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December 2013
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Volume 2, Issue 12
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Happy Holidays from BSF!!
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The holiday season has arrived and with it comes all the emotions associated with it. While these are times of joy, excitement, love, and harmony for most people, there are many who do not get to experience those same feelings. These individuals have a tendency to succumb to feelings of loneliness, depression, and find little joy in the holiday hustle and bustle. Brighter, Stronger Foundation would like to share some holiday blues busters to share with your family and friends!!! Remember, reaching out to loved ones just to see how they are doing, especially those who you know have difficulty this time of the year, is priceless!
Holiday Blues Busters
1. Be reasonable with your schedule. Do not overbook yourself into a state of exhaustion--this makes people cranky, irritable, and depressed
2. Decide upon your priorities and stick to them.
Organize your time.
3. Be careful about resentments related to holidays past, and declare peace. This will help you.....
4. If you drink, do not let the holidays become a reason for over-indulging and hangovers. This will exacerbate depression and contribute to anxiety.
5. Most of all, if you find yourself feeling blue just remember: The choice is always yours; revel in your gratitude for your bounty, health, and hope. Hold on to the courage to face each day with determination!
Happy Holidays from Brighter, Stronger Foundation!!
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| It's Thankfulness Feast Time in the Therapeutic Integration Program! |
Our individuals that are a part of the Therapeutic Integration Program were able to participate in various activities all celebrating the Thankfulness season!
Activities included making homemade cheesecake and designing their very own dream catchers.
The holidays are always a joyous time here at BSF.
Stay tuned for more updates!!
MONDAY-FRIDAY
2:30PM-6:00PM
Please contact Robin Brooks at 410-485-7555 or at
**See Below for the Therapeutic Integration Program's December's Calendar**
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Every Day Is Thanksgiving Day in the Adult Day Program
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With this being the season to give thanks, our adults took inventory of their own lives and identified the many things they are grateful for.
The lists included: family, a home, friends, food, and the Adult Day Program just to name a few!!
The group also explored the benefits of being patient and exercising self-control when dealing with stressful situations.
Our Adults will begin participating in an aquatic swim program starting in December!
The dates for December are:
Tuesday, December 3rd from 8:30am-12:30pm
Tuesday, December 10th from 8:30am-12:30pm
Tuesday, December 17th from 8:30am-12:30pm
Tuesday, December 31, 2013 from 8:30am-12:30pm
To register for these days and to make transportation arrangements, please call us at 410-485-7555
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Our Youth Displaying Their Gratitude With A "Great Attitude"!
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For youth who deal with many struggles on a daily basis, finding something or someone to be thankful for may be a difficult task.
Our youth were invited to spend some pre-Thanksgiving time with staff at
Brighter, Stronger Foundation as we helped them explore the dynamics of expressing gratitude or a "great attitude" for life!
In December, we will explore strategies to keep an uplifted demeanor during the holiday season.
*4-11 Year Old Group*
Tuesday, December 10th and Thursday, December 12th
6pm-7pm
Meal Provided
*12-17 Year Old Group*
Tuesday, December 17th and Thursday, December 19th
6pm-7pm
Meal Provided
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BSF's Calendar of Events!
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*December 11th @ 10am- FREE Entitlement Workshop- Please call to RSVP
*December 24th and December 25th- Office CLOSED in observance of the holiday
*December 31st- Office will close at 4pm in observance of the holiday
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Family Fun Activities!!
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With the holiday season upon us there are so many family fun activities to choose from! Check out what's going on in your city this month!
Photos with Santa and Santa's Place Light Shows
Harborplace Amphitheater
Saturday, November 23 - Tuesday, December 24; Mondays - Saturdays 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
and Sundays 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Santa, shopping & holiday cheer!
*December 1st-January 2nd-
"Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas" in 4-D
Friday, November 15 - Thursday, January 2
The National Aquarium, 501 East Pratt Street
www.aqua.org
The gang is back to save the holidays in "Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas!" So head to the aquarium's 4-D Immersion Theater, where multi-sensory effects will transport you back to the Ice Age!
*December 1st-January 1st-
66th Annual Festival of Lights "Miracle on 34th St."-
The residents of the 700 block of W. 34th St. invite you to come visit their decorated homes all lit up for the Christmas season!!
Dusk until 11pm
Kennedy Krieger Institute's Festival of Trees -
The East Coast's largest holiday extravaganza, also known as Santa's theme park, returns with fairyland forests, a gingerbread town, a toy train garden, shopping, holiday activities, and entertainment for all ages. Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, 10 a.m.- 9 p.m., Ages: All ages, Tickets Reqd. 443-923-7300, www.festivaloftrees.kennedykrieger.org.
For adult relatives of persons with mental illness. Come share wisdom and coping techniques. Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, 7401 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore,
7- 8:30 p.m., 410-435-2600,
*December 6th-
World Holiday Traditions at the National Aquarium -
In conjunction with the Aquarium's "Friday's After Five" program, the first Friday of December will feature special activities and performances honoring World Holiday Traditions. National Aquarium, Baltimore, 5- 8 p.m., Tickets Reqd. 410-576-3800, www.aqua.org.
Disney Jr. Live: Princess and Pirate Adventure -
This never-before-seen live show features new music, special effects, and endless surprises for the whole family. Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, Baltimore, 7 p.m., Tickets Reqd. 410-900-1150, www.lyricoperahouse.com.
*December 7th-
Towson Family Center Y Ribbon Cutting and Community Event -
Everyone is invited to attend the ceremonial ribbon cutting and enjoy a free family fun day featuring a moon bounce, face painting, balloon animals, arts and crafts, snacks, family Zumba, rock-wall climbing, family swimming, STEM activities, and fitness class demonstrations. Towson Family Center Y, 600 W Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, 3- 5 p.m., www.ymaryland.org.
Holiday Breakfast at the Y -
Santa will park his sleigh at Family Center Ys on December 7th and 14th for a holiday breakfast hosted by the Y of Central Maryland. Children will enjoy pictures with Santa and other fun holiday-themed activities. Please register at your local Family Center Y at least 48 hours in advance. Druid Hill Family Center Y, 1609 Druid Hill Ave., Baltimore, 9 a.m., Tickets Reqd. 410-243-3790, www.ymaryland.org.
Kwanzaa Youth Celebration-
Morgan State University Student Center on Hillen Rd.
10am-4pm
For more info call 443-885-4328
*December 8th-
Sensory Morning at The Walters -
A morning of accessible museum programming designed specifically for children with autism and their entire family. Doors open to participants an hour before the museum opens to the public, allowing families to enjoy the Museum during quiet, less stimulating hours. Phone registration required. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, 9- 11 a.m., Reserv Reqd. 410-547-9000, www.thewalters.org.
41st Annual Mayor's Christmas Parade-
Hampden
1 p.m.
www.mayorschristmasparade.com
Ring in the holiday season with thousands of revelers along a riveting 2.5 mile parade route! See local TV and radio personalities, more than 100 Harley Davidson motorcycles, great bands, Mummers of Philadelphia, floats, and more as 160 marching units lead Santa through Baltimore
*December 10th-
The Auburn School Speaker Series -
Please join us for the Baltimore Campus Fall Speaker Series featuring Dr. Kristin O'Donnell. "Preventing the Peak: Strategies to Defuse Anger and Aggression in Young Children" Free and open to the public. Space is limited. Contact landerson@theauburnschool.org or call to RSVP. The Auburn School, 1710 Dulaney Valley Road, Lutherville, 6 p.m., Reserv Reqd. by 12/9/2013 410-321-4799, www.theauburnschool.org/baltimore.
3rd Annual Rock the Dock Family Holiday Bash
Power Plant
2-6 p.m.
Enjoy festive live music, train rides along the promenade, holiday themed arts and crafts, games, food, drinks and holiday cheer!
The Nutcracker Family Concert-
Patricia & Arthur Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric
Friday, December 20, 2013 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 21, 2013 2 & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 22, 2013 3 p.m.
www.lyricoperahouse.com
Treat the entire family to the timeless tale of The Nutcracker and delight in some of the season's most memorable melodies! Watch as the BSO, Baltimore School for the Arts, Maryland Institute College of Art and the Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric come together in an unprecedented collaboration to present Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's holiday classic.
*December 27th-
A Very Awesome Yo Gabba Gabba Live! Holiday Show
Shows 2 and 5:30 p.m.
The Baltimore Arena, 201 West Baltimore Street
www.baltimorearena.com
Enjoy all-time Gabba favorites like "I Like To Dance" and "Party In My Tummy," and mixed in some awesome holiday songs. The show format will be familiar to the countless fans that have seen the show live before. Lots of singing and lots of dancing . . . lots of DJ Lance and even Biz Markie! Plus, as usual, there will be some very special surprises.
Kwanzaa Celebration 2013: And A Child Shall Lead Them
Reginald F. Lewis Museum
Saturday, December 28, 2013 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
www.rflewismuseum.org
Come celebrate Kwanzaa with musical performances, holiday crafts, an African marketplace, and more! Children and community elders will lead the festival that features a Kwanzaa ceremony with story-telling by the Growing Griots.
*December 31st-
13th Annual Noontime New Year: Masquerade A Go-Go!
Port Discovery Children's Museum
9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
www.portdiscovery.org
Kids can get in on the excitement of New Year's Eve before bedtime at our Annual Noontime New Year, featuring Eric Energy! Come dressed in your best royal costume to decorate numbers and make sound makers for the noon countdown, where you'll make a juice and cookie toast! Visit a royal barnyard, play at a royal bowling alley, catch a magic show, and much more!
12th Annual New Year's Eve Deck Party
USS Constellation - Pier 1
Doors open at 8:00 p.m., Show at 9:00 p.m.
www.historicships.org
Toast the New Year aboard USS Constellation, where you can sip champagne and watch the fireworks high above the Inner Harbor crowds! Enjoy a twilight menu, party favors, music, special tours and cannon firings all night!
Baltimore's New Year's Eve Spectacular
Baltimore's Inner Harbor, Amphitheater, & Light Streets
Tuesday, December 31, 2013, 9 p.m. -
Wednesday, January 1, 2014, 12:30 a.m.
www.promotionandarts.org
Ring in 2014 alongside family and friends with live music and a dazzling fireworks display that's the largest in the region! Enjoy live music at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater before Baltimore lights up the skies!
For more family fun events, click the link below
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We thank you for your time and please feel free to contact our office if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
Have a positive and productive day!
The Staff of Brighter, Stronger Foundation
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @ BSF_Foundation
Like us on Facebook @ Brighter Stronger Foundation
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