Christmas comes early for children who 'Shop with a Cop'

By Laurie K. Blandford

• Posted December 22, 2009 at 4:32 p.m.

FORT PIERCE — Christmas came a little early for 7-year-old Jeremiah Ward of Fort Pierce.

His mother, Vivian, said he awoke early and excited Tuesday morning to join 55 other children to “Shop with a Cop,” the fifth annual shopping spree where city police officers are paired with children to help them spend $75 gift cards at the Walmart store on Okeechobee Road.

“I thought it would be a good experience for him because he wants to be a police officer,” she said.

Jeremiah picked up a Bop It toy, plastic cars and a ramp for them before leaving his mom to find presents for her and his grandmother.

He began to look through window curtains for his grandmother, but crime prevention officer Damian Spotts directed him to the holiday gift basket aisle.

They’ve known each other about six months through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and Spotts nominated Jeremiah to go shopping because of his improved grades.

Most officers choose kids they have met in the past year, said Police Chief Sean Baldwin, who handed out the gifts cards beside an officer dressed as Santa Claus.

“They recognize the need for the kids,” he said. “(For) some of the kids, this is their Christmas.”

The number of children has grown each year, Baldwin said, and this year was the biggest. The Walmart Foundation and Sam’s Club gave the police department a $1,500 grant it used to add about 20 more children to the usual amount.

Baldwin said the department started the program in 2005 after back-to-back damaging hurricane seasons. He said shopping together also helps children who have seen officers negatively in the past.

“We just saw so many families that were hurting and in need,” Baldwin said. “It’s just a perfect way for these officers to spend a little bit of time with these kids and build a personal relationship.”

Officer Dani Dreizehnter brought a calculator to help 11-year-old Korey Thompson and his sister, 7-year-old Kourtney, keep track of their spending.

Dreizehnter had participated every year because she works with juveniles, she said, and some children can’t control being disadvantaged.

When they checked out, their basket was filled with a video game, a baby doll and two bikes — one pink and one blue.

“Today I got what I want — I got a game and a bike,” Korey explained with big smile. “It makes my Christmas a lot better than I thought it was going to be.”

What emerging tech do baby boomers like and demand?

hey represent a huge market. They'll soon make up one-third of the U.S. population. And they're not the first group you might think of when you think about technology innovation.

Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Mary Devlin uses a laptop at her London home to use a social-networking site aimed at people over 50. The site, Saga Zone, launched in 2007.

They're the baby boomers. And surprisingly, more boomers than younger people – 59 percent versus 55 percent – believe technology will help them live a fuller life, according to a Consumer Electronics Association report.

"Boomer ideals were forged in an era when human rights and individual freedoms were central concerns, and boomers apply that perspective to technology as well," wrote futurist Michael Rogers, who authored a report released Tuesday that explores baby boomers' technology habits. "They fear that their children, perhaps unwittingly, allow technology to shape their lives rather than using technology to help create the lives they want.

"Boomers want technology to fit the lives they have made and the values they hold dear."

The report, titled "Boomers and Technology: An Extended Conversation" (PDF) and sponsored by AARP and Microsoft, reveals what many adults older than 50 think about the ever-changing tech landscape – and how they'd like to see that topography evolve. In May, Rogers and representatives from AARP and Microsoft hosted catered discussion groups with baby boomers in New York, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco.

Tree hits car carrying baby in Watchet

16th November 2009
By Lloyd Vaughan »

A TREE smashed into a car carrying a baby in Watchet at the weekend as the worst storms of the year battered West Somerset.

The baby was travelling with two women near Warren Bay Holiday Park on Friday evening when their Landrover Discovery was hit and trapped by the tree - one of several uprooted along the road.

Members of Watchet Coastguard stumbled across the stricken vehicle as they returned from rescuing a fisherman with a suspected broken ankle near Minehead.

Peter Pring, of the holiday park, helped the crew release the vehicle with a chainsaw.

The women and baby were unharmed but shaken by the ordeal, according to Watchet Coastguard Simon Bale.

He added: “We just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

“We were expecting a further call that evening with regards to the weather, but were not prepared for it to be on the road on our way back to the station."

Moments before, Simon and his colleagues helped Minehead Coastguard rescue a 40-year-old fisherman who was swept of his feet and injured about half a mile from Minehead Golf Club.

Minehead Coastguard administered first aid before the Watchet team battled the elements to get him to a waiting ambulance.

Simon Bale, of Watchet Coastguard, said: “Luckily for this man, he had the correct waterproof clothing on and was able to keep warm while his friend gathered up all their equipment and they awaited the coastguard's arrival having summonsed help on their mobile phone.”

HOW did the storms affect you? Simply fill in the Your Say box below or e-mail your stories or photos to newsdesk@countygazette.co.uk

Céline Dion Tries for Another Baby After Pregnancy Loss

This is not the type of baby news we like to deliver: Céline Dion is no longer pregnant.
Last August, the golden-piped songbird and husband René Angélil confirmed that she had only just become pregnant with her second child after undergoing a round of in vitro fertilization treatments.
Unfortunately, that is no longer the case: Angélil confirmed to the Journal de Montreal that the 41-year-old Canadian chanteuse is no longer in the family way, as the embryo transfers—which took place in August and October—were ultimately unsuccessful.
Angélil said that both they and their doctor "believed that the procedure/pregnancy took, but that wasn't the case. We found out some days later. We were shocked."
But not deterred.
"We are living the reality of the majority of couples who have to use [IVF]," the 67-year-old hubby-manager said. "The process can be long and arduous.
"But today, we are full of confidence. Céline is more determined than ever."
In fact, the couple, who already has an 8-year-old son, René-Charles, is heading back to New York this weekend to see if the third time proves the charm.
"I admire all the women who go through such a tough process. Since April, she has undergone numerous examinations, multiple hormone injections and blood tests.
"Céline and I didn't get discouraged…we put our faith in life and in the stars."

Baby Soap

Keeping your baby's skin clean is one of the most important things you can do to help your baby stay healthy, and baby soap plays a very important role in keeping your baby's skin clean. So we need to make sure that we are using:

* baby soap that is gentle
* baby soap that is hypoallergenic
* baby soap that is non-toxic
* baby soap that sls free

You need to make sure that your baby soap is gentle because otherwise it could be irritating your baby's skin during or after bath time, and this would actually be opposite to what bath time is supposed to do. The baby soap that you use should be hypoallergenic since you do not know what your baby may be allergic to, and they are more susceptible at this very young age. Baby soap also needs be non-toxic since young babies like to put their hands in their mouth, and you want to know that if your baby swallows some of the baby soap, they will be safe. Finally, your baby soap should be Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) free. SLS is a harsh chemical that is used as the chief foaming agent in soaps, including some baby soaps. The Journal of the American College of Toxicology said, "SLS can damage the immune system, causing separation of skin layers and inflamation of skin." Is this something you would like to expose your baby's skin to by using harsh baby soap?

Consider using natural baby soap that is made from only natural ingredients insuring that it is safe and gentle on your baby's skin. Many times natural baby soap even helps protect and soothe your baby's skin.

During the first few weeks and months of your babies life, your baby's skin will develop spots, rashes, and some dots. This is normal. They will come and go naturally, but if you are concerned, then do not hesitate to contact your doctor or pediatrician. Even though your baby's skin will go through a few rough times, if you are using the right baby soap, then you know that you are caring for your baby's skin as best as you can.