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Thursday, March 12, 2026
Music Minute - Andy Cooney: Everybody's Irish
Book Nook - The Secret of the Old Clock: A Nancy Drew Detective Mystery
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Monson’s retelling of the original book, The Secret of the Old Clock A Nancy Drew Detective Storycaptures the plot and distills it in a way that is fun for children. Along with the story, there are activities, games, and puzzles (not requiring writing in the book) throughout to foster budding detectives.
This retelling of the very first Nancy Drew mystery, The Secret of the Old Clock, is the third book in the Mini Mysteries series of interactive picture book mysteries for children. The previous titles were Agatha Christie mysteries.
MARCI KAY MONSON is an avid reader, crafter, and gardener. She received her BS in Technical Communications from Utah State University and a graduate certificate in publishing from the Denver Publishing Institute. She loves stories, bright colors, and a little bit of (cozy and fictional) murder. Raised in Japan, England, and Germany, she now lives in Layton, Utah.
RYAN WHEATCROFT was born and raised in Sheffield, England, where he still lives on the outskirts of the city. He graduated from the University of Lincoln with a degree in illustration in 2014 and has been making artwork for books ever since.
Amazing Art - Wizard of Oz Interview
I recently had a chance to interview Becca Claire Hart, who will be playing "Aunt Em/Glinda the Witch of the North" in CTC's production of Wizard of Oz.
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What are some of the great things about portraying a classic character from a well-known story?
There's a freedom in performing a character as well-known as Glinda the Good. There are so many iconic versions of this character, from the Wizard of Oz movie to the Wicked versions on stage and screen - I feel inspired to fill that famous bubble with my own version of her magic and warmth.
What are some of the challenges?
Hah! I've already had to tell a few folks, "Yes, I'm playing Glinda, but not that Glinda!" In direct relation to your previous question, there's bound to be some comparison of the Good Witches, but I'm happy to say I don't feel any pressure to copy the iconic options given to us by Billie Burke, Kristin Chenoweth, or Ariana Grande, to name a few.
Why should people come see the show, even if they already know the story?
It'll be like watching a favorite story...but with some new surprises! We're going to Oz, yes, but how will we do the tornado? How will we go from black and white to a world of color? How is the Wicked Witch of the West going to melt? There's something so exciting about seeing magic happen live on stage. (I'm excited to see it myself!)
What do you hope audiences take away from the experience?
I hope folks walk away singing, laughing, and holding the warmth that comes with the final message: there's no place like home.
Becca Claire Hart* (she/her) feels so lucky to be a part of this wonderful show. Hart has performed in several CTC shows and has worked at the Guthrie Theater, Jungle Theater, Theater Latté Da, and other stages around the Twin Cities. She sends love to her family and friends!
Tickets may be purchased at childrenstheatre.org/oz or by calling the Ticket Office at 612.874.0400. Ticket prices start at $25.
School groups interested in attending The Wizard of Oz can contact schools@childrenstheatre.org
The Wizard of Oz has a run time of 2 hours, with one 15-minute intermission.
This production is recommended for all ages. Lap passes are available for children 3 years and younger.
The Wizard of Oz
By L. Frank Baum
By L. Frank Baum
With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg
Background Music by Herbert Stothart
Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard
Orchestration by Larry Wilcox
Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company
Music Direction and Orchestrations by Victor Zupanc
Choreography by Christopher Windom†
Music Direction and Orchestrations by Victor Zupanc
Choreography by Christopher Windom†
Directed by Rick Dildine†
Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by
Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros.
April 21-June 14, 2026
UnitedHealth Group Stage
Best for all ages
UnitedHealth Group Stage
Best for all ages
Music Minute - Ancient Seed
Ancient Seed, the new song in support of #SaveSoil is available now! As the first single from the forthcoming Conscious Planet EP, it combines music and message to draw global attention to the future of our soil.
The track unites international artists Australian-Tamil singer-songwriter Dhee, Nigerian Afrobeats singer-songwriter Tiwa Savage, Indian music producer and film composer Santhosh Narayanan, and multi-platinum, GRAMMY-nominated record producer WondaGurl, creating a mashup of Indian and Afrobeats music with a Western pop flair, all while shining a spotlight on soil and nature.
Healthy Habits - Freeze-Dried Fruit
March is National Nutrition Month, and you don't have to reinvent meals, you can also upgrade snacks.
One category to explore: freeze-dried fruit. It delivers real crunch and natural sweetness without added sugar or prep - an easy fit for any routine.
Parents want shorter ingredient lists without sacrificing flavor or convenience. Freeze-dried fruit delivers both.
Crispy Fruit by Crispy Green is one example. Made with 100% pure fruit, it turns mango, strawberry, apple, pineapple, pear, banana, and tangerine into a light, crunchy option that slips easily into lunchboxes, sports bags, and after-school routines.
It’s a simple shift that works for any family.
Learn more here: https://crispygreen.com/
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Fun Freetime - Ranger’s Path: National Park Simulator
I recently had a chance to try out an advance version of Ranger’s Path: National Park Simulator. My younger kid and I both tried it out.
I enjoyed it. I like the idea of raising awareness of some of the day-to-day elements of a national park, even if it is gamified and not completely accurate. The game includes tasks like clearing trails and assisting visitors. My kid really likes simulator games and enjoyed the interface, as well as the ability to deal with emergencies. I liked the on-boarding and intuitiveness of the game play.
If you like simulator games and/or National Parks, this is a fun, relatively low-stress game to check out.
Money Matters - Tipping Survey
More than 2 in 5 Americans think the U.S. should ban tips, according to WalletHub’s 2026 Tipping Survey, released today. The survey asked whether people feel pressured to tip, how they think gratuities should be split, and more. You can find highlights from the survey below.
Key Findings:
- Tipping Under Fire: More than 2 in 5 Americans think the U.S. should ban tips.
- Tip Culture Chaos: 81% of people think tipping has gotten out of control.
- Salary Substitution: 64% of people think businesses are replacing employee salaries with customer tips.
- Forced Generosity: 55% of people say they often leave a tip due to social pressure rather than good service.
- Tip Screen Effect: 1 in 5 people tip less when they’re presented with a tip suggestion screen.
- Equal Tip Distribution: 33% of people think tips should be split among all employees.
Nearly as many people believe the solution is to ban tipping entirely, which would go a long way toward more transparent pricing. That’s a longshot, but until then, we can certainly be more discerning about whom we tip and how much we give. You shouldn’t feel bullied to leave a tip if you don’t think it’s deserved. Tipping seems to have lost its way, from being an additional reward to something mandatory masking the true cost of the services you receive.”
- John Kiernan, WalletHub Editor
More From WalletHub
Book Nook - Storyline Online® Celebrates Its 100th Read-Aloud with Uzo Aduba Reading Otters vs. Badgers
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation proudly announces that its Emmy Award-winning children’s literacy program Storyline Online is celebrating its 100th read-aloud with the release of Otters vs. Badgers, written and illustrated by Anya Glazer, published by Kane Miller Books and read by award-winning actor Uzo Aduba. The milestone read-aloud can be viewed on storylineonline.net and YouTube.
Now in its third decade, Storyline Online has inspired a love of reading in children around the world for almost 25 years. What began as a simple idea has grown into a global literacy resource with hundreds of millions of views, offering free, high-quality read-aloud videos by the world’s best storytellers for young readers, families and educators everywhere.
In Otters vs. Badgers, Aduba delivers a spirited and heartfelt performance that captures both the humor and the timely themes of empathy, cooperation, and finding common ground at the heart of the story. Through original character voicing and dynamically animated illustrations, the book encourages children to look for similarities rather than differences and work together.
“Stories have the power to help children see themselves and each other more clearly,” said Aduba. “I was drawn to Otters vs. Badgers because it’s playful and funny, but it also carries a meaningful message about different groups learning how to live together in harmony rather than conflict. To be part of Storyline Online’s 100th read-aloud, and to celebrate this program that has meant so much to so many children, teachers and families for over two decades, is truly special.”
Produced by the nonprofit SAG-AFTRA Foundation, the series is available for free, 24/7, to children, families and educators around the world.
“This 100th read-aloud represents far more than a number,” said Courtney B. Vance, President and Chairman of the Board of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. “It reflects more than two decades of actors giving their time and talent to ensure that every child, everywhere, has access to joyful, meaningful storytelling. We are deeply grateful to Uzo for bringing her extraordinary heart and voice to this milestone moment, and to the many performers who have helped build Storyline Online into the global literacy program it is today.”
Otters Vs. Badgers is the 100th read-aloud in Storyline Online’s acclaimed library, which includes read-alouds by Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Bryan Cranston, Viola Davis, John Lithgow, Rami Malek, Gary Oldman, Chris Pine, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Yeoh and many more.
Each Storyline Online video is accompanied by free supplemental curriculum aligned with Common Core Standards to reinforce key literacy and comprehension skills, making the program a valuable classroom tool as well as an at-home resource.
Otters vs. Badgers is now available to watch for free at StorylineOnline.net. Keep up with new videos by subscribing to Storyline Online on YouTube and following Storyline Online on Instagram, X and Facebook.
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| Uzo Aduba reads for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s children’s literacy program Storyline Online Photo courtesy of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation |
Storyline Online is made possible through gifts, grants, and sponsorships. For more information about becoming a Storyline Online sponsor, please email sponsorship@sagaftra.
ABOUT STORYLINE ONLINE®
An Emmy-winning program of the nonprofit SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Storyline Online® streams 100 videos at no cost to children, parents and educators worldwide. The program is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers and the American Library Association, and it has been named one of the best websites by the American Association of School Librarians. In addition to the website, Storyline Online offers a free app for iPhone devices. Like all SAG-AFTRA Foundation programs, Storyline Online relies on support from gifts, grants and sponsorships to produce new content. For more information, visit storylineonline.net.
CONNECT WITH STORYLINE ONLINE
Instagram: @storylineonline
X: @storylineonline
Facebook: facebook.com/
YouTube: youtube.com/
Hashtag: #StorylineOnline
ABOUT THE SAG-AFTRA FOUNDATION
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides vital assistance and free educational programming to the professionals of SAG-AFTRA while serving the public at large through its award-winning children’s literacy program Storyline Online. The Foundation relies on support from gifts, grants and sponsorships to maintain its free programs. For more information, visit sagaftra.foundation.
CONNECT WITH THE SAG-AFTRA FOUNDATION
Instagram: @sagaftrafound
TikTok: @sagaftrafound
X: @sagaftrafound
Facebook: facebook.com/
YouTube: youtube.com/
Travel Tidbits - Perfect Portugal Day
The perfect Portugal day has just been curated by Inside Tours.
This special day begins with pure relaxation with the Commodus Experience, a luxurious blend of ancient Roman bathing rituals in a circuit of thermal pools at different temperatures, soothing muscles and easing stress for as long as you wish. The day follows with a a deeply restorative 60-minute massage. Begin your journey in a tranquil Roman bathhouse, where a circuit of pools at varying temperatures soothes your body and prepares your muscles for ultimate relaxation. Then, let the therapist take over and guide you into a state of complete serenity with a personalized massage designed to melt away tension, boost circulation, and revitalize both body and mind.
Enjoy a special farm-to-table organic lunch at a stunning vineyard and spend time relaxing at your hotel before the skies go dark and it's time for a breathtaking celestial journey where the universe unfolds before your eyes. In one of the world's first certified astrotourism destinations, your stargazing session begins with an engaging introduction to the night sky. Learn how to find the North Star, recognize iconic constellations, and identify visible planets as our expert guides share fascinating insights into astronomy.
As the night deepens, you’ll have the chance to observe celestial wonders through state-of-the-art telescopes. Marvel at the intricate details of the Moon, the ethereal beauty of nebulae, shimmering star clusters, and even distant galaxies. Each session is tailored to the atmospheric conditions of the night, ensuring a truly immersive and unforgettable experience.
Healthy Habits - COVID Vaccines
COVID-19 changed the world overnight and remains a significant concern for children and adolescents with high-risk conditions. Data from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows just how dangerous this virus still remains, especially for children who are considered high-risk.
Despite being preventable, COVID-19 continues to cause serious illness, hospitalization, and death in children. The latest numbers underscore that no child is immune to the risks.
Children 6 months to 23 months are at higher risk for hospitalization
58.9% of children hospitalized for COVID-19 had one or more underlying medical conditions, including asthma/reactive airway disease, neurologic disorders, obesity, chronic lung disease excluding asthma, and feeding tube dependence
25.2% had severe disease requiring ICU care, which may include ventilatory support and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
96.2% of children hospitalized for COVID-19 were not fully vaccinated
Dr. Teresa Whited, a pediatric nurse expert with the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, talks about why COVID “isn’t just a bad cold,” and that COVID prevention isn’t just about a few missed school days - it’s about saving lives. With most pediatric COVID severe illness and deaths occurring among unvaccinated children, experts urge parents and caregivers to get the COVID vaccine now.
So what are some of the symptoms of COVID and why is it so dangerous for children and adolescents?
So, like other respiratory illnesses, COVID can have common symptoms such as fever, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, headache, some body aches, sometimes nausea or vomiting.
One thing that's kind of unique to COVID is, especially in adolescents, you can have a loss of taste and smell and a lot of children do experience these cold like symptoms, but for some, it can be a much more significant disease process, leading to hospitalization and ICU admissions and really bad outcomes.
What is causing that? Are there more serious complications for children with underlying medical conditions like asthma, neurologic disorders and obesity if they get COVID?
Yes. Those who have moderate to severe asthma, chronic lung disease, obesity, diabetes, neurologic disorders, congenital heart disease, are immunocompromised, or those who are considered medically complex.
Maybe they have more than one illness, or maybe they need some help with feedings or other things. Those children, and especially those younger children, like six months to 23 months of age, we know are at higher risk for hospitalization and at risk for things like respiratory failure, myocarditis, a disease process called MISC, which affects multiple organs within the body. And even long COVID in a lot of cases.
So at what age should children start receiving the COVID vaccine and should it be administered every year?
Every year we recommend that you get the vaccine, just like your flu vaccine. It should be an annual thing because new strengths of the virus come up each year and the vaccine gets those new strains put in them to protect you from the latest strains.
The recommendation is that all children six months of age and older should receive the COVID vaccine, but especially those who have high risk conditions. Kids or infants that are younger than six months of age who are not eligible to receive the vaccine can still be protected by the mom getting their vaccine during pregnancy or following pregnancy. And those close contacts or family members that are going to be around the baby getting vaccinated provides that negative protection.
Some people are concerned that getting the COVID vaccine might be worse than coming down with the disease. So what can you tell us about that?
Absolutely, the COVID vaccine is safe. We know that the side effects are very mild in most people, typically just some mild, short-lived side effects that include maybe a little bit of soreness at the site, some fatigue, a low grade fever, and it usually only lasts just a day or two.
We know that the risk of COVID may be mild or it may be more significant and there's no way to identify those children who are going to have good outcomes or bad outcomes. But we definitely know that those who are at higher risk are at more risk for those outcomes.
Where can we go for more information?
You can go to the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners’ website. They have lots of information on the COVID-19 vaccine and the disease process as well as other vaccine preventable diseases.
Interview sponsor - National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).
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