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Thursday, July 2
Happy
FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND!
This Saturday is July 4th, also known as the Fourth of July, AKA America's Independence Day! It is a day of family, fun, and celebration, but it should still be a day of safety! Here are a few ideas to help you celebrate the holiday while still making sure you keep yourself and your loved ones healthy.
There will be no club or 1 PM Zoom meetings tomorrow, so enjoy your 3 day holiday weekend!
Watch a Movie!
Sometimes it's the simple pleasures in life that mean the most. Curling up on a couch to watch a festive film can be a fantastic way to celebrate any holiday if getting outside or visiting people is tough.
Some Fourth of July favorites include Independence Day, 1776, National Treasure, The Sandlot, or The Music Man. (And don't forget the premiere of Hamilton on Disney+!)
If you're having trouble finding something to watch try this list here.
Make Food!
Nothing says it's a holiday quite like the food you eat. Fourth of July favorites might include hot dogs and Rocket Pops, but there are some great and easy treats you can make yourself.
We at LES are a BIG fan of our Chex Mix, so it's no surprise we'd recommend some seasonal recipes for you!
Red, White, and Blue Muddy Buddies
Frozen Berry and Blueberry Chex
Stars and Stripes Chex Party Mix
Red, White, and Blueberry Chex Bars
Then you may just want to wash it all down with a tall, fresh glass of Raspberry Lemonade (with blueberries and ice added for the full red, white, and blue effect)!
Play Music!
A holiday is a big party and nothing says a party quite like music. Listen to your favorite Patriotic songs or just your favorite music in general. If you don't feel like looking anything up places like YouTube already has compilations and playlists available and ready to get you in the right spirit.
Make Your Own Entertainment!
Fireworks are an American tradition, but it might not be possible to go out and see them as easily this year and sparklers aren't always the safest alternative. Instead you can put on your own festive display. Glowsticks and silly string (which can come in glow-in-the-dark) are good ways to light up and color the sky (and everything around them!). An even better option are party poppers, and you can make them yourself.
Next Art Club Project
Next Tuesday for Art Club we will be learning how to draw even more simple cartoon characters! Follow along to easy instructions and learn to draw!
Participants will only need blank paper and a pencil with a good eraser. Pens and markers are optional for those interested in wanting to line and color their drawings.
Friday Movie Recommendation!
Tomorrow on July 3 is the Disney+ premiere of the recording of the hit Broadway play Hamilton! It is a historical musical retelling of the life of Alexander Hamilton; politician, statesman, and American Founding Father.
Chock full of amazing visuals and incredible songs, it can be watched exclusively through the Disney+ streaming service starting Friday, July 3rd!
Wednesday, July 1
Art Club Update!
With Fourth of July right around the corner, Art Club's latest project has been the most patriotic yet. Participants could choose between making paper chains, American flags, or little firecrackers/rockets. Everyone's projects came out as amazing as always!
People-Powered Research with:
You might be under the impression that people can't contribute a whole lot when they're stuck at home, but in the era of the internet this is simply not true, and Zooniverse is one of the best examples of that! All you need is a computer, phone, or tablet to help scientists and researchers around the world.
Zooniverse is a site full of almost 100 ongoing projects looking for willing participants to assist in its research. Projects range from Penguin Watch, where people voluntarily help by counting the number of penguins in a timelapse recording to help scientists understand their habits better, to Earthquake Detective, where you can adjust and listen to audio files to pick up the sounds of seismic waves.
Other projects include transcribing handwritten historical documents into typed text, examining plates of bacteria to help scientists crush resistance to antibiotics, and searching for gravitational waves!
There are tons of different projects to explore!
https://www.zooniverse.org/
Tuesday, June 30
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Favorite Color! Share with us the sign for your favorite color!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
Lights, Color, ACTION!
When you think of color I bet you only think of one thing: how it looks. You probably have a favorite color. Maybe one that makes you feel happy or even a color that reminds you of a warm memory, but what if I told you there are multiple ways to experience a color? Colors are just how our eyes perceive light, but can our ears and and other senses perceive that as well? Can a person taste a color?
No single person sees color the same way as the next. Everyone's eyes take in and translate light wavelengths ever so differently, and this is why some people can detect the slightest difference in a shade of red while others might be completely color blind. But what if you didn't detect colors with your eyes at all? What if you heard those wavelengths instead?
Neil Harbisson is a self declared colorblind cyborg who uses a new technology that does exactly that. The sensor he wears on his head translates colors into different notes, pitches, and tones that he has learned to differentiate. He can hear color!
This TED Talk addresses how hearing the world as a song has drastically impacted and changed his whole perception of it.
Some people don't need special devices to turn colors into other sensations. People with the special trait called Synethesia can link two of their senses together. Food might taste of a certain color to them or perhaps a person's name might feel like a color. Some people with Synesthesia see beautiful, colorful shows in their mind when they are listening to music.
Kaitlyn Hova is one such person who perceives sound as colors, and as a musician she is able to give those without this ability a rare glimpse into how she experiences songs with a brilliant light show of color.
This fun puzzle lets you test just how your own brain can differentiate between experiencing a color versus reading a word.
"Read aloud the colors of the words below - not what the words actually say! How long does it take? Can you do it faster a second time?"
Monday, June 29
LES: Our Home Away From Home
If you were present during Monday or Thursday's group Zoom meeting last week then you've probably already seen this, but if you were not then please enjoy this slideshow of our LES gang and some great LES memories. Eric thought up the idea and Lauren gathered pictures from all over to put it all together. We must remember that no hard time is forever. We will see each other again soon!
Maskmaker, Maskmaker!
Whether you are a fan of show tunes or not you can't deny this reinterpretation of the classic "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" from the famous play Fiddler on the Roof isn't catchy and good for a laugh!
Okay, but say you can't find a maskmaker, a bandana, or get your hands on an elusive face mask of your very own? Just as the song says, you can easily make one yourself!
There is no sewing required, but you do need to cut up an old shirt. Below are two simple no-sew T-shirt methods for crafting your very own custom face mask.
Got an old shirt, a ruler, and a pair of scissors? This is the simplest method of them all, and even if the mask is not the most long lasting it will work in a pinch!
This video actually gives you two methods of cutting up an old shirt to make a super comfortable and face-conforming mask. One method uses the body of a shirt while the other uses a long sleeve.
Friday, June 26
Ripe for the Picking!
Come one, come all! The garden has begun to produce some delicious snacks for us already! A lot of things like the cucumbers, peppers, and potatoes won't be ready yet, but we've already got some herbs, peas, and kale for the plucking!
This video from Cindy and these pictures will show you what we have planted, where it is, and how big they've grown so far!
Box 1 is furthest to the left and is chock full things to take (just not the peppers yet)!
Box 2 is the longest one in the middle. It's showing signs of progress, but so far all we can harvest from here are the peas.
Box 3 to the very right side of the garden is also still a work in progress, but what a lush work it is! We'll be picking tomatoes in no time!
The potatoes at the very end are looking spry as well!
Lastly we have the potted plants. The potted potatoes look like a huge, healthy bush and the various hot peppers and tomatoes are coming along nicely as well.
I think we know exactly who will be bee lining it toward those habaneros.
Next Art Club Project
Next Tuesday for Art Club we will be making crafts for the Fourth of July such as paper garlands, American flags, and little firecrackers/rockets!
Participants will need their construction paper, scissors, and tape, glue stick, or a stapler depending on which project they choose. For the firecrackers/rockets they may want a cardboard tube or tin foil, but that's optional.
Friday Movie Recommendation!
This Friday's movie recommendation is provided by Allison! She says her favorite movie is Disney's 2016 animated musical Moana. The story is about a young girl who defies tradition in search of her true calling and embarks on a journey to save her island. She befriends a demi-god named Maui and travels across the ocean in order to bring the world back into order.
Allison's favorite thing about the movie are its array of incredibly catchy and singable songs! Moana can be watched for free with Disney+ or rented from any streaming service.
Thursday, June 25
Derek Paravicini: Musical Genius and Pianist Extraordinaire
Derek Paravicini is a blind and autistic musician currently living in London. He lost his sight very early on in infancy and never really connected much to words for communication. For him his voice was always in music, primarily the piano. He taught himself to play and developed what is known as "perfect pitch," a term used to describe a person able to recognize any note. By simply hearing a piece of music he can play it directly back to a person. This short documentary talks about Derek's life and how he developed and honed his talents to become one of the world's greatest musical prodigies.
If that video is not convincing enough, check out these other videos of Derek performing Flight of the Bumblebee and Queen's We Are the Champions!
Arashi says: "I once tried using magic to get that same level of skill, but all it gave me was indigestion."
Wednesday, June 24
Tuesday Morning Cartoons!
Yesterday during Art Club participants followed along to simple instructions and learned how to draw two cartoon characters: Snoopy from Peanuts and Patrick Star from Spongebob Squarepants! Check it out, they all did phenomenal jobs! Past Art Club projects have included abstract doodling and custom Father's Day cards. Next week's project will have to do with the Fourth of July.
Art Club meets Tuesdays at 11 AM, and if you are interested in joining then let Phyllis or Lauren know!
Concerts Have Not Been Cancelled!
As many are already very well aware, concerts are still going on. They have just taken a new form: Digital! Attending a concert or music festival is probably the last place you'd want to be during a global pandemic, but thanks to websites like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook we still have been able to enjoy tapping our toes to live performances. Live Nation has always been a website serving as a source of information for concert schedules, live events, tour news, and even ticket sales and now it's upfront bringing us all the latest info on which shows are streaming live.
Your favorite musical artist might be streaming a free live concert soon. Head over to Live Nation to check it out!
https://www.livenation.com/
Tuesday, June 23
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Favorite Land Animal! Share with us your favorite animal that lives in or on the land!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
Chex, please!
Possibly one of the most disappointing things to happen this year was we weren't able to make a big batch of our famous and instantly-devoured Chex Mix to give out this Father's Day. For those hungering to get a handful of the stuff you are in luck! Here is the recipe that we follow and a bonus spicy version as well!
The Original Chex Party Mix
Ingredients:
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3 cups Corn Chex™ cereal
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3 cups Rice Chex™ cereal
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3 cups Wheat Chex™ cereal
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1 cup mixed nuts
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1 cup bite-size pretzels
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1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces
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6 tablespoons butter or margarine
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2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
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1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
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3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
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1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Directions:
Oven Method: Heat oven to 250ºF. Melt margarine in large roasting pan in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in remaining ingredients until evenly coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.
Microwave Method: Melt margarine in large microwavable bowl uncovered in High. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in remaining ingredients until evenly coated. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.
IMPORTANT - Because microwaves cook differently, time is approximate.
- Website recipe version
HOT & SPICY Chex Party Mix
Ingredients:
-
3 cups Corn Chex™ cereal
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3 cups Rice Chex™ cereal
-
3 cups Wheat Chex™ cereal
-
1 cup mixed nuts
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1 cup pretzels
-
1 cup bite-size cheese crackers
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1/4 cup butter or margarine
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1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
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1 1/4 teaspoons seasoned salt
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2 to 3 teaspoons red pepper sauce
Directions:
Oven Method: Melt margarine in open roasting pan in 250ºF oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually add cereals, nuts, pretzels, and cheese crackers; stir to coat evenly. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on absorbent paper to cool. Store in airtight container.
Microwave Method: Melt margarine in large microwave-safe bowl on HIGH. Stir in seasonings. Gradually add cereals, nuts, pretzels, and cheese crackers; stir to coat evenly. Microwave on HIGH 5 to 6 minutes, stirring thoroughly with rubber spatula every 2 minutes. While stirring, make sure to scrape sides and bottom of bowl. Spread on absorbent paper to cool. Store in airtight container.
- Website recipe version
All of these recipes and more are available on https://www.chex.com/recipes/!
Monday, June 22
Summer Time Sips
There's nothing quite like kicking back in the summer time with a nice cold drink in your hand. People cool off with all types of drinks but there really isn't anything quite like a nice iced tea. At the Ashram in Millis they have a very special kind of tea referred to as Yogi Tea. It's a great spiced masala chai that can be enjoyed both cold and hot. Here is the recipe for it below!
YOGI TEA
Ingredients:
1 gallon of water plus 1/2 quart
8 cinnamon sticks
1 t whole cloves
2T cardamon
1/2 T whole black pepper
3/4 lb. fresh ginger peeled and chopped
Instructions:
Add all ingredients to the water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 40 minutes. Add 1/8 cup of black tea and steep for a few minutes. Strain. This is the raw tea and will keep in the fridge for a week.
To make tea: Mix two parts of raw tea with milk of choice (cow, almond, soy etc.) Add some vanilla and if you want it hot bring it to just before a boil. Add honey if desired.
Yesterday Sunday, June 21 was Father's Day! With so many other things happening we neglected to acknowledge it, but we still want to wish every father, caregiver, role model, and support figure a big Happy Father's Day from all of us!
The Results are IN!
Here is what everyone said!
Friday, June 19
Join the Poll!
Don't forget you still have until Monday to vote in yesterday's poll! Tell us what your favorite kind of art to make or do is, and the results will be shared on Monday's website posting!
You can go to the Previous Projects and Activities Page to find the poll.
Happy Juneteenth!
Today is June 19th which means it is the holiday Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, and Black Independence Day. This holiday marks when Texas, the final state in the country to acknowledge the Emancipation Proclamation, finally publicly announced its abolishment of slavery. The day has been honored since 1980.
It is a day of celebration for the African American community and is now being considered to become a nationally recognized holiday!
Summer Has Almost Begun!
Tomorrow on Saturday, June 20th is the Summer Solstice and signifies the first official day of Summer!
This video from last year explains what the Summer Solstice actually is and how it affects the length of daylight (or lack thereof!) seen all around the world.
If you are curious to learn even more here are 15 Facts About the Summer Solstice.
Did you know that the origin of the word "Solstice" is derived from two Latin words, "sol" (sun) and "sistere" (to stand still)? When the Summer Solstice occurs the sun is up in the sky for so long it looks as if it's standing still!
Experience Stonehenge's Annual Tradition
It is a yearly tradition for thousands of people to gather at Stonehenge to watch the first sun rise of the Summer Solstice, and now you too can witness this incredible annual event. The organization English Heritage is hosting a Livestream of Stonehenge. The stream will go live from Facebook around 4:30 PM Saturday to broadcast the sunset and continue until around midnight to capture the sunrise.
"HOW DO I WATCH? 📺
Make sure you're following our Facebook page to get a notification when we go live. You can also tap 'Get Reminder' on the posts we'll share to this event beforehand to make sure you join us in plenty of time." - https://www.facebook.com/events/581183132524229/
And there's more!
The Summer Solstice is a big deal to everyone around the world, and each place has its own way of celebrating. This list of Summer Solstice Traditions from Around the World helps give you a little insight into some of the marvelous ways other people honor the longest day of the year.
Next Art Club Project
Next Tuesday for Art Club we will be teaching you how to draw simple cartoon characters such a Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and Mickey Mouse!
Participants will only need a blank piece or pieces of paper and a pencil, but they are also encouraged to bring a pen or markers if they would like to outline and color their creations.
Friday Movie Recommendation!
This Friday's movie recommendation is from Cal, and he recommends Marvel studio's 2019 film Captain Marvel! It is about the superheroine origin story of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the world's most powerful heroes and saves the Earth from intergalactic terrors.
"Captain Marvel is about a woman superhero and has a good plot. She starts in space and comes to Earth." - Cal
Thursday, June 18
Local Arts and Culture -
Medfield's Zullo Art Gallery 25th Annual Student-Faculty Art Exhibition
Look no further than your own local area if you are seeking out some arts and culture. Even from home you can peruse Medfield's own Zullo Gallery's latest exhibition: the 25th Annual Medfield Public Schools Student-Faculty Art Exhibition. Students and teachers from across all grades, ages, and artistic mediums have their works displayed online. There's photography, paintings, collages, and more.
Poll Time!
Arashi says: "I also fancy myself an artiste."
Wednesday, June 17
Eat your veggies!
Today is June 17th which means that is is National Eat Your Vegetables Day! Despite sounding like a holiday your mom made up just to get you to finish your peas, it is a real nationally recognized holiday that falls in the middle of National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month. It's a pretty simple holiday to celebrate too; Just eat some veggies!
Two Word Searches in a row? YUP!
Play this Word Search of various vegetation either on your computer, phone, or tablet, or you can print it out and play it on paper!
https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/16/types-of-vegetables/
Remember being told as a kid not to play with your food? I don't think your parents had this in mind when they said that! YouTuber Pupsi carves fruits and vegetables and turns them into functional musical instruments to play covers of popular music. Here he uses a carrot to play Future's song Mask Off. Check out his rendition of Billie Eilish's Bad Guy played on a pumpkin too!
As many of you already may know, tomatoes are not vegetables. They are fruits, or more specifically berries (yes, it's true!). But they are a welcome accompaniment to a fresh garden veggie salad and often treated more like a veggie than its other berry counterparts. Why is it that homegrown tomatoes taste so different and so much better than the ones you can buy in a grocery store? This video explains why that is.
Don't throw out those scraps! When you have finished preparing your vegetables for a meal you might be tempted to throw the remnants into the garbage. Besides making an incredible vegetable broth or being recycled into compost a lot of the bits and bobs left over can actually be reused and regrown into more food! This YouTube video shows and explains how you can regrow delicious vegetables from many different varieties of plants. The more you grow the more you can eat!
Tuesday, June 16
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Favorite Water Animal! Share with us your favorite animal that lives in or around the water!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
World Oceans Day
June 8th was World Oceans Day, an international day that was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008 that "supports the implementation of worldwide Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and fosters public interest in the management of the ocean and its resources." (- Wiki)
It's at the forefront of global activism for ocean preservation by encouraging others to launch new environmental campaigns, host special educational events, and gather people to help clean up beaches as well as many other activities. Check out #WorldOceansDay on Facebook for more information!
Via - How to Celebrate World Oceans Day
"Why celebrate Earth’s oceans at all? Whether you live near a coast, or not, we are all intimately connected with the oceans. Here are some of the connections:
• Oceans cover 71% of Earth’s surface, and they hold 97% of our planet’s water.
• The oceans help feed us and provide most of the oxygen that we breathe.
• Oceans also play a key role in regulating the weather and climate. Water evaporating from the oceans falls inland as rain, which we then use to drink and grow crops.
• A variety of life-saving medicinal compounds including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer drugs have been discovered in the oceans.
The difference between an ocean and a sea:
https://www.geographyrealm.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-sea-and-an-ocean/
Pacific Ocean webcam:
Beachy Word Search!
Complete this word search either on your computer, tablet, or phone or print it out to do on paper!
https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/1252674/beach-time/
Monday, June 15
Today is the final day for anyone looking to score access to over 1,000 download-able computer games while supporting racial justice and equality. The Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality is a pack of 1,704 games that you can own for only $5 or more! All money generated from the sale goes straight to a 50/50 split between The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and Community Bail Fund. This is the final day of the sale, so if you're into computer games for a good cause hop on it! You'll never get bored with this selection!
Puppy Power:
Olive Vs. Mabel Showdown
and
Canterbury Park Corgi Racing!
Today we rejoin our good pals Olive and Mabel in their youths with a video from The Sporting Archives. It just goes to show you that some things never change!
You've probably heard of horse racing, but have you ever heard of corgi racing? Little legs won't keep these rambunctious balls of fluffs from running at top speeds! It may just become your new favorite sport. I know it's now mine!
Friday, June 12
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIKEY!!
Mikey's birthday is this Sunday, and Bobby submitted this special birthday message from one birthday haver to another:
3 More Disney Remakes
Often the topic of much discussion, the Disney live-action remakes are here to stay. If you are a fan of seeing these revitalized versions of Disney classics then you are in luck! After Mulan, which premieres in July of this year, there are 3 more films announced to be released in the not far-off future!
The Little Mermaid has a set release date of 2021. Here is what Regal Movies has to say about the cast:
"In terms of the remake, the studio is keeping it in “in the family”, having hired veteran Disney director Rob Marshall (Mary Poppins Returns; Into The Woods) to take charge. R&B artist Halle Bailey was confirmed to take on the title role of endearing mermaid Ariel, while Spy's Melissa McCarthy is set to portray the diabolical Ursula.
Crazy Rich Asians' Awkwafina is Scuttle, Room's Jacob Tremblay is Flounder, World On Fire's Honah Hauer-King is Prince Eric, Hamilton's Daveed Diggs is Sebastian and Skyfall's Javier Bardem is King Triton. Fellow Hamilton and Mary Poppins Returns sensation Lin-Manuel Miranda is providing new songs, working with the original film's Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken, and shooting begins later this year."
More along the lines of Disney's re-imaginings of past movies such as Maleficent or Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland comes Cruella, which is less a retelling of Disney's 101 Dalmatians (a live-action remake had already been made in 1996), and more a prequel revealing the film's antagonistic Cruella de Vil's villainous backstory. Slated to play the main queen of cruel herself is none other than Emma Stone. It is set to release on May 28, 2021.
"Stone is set to portray Cruella as a young fashion designer who slowly becomes obsessed with a certain dog fur – and a batch of on-set photos indicate Stone's brilliantly villainous sense of chic. Plans have been afoot for this movie since 2011 and, after the success of Sleeping Beauty remake Maleficent, Cruella was added to the line-up, securing Stone and I, Tonya director Craig Gillespie to helm with Emma Thompson (Late Night), Paul Walter Hauser (Richard Jewell) and Mark Strong (Shazam!) amongst the ensemble."
Lastly it comes to the humble Pinocchio which has had many failed attempts to return to the big screen by Disney in the past. The version they finally settled on has Robert Zemeckis as director and is set to start filming later this year. There is no release date announced as of now, so keep your eyes peeled! (And your nose short!)
Next Art Club Project
Next Tuesday for Art Club the project will be making Father's Day cards, or just cards of any sort you would like! Phyllis and Lauren have a few ideas for participants to follow if they would like or you are free to simply join and make any type of card you please. It's always better with friends!
Participants who want to follow project instructions will need paper (construction or plain), scissors, markers, and either tape or a glue stick.
Friday Movie Recommendation!
This Friday our movie recommendation comes to us courtesy of Bobby! He recommends the 2009 musical documentary Michael Jackson's This Is It. It's a look behind the scenes of Michael Jackson's final show before he passed away and was released after his passing. It was directed by one of Michael's choreographers, Kenny Ortega. It's available to rent on all streaming services and even airs occasionally on TV.
"It's a documentary about Michael Jackson on tour and he passed away after it. I like the movie because I’m a Michael Jackson fan." - Bobby
Thursday, June 11
Better Body, Better Mind
The Brain-Changing Benefits of Exercise
Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki conducted the ultimate experiment on herself. Does exercising your body truly exercise your mind as well? Are there long term benefits to keeping yourself moving and active that extends beyond your immune system and your abs? In this TED Talk Wendy goes deep into the often overlooked brain-changing benefits of exercise.
Get Your Body Moving and Grooving
One thing we do at Exercise Club is weekly challenges, and this week's challenge is to follow along to a recorded exercise routine. It doesn't matter what kind.
For people looking to fit a little more motion into their day to day routine here is just a small selection of what YouTube has to offer!
Seated Exercise
There are a vast array of exercises you can do while sitting. You can do some of the lighter ones while you're watching TV, in a waiting room, or when you just need a little workout. The more active workouts are great for getting that heart pumping!
This is a selection of gentle and easy exercises one can do while seated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BcPHWGQO44
Got 10 minutes and want to get your heart pumping with some cardio? Then this seated routine is for you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PpO-sh2HD4
Zumba is dancing with the aim to really get your body moving. You can follow along to this seated Zumba routine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqlRGLPlJ7A
Join in on this seated aerobic workout for another way to strengthen your body!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_rc2mQIqCA
Here is a 15 minute long yoga stretching routine that aims to help relieve anxiety, headaches, and tension.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjFFasD3kr0
Just Dance!
Dancing is one of the best forms of exercise. Follow along to this short 5 minute lesson to learn some African dance by thinking of the floor like a clock!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewqq-3xJFdI
Like stated before, Zumba is the perfect mix of dance and cardio. This is a 20 minute full-body Zumba workout is sure to get you sweating!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm4WZyH5p2I
Kickboxing too!
If you're looking for something even more thrilling then look no further than kickboxing! Here is an easy to follow 30 minute routine with two methods of performing the moves to follow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oLg5fFe5ww
Tuesday, June 9
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Favorite Drinks/Beverages! Share with us what you love to drink as a sign!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
Suburban Explorers
Adventure awaits just around the corner!
A Backyard Safari with Seek
The app's tagline sums it up best: "Get outside, explore, and learn about the nature all around you!" Seek is a phone and tablet app provided by iNaturalist, a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic Society. It uses your device's built in camera to identify different types of wildlife, plants, and fungi and you can earn special badges while doing so! Participate in monthly observation challenges like a real wildlife explorer.
The app is free on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, so start exploring!
Treasures to be found with Geocaching
You might have heard of Geocaching before since it's been around for a very long time. Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunt where people hide boxes, trinkets, or sometimes even little gifts all over the place and using GPS or their phones other people seek them out. You record what you find and then leave it for the next person! It's a fun way to have an adventure in your local area, nearby city, or even a new place you've never explored. There are 2,419 Geocaches around Boston alone, so get caching!
The app can be downloaded for free on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, but you can also make an account on their website and use any GPS you already have.
If you just take the time to look around you who knows what you'll discover!
Monday, June 8
Good Will and
Gratitude
A heartfelt thank you to Marie for having a special Mass said at St. Thomas Church in Millis for all of us at LES. Her generosity and kindness bless us throughout the year. She is a living saint!
Channel Flippers
Reaching the point where you no longer know what to watch? Here are a couple suggestions for when you finish your latest Netflix binge.
Stay Human - Music, Optimism, and Hope
Stay Human is a documentary film by Michael Franti, creator and lead vocalist of the band Spearhead, about sharing the inspiring stories he hears as he travels across lands to speak with different people.
"In his new documentary STAY HUMAN, Michael Franti takes us on a journey through his songs and stories of people who have chosen to overcome cynicism with optimism and hope. Featuring music from Michael Franti and Spearhead’s new album, Stay Human Vol. II, the film is available now on demand, digital, and DVD."
It's free to watch on Prime and Vudu and available to rent through all other streaming services.
The Big Flower Fight - Flower with Power
If you are a fan of competition shows but find the variety lacking and stale then this newcomer will brighten up your day. Netflix's exclusive new show The Big Flower Fight launched its first season last May. (Hey, that rhymes!)
"Ten pairs of amateur gardeners from around the world push their skills to the limit as they compete to create stunning, supersized floral sculptures."
It's free to watch on Netflix.
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