National Day of Listening is November 26, 2010. Celebrate by recording an interview with a loved one.

The National Day of Listening is a new national holiday started by StoryCorps in 2008. On the day after Thanksgiving, StoryCorps asks all Americans to take an hour to record an interview with a loved one, using recording equipment that is readily available in most homes, such as computers, iPhones, and tape recorders, along with StoryCorps’ free Do-It-Yourself Instruction Guide.

The mission of StoryCorps is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives.

Other helpful sites:

http://kids.familytreemagazine.com/kids/interview.asp

http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/a/interview.htm

Hundreds of volunteers will again be in Bellevue Saturday November 20, this time to plant trees on ReLeafing Day.

“Nashville Tree Foundation is partnering with Cumberland River Compact, Nashville Electric Service and Impact Nashville to plant about 300 trees in Bellevue neighborhoods affected by the historic May flood on the ninth annual ReLeafing Day,” said Foundation president Pat Wallace.

This is the ninth ReLeafing Day, held annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Nashville Tree Foundation’s partners  include Impact Nashville, NES, Cumberland River Compact, Metro Tree Advisory Committee and Metro Beautification and Environment Commission.

Want to volunteer at this event? Click here.

For more information on ReLeafing Day, click here.

Nashville Tree Foundation

World Kindness Day

Saturday is World Kindness Day. In fact, we’re in the middle of World Kindness Week. Some of you out there are always kind, so you don’t need a reminder. But, for others, here’s a list of seven things you can do today or Saturday (or any day, for that matter) to be kind:

• Thank your mail carrier.
• Notice someone.
• Be nice on the road.
• Pay a coworker a genuine compliment.
• Send a friend a letter. That you wrote. By hand.
• Return someone else’s shopping cart.
• Say, “Please,” “Thank you,” and “You’re Welcome.”

What can you add to the list?

- Sam Davidson

http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/

http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloweenmonster/index.htm

http://www.halloween-safety.com/

http://www.halloween-safety.com/halloween_safety_pets.html

http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2009/10/halloween-safety-tips/

Don't buy a new costume, just trade it in.

If you still don’t know what to be for Halloween, before you take scissors to a perfectly good white sheet or hastily fork over $50 at a store, see if you can trade or borrow a costume from one of your friends. Although you’ve been saving your Harry Potter costume in case J.K. Rowling writes more books, maybe it’s time you let someone borrow it so you can go to your parties dressed as Batman (he’ll never go out of style). Sharing costumes saves you money and lessens your consumption habits – two good things that are never scary.

- Sam Davidson

Activities for all ages! Come taste some fabulous chili and vote on the best! Think your chili tops them all? Enter for a chance to prove it.

Enter for a chance to win $200 bucks!

$30.00 to enter the chili cook-off

$5.00 adults and $2.00 children for tasting

There will be live music, face painting and a bounce house.

All proceeds benefit Community Shares and the Tennessee Literacy Coalition.

http://www.musiccitychilicookoff.com/

When: Wednesday, October 6th

What: A part of International Walk to School Month

Who: Parents and kids in all 50 states

Why: For many reasons. According to the website:

Whether your concern is safer and improved streets, healthier habits, or cleaner air, Walk to School Day events are aimed at bringing forth permanent change to encourage a more walkable America — one community at a time.

Click  here to learn more and find an event in your city.

What: Celebration of Cultures festival, a FREE event, featuring:
- Global Village - Ethnic food
- World Market - TEENS UNITED!
- Children’s area - Entertainment on five different stages

When: Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Centennial Park, Nashville TN

Cost: FREE

Parking: Additional free parking is available in the ground-level HCA parking lots on Park Plaza, off 25th Ave. N.

Web site: www.celebrationofcultures.org

The Celebration of Cultures festival aims to celebrate and embrace the cultural diversity of our community by encouraging understanding, appreciation and respect through a fun-filled day of music, dance, food, children’s activities, an area organized by local teens for teens called TEENS UNITED!, a marketplace featuring handcrafted and imported items for sale, and an educational component called “The Global Village.”

More than 40 cultures will be represented, 35 food vendors will offer a sampling of cuisine from around the world, and entertainment will be provided on five different stages throughout the park. A children’s area will feature free interactive music and dance programs, storytelling, a children’s stage, nature activities, puppet shows and hands-on art projects presented by local Nashville organizations. “The Global Village” will offer a glimpse into the daily life and traditions of people from different countries, including China, India, Ethiopia, Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, Japan, Norway, Madagascar and Ecuador. The day’s festivities will also include free admission to the Parthenon.

www.celebrationofcultures.org

www.scarrittbennett.org

What:   Part of Child Passenger Safety Week (September 19 – 25)

When:  Saturday, September 25th

Child Passenger Safety Week (September 19-25) is an annual campaign to bring public attention to the importance of properly securing all children in appropriate child safety seats, booster seats or seat belts – every trip, every time.  The campaign ends on September 25 with “National Seat Check Saturday,” when certified child passenger safety technicians will provide advice and hands-on child safety seat inspections nationwide for free.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research, 8,959 lives have been saved from 1975 to 2008 by the proper use of child restraints.   In 2008, among children under age 5 in passenger vehicles, an estimated 244 lives were saved by child restraint use (child safety seats and adult seat belts).  Research shows that child restraints provide the best protection for all children up to age 8.

To find a safety inspection event in your area, visit www.nhtsa.gov, or call 888-327-4236.

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Location: Belmont Mansion, 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37212

Hansel and Gretel Sneak Preview & Make your own Gingerbread house!

Just before Halloween, come enjoy popular arias from Humperdinck’s classic, Hansel and Gretel, including the Witch’s aria and the Sandman Aria into Evening Prayer. Afterwards make your own Gingerbread house and enjoy refreshments with the Cast! Costumes and props will be on display in the Belmont Mansion’s Grand Salon.

$7.00 per person -Register online at www.nashvilleopera.org or by calling 832-5242. General seating- it’s recommended to arrive early.

Suggested age: 5 and up

Space is limited, please register!