standing there as the our local rider passed by even the best of riders to win the Virginia City Grand Prix for the second time. He also took first place when he was 16. This time everyone seemed to take extra notice of this young rider, especially when he was interviewed with champions Kawasaki factory rider Justin Soule and Irving Powers, who took 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.  While this race is not part of the (W.O.R.K.S), which provides point standings on the pros, it is still an easy view into the future for this rider according to the many race enthusiast I spoke with. Moto Mouth with these three guys staged high above the crowds called  Virginia City’s top three winners the next regime.

It was fun to be part of the local group on hand to see this apt-to-be historic interview. “Moto Mouth” the well known announcer each year at V.C. hurled questions at Ross like, “So, no private school? No home school? You’re just a regular kid doing homework at night?”  Ross smiled humbly as he agreed that pretty much summed it up. That and riding every chance he gets, working out, that kind of stuff.

“Where on earth do you ride that prepares you for a race like this?” asked the rugged voiced announcer from the announcer’s stage now lifted high for all to see. (The Virginia City Grand Pix held each April is over 150 miles.) Ross explained that he was currently snowed in at home, so he was riding in the Doyle area a lot. Ross rides with his dad often and a bunch of hard core motocrossers who love riding the rugged mountain and desert terrains with Ross. Ross’s parents, Pete and Michelle Neely, have dedicated the tons of time and resources needed to help their son rise to the winners circle and Ross showed his appreciation to them for all to hear.

On May 16, Neely competed in a W.O.R.K.S. race at Honey Lake Motocross track in Milford, CA. He took second place in the Pro 2 event, and 12th overall within the Pro 1 and Pro 2 class combined. Justin Soule who placed 2nd in V.C. took 4th place in the Pro 1 class at Honey Lake. Good luck to our local rider Ross Neely!

Bookmark to:

Does Music Make My Child Smarter?

Yes, of course it does. When learning a song, a musical instrument, or a dance step, your child experiences the unique integration of body and mind that music provides. Sensory integration is a crucial factor in children’s learning readiness for school subjects such as reading, writing, and math. Music improves spatial-temporal reasoning according to research by the MIND Research Institute, a neuroscience and education research based no-profit corporation.  Music assists in  a neurological process needed to understand mathematics. The best way to enhance your child’s learning with music is to encourage listening to and learning music throughout the child’s developmental years. Do it in a variety of ways that are enjoyable and fun, then let your child’s own interest and aptitudes guide your choices of lessons and activities.

A Piece of Guitar Heaven Comes to Westwood

Music enhances learning and that’s why Doug Sheehy of the Lassen County Arts Council was contacted by Westwood’s Fletcher Walker Elementary School Principal Adele Emershaw to bring a piece of Guitar Heaven to students in Westwood. A show titled Guitar Heaven appeared at Lassen College the same evening featuring amazing acoustic sounds.  Very interested high school kids lined the floor in the cafeteria behind the entire elementary school which did not quite fill the room. However this small group of lucky kids were able to experience an amazing show.

Emershaw, known to the kids as “Mrs. E” told us it was unfortunate that the music programs are always one of the first to go as budgets get cut. “This school has a fraction of the music program it once did under the direction of Lou Hamilton”, she said. “Music makes you think. It is a constant.”, she added, crediting the Lassen County Arts Council for sponsoring this event. She quickly added that the school has received funds from the Plumas County Arts Council this year as well. All help with music and the arts is greatly appreciated by this elementary school principal, which proved lucky for some appreciative Westwood students.

Source: http://childparenting.about.com/cs/k6education/a/mozarteffect.htm, Fletcher Walker Elementary Principal Adele Emershaw

Bookmark to:

If your child has access to a computer, here are some very important things for them to keep in mind when on the computer at home or at school. Go over these important FBI rules with kids who go online.

* First, remember never to give out personal information such as your name, home address, school name, or telephone number in a chat room or on bulletin boards. Also, never send a picture of yourself to someone you chat with on the computer without your parent’s permission.

* Never write to someone who has made you feel uncomfortable or scared.

* Do not meet someone or have them visit you without the permission of your parents.

* Tell your parents right away if you read anything on the Internet that makes you feel uncomfortable.

* Remember that people online may not be who they say they are. Someone who says that “she” is a “12-year-old girl” could really be an older man.

To read more about new privacy rules, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site at www.ftc.gov. There is a special section just for kids.

Bookmark to:

A clear jar or bottle also works well for kids learning to save money.

Teach Your Children Well

According to the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®), there is plenty one can do to teach children financial skills early. This Colorado-based nonprofit foundation is dedicated to helping Americans understand and control their own finances. Their website is filled with valuable information on teaching kids the skills to help them learn with six general categories for kids to learn about. 1. Earning Money, 2. Setting Goals  3. Budgeting  4. Saving and Investing  5. Using Credit Wisely                       6. Protecting what has been accumulated.

Simple steps are offered to help parents teach their kids about money. For example at age two to four years old, NEFE® says most children will be anxious to start saving coins in a container. CEO and president William L. Anthes, Ph.D recommends that parents only use a piggy bank if it is transparent. He advises choosing a clear jar or bottle because he says, “At four years old, a child can’t understand what he or she can’t see.”

Ideas are offered for establishing allowances for five to seven year olds, suggesting that considering the family’s circumstances first, the amount may correspond to a child’s age, offering for example, $6.00 per week for a six year old.  Anthes  said, “Be sure to present the money at the same time each week, and be willing to let the child use it without restriction. For example, a child may initially spend the entire allowance immediately after he or she receives it. Be ready to point out the mistake,” he added, “but don’t bail the child out. Allow him or her to learn from the decision.”

Anthes advises introducing your children to the concept of compound interest by showing them how much $50.00 can grow at various rates of interest, and then to do the same calculations on $100.00. He says, “When they learn about the potential of their money, children are inspired to save for the long term.”
Find out more at the NEFE® website at http://www.nefe.org/.

Bookmark to: