November birthstone: Topaz.  Flower: Chrysanthemum.  Astrological Signs: Scorpio October 24 to November 22, and Sagittarius November 23 to December 21.

Important dates in November 2010:                                                                                                                                                                Adoption Awareness Month (National)

• • For information and The History of National Adoption Month, see the North American Council for Adoption Website: www.adoptioncouncil.org
  • National Adoption Day Web site: www.nationaladoptionday.org
• Alzheimer’s Disease Month (National, US)
  • Alzheimer’s Association official Web site: www.alz.org
  • www.healthopedia.com/alzheimers-disease
• Apple Month (US National)
  • “National Apple Month is a restricted-fund (financially self-supporting) program of the U.S. Apple Association. Originally founded in 1904 as National Apple Week, it was expanded in 1996 to a three-month promotional window from September through November.” Source: www.usapple.org
• Child Safety and Protection Month
  • www.nncc.org/Health/only.prevent.acc.html
• Christmas Seals Month
  • Story of the History of Christmas Seals: www.lung.ca/seals
• Diabetes Month (National, US)
  • American Diabetes Association Web site: www.diabetes.org
• Drum Month (International)
  • November is International Drum Month
  • Websites: www.playdrums.com or www.amc-music.com/news/pressreleases/IDM.htm
• Epilepsy Month (National, US)
  • Epilepsy Foundation Web site: www.epilepsyfoundation.org
• Hospice Month (National, US)
  • National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Web site: www.nhpco.org
• Native-American Heritage Month (American Indian Heritage Month)

“National American Indian Heritage Month, Signed into law in 1990 by President Bush has been a source of inspiration for many American Indians and non-Indians and a platform to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of this great country.”  Source: www.indians.org

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December

December birthstone: Turquoise.  Flower: Narcissus.  Astrological Signs: Sagittarius November 22 to December 21, and Capricorn December 22 to January 19.

Important dates and events in December 2010:                                                                        

December 6- St. Nicholas Day

December 7- Pearl Harbor Day

December 10- Human Rights Day

December 11- Hanukkah begins

December 14- South Pole was found in 1911

December 15- phonograph patented by Thomas Edison in 1877

December 16- Anniversary of Boston Tea Party in 1773

December 17- First flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903

December 21- Winter solstice

December 25- Christmas Day

December 26- First day of Kwanzaa

December 31- New Year’s Eve

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February

According to the Library of Congress, Black History Month has its roots in something called Negro History Week. In 1925, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an African-American historian who founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, proposed Negro History Week as a way to encourage people to learn more about black history. He selected a week in February that included the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and black abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
The first Negro History Week was celebrated in February 1926. “The response was overwhelming,” says the Library of Congress. “Black history clubs sprang up; teachers demanded materials to instruct their pupils; and progressive whites, not simply white scholars and philanthropists, stepped forward to endorse the effort.”
In the early 1970s, Negro History Week was rechristened Black History Week to reflect the changing language used to describe African-Americans. Then, in 1976, as America observed its bicentennial, Black History Week was expanded to the full month we celebrate today.
Every February since 1976, the U.S. president issues a proclamation declaring the second month of the year Black History Month or National African American History Month.

 http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/01/black-history-month-2011-facts-on-the-annual-celebration/

• Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month
• Black History Month
• Body Awareness Month
• Electrical Safety Awareness Month
• Heart Disease Awareness Month
• Heartworm Awareness Month
• Low Vision Awareness Month
• National Cancer Prevention Month
• National National Awareness Month Awareness Month
• National Pet Dental Health Awareness Month
• Safety Awareness Month
• School-Based Health Center Awareness Month
• Sinus Pain Awareness Month
• Termite Awareness Month

February 1818: Fredrick Douglass birthday

February 2: Ground Hog Day

February 3: Chinese New Year

February 9: Board Meeting

February 10: Day 100 and Friendship Card Exchange

February 11 to 14: President’s Day Week-end

February 12: Abraham Lincoln birthday

February 22: George Washington birthday

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As recently as the 1970′s, women’s history was virtually an unknown topic in education and the general public consciousness.  To address this situation, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (CA) Commission on the Status of Women initiated a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978.  March 8 was chosen as International Women’s Day.  Within a few years dozens of schools planned special programs for Women History Month.  After many years of favorable response from school and public leaders the National Women History Project, in 1987,  petitioned congress to expand the entire of month of March to celebrate Women’s History.  The National Women History Project is involved in many efforts to promote multicultural women’s history.  The popularity of women’s history has sparked a new interest in uncovering women’s forgotten heritage and contributions to our country.  http://www.nwhp,org/whm/history.php

March is Music in Our Schools Month (Yes, there is such a thing) Public school is where all children should have access to music (and art).  This year’s theme is Music! Just Imagine.  Check out www.menc.org/events/view/music-in-our-schools-month

March is Irish American Heritage Month: March 17, St. Patrick’s Day

March 2: Dr. Seuss’s Birthday

March 7: Telephone Patentn Granted in 1876 to Alexander Graham Bell

March 8: Barbie’s Birthday (1959)  Mardi Gras

March 10: First paper money issued in 1862

March 11- Johnny Appleseed Day   Help the Nature Conservancy plant 1 billion trees in the Amazon.  Donate one dollar per tree at www.plantabillion.org

March 12: Girl Scout Day founded in1912

March 16- Publication of First Black Newspaper in America Freedom’s Journal, 1827, published Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwurm.  All 103 issues are available at www.wisconsinhistory.org/libraryarchives/aanp/freedom

March 17: St. Patrick Day

March 18: First walk in space 1965

March 20: First day of spring

March 29: Passover begins at sundown, Coca-Cola was invented in 1886

March 30: Alaska Purchased in 1867, Pencil with an eraser patented in1858

March 31: Cesar Chavez Day, First Map of the US Published

Happy Birthday National City, September 17, 1887!

September birthstone: Sapphire.  Flower: Rose.  Astrological signs: Virgo August 23 to September 22, Libra September 23 to October 22.

Important dates in September 2011:  

Mary had a Little Lamb- published September1

Labor Day- September 5

Labor Day- First Monday in September.  Labor Day was declared a U.S. national holiday in 1894.  It was created by the labor movement and dedicated to the social and economic achievements of the American worker.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Citizenship and Constitution Day- California becomes the 31st state in 1859 September 9

  Rosh Hashanah  ( begins at sundown)September 8        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Remembrance Day 9-11-01- September 11       

National Grandparents Day- September 12                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Mexican Independence Day- September 15   National Hispanic Heritage Month (begins September 15 and ends October 15)

Band-Aid invented (1920), Ice-cream cone invented (1903), First U.S. Post Office opened (1789), First Day of Autumn September 22

Mary Poppins debuted (1964)- September 25

Johnny Appleseed’s birthday September 26

First airport opened (1909), Chinese Mid-Autumn festival September 28

Safety pin invented (1849)- September 30  

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