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You’ve heard it said a million times. “Don’t miss this. It’s the chance of a lifetime.”

It’s rarely true. but in this case, it is. and I hope you will hear me out because your understanding of the Creative Corridors Coalition project and your participation over the next few years can dramatically improve the way Winston-Salem looks, how it is perceived by others and how we all interact with each other.

With the Creative Corridors Coalition, residents of Winston-Salem got ahead of the curve. When talk started a few years back about replacing the 11 bridges on Business 40 here, the leadership of the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County and the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership saw an opportunity to influence that process. They reasoned that we could have not only new, safe bridges but also artful bridges that would be visually pleasing and stimulating to future generations of Winston-Salem residents and reflect our sobriquet (or “identity as”) the City of Arts and Innovation. Importantly, they also thought that instead of dividing our communities (as has happened in the past), these new projects could connect and unify them.

It was the chance of a lifetime, you might say, to make a lasting, positive impact on how Winston-Salem would look and interact for at least generations to come, and as people talked, the vision grew. Eventually it included not only the bridges on Business 40 but major roads and thoroughfares in downtown Winston-Salem. Officials of the N.C. Department of Transportation expressed their willingness to cooperate. the secretaries of Commerce and Cultural Resources gave it their stamp of approval, allowing that a signature project of this kind would have a positive impact on business development and job creation.

The diverse group of community leaders grew larger and larger, and finally a freestanding 501(c) organization, Creative Corridors Coalition, was formed to carry the project forward. I was asked to chair it, and I accepted enthusiastically, believing this is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime chance for all of us to work together to set our community apart.

A year ago, the coalition received an enabling grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to develop a visionary master plan and design guidelines for roadway and infrastructure projects in downtown Winston-Salem; additionally, many local groups and individuals here in Winston-Salem lent their financial support. the coalition used a portion of these grants to employ the talented professionals at Design Workshop, a design firm headquartered in Denver that has offices in Asheville. during this last year, residents of the city have participated in more than 50 public meetings and provided Design Workshop professionals with valuable insights into how we would like our city to look. Volunteers have staffed information tables at public events such as the Dixie Classic fair, Dash baseball games, the Fiesta festival and Rock the Block. more than 3,000 people have joined the coalition and are receiving regular updates and being invited to provide further input. We are beginning to understand the long-term positive impact that the coalition can have on quality of life in Winston-Salem and the city’s image and reputation as the City of Arts and Innovation.

I am delighted to report that the eyes of the nation are upon us. the extraordinary coalition we have created in Winston-Salem and our successful working relationship with local and state officials are being held up as a model when public officials, infrastructure design professionals, economic development experts and arts devotees gather around the nation.

Design Workshop has done amazing work, and now the coalition will share its final report with the community on Thursday. Hundreds will gather at BB&T Ballpark at 5:30 p.m. to celebrate the completion of the master plan and design guidelines. We believe that the excitement generated by this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity merits a community celebration, open to all and at no charge.

We will be talking about how our master plan and design guidelines will be a huge gain for our city, in that it will be a green, artful, iconic network that embodies all of the principles that we have developed during this past year’s design process.

The next step will be to present this extraordinary document to city and county elected officials, the planning board, the Appearance Commission, members of our legislative delegation and staff and board of the N.C. Department of Transportation. We will seek their approval and active support as we move, step by step, toward implementation of historic infrastructure projects in Winston-Salem. I am asking you to make that journey with us.

Lee French, the president of old Salem and chair of the coalition’s communication committee, made a great point when he said in a public meeting, “This is a rare and monumental opportunity to influence a major public-works project that not only impacts the near term but has lasting implications for several generations to come, … and our goal has been to create a process built around the notion of engaging the entire community of stakeholders — public and private — in the answer.”

The Creative Corridors Coalition is providing that process. please come and celebrate what our community has accomplished thus far at BB&T Ballpark on Thursday. but keep in mind that this event is just one milestone. Winston-Salem needs your involvement and your commitment for the long haul, so please also join the coalition at:

creativecorridors.org.

Kids in the kitchen can mean little helping hands, chaos underfoot and everything in between.

But, whether they’re helping or hindering, children can benefit from some quality time in the kitchen.

It’s a chance to learn new skills that will carry them through a lifetime, while gaining confidence at the same time.

And it’s a chance to hang out together and still get a meal on the table – a two-for-one deal better than those you get calling for cheap pizza.

Getting them started by taking on some cooking tasks does not mean pulling out Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

It can mean everything from rolling out flatbread dough, tossing a salad or even simple chopping or putting things into the oven (if their age and skill level is appropriate; we don’t want any injuries. Use your best judgment for when your kids are ready for tougher tasks.)

Easy recipes that require some supervision and help from mom and dad are the way to go to build confidence in the kitchen.

Luckily, there are cookbooks geared to children, including the recently released what Shall We Cook Today (Ryland, Peters & Small, $23.95).

The book, which has 70 recipes, uses easy instructions and cues for when parents need to step in and help.

But it’s written for kids themselves, which is added encouragement for when they want to be a little more independent.

The benefits of getting kids cooking could go far beyond the skills they gain. after all, it could mean when they get older, you can hand the cooking reins over to them completely.

All the more reason to get them involved.

Penne with Tomatoes, Garlic and Basil

Sweet cherry tomatoes and fresh basil shine in this easy pasta dish.

14 oz. (400 g) ripe cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup (125 mL) olive oil small handful of fresh basil leaves, torn

14 oz. (400 g) dried penne pasta sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cut the tomatoes in half. Peel the garlic cloves and crush them with a garlic crusher.

Pop the tomatoes and garlic into a large bowl. Pour over the olive oil.

Season with salt and black pepper, add half the basil and let infuse for an hour or so. A warm place is best, or at room temperature, but not the refrigerator because the cold will stop the oil from absorbing all the lovely flavours.

Ask an adult to help you cook the pasta. Bring a big saucepan of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt. Drop in the pasta and cook according to the instructions on the packet. The cooked pasta should be “al dente.”

Drain the pasta and add it to the bowl with the infused oil. Toss well so the oil coats all the pieces and finally stir in the remaining basil.

2 lbs. (1 kg) lean ground beef

2 tsp. (10 mL) dried oregano

1 1/2 cups (375 mL) freshly grated Parmesan

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Put a loaf pan on a sheet of parchment paper and draw around the base. cut out the rectangle and lay it in the bottom of the pan to line it.

Turn the oven on to 350 F (180 C).

Peel and chop the onion into quite small pieces. Peel the garlic cloves and crush them with a garlic crusher. put the onion and garlic into a large bowl.

Break the egg into a small bowl, remove any pieces of shell, then beat with a fork until smooth.

Pour into the bowl with the onion and garlic along with the ground beef, oregano and Parmesan.

Season well with salt and pepper.

Put your hands in the bowl and mix the ingredients with your fingers until everything is well combined.

Spoon the mixture into the loaf pan and smooth the top with the back of a spoon.

Ask an adult to help you transfer the pan to the oven and cook for 45 minutes.

Ask an adult to help you remove the pan from the oven and turn the meat loaf out onto a cutting board. cut in slices and serve.

These are great additions to lunch and can be adapted by adding in your favourite dried fruit, nuts and seeds.

7 tbsp. (110 mL) unsalted butter

1/3 cup (75 mL) clear honey

2 tbsp. (25 mL) soft light brown sugar

1/3 cup (75 mL) soft dried apricots

3 1/2 cups (875 mL) old-fashioned porridge oats

2 tbsp. (25 mL) all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. (2 mL) baking powder

2 tbsp. (25 mL) sunflower seeds

2 tbsp. (25 mL) sesame seeds

2 tbsp. (25 mL) raisins

3/4 cup (175 mL) mixed nuts or dried fruit and nut mix

Turn the oven on to 325 F (160 C).

Cut a rectangle from a sheet of parchment paper the same as the greased 8by 10-inch (20-by 25-cm) brownie pan, and fit it into the bottom of the pan.

Put the butter in a large saucepan. Add the honey and sugar. ask an adult to help you put the pan over low heat. Heat gently until the butter melts. Carefully remove the pan from the heat. Stir gently.

Chop the soft dried apricots.

Tip all the rest of the ingredients into the pan and stir well with a wooden spoon.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and spread evenly. Press the mixture into the pan with the back of a spoon.

Ask an adult to help you put the pan in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, until golden brown.

Ask an adult to help you remove the pan from the oven and put it on a wire rack. Let it cool completely.

Loosen the mixture from the pan by running a round-bladed knife inside the edge of the pan, then flip the pan upside-down onto a cutting board so the granola mixture falls out in one piece.

Cut into 16 bars. Store your bars in an airtight container and eat them within a week.

© Copyright (c) Postmedia News

The correlation between physical work and injury is obvious. Typing Injuries due to lifting and pulling into a search engine fetches countless pages on research, incidents, costs, treatments, and prevention. Pages for law offices appear, too, as workplace injuries yield some pretty hefty settlements. in the wake of these cases are the workers who are left with additional medical bills, inability to work, and a lifetime of chronic pain – sometimes debilitating. the effort to minimize payouts has led us into an era of ergonomics and safety training – the components of which have become common sense, especially for those whose jobs involve manual material handling (MMH). However, there is far more to injury prevention than just lifting properly. furthermore, the worker himself is accountable for whether his body is prone to injury. how can anyone truly safely manipulate heavy materials without understanding his own role in the process?

The missing pieces lie in understanding the human body. This amazing machine we operate every day differs from person to person, but within each are the same cells, tissues, and structures. Human capabilities and limitations are affected by several factors that are often ignored, but are within our control. here are some of the less-commonly considered elements of MMH common sense:

• Fatigue – this is not just about being tired, and this is not determined by how strong a person is. every body wears down from heat, dehydration, hunger, and lack of rest. People often ignore the signs of fatigue, thinking they can power through it. However, when a person is fatigued, physical strength decreases, and the body itself is more vulnerable to injury. very simply, the body needs time to rest. taking sufficient breaks will allow the body to recharge and be more productive overall. Replenishing fluids and calories throughout the day will both fuel the body and minimize fatigue. also, beginning the day with more demanding tasks and ending with easier work will follow the body’s natural wear and tear throughout the day.
• Sleep and Nutrition – the body is designed to undergo a lot of stress. the reason for this is that rest, specifically sleep, is like a magic reset button. the body knows how to heal itself during sleep. Problems occur, however, when either sleep is not restful or the body is not positioned or supported properly. Additionally, the body cannot repair itself without the proper nutrients to do so. without proper sleep and nutrition, the body is unable to completely bounce back from day-to-day stress and trauma.
• Simple Muscle Care – manual material handlers are basically undergoing a daily athletic training regimen. They are counting on their bodies to perform stressful tasks on demand. unlike athletes, however, workers don’t necessarily prepare their muscles for activity properly. Imagine bending and stretching a piece of cold taffy. the candy is stiff, hard, and will break or chip under enough pressure. Warm up that same piece of taffy and it becomes flexible and stretchy. Muscles and ligaments are similar. Stretching or using cold muscles makes them prone to injury. Warming muscles with light activity before performing manual labor helps reduce the risk of muscle injury.
• Pace of work – working at a hurried pace places the body and mind under unnecessary stress. Feeling rushed or stressed creates more tension in the muscles, thus making them more vulnerable to injury. Strains and sprains most typically occur from quick, unexpected movements in contracted muscles. Remain aware of your body’s movements and pay attention to any pain signals your body gives you. Those signals are telling you to reposition or stop.

No one wants to endure long-term pain, injury, missed work, or extensive medical costs. Ultimately, there is no substitute for proper body mechanics, ergonomics, and manual handling aids when performing MMH. However, by becoming conscientious of your own habits, you are taking control of how vulnerable your body is to injury. give your body what it needs, and you will be more likely to withstand the stress that your physical job entails.

Visitors to Oklahoma City cannot afford to miss the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum which is a memorial to the Oklahoma City bombing. It’s dedicated to the victims and survivors of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Visitors to the museum get a feel of the terrible violence and disturbance caused by bombings or any such terrorist attack, with some having to unexpectedly bid adieu to their loved ones and others experiencing a deep shock that lasts for much of a lifetime. The museum informs visitors of the events surrounding the bombing through unique glimpses into what happened.

The Memorial is the largest of its kind in the USA, and receives above 500,000 visitors every year. The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial consists of The Gates of Time, the Reflecting Pool, the Field of empty Chairs, the Survivors’ Wall, The Survivor Tree, The Memorial Fence, Rescuers’ Orchard, Children’s Area, and Jesus Wept sculpture, the Journal Record Building and the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Plaza.

The most touching element of the Memorial can be said to be the Field of empty Chairs that consists of 168 empty chairs handcrafted from glass, bronze and stone, representing each of the victims who lost their lives. The names of the victims are etched in the glass base of each chair. Arranged in nine rows, they symbolize the nine floors of the building with each individual’s chair on the row representing the floor they were on during the blast.

The Survivor Tree is an American elm. Located on the north side of the Memorial, the 101-year old tree was almost destroyed by the blast, with plans initially laid to chop it to obtain vital evidence caught in its branches. but it bloomed and survived, remaining as a beautiful representation of the undying spirit of Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma City bombing memorial site is close to many hotels, and shuttle services and charter tours are arranged by hotels to this site and other parts of the city.