The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

éé‘Kids’ play' "Each centre has a lead agency," explained K-W YMCA’s communications supervisor Louise lessup. 'For the Waterloo riding it's ‘the Y but for other places it could be a family resource centre or something like that. Basically. all of these agencies have offered to find the location. find the staff, fill it with resources. arid run it, but the govern- mentiswhofundsit." tievekiprperit? Wohdering how best to serve your child's needs from conceptiop to age six? K - WYMCA opens early years centre Well, don't fret because there is assistance available for parents who want the best for their children. The YMCA of Kitchener- Waterloo recently celebrat- ed the grand opening of its Ontario Early Years Centre which serves the K-W riding and the rural portion of the Waterloo-Wellington riding. Designed to be a place where parents and care- givers can get answers to questions and information about programs and servic- es that are available for young children, the centre has already gained the admiration of some local parents hoping to stimulate their children's imagina- tions. "I think it's excellent," said Heather Ross, a mother of two boys who recently began visting the centre with her seven-week-old son Sawyer. "hh an amazing resource to have. My son Gavin is two, and he just has a blast; there's so many things toplay with." The KAV YMCA believes that the new centre will enhance the already excel- lent system of services for children in this community. The project also represents a new community partner for the YMCA-the Govern- ment of Ontario. Eliminate standing water around your house. Drill holes in bottom of used containers so water can't collect, Change water in bird baths every other day. Turn over compost frequently and clean eavestroughs thoroughly. To learn more, call or visit our Web site. 1-877-234-4343 TTY 1-800-StW-6669 www.Reatthy0ntario.eom West Nile virus: Fighting mosquitoes. The k-W YMCA was re you a parent con- cerned about your young child's early For The Chmm'cle BYVISHKHANNA Four-month-old Sophie Stevens-Green enjoys a ride on an Exersaucer at the K-W YMCA Ontario Early Years Centre while mom, Liz Stevens, looks on. selected as a host agency because it already had nine licensed child-care facilities running successfully and demonstrated a great enthusiasm for the govern- ment‘s child development initiative. "The more time and resources that both parents and the community put into childreh in those years will positively affect them in their lives." According to the YMCA. the early years in a child's life can influence brain development. future learm ing. behaviour and health more than any other. "The mo're time and YMCA communications supervisor LIFESTYLE resources that both parents and the community put into children in those years will positively affect them in their lives." Jessup said assuredly. The centre's flexible schedule allows parents -- who usually must expect the unexpected from their children -- to take better advantage of such resources. "The Early Years'is nice because you can drop in whenever you like." agreed Ross. "As a parent with young kids, it's hard to get organized to go to some- thing at a set time. It's nice to get out of the house too, get a change of scenery.'.' The centre contains an on-site resource room Med with toys, easels for painting and drawing, and building blocks for kids. which, for a variety of reasons, parents might find more appealing than staying at home. "There's a lot more vari- ety in the activities and my son can sample things that we couldn't realty set up at "Frankly, it": nice with things like painting not to have the mess at home. Also. it's easy because he only really likes to paint for frve minutes, and after that he can just move on to something else." Stay-at-home moms and working parents alike are encouraged to come in and spend time with their chil- dren at the centre and make use of the interactive play- ing environment where par- ents and children can get together. Some of the programs and information available to parents include new-born literacy kits and guidelines to support early literacy and family development, "Ii's not juit mum for the kids," lessup empha- "There's a great deal to offer parents and it really is a place where families can spend time together." tre is located indse Univer- sity Downs plan at 425 Uni- versity Ave, E A . The Waterloo branch of the Ontario Early Years Cen- Fdr more information, visit www.kwymca.org or calltheceotreat "l-8585. The annual Cheerios Mother Daughter Walk for Heart and Stroke will take place Sept, 21 at Waterloo All participants are asked to raise a minimuht of $20 in pledges. Each walker who raises $60 or more will receive an official T-shirt, This is a fundraising walk in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario _._ Waterloo Region: You can register as an individual or a community team. Communiiy teams may consist of any number of people, with a minimum of five aiiults_ pg! team. _ B "Ali ieam members will receive a basetiall cap, while quantities last, P! the lay, of_the walk. - . .. ' On-site activities inélude entertainment, a chil- dren's area, blood pressure testing and massage thera- Registration opens at 9:30 a.m.. with the walk lo follow at It am. - - The walk will include LS km child-friendly routes and three, to four-km adult routes. Local preregistration days will take place Sept. 17 at the Scotiabank at Waterloo Town Square, from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. . - _ To "registier or voluméer for the walk. call 57l-9600, or register online at www.heartandstrokeca/ walk. participants can register, turn in their pledges and receive their prizes prior to the event by attending these preregistration days - - _ The villagers and farmers at Donn Heritage Cross- roads invite you to take part in a ISM fall fair Sept. 14 from IO a.m. to 4:30 pm. _ - _ Set in the autumn amid the blazingtolours and cool crisp air, fall fairs were an important event to the rural community. It was the culmination of a year's worth of effort, and the best of the best of the product of that labour was ready for competition. _ _ _ _ Musiéal entertdinment, the penny carnival and the display of fair entries made it a special event for every- one in the community. - A _ _ Doon Heritage Crossroads holds annual fall fair Enjoy the musicai entertainment, take in the fair exhibits, watch the sheep dog demonstrations and spend some time visiting with the villagers and farm- Call 748-1914 for entry rules for competitions in baking prothce and crafts. - _ Mothers and Daughters walk for Heart and Stroke Dai, will be accepting entries on Sept. 13 from 14 pm. and Sept. " from 9-10 a.m. Regular admission applies for the fall fair, The K-WSingenwiB “some new members Mon- _days from 7:30-9:30 pan. at Forest Hill United Church btartingSept. 8, him is located a 121 Westmount m E. Call 742-7615 or 578-338 for more information. K-W Singers looking for new members - timtditm Travel 8. Cruises - Vacations on Sale tttttV