 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Science meets the dinner table. Enjoy science experiments with the whole family.

Tumbleweed Ranch, Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Rd., Chandler. Call for fee. Registration required. (480) 782-2874. www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx? pageid=998

Create-Play-Learn. 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Toddlers have the opportunity to engage in exploratory play. Using blocks and art materials, children are encouraged to be creative and experiment. For toddlers 18 to 36 months. Sunset Library Monsoon Room, 4930 W. Ray Rd., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800.

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Rhythm & Rhyme, 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Bring your energy for dancing, singing and playing instruments to favorite children’s songs. Ages birth through 5. Sunset Library Monsoon Room, 4930 W. Ray Rd., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800, www.chandlerlibrary.org.

Vertex: Maker Days, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Discover interactive centers and hands-on activities for the whole family Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Dr., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800.

Musicology: Mini Mozarts, 10:30 a.m. to 11:25 a.m., Musicology presents a program appropriate for children ages 15 months to 24 months only. Registration is required. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800.

Musicology: Baby Beats, 11:30 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. Musicology brings the joy of music to you and your children. Learn simple tricks to help your child become a lifelong music lover. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave. Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800.

Musicology: Beethoven, 12:30 p.m. to 1:25 p.m. Listen to the wonders of Beethoven’s creations, and learn some tricks to help your child become a lifelong music lover. This class is for ages 2 to 3 only. Registration is required and space is limited. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800.

Teen Create Space: Ben Franklin’s Birthday, 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Come celebrate the birth of one of the United States’ greatest inventors. The group will play “Minute to Win It”type games based on Franklin’s adventures. Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Dr., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800.

Chandler Art Walk, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Browse the different types of art made available by talented artists. Downtown Chandler, 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Free. (480) 855-3539, www.chandlerartwalk.com.

Bug Zoo, 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Explore a real, live collection of bugs with a certified entomologist. Learn about beneficial bugs, such as butterflies, lady bugs and bees. Children will receive a free activity book. Environmental Education Center at Veterans Oasis Park, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $3 to $5 registration fee. (480) 782-2890, www.chandleraz.gov/eec.

Multicultural Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Spend a fun-filled day of art, music and dance, while learning a little more about the rich cultural diversity of Chandler. Downtown Library Plaza. Free. (480) 782-2669, www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx? pageid=157.

African Children’s Choir, 3 p.m., The African Children’s Choir is composed of African children, aged 7 to 10 years old. Many have lost one or both parents through the devastation of war, famine and disease. The program features well-loved children’s songs, hand clapping, traditional spirituals and contemporary tunes. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. $28 to $42. (480) 782-2680, www.chandlercenter.org.

C-Town Suitcase Club, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Travel through time and explore everyday objects. Designed for 3- to 5-year-old children and their caregivers. Chandler Museum, McCullough-Price House, 300 S. Chandler Village Dr., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2717, www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx? pageid=998.

See Calendar, Page 5

Parks and Rec offers activities for all ages

By Meghan McCoy

Chandler Parks and Recreation

Department has an assortment of events and classes for residents that begin in January and continue through the spring for individuals of all ages.

Brooke Peterson, Chandler Parks and Recreation marketing and communications coordinator, says her department has something going on just about every day.

A few events geared toward teens will kick off the New Year. The 11th annual Teen Talent Competition will be held at the Chandler Center for the Arts from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9. It features 23 acts ranging in age from 12 to 17 showcasing all forms of entertainment. Tickets are $5.

“It will be quite the night,” Peterson says.

A free pre-Super Bowl Party will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, for teenagers who present their student ID. Peterson says the Tumbleweed Recreation Center event will include door prizes, games and food.

The Tumbleweed Recreation Center also hosts a family night from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of the month. Peterson says the night is held to provide an opportunity

for families to come together and participate in a variety of free or low cost activities.

On Wednesday, Jan. 7, “How to Train Your Dragon 2” will be shown during movie night and on Wednesday, Jan. 21, families will have the opportunity to decorate premade cupcakes.

Another family-inspired event takes place on the first Saturday of the month at the Environmental Education Center.

The free family bird walk is led by the Desert River Audubon Society every half hour from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

An event that attracts Chandler-area families is the Multicultural Festival set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Downtown Library Plaza, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave.

Peterson says the festival is a naturalization ceremony for individuals who have passed their citizenship test. She says anywhere from 50 to 100 people will be naturalized during the ceremony, which will begin at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be followed by a mayor’s welcome at 12:10 p.m. and then the Chandler Community Celebration Choir will sing at 12:20 p.m. Ken and Guitarras Latinas, Injury Reserve, AXE Folclorico, The Greek Dance Group and Silhouette Band will also be part of the festivities.

The new Break Time will be available for the public to view on Friday, Jan. 23. Peterson says the spring issue will have a summer camp preview of dates, times, activities and costs associated with the camp.

She says there are some new classes being offered this spring for youth and teens. One of those classes is Upcycled

See Parks and Rec, Page 5

CEREMONY:

Submitted photo

Parks and Rec, From Page 4

Headbands, which gives youngsters an opportunity to create two headbands from a favorite T-shirt.

Mini Book Madness will be offered March through May. It teaches youngsters how to create their own mini book of eight pages.

The aquatic facilities are also gearing up for another season.

The annual Family Swim Pass will become available at a discounted rate of $95 during the spring intersession from Saturday, March 7, through Saturday, March 21, for Chandler residents only. The passes can be purchased at Hamilton Aquatic Center or Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center.

Peterson says the pass gives a family of four access to all six aquatic centers from March to November.

A variety of swim classes are available in January and February in the heated pools. The aquatics division received one-time funds for swim lessons, which is available for parents or guardians who need assistance in paying for their child’s swim classes.

For more information, call (480) 782-2727 or visit www.chandleraz.gov/registration.

Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors and Business section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@santansun.com.

Calendar, From Page 3

Create-Play-Learn. 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Toddlers have the opportunity to engage in exploratory play. Using blocks and art materials, children are encouraged to be creative and experiment. For toddlers 18 to 36 months. Free. Registration required. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. (480) 782-2800.

Read to Dogs, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Preschoolers ages 3 to 5, and school-age children ages 6 to 8, can read to a dog. Downtown Library Copper Room, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800.

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Vision Kidz Workshop, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Children will get the opportunity to work with a professional artist and create a piece of art that is representative of their creativity. Vision Gallery, 10 E. Chicago St., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2695, www.chandleraz.gov.

“I Am Flawlessly Made,”

12 p.m. to 4 p.m. This is an event where girls will learn how to love themselves— flaws and all. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $14 to $19. Registration required. (480) 782-2900, www.chandleraz.gov/content/youth-classes.pdf.

Rainbow Loomers Delight, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Spend a fun and exciting afternoon learning new and amazing loom designs while making new friends. All elastics are included—students must bring their own looms and hooks.

Snedigar Recreation Center, Room 517, 4500 S. Basha Rd., Chandler. $6 to $9. Registration required. (480) 782-2640.

24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, NFL Experience Engineered by GMC, times TBA. The National Football League will host the 22nd annual NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center. Pro football’s interactive theme park offers participatory games, displays, entertainment attractions, youth football clinics and free autograph sessions from current and former NFL players. A list of player appearances will be posted on www.superbowl.com on Jan. 16. $35. www.azsuperbowl.com/events/

Lapsit for Babies, 10 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. Join the group for a 20-minute High Five Program with books, fingerplays, songs, puppets and community playtime. Activities in Lapsit are developmentally appropriate for newborn to 16 months. Hamilton Library Programming Room, 3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800.

Mother Daughter Book Club Tweens, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Girls ages 8 to 11: Bring your mom to this lively discussion. The group will discuss “Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures” by Dicamillo. Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Dr., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2800.

Bubble Blast, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Enjoy bubble wands, bubble machine and bubbles for kids to enjoy in a fun and safe environment. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. Free. Registration required. (480) 782-2900, www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=781.

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FanFestAZ, various times. Meet Debby Ryan from the show “Jessie,” participate in a fun run and more in honor of the Super Bowl. Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass, 5700 W. North Loop Rd., Chandler. Various prices. www.fanfestaz.com.

Looking for the next, great kid chef

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is launching its 2015 kids cooking contest aimed at motivating Arizona kids to incorporate healthy options into their daily food choices.

For the fifth consecutive year, the company is looking for great-tasting, kid-inspired side dishes for the Walk On! Kids Cooking Challenge. Children ages 9 to 12, living anywhere in Arizona, are encouraged to submit their healthy, and tasty, side dish creations for a chance to win great prizes and an opportunity to prepare and share their masterpiece at a Phoenix Suns home game.

“Not enough attention can be paid to the issue of childhood obesity,” says Tara Cosentino, health promotion executive, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.

“Teaching children at an early age how to make healthy food choices and prepare food that is not only good for them but is also tasty, is an invaluable lesson that will have lifelong benefits. The Walk On! Kids Cooking Challenge is a perfect way to facilitate family participation in meal preparation.”

Visit www.walkonaz.com for complete contest details and to submit a recipe. All entries must be submitted no later than Wednesday, Jan. 21.

Recipes must be: An original recipe for a hot or cold side dish; include at least one fruit and/or vegetable and able to be cooked within 20 minutes (not including prep time).

The top five recipes will be selected based on nutritional value, taste and originality. Finalists will be invited to present their creations at a public event Feb. 6 at the US Airways Center in Phoenix. After the cooking demonstrations, recipe details will be posted online at www.walkonaz.com for a public vote. Voting will be open from Feb. 6 through Feb. 17.

in Anthem. Her winning dish was called “French fry-like green beans.”

Each of the five finalists will earn fun prizes and the grand prize winner will receive a new bike. The winner may also be asked to participate in local TV and newspaper interviews.

Last year’s contest winner was 10-year-old Sophia Gray from Stepping Stones Academy

“I entered the cooking contest because I thought it would be fun to share my recipe with people who like to cook,” says Sophia.

“I’ve been cooking since I was three years old when I would cook with my grandma.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest Arizona-based health insurance

company. The not-for-profit company was founded in 1939 and provides health insurance products, services or networks to 1.3 million individuals. With offices in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson and the East Valley, the company employs more than 1,300 Arizonans. Follow BCBSAZ at www.facebook.com/bcbsaz or on Twitter at @bcbsaz to get information on health and wellness, and a knowledgeable perspective on health insurance reform.

Friday Night Franks celebrates western lifestyle

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

It was nearly dark when we arrived at Fort McDowell Adventures, found hidden off Hiawatha Hood Road near Fort McDowell Casino and We-Ko-Pa Resort and Conference Center.

The coyotes cackled as the moon lit the attraction’s intimate outdoor venue, Rosa’s Ranch, the location of the monthly Friday Night Franks. A barbecue experience, Friday Night Franks is probably the best-kept secret in the Valley. The event is a fully immersive family-friendly evening of Western barbecue, movies on a giant inflatable screen, a bounce house, hayrides and, of course, cowboy entertainment. When my husband and I went, Friday Night Franks was well attended by families and couples alike. Kids bounced and ran around the grounds shoeless, covering their little feet in dirt. The parents imbibed on signature prickly pear margaritas or created s’mores over the bonfire. Children begged to make s’mores when they returned, out of breath, to their picnic table.

Running from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. the first Friday of the month through May, Friday Night Franks used to boast a menu of merely hot dogs, chips and s’mores. But since the Yavapai Nation moved it from weekly to monthly, Friday Night Franks has expanded its offerings to include barbecue ribs, chicken, hamburgers, bratwurst, cowboy beans and s’mores. Call for pricing.

My husband and I decided on the barbecued chicken, which was delightful. Shredded and doused in barbecue sauce, the chicken sandwich was a juicy mess—just how we like it. The cowboy beans had a bit of a kick to them, but the real test came when my husband, who’s English and far

from the Wild West, and I decided to make s’mores.

It was a disaster.

I know, you’re probably thinking it’s impossible to mess up s’mores, but on our first couple tries we failed miserably. Marshmallows fell into the fire, created a raging fire or just didn’t melt enough. It was a sight that’s for sure. But, much to my surprise, my husband nailed it on his third try and managed to make a tasty creation that, like the chicken sandwich, was a gooey but lovely mess.

The movie we watched was “Monsters v. Aliens,” a tale that irritated some parents, who thought it was “inappropriate” for young kids. But, after they were finished with the bounce house, the children were transfixed by the movie. Giving the parents, well, more time to down prickly pear margaritas.

Events like this at Fort McDowell Adventures—which also features Segway rides, scenic trail rides and “city slicker cattle drives—bring visitors back to the basics, before there were cellphones attached to our hands, and long before kids succumbed to video games.

Julie Solliday of Ford McDowell Adventures says the venue is actually private and boasts La Puesta Del Sol (Spanish for “The Setting Sun”), which offers 360-degree views from its incomparable vantage points; Boulder House

for those who are moved by the mysteries of ancient sacred places; Rosa’s Ranch, of course; and The Stables, which features authentic Dutch oven or barbecue-style cowboy cookouts that may be combined with a trail ride or the cattle drive.

“The sky’s the limit,” Solliday says. “You can do anything out there, depending on what type of event you’d like to do. Traditionally, visitors like the cowboy theme. When they bring in people from out of state, they want the true Southwest experience—picnic tables, fire pits, the whole bit.”

The venue, much like the sunsets, is stunning. It will bring out the inner cowboy in anyone.

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski is the executive editor of the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at christina@santansun.com.

Friday Night Franks

Rosa’s Ranch

Fort McDowell Adventures 14803 N. Hiawatha Hood Rd. Fort McDowell 85264 (480) 816-6465

www.fortmcdowelladventures.com