Fru-Gal Column March 4

It always amazes me when people say that family activities can be so expensive. Since my children were younger we have been to many events that have been fun and educational but especially FREE. We always felt that it was worth a try and if it wasn’t what we expected we didn’t lose out any money. I will tell you at least 80 percent of the time we had a blast. The saddest part of the whole adventure was that not many people take advantage of these activities. Lexington is full of different aspects of life that open up many new opportunities for you to participate in.
The following places offer classes throughout the year. Go to their website to see future classes.

Rock it out on April 2010 at a free concert featuring Augustana at Buster’s Billards and Backroom in Lexington. The 10,000 hours show concert is a unique celebration of service that takes the best parts of a concert and makes them better by having an all-volunteer audience, a community saying thanks and performers who care. Just sign up at The United Way of the Bluegrass and start logging your volunteer hours for a free ticket.
http://uwbg.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=261&Itemid=5

The 2010 Grandparents and Relatives as Parents conference held on Thursday, March 25 starting at 8:00am is for grandparents, caregivers, other relatives, and professionals to meet other and learn about topics for relative assuming primary care of children. The day is full with workshops, exhibits, information and a dynamic keynote located at Holiday Inn North, 1950 Newtown Pike register at www.gapofky.org

Take a Wilton Cake Decorating Class in March at Michael’s Craft Store located on 2309 Nicholasville Rd or 1953 Pavilion Way for 50% off. Classes begin the week of March 7th, 2010.
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/static?page=wilton_cake_decorating

FREE Yarn Make-It and Take-It on March 6 from 10:00am to 1:00pm at Michael’s Craft Store at both above locations. Join them for a fun and free family event to make yarn dolls.
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/events?storeid=5302

Expecting a baby but have a dog at home? Join Lexington Humane Society and Lisa Hollander, dog obedience/behavior trainer on Saturday, March 20 at 12:15 as she walks you through maintaining order when your new bundle of joy comes home. Located at 1600 Old Frankfort Pike, class is free but you do need to register at 859-233-0044 x254 or email wwligus@lexingtonhumanesociety.org

Every third Thursday through May 2010, Lexington History Museum located at 215 West Main Street presents: “An Evening with your History”, Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 7:30pm. Admission is FREE. Call (859) 321-2466 or www.lexingtonhistorymuseum.org for more information

12 Bluegrass wineries each within an hours drive of Lexington, have agreed to host a wine barrel tasting of pre-released wine to benefit McConnell Springs. A barrel tasting is a one-ounce sample of wine in its final stages before actual bottling and release of the finished product. Partakers may start at any participating winer and travel to as many as they wish for the cost of $20. There will be winery tour vans available for those who don’t want to drive. Time is 11 am to 5pm. Call (859)272-0682 or www.mcconnellsprings.org for more information.

Take an American factory tour, wherever you are visiting or even in your hometown. There are 545 tours and more coming that available to the public.
http://www.factorytoursusa.com/Index.asp

Home Depot offers FREE home improvement workshops every week. Knowledgeable people teach you how to do home projects by yourself.
http://www.homeimproverclub.com/workshops.aspx?type=3

Lowe’s FREE Build and Grow Clinics offered on Saturdays at 10am. Bring your child to the next class on March 13 where they can build a awesome tabletop basketball game.
https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/Home.aspx

Want to be environmental friendly but don’t know what to do? Bluegrass Pride has many FREE workshops to help you get started.

On Saturday March 6th from 1:00pm – 3:00pm at Georgetown Fire Station #3 attend a FREE Rain Garden Workshop. The focus is for homeowners learn how to build and maintain a rain garden. Register for the classes and view other classes offered at http://www.bgpride.org/events.htm

The public libraries are a great source of classes for FREE. Computer classes, Toddler Storytime, Bouncing Babies, Homework help are available every month.
http://www.lexpublib.org/page/what-to-know-first-time-website-users

FREE 6 week Spanish class for beginners at Central Library, 140 E. Main Street Thursday from 5:30pm to 7:00pm April 8,15,22,29 and May 6 and 13. To register call (859) 231-5530.
http://www.lexpublib.org/calendar_program/beginners-spanish-class

Saint Joseph Hospital offers parents and guardian’s the Whale Program. It is a child safety seat occupant identification program. The Whale kit comes with two WHALE safety seat stickers, two WHALE window stickers, an Identification label and education brochures.
https://www.sjhlex.org/body.cfm?id=426

2010 Little Legends Kids Club sponsored by JIF and The Lexington Legends
Join the JIF Kids Club for just $13 and enjoy all these benefits:
NEW 2010 JIF Kids Club T-shirt
NEW special gift courtesy of JIF
$2 Box seat ticket price every JIF Kids Club Sunday
Subscription to Little Legends e-monthly official newsletter
Autograph/ice cream social with the Lexington Legends baseball team at the end of the season
Legends Kid ID dog tags
Personalized membership card
Press release announcing your membership
Discounts at the Legends locker merchandise store
Each member runs-the-bases after each “Kids Club Sunday”

2010 Silver Sluggers Club at The Lexington Legends
Available for Ages 55 & Older for just $30 if you sign up by April 1st you will receive a box seat to their 2010 opening night to celebrate the Legends 10th anniversary season.
½ off tickets to Sunday’s games
Receive a free meal voucher every Sunday
Opportunity to be chosen to throw a ceremonial first pitch
FREE Legends Silver Slugger Club merchandise items
E-newsletter featuring information on the Legends players
Attend all eleven Sunday games and receive lunch for two in the Marker Mark Club on Sunday, September 4, 2010 and a team autographed baseball

Sign up for either program on http://www.lexingtonlegends.com/ under community

Kentucky’s two land-grant universities, the University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University, serve as partners in conducting educational programs through Cooperative Extension. The program’s vision is to bring educational resources to all Kentuckians serving as a catalyst to build better communities and improve quality of life. Go to their website for a list of classes in your county http://ces.ca.uky.edu/ces/

Looking for a way to have healthier looking skin. Attend a FREE workshop at The Fayette County Extension Service, 1140 Red Mile Place on March 8 at 6:00 pm. Call (859) 257-5582 to register.

Saddle up Safely is a program offered from University of Kentucky Equine Center. I took a class last week learning how to incorporate safety measures while riding. They will be offering other classes but sign up and have the chance to win tickets to Alltech FEI World Equestion Games or Keeneland’s Spring Meet.
http://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/saddleup/

Federal Trade Commission site to order bulk quantities of free education materials. Simply choose a category on the left for a list of available publications.
http://bulkorder.ftc.gov/index.php?intro=1