Archives for February 2017

HBO and Sesame Workshop—in partnership with local public television stations—announced the launch of the Sesame Street: K is for Kindness Tour, a free, multi-city experiential tour timed to and inspired by the new, 47^th season of Sesame Street, the gold standard in children’s television. Created especially for preschool fans and their families, this immersive, limited-engagement tour features hands-on digital learning fun, participation from local libraries in each community including bilingual English / Spanish books and activities, “meet and greets” with the costumed characters, a 15-minute interactive live stage show starring walk-around versions of the series’ beloved characters Elmo and Abby Cadabby, and other special surprises!  For more information, visit http://www.hbokids.com/popuptour.

“Teaching kindness has been at the core of Sesame Street since it first arrived on television and remains just as important today as it was then,” says Dennis Williams, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, HBO. “The Sesame Street: K is for Kindness Tourcontinues in this tradition of presenting such important lessons to preschoolers.  As a proud partner with Sesame Workshop and local public television stations, we will bring the joy of Sesame Street to communities and share this magical experience with children and their families who will be able to see, touch, and interact with their favorite Sesame friends up close.”

The Sesame Street: K is for Kindness Tour Schedule:

Saturday, January 7^th                               New York (Roosevelt Field/Garden City, NY)

Saturday, January 14^th                             Atlanta (Perimeter Mall/Atlanta, GA)

Saturday, January 21st                            Miami (Pembroke Lakes Mall/Pembroke Pines, FL)

Saturday, January 28th                            Denver (Flatiron Crossing/Broomfield, CO)

Saturday, February 4th                            Seattle (Westfield Southcenter/Seattle, WA)

Saturday, February 11th                          Portland (Washington Square/Portland, OR)

Saturday, February 18th                          San Francisco (Stoneridge Shopping Center/Pleasanton, CA)

Saturday, February 25th                          Los Angeles (Westfield Culver City/Culver City, CA)

Sunday, March 5th                                  Minneapolis (Mall of America/Bloomington, MN)

TBD                                                        Texas (TBD)

“In keeping with the Sesame Street mission, the K is for Kindness Tour aims to spark imagination, inspire a love of reading, cultivate kindness, and provide an element of surprise for children at each and every stop,” says Scott Chambers, Senior Vice President and General Manager, North America Media and Licensing, Sesame Workshop. “The tour complements Sesame Street’s kindness curriculum, which is woven throughout the new season.”

In addition to a “kindness” curriculum, the new season of Sesame Street also features everyone’s favorite furry red monster, Elmo, in a new updated, fun, and fresh version of “Elmo’s World.”  In 25 five-minute installments, lessons are taught through pre-school relevant topics, live action films, and interactive thinking games such as matching, sorting, and counting. Kids accompany Elmo and his friend Smartie, an animated cell phone and learning tool, as he uses his imagination to dive into the topic of the day.

Elmo and the rest of his friends can be seen throughout season 47, as well as in previous episodes of Sesame Street currently available on HBO and PBS KIDS and on Sesame Street’s YouTube channel. Sesame Street content continues to be available to PBS KIDS viewers on weekdays and Sundays on local stations, and on the PBS KIDS Video App.

Produced by the nonprofit educational organization Sesame Workshop, Sesame Street is underwritten in part by Beaches Resortsand UnitedHealthcare.

#SesameKindness

Credit: Sesame Workshop, HBO.

The Shops at Montebello is once again proud to help a deserving graduating senior pay for college. Simon Youth Foundation, a national nonprofit that provides educational opportunities for at-risk high school students, is now looking for qualified applicants who live near The Shops at Montebello and the surrounding community.

Each year, Simon Youth Community Scholarships are awarded in every community across the country that is home to Simon, Mills, or Premium Outlets malls. The application period has begun and ends on March 1, 2017.

Students can apply online by visiting syf.org/scholarships.

Any student who will be graduating in the class of 2017 and lives in the community surrounding a Simon property is eligible. Applicants can check their eligibility by entering their ZIP code at syf.org/scholarships. Recipients will receive up to $1,500 to enroll in an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school.

In addition, eleven regional awards called “Awards of Excellence” will be given to top candidates. The regions eligible are Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami, New York, Orange County (CA), Orlando, and Seattle/Tacoma. Students from these areas will have the opportunity to receive a $10,000 award ($2,500 for up to four years).

In 2016, the Simon Youth Foundation awarded $1.2 million to 300 students nationwide.

“The cost of college continues to rise, and SYF is proud to partner with The Shops at Montebello to award scholarships that will remove some of the financial obstacles that could otherwise prevent a student from achieving the dream of a college education,” said Dr. J. Michael Durnil, SYF President and CEO.

The 2017 SYF Community Scholarship recipients will be selected by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS), a third-party administrator. Students are selected based on a variety of criteria, including financial need, academic performance, leadership skills and participation in school and community activities. Those students who are the first in their family to pursue a post secondary education will also be given close consideration.

Recipients will be notified in May.

Credit: 

About SYF 

SYF is a national non-profit that partners with public school districts to open dropout recovery academies inside Simon shopping malls. The organization now has 29 Simon Youth Academies in 12 states. In the organization’s 18-year history, more than 14,000 students have earned their diploma and more than $16 million in scholarships have been awarded. Visit syf.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@simon_youth), or Instagram (@simonyouthfoundation) for updates.

About The Shops at Montebello

The Shops at Montebello is a modern indoor super regional shopping center featuring four department stores and more than 160 shops, eateries, and restaurants—remaining the leader for shopping in the San Gabriel Valley. The Shops at Montebello is home to Macy’s, Macy’s Home, JCPenney, Forever 21, Coach, G by Guess, H&M, Cotton On, Papaya and more, with dining options such as BJ’s Restaurant and Brewery, Hikari Sushi, and Olive Garden. The Shops at Montebello serves communities in San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles including Montebello, Monterey Park, and Rosemead. With its modernized look and feel, The Shops at Montebello strives to provide the best shopping experience with its retailer and dining selections for the entire family.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy invites the community to get involved in stewardship programs to help preserve the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and open spaces. Invasive weeds threaten the local habitat, disrupting the natural ecosystem and impeding native plants and wildlife. Joining a stewardship program to help combat invasive weeds not only helps the local lands, but also offers an opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy the great outdoors.

“It’s hard to imagine that a little weed can be so dangerous to the expansive open spaces, but when they spread – and they do – it becomes a serious threat to our native plants and wildlife,” Stewardship Coordinator Rachel Lambert commented. “The support we receive from the community is so important and appreciated, and to see the look on a volunteer’s face when they realize they’re making a difference is truly priceless.”

Sahara Mustard is a harmful exotic weed that has invaded thousands of acres across Southern California, and is encroaching on the Landmarks. Over the past five years volunteers have successfully stifled the Sahara Mustard at Loma Ridge within the Irvine Ranch Open Space. Volunteers continue to maintain and monitor the invasive weeds at Loma Ridge, which is vital to keeping the weed at bay. The work of mustard-busting volunteers also led to the discovery of a new population of Sahara Mustard in Gypsum Canyon, but because of the hard work of stewards the weed was nearly eradicated.

Removing invasive weeds not only helps native plant life thrive, it helps the local wildlife. The Cactus Wren is a little bird with big charm, known for its bold markings, raspy call, and fondness for living in groups. Simple actions like removing invasive weeds and watering native plants help this small bird maintain its place on the Landmarks, and gives volunteers a chance to be an active part of the preservation process for the Cactus Wren and many other animals on the open spaces.

No experience is necessary for stewardship programs on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, and all tools are provided. It’s important to wear appropriate clothing and footwear, and remember to bring sunscreen, water and light snack. Click the programs below for more information and to register.

• Pulling Together at Quail Hill on Thursday 2/16 helps keep wildlife healthy by weeding artichoke thistle from the Quail Hill loop in Irvine. This activity takes place on uneven terrain and sturdy hiking boots are recommended.

• Sahara Mustard Pull at Loma Ridge on Thursday, February 2/16 is an important program that helps remove harmful, exotic Sahara Mustard from the Landmarks. The program is reoccurring.

• Be a Friend to the Cactus Wren on Friday, 2/17 helps the local Cactus Wren thrive by removing invasive weeds and watering native plants.

• Sahara Mustard Pull at Gypsum Canyon on Thursday 2/23 helps staff volunteers remove pesky invasive Sahara Mustard.

• Dripping Springs Trail Restoration on Sunday, 2/26 invites volunteers to spend the afternoon restoring grassland, coastal sage scrub and woodland habitats, then hike to Dripping Springs.

Join Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteers to preserve the local lands. All activities are free with required pre-registration, which closes at 4 p.m. the day prior to each event. Some programs are suitable for children 12 and over, and children must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. For more details on stewardship programs on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks visit LetsGoOutside.org/activities.

Credit: Irvine Ranch Conservancy.