Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 January 2002 — Page 26

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2002 ■ PAGE C8

From the Desk of

Emmis and Radio One launch fund topromote

Family Focus

quality of life for minority community

Jodo Parenting Tips

Special to The Recorder minority youth in the Indianapolis area. The broadcasting and magazine publishing scope of the fund expanded to five program operations. Emmis’ 20 FM and three AM Applications are now available for the areas: Economic; education; health; youth; radio stations serve the nation’s largest Emmis Communications/Radio One Com- and family. markets of New York, Los Angeles and • a. . r»-« , /»• . a i a a. y-ia • . . ll ¥11 • F'v cy -

ByOseyeT. Boyd

Reading to preschoolers opens world of words (NAPSA) — Fewer than half of American parents read to their infants and toddlers regularly, even though a study says hearing a story read aloud can stimulate brain cell growth in young children. According to a report by the Carnegie Corp., reading can make little ones feel secure and loved while they learn pre-reading skills and begin to recognize letters and words. One of the top five TV shows for preschoolers is a PBS KIDS hit called “Caillou” (pronounced kaiyou), based on a book series of the same name. Now, a “Caillou” toy line based on the TV series and book has been created for preschoolers by Irwin Toy. Just as reading aloud helps in brain development, these toys can help young children develop their fine motor skills. “Caillou” chronicles the adventures of a little boy named Caillou, say the show’s producers. His experiences portray the relationship between small children and the world around them. Children aged 2 to 5 see Caillou as a real little boy to whom they can easily relate. The show’s producer, CINAR, in association with PBS, developed stories to help children develop self-esteem, confidence and independence. Research by famed child psychologist Nicole Nadeau guide the producers of ‘Caillou,” which Child magazine called “one of the best new preschool series,” and the L.A. Times called “a virtual guide book for parents and caregivers.” The TV series features a combination of animation, puppets, music, dance and live action. An article in Early Childhood News notes that play is the work of children, providing the ultimate curriculum for social, physical and mental advancement as they accumulate the basic knowledge needed to learn language, math, science and art. Caillou toys, books and TV stories help fulfill America’s goal to have children reading by the end of third grade, a goal so important that the American Academy of Pediatrics wants to incorporate a prescription for reading into standard pediatric care. The Caillou game and toy line brings Caillou’s world to life in three dimensions. Fun interaction between parent and child, such as playing with Caillou puzzles and board games, stimulates children’s development and begins to teach 8m JADA, Pago C7

profit organizations that affect the quality of life for the Central Indiana minority community. “We do more than simply broadcast in the cities we serve — we are community stewards charged with making our cities better places,” Emmis Chairman and CEO Jeff Smulyan said. “Since Indianapolis is our home, Emmis highly values enriching the quality of life for the minority community which in turn makes Central Indiana a better place for everyone.” “We are proud to be a part of this fund which will provide support to people in need in a market which is very important to the operations of Radio One,” said Radio One President and CEO Alfred C. Liggins III. In January 2001, Emmis and Radio One jointly announced a $1 million donation to promote educational opportunities for

year, with amounts ranging between $10,000 and $50,000. Only one grant proposal per project, per calendar year, will be awarded to Central Indiana non-profits that submit applications. Greater weight will be given to those proposals that are projected to deliver a greater impact on the Central Indiana Afri-can-American community. Grant applications must be received by Jan. 30,2002, with grant distributions targeted for mid-March, 2002. Not-for-profits interested in submitting requests for funding should contact Emmis Communications, (317) 2660100 to request a brochure. Emmis Communications (NASDAQ: EMMS), which locally owns WIBC-AM (1070), WENS-FM (97.1), WNOU-FM (93.1), WYXB-FM (105.7) and Indianapolis Monthly, is a diversified media firm with award-winning radio broadcasting, television

Louis, Indianapolis and Terre Haute. In addition, Emmis owns two radio networks, 15 television stations, regional and specialty magazines and ancillary businesses in broadcast sales, publishing, and interactive products. Radio One, which locally owns WTLC-FM (106.7), WTLC-AM (1310), WHHH-FM (96.3), WYJZ-FM (100.9), and WDNI-TV (1-65) is the nation’s seventh largest radio broadcasting company and the largest primarily targeting African-American and urban listeners. Pro forma for all announced acquisitions and divestitures, the company owns and/or operates 65 radio stations located in 22 of the largest markets in the United States and programs five channels on the XM Satellite Radio System.

Freetown Village receives grants to continue education mission

Freetown Village recently received two grants totaling $200,000 to continue its mission of educating the public about the lives of African-Americans in the 19th century. The arts and cultural organization was awarded $100,000 from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and $100,000 from the Central Indiana Community Foundation. The Nina Mason Pulliam grant will be used to build the artistic programs of Freetown Village Inc. Freetown Village Inc. will hire a full-time artistic director and enhance its wardrobe and prop inventory. The grant will also be used for training materials and training programs for actors. The Central Indiana Community Foundation grant will be used for institutional advancement over the next two years. The grants are a result of the success of Freetown Village Inc. In its 19th year, Freetown has grown into a nationally recognized historical ethnic museum. In May 2002, the new Freetown

site will open in the Indiana State Museum. The site will be a welcomed addition to Freetown’s ongoing education and entertainmentfocused programs that are hosted throughout the Midwest. The new site will allow visitors to leam more about African-American presence in Indiana and visit with “residents” of Freetown Village. Ophelia Wellington created Freetown Village in 1982 out of her desire to teach Black history. Freetown Village Inc. is a living history museum that depicts the lives and lifestyles of free Blacks in the year 1870. In 1870, five years after the Civil War ended, towns grew and prospered. Many who were former slaves discovered a new-found freedom and control over their lives. Blacks could now be paid for their work, purchase land, attend school, be legally married and not be separated because of slavery. For more information about Freetown Village Inc., call (317) 631-1870.

Housing nominations

101st birthday Happy 101 at birthday to Maud Taylor from your son and

Nominations are now being accepted for representatives to the board of directors of the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP). They will be accepted from neighborhood/social organizations and community development corporations. These nominations must be on nominating organization’s letterhead and should contain the nominee’s name, contact information, a one-paragraph biographical sketch and reason for nomination. This must all be submitted by Jan. 31. Send all inquiries and nominations to: Director of Program Support, Board Affairs Committee, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, 3550 Washington Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46205.

Simple, yet colorful, Hems such as candles, bright bathmats and shelf liners can add personality, character and flare to even the darkest, dreariest corner of your home. Color can cure the winter blues

(NAPS A)—Winter months and lack of sunshine have been known to bring people down. Increased amountsof sleeping, lethargic, slow movement, cravings for carbohydrates and increased appetites are all linked to “cabin fever” and winter blahs. But just because it is winter and the sun doesn’t shine doesn’t mean that you can’t bring a little brightness into your home. Some simple and creative ideas can increase the vividness of one’s home, which in turn, affects you and your family’s personality. The key to lifting your spirits is to make your home a place where you like to be. If it’s happy you’ll be more likely to be happy too. Bright, brilliant and airy rooms make a nice place to relax after a hard day's work and they make it easy to overcome any stressful situations you may have encountered at work. There are a number of ways to integrate color into your home; following are some bright ideas:

• Use white or light-colored paint when picking wall colors for rooms throughout your house. White and light-colored walls reflect light and make a room brighter. • Open the curtains and let what little light you have come in. When it gets dark early, close the curtains and turn on some bright lights so you forget what it’s like outside. • Play music that makes you feel good. • Liven up your home with colorful accents throughout every room. Add fluffy yellow towels to the bathroom, an assortment of cheerful pillows in the family room, a bright rug to welcome guests in the foyer and bathmats to cheer up that dreary bathtub. • Make even the darkest areas in your home stand out with color; apply shelf liner to all cupboards and closet shelves so you get a taste of color every time you open the door. Even the darkest of homes can be altered to display the brightest of colors.

Parents must demonstrate sportsmanship By OSEYE T. BOYD Staff Writer Originally, the topic for my column was going to be about the Carmel teacher and his affair with a student. I was almost done when I decided to change the topic. While the teacher’s affair is an important topic, a national story was back in the news. It’s the story of Thomas Junta and Michael Costin. While many may not remember the names, just about everyone will remember the incident. Junta beat Thomas to death after the two exchanged words about their sons’ hockey practice. I find the story of Junta and Costin to be of great personal interest, since my son plays several sports. Junta’s lawyers are portraying him as a “gentle giant” who simply lost control. The incident happened at the Burbank Ice Arena in suburban Boston. The suburbs is the place where “things like this aren’t supposed to happen.” I’m quite sure Junta is a hard-working man who was only looking out for his son’s best interest and killing a man wasn’t on his agenda. After the incident, news reporters and parents alike wondered, “How could this happen?” How could this loving father actually kill another person with his hands? It’s easy to understand how a parent could lose control if you’ve ever been to a youth athletic event. Many of the fathers live vicariously through theirchildren’sathletic abilities. Many parents see hoop dreams and college athletic scholarships in their kids’ futures. I’ve seen parents shout at their kids and antagonize them so much the kids are frustrated and angry. One of the quickest ways for parents to lose it is by criticizing another’s child. No parent wants to hear someone speaking negatively about their child. When it happens most parents, and rightly so, will come to the defense of their child. Tempers flare and the argument escalates into a fight between two adults who are normally rational people. If one of the children displays unsportsman-like behavior, the adults should call him/her on it, instead of ignoring the situation. After all, it’s only a game. The children are not getting paid millions to win. They’re out there doing their best and trying to have a little fun in the process. Parents must be the adults and show children how to conduct themselves. How can we criticize our young people when their parents act like a bunch of oversized juveniles themselves? As a parent, I’ve resigned to just sit back and enjoy the game. Although I want my son to play with the finesse and precision of any professional athlete, I know he’s still young and sports may be just a recreational activity for him. Sports is not the only way to get scholarship money.

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