September Events for Children at the Parkland Community Library

Head over to the Parkland Community Library for a month filled with fun!

PCL Teens

Tuesday, September 3 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Help to decide what YA books the library buys, discuss what you’ve been reading, help prepare for activities and programs, and have some snacks!
For those in grades 7 to 12.
Participants earn volunteer credit. 

Night at the Movies

Wednesday, September 11
6:30 p.m.

Join us for a showing of Adventures in Zambezia.
Held in the Youth Services Room.
No registration is required. 

Fall Story Times

September 18 to October 25; Story time registration begins August 26 at 10:00am.

 

Call 610-398-1361 x 19 to register

Family Story times

Wednesdays and Thursdays 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.

For children from 18 months to 3 years, but younger and older siblings may attend. An adult must stay with each child. Stories, songs, and games are shared with the whole family. Registration is required.

Preschool Story times

Wednesdays and Thursdays 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.

For children between 3 and 5 years. Parents must stay in the library but do not have to attend storytime with the children. Stories, songs, games and crafts are all part of preschool storytimes. Registration is required.
 

Drop-In Story times

Fridays 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.

For families with young children and children of all   different ages. No registration is required.

Touch a Truck

Saturday, September 28

10:00 a.m. to noon

Back for its second year!
Bring the whole family to the circle in front of the library to check out some of the coolest trucks around. We’ll have diggers, police cars, an ambulance, and more for you to explore.
No registration required.

52 Nut-free Lunch and Snack Options for All Kids

When my daughter was 15-months old, I gave her a tiny piece of a Girl Scout cookie that contained peanut butter. Two hours later, we were in the emergency room as she was covered in hives, eyes swollen and feverish. Since that day, I've been a mom on high alert.

Now that my daughter is in kindergarten, I worry even more about her elevated, potential exposure to peanuts. For all the peanut allergic (PA) families and non-PA families, here is a list of 52 healthy (and some not-so-healthy), nut-free lunch and snack options.

Please ... help keep our little, allergic friends safe. Together, we can all ensure the health and well-being of our kids. 

NUT-FREE LUNCH & SNACK CHOICES*

1. Apple slices 
2. Seedless grapes
3. Tube yogurts (Go-gurts)
4. Cheez-Its 
5. Cubed cheeses
6. Most pretzels
7. Raisins
8. Apple sauce pouches (Go Squeeze)
9. Jelly & Sunbutter (made from sunflower seeds)
10. Cream cheese & jelly sandwiches
11. Ham & cheese roll ups
12. Cheese & cucumber sandwiches
13. Turkey & cheese hoagie
14. Baby carrots & ranch dip
15. Golden Grahams 
16. Cheerios (most varieties)
17. Dole fruit cups
18. Mandarin oranges
19. Motts applesauce
20. Pepperidge Farm Goldfish
21. Keebler Club Crackers & cheese slices
22. Berries
23. Bananas
24. Cucumber slices with ranch
25. Pirate's Booty popcorn 
26. Fruit snacks
27. Celery sticks with sunbutter & raisins
28. Soy crisps (most varieties)
29. Mini-rice cakes (most varieties)
30. Danimal drinkable yogurts
31. Polly-O string cheese sticks
32. Ritz crackers
33. Nutri-grain fruit and cereal bars
34. Graham crackers
35. Fruit Newtons
36. Ritz Crackerfuls (most varieties)
37. Leftover spaghetti
38. Macaroni and cheese 
39. Seapoint Farms shelled edamame with Dora on package

SWEETER & SALTIER NUT-FREE OPTIONS

1. Rice Krispy Treats
2. Oreos
3. Homemade brownies sans nuts
4. Fruit Roll-ups  
5. Herr's ripple chips
6. Cheetos
7. Special K pastry crips 
8. Teddy Grahams
9. Jello chocolate pudding cups
10. Chips Ahoy chocolate chips
11. Hershey chocolate kisses (non-holiday varieties)
12. Swedish fish
13. POP-tarts

Always read the labels for known allergens. 

Many companies will list allergens in bold. Also, try to avoid foods that are made in or on shared equipment with peanuts. My daughter once reacted to pretzels made in a nut-factory, whereas she is normally fine while eating pretzels.

Looking for more snack options? Check out this PDF from snacksafely.com.

What is the Lehigh Valley's largest lake?

Do you know what the Lehigh Valley's largest lake is? Have you ever heard of Leaser Lake? Neither had we, until we spent a fantastic afternoon there. Located in the northwest section of the Valley, Leaser Lake is a great place for a quiet canoe ride, family picnic or catching minnows with the kids.

Paddling on Leaser Lake

A couple of weeks ago, I had seen a sign near New Smithville that mentioned paddle boats and Leaser Lake. So, when we were trying to find something to do with the kids over the 4th of July holiday, we decided to Google it and find out more.

Several years ago, Leaser Lake was drained so the dam could be repaired. Earlier this year, the lake reopened for the first time in three years for trout season. This is also the first season for Leaser Lake Boats, Bikes & Bait (LLBBB), which provide rentals seven days a week to outdoor adventurers.

WHAT'S NEW AT LEASER LAKE?

LLBBB is located at 8912 Levans Road in Kempton just behind Wanamakers General Store (which if you haven't done so already, be sure to stop in. Their sandwiches are delish!). You'll want to first visit LLBBB to pick out your rental and then head to the lake.

Rental options include kayaks (single or tandem), paddle boards, canoes, row boats, fishing rods and bikes. Prices range from $5-$10 per hour for bikes and $20-25 per hour for boats. My husband and I rented a canoe and purchased lunches from Wanamakers, and spent quality time with our girls ... all for less than $50!

Coming later this summer via LLBBB ... yoga on paddle boards while on the lake! That sounds both awesome and slightly dangerous at the same time. 

WHAT TO BRING TO LEASER LAKE

I'd recommend bringing a blanket and/or chairs to sit on if you plan to picnic; there are a few picnic tables, but we find it easier for our kids to have a place to sit on the ground, too. Water shoes, hats and sunglasses, and sunblock are a definite. It can be hot out on the boat with the sun reflecting off the water.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

There is no swimming at Leaser Lake and there's not much of a beach. It's simply a quiet place, away from all the hubbub of the busy community pools and more commercial lakes, where you can enjoy nature's beauty.

Connect with Leaser Lake Boats, Bikes & Bait on Facebook or visit their website for more information. Interested in learning more about Leaser Lake's history? Check out the Heritage Foundation site.