Many may be unaware that the western lands of our nation are but a couple of hours south of Chattanooga. “How can this be?” you ask. Well, it’s only an illusion, but a topnotch one. The Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Ga., is a gem just down I-75, and makes for an exceedingly worthwhile day trip for enrichment and enjoyment.

The 120,000-square-foot museum, opened in 2003, houses permanent collections of Western art, Civil War art, and a remarkable gallery of Presidential letters and portraits. The variety of artistic media is truly stunning, from fine art and sculpture to classic Western movie posters. Some special items of note are a showcase of the stages involved in casting a bronze sculpture; an exhibit of one artist’s depiction of the same range burial in two differing paintings and a sculpture; and a large, intricate, fascinating sculpture made entirely of paper. The themes of the six permanent exhibitions are The American West gallery; The Cowboy gallery; Faces of the West; Heading West; The Modern West; and The Sculpture Court. The Heading West gallery features a genuine, restored Conestoga wagon. There is much to be found in the way of enrichment and education at the Booth Museum, and we in this area are very fortunate to have such a distinguished facility of which to take advantage.

The museum also houses temporary exhibits. Those coming up include “Stan Natchez: Indian Without Reservation” (September 13 through January 8, 2012); “Booth Photography Guild Biennial Exhibition” (September 13 through November 13); and “Western Art South of the Sweet Tea Line III” (September 24 through February 12, 2012).

Be sure to check out a “Saddle Bag” at the Information Desk for your child/children when you arrive.It’s filled with family activities to make the visit more engaging. Younger children will enjoy “Sagebrush Ranch,” a high-quality, hands-on area where they can take part in more fun and educational activities than can be detailed in this space. Suffice it to say that their experience will be a memorable one (be sure to take your camera)!Oct. 20-23 of this year, the Booth Museum will host their Annual Southeastern Cowboy Festival and Symposium. The following is reprinted from the Museum’s website: “Sample the wares of vendors ranging from Western art to collectibles. Enjoy entertainment throughout the day on two stages, including Western music, fast draw competitions, three performances of the Re-enactment of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and demonstrations of traditional Native American dances by the Big Mountain Family. Plus, living history encampments with demonstrations of pioneer skills from bygone days.

The Kids Corner of the Festival and Symposium will feature a variety of free activities for children. They can create a slinky snake or a hand print horse, paint the “yard art” ponies, do some calf roping and have their face painted. There will also be pony rides available for a small charge.” The admission prices for the day are Adults – $10; Seniors (65 and over) – $8; Students – $7; Children 12 Under – $3. There are also special group rates available.

In March 2012, make plans to attend the Southeastern Cowboy Gathering. Now, this is FUN! Chuck-wagon cookoff; open fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and banjo contests (“Top musicians from around the Southeast compete for cash prizes and bragging rights”); an adult cowboy poetry workshop, children’s activities, musical entertainment; and more. When our family of four attends, we are each given a ticket to a different chuck-wagon for lunch; that way, we can sample each other’s food and vote for our favorites. Tickets for the chuck-wagon lunch are $12 each. The general admission prices are the same as previously shown.

Of particular interest to home-schoolers are the museums “Homeschool Fridays” (Oct. 7, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2) held from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., during which students will “…discover a different artist, style and theme each month while creating [their] own masterpiece[s].” Also on tap for homeschoolers is “Home School Gathering (Ages 5-17) “Calling all Home-School Students! The Booth Museum is having a special day just for you! This program is held in connection with the 9th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering. Tours will be offered several times throughout the afternoon, art activities will be located at different stations around the museum, free audio tours will be offered that day and there will be a special 10% discount for you and your family in the store and café. (Thursday, March 8, 2012, 1 – 4 p.m. $5 for students, $3 for adults.)

I can’t encourage you enough to take a day to check out the Booth Western Art Museum. There is a cafe on-site where lunch or snacks can be had, plenty of free parking, and, of course, a gift shop par excellence! So saddle up and mosey on down to Cartersville’s Booth Museum of Western Art.

HOURS

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Thursday – 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Sunday – 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Closed Mondays, New Year’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas

ADMISSIONS

• Members – Free – JOIN NOW!
• Adults – $10.00
• Seniors (65 and over) – $8.00
• Students – $7.00
• Children 12 and under – Free*

*Children must be accompanied by parent or guardian

Hamans New Drivers (a highly respected, multi-state company) has contracted with the city to provide its basic five week defensive driving course (regularly $389) to eligible city residents for $350. Upon application, the student/parent(s) pay a $50 nonrefundable enrollment fee. Once the student has successfully completed the course, the city pays the $300 balance directly to the driving school. At that point, each student will be able to schedule 6 hours (three 2-hour sessions) of individual behind-thewheel time with a certified Haman’s instructor; these sessions are included in that $50 fee.

The courses are held at selected City recreation centers. So far, we have held classes at the Brainerd Rec Complex, the Washington Hills Center, the Shepherd Center, Greenway Farm, the Westside Community Center and the John A. Patten Center. Indeed, one of the most innovative aspects of this program is its use of the City’s exceptional recreation centers. By attending the classes at these centers, City residents can be exposed to and learn more about the various programs that each site has to offer. Each facility experiences renewed focus along with an increase in attendance and neighborhood “ownership”. And, of course, the benefits of these kids’ receiving top notch training will become more evident every day as we share the road.

I’m accepting applications for a series of summer courses to be held at Greenway Farm in Hixson and the John A. Patten Center in Lookout Valley. Unlike the courses held during the school year – those meet twice a week for five weeks – the summer classes meet each afternoon Monday- Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. for two weeks:
* June 7 – 18 Greenway Farm (5051 Gann Store Road) * June 21 – July 2 Patten Center (3202 Kelly Ferry Road) * July 12 – July 23 Patten Center * July 26 – Aug. 6 Greenway Farm

Caroline Johnson johnson_c@chattanooga.gov

This past year has not been an easy one for many Americans, that’s for sure. With businesses downsizing and laying off staff, many loyal employees find themselves out of work. With the bursting of the real estate bubble, many hard-working homeowners find themselves in a house they can no longer afford to keep and yet can neither afford to sell. We live in hard times, but often it is these very hard times that generate the most creative thinking. As they say… Necessity is the mother of invention. I believe that was first spoken by Plato. Or you could say… “Invention is the mother of necessity.” Thorstein Veblen, the author of that quote, was a U.S. economist and social philosopher who lived during the latter portion of the 19th century until the Great Depression. He lived in times not unlike our own. Swift change can cause turmoil.

So, if invention and creativity are spurred on by necessity or difficulty (and vice versa), then now is a great time to look for and use no-cost resources that will serve us well during this economic downturn.

There are many of you who cannot afford homeschooling curriculum this year. Does that mean that you should put your children into public school? No, what it means is that it is time to get creative, even inventive, when it comes to our children’s education.

And this is your place to start. I am going to share with you my top 5 “must-have” homeschooling resources that won’t cost you a dime. Bookmark each of these sites and refer to them often as you prepare and teach your children during this upcoming school year.

Top 5 Must-Have No-Cost Homeschooling Resources

(These are not listed in any particular order because they are all good. Bookmark or sign up for them all.)

Jim Erskine’s Freebie of the Day — http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/

If you are not aware of this site, then I am excited to share it with you. Jim works with homeschool publishers to provide you with 1 freebie each day. The link to the freebie is only active for 24 hours, so you have to act fast, but these are quality offerings and not just filler junk. Trust me, I have participated in this program and we have given away a full U.S. geography curriculum on one occasion and another full ebook on another occasion. Other publishers are doing the same thing. So sign up using the “Join List” tab at the top of the page.

The Old Schoolhouse’s Teacher Toolbox — http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/E_News/index.php#teacherstoolbox

Most of you are probably aware of their Freebie Friday newsletter (if you are not, then sign up for that one as well). But the Teacher Toolbox newsletter is a lesser known treasure. The Teacher’s Toolbox is a great way to inject something extra into your teaching plans especially when you are homeschooling on a shoestring.

The Homeschool Mom Unit Studies — http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/schoolroom/unitstudies.php

Actually, the entire Homeschool Mom site is a gem and you should spend some time there getting familiarized with it and find out what it has to offer. But I specifically highlighted the unit study page because unit studies are a great way to homeschool your children especially if you are working with limited funds. You can teach them all the same topic but at varying levels. You can often utilize library books and online information resources — all for free.

Donna Young Printables and Resources — http://donnayoung.org/index.htm

Yes, this site is a treasure trove of lessons, planners and forms. There is a form for everything you could ever need. I especially like her diplomas! If you are looking for a specific form, a planner or a lesson for a certain subject, make sure that you check here! Donna Young has so many useful forms and resources that you will think you have hit the jackpot.

Homeschooling ABCs Free 5 Day MiniClass — http://www.homeschoolingabcs.com/

Sometimes when you are throwing it all together yourself and not using pre-made curriculum, you can start to wonder if you are on the right track. Worry no longer… sign up for the free 5 day mini-class at the site above and receive information on:

• What to Teach and When
• 4 Steps to Homeschooling Success
• Homeschooling on a Dime
• Getting the Help You Need
• Planning and Scheduling

Take advantage of these resources. Let them be the fuel that starts your creative engine and keeps it going strong. My hope and prayer for you is that you have NOT been hit hard by this financial mess our country has found itself in. But if you have been, then look for the silver lining amongst the gray clouds. As Patti Handy says, “Don’t let a good financial crisis go to waste.” (http://www.teenscashcoach.com/)

Two servies are available to you:

• Netlibrary
• Overdrive.

Be sure to read instructions for both services. Procedures, availability of titles, formats, and time limits vary.

Teen Stack, covering a 1,400 square foot area on the first floor, is a great place for area teens to study, attend programs and have fun. Four new Dell PCs and two I Mac Pros provide teens with computers for research, projects and more. A 52” Sony Bravia LCD HD television, as well as Playstation 3 and Wii consoles, allow for Blu-ray movie showings and special gaming events.

In addition, there are lockers, conversation areas and study tables. A portion of the young adult fiction collection is located in Teen Stack for easy access to materials.

Maria Sabin, a homeschooling mom, will be volunteering at the Teen Center on these alternate Fridays from noon to 3. Teens between the ages 12-18 are eligible to join Teen Stack provided they have a library card.

For more information, please contact the Library at 757-5310.

    Open Monday and Wednesday
    9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
    Tuesday and Thursday
    9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    Friday
    9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    Saturday
    9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

    Fee: $15 per year

BOOKS

• Book Limit: 5 books per person
• Checkout Period: 3 weeks
• Renewal: Books may be renewed once, if another patron is not waiting for the title. Renewals may be made by phone or in person.
• Reserving Books: A book may be reserved or placed on hold for a patron. If the book is checked out or on order, the patron may request that the book be held for him or her. We will notify the patron by phone when the title is ready, and the book will be held for one week, unless additional time is requested before it is returned to the general collection.
• Overdue Fines: A grace period of one week is allowed, and then a fine of 10 cents per day will be charged for late books with a maximum fine of $5 per book. Fines on overdue “reserve” items are given below.
• Lost/Damaged Books: A replacement fee will be charged for lost or damaged books.
• Reserve Items: Professors often place books on “reserve” for students’ use. These books are kept behind the circulation desk. They may be used in the library or checked out during the last hour the library is open and returned the first hour the library is open. Fines will be 50 cents per hour for overdue reserves.

VIDEOTAPES &DVDs

• Checkout Period: 1 week
• Limited Checkout: 3 videos at one time
• Renewal: Videos may be renewed one time, unless another patron has placed a hold on the item.
• Reserving Videos: If the video is checked out, the patron may place it on hold or reserve so that when the item is returned, it will be held for that person. We will place the video behind the circulation desk, notify the patron who has reserved it, and hold it for one week before returning it to the shelf.
• Overdue Fines: We give you a grace period of two days, then a fine of $1 per day will be charged for an overdue video with a maximum fine of $10 per video.
• Lost/Damaged Videos: A replacement fee will be charged for lost or damaged videos.

AUDIOTAPES

• Checkout Period: 3 weeks
• Renewal: The audiotapes may be renewed.
• Reserving Audiotapes: If audiotapes are checked out, then the patron can request that the tapes be placed on hold for them when they are returned. Once the tapes are returned, the patron will be notified and the tapes held for one week before they are returned to the shelf.
• Overdue Fines: 10 cents per day with a maximum of $5 per tape
• Lost/Damaged Audios: A replacement fee will be charged for lost or damaged tapes.

CBI Patrons

To check out materials, please fill out an information card at the circulation desk. The annual fee for library usage is $15.

When fines reach $15, or when the patron owes for lost or damaged materials, the patron will not be allowed to check out materials until the debt is paid.

A copy machine is available, and printers are networked to the computers. Copies and printouts are 5 cents per copy for non-RGU library patrons.

    Contact:
    Ron Bunger and Gladys Edwards
    (423)648-2408
    rbunger@psy.edu

BOOK CATALOG

• http://library.psy.edu
• Once on the site, choose “• PSI Chattanooga”

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