4 Friday, February 2, 2018brooklintowncrier.com Community Calendar If you have a community not-for-profit event you would like included in the calendar, please email it to editorofBTC@gmail.com with the subject line "calendar." Priority will be given to Brooklin events. Some editing may occur. Fri., Feb. 23: 4:00 - 5:00 pm (4th Friday of each month) Teen Leadership Council at Brooklin Library Whitby Library's Brooklin Branch seeks Teen Leadership Council members to share ideas & assist with special events and programs. Grade 9-12 students earn community service hours. Snacks provided. No registration required. For information, email teenservices@whitbylibrary.ca. Wed., Feb. 28: 7:30 pm - Brooklin Horticultural Society Membership Evening Featuring: Diane Stackhouse & Brian McLatchie: "Making of a Country Garden" Brooklin United Church, 19 Cassels Road East Explore a variety of perennials in garden areas such as an old barn foundation garden, a shade garden, and a small vegetable garden. Arrive early for draw tickets, & enjoy refreshments (please lug-a-mug). New members are welcome! For more information, contact Kathy @ 905-430-7213, kathyallam@hotmail.ca Wed., Mar. 7: 12-1:30pm - Community Seniors' Luncheon At Burns Church (Myrtle Rd W.) Soup, sandwiches and games/euchre/ crokinole Building wheelchair accessible RSVP 905-655-8509 (carpool avail.) www.burnschurch.org Mondays: 6:30-7 pm: French Family Storytime: Children and their caregivers can join Madame Sue for weekly French Family Storytime! A half hour of French stories and songs, with a dash of English! Drop in at Central Library's Children's Program Room Tuesdays: 7:25 pm: Brooklin Toastmasters Club Practice public speaking at Brooklin Community Centre & Library. Contact John Johnstone at jajhj@sympatico.ca or phone 905-683-4439 or Patricia Romano at promano257@outlook.com or phone 905-626-7055. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays Community Care Durham (CCD) Basic Foot Care at St. Thomas' Anglican Church. 905-668-6779 Mon.-Fri. CCD delivers hot or frozen meals. To order: Karen Andrews 905-668-6779 How To Discourage Materialism Our Brooklin Kids By Leanne Brown A Brooklin Toddler's Random Thoughts "Why is it called a mud room? It doesn't have any mud." My daughter received many new toys for Christmas. "Out with the old," I thought, as I set about getting rid of some of the older toys, the broken, never played with and outgrown playthings to make room for the new additions. As I worked to eliminate the clutter, I wondered about the impact of all these accumulated material objects on my child. Materialism is described as a preoccupation with possessions and the belief that products provide happiness and success, the "never enough" principle of life. It's not a bad thing to want something, but it is a bad thing to never be satisfied with what you have. Research shows that kids who are materialistic tend to be less happy. According to a 2013 paper in the "Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin" by J.M. Twenge & T. Kasser, materialism can lead to decreased life satisfaction, happiness, social cooperation and environmentally sustainable behaviors, as well as depression, anxiety, racism and antisocial behavior. Cut back on advertisements Children are most influenced by advertising from age eight as this is the age when children start to see possessions as being part of their identity, happiness, and social status. It influences their wants and self-esteem. Limiting exposure to advertisements, minimizing the importance of possessions, and teaching children about the tricks used by advertisers are a good start. One type of ad kids love are the videos of the adults who unwrap toys. After teaching my daughter that the toy companies were paying a lady to make the videos, she lost interest. I have just recently moved a box of must have "collectables" that were since discarded to the basement. I count it as a lesson she learned. Giving money can actually be a teaching aid I've found that allowances can discourage materialism. After a few months of seeing her allowance disappear into her collection, she is much more discerning about her purchases and recognizes that toys in ads are often not as fun in real life as they appear in the ads. Spending a month's allowance on a piece of plastic junk is a real eye-opener. Find happiness in what you have It's important to teach children from an early age to be grateful for what they have . You can teach gratitude in many ways. Showing children about other sources of happiness such as spending time with friends and play can divert those wants. Also, writing thank you emails for gifts, showing children people who are much less fortunate than themselves, and teaching children to look around them and just appreciate what they have can help them discern "wants" from "needs." Like all parents, I will always encourage my child to strive for a financially secure future. But if I can get her away from developing materialistic values, I think she will be happier in the end. And having less to clean and declutter means more time for me! The oldest house in Brooklin is believed to be at 42 Cassels Road East. It was built in 1845 as a Regency cottage, for Dr. James Hunter, Whitby`s Rebel of 1837. Dr. Hunter lived in this house until 1856 when he moved to Buffalo, New York, where he died 19 years later. His daughter, Sarah, married Rev. Robert Darlington, a Methodist Minister, Postmaster at Brooklin, and Treasurer of Whitby Township. The last of his family, Georgina Hunter Darlington, died in 1923 and the house was purchased by Rev. Robert Simpson of the Brooklin Presbyterian Church. His daughter, Chrissie Simpson, was a local teacher and the second wife of Dr. John H. McKinney. The Hunter-Darlington House, as it is called, is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. Historically Speaking with Brian Winter Historically speaking: What's Brooklin's Oldest House? Residents are invited to celebrate Family Day in Whitby on Monday, February 19, with free, family-friendly activities being hosted at five Town facilities. The Town's expanded 2018 Family Day programming will offer residents of all ages more activities to take part in than ever before. Free activities will take place at the following Town facilities: Iroquois Park Sports Centre, Whitby Civic Recreation Complex, McKinney Centre, Luther Vipond Memorial Arena, and Brooklin Community Centre and Library. Between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., residents can enjoy free swimming, skating and family fitness classes. For those who prefer a more relaxing experience, two screenings of a family-friendly movie (title yet to be confirmed) will be accompanied by free popcorn, and will run at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Brooklin Community Centre and Library. Just want to drop in? The Whitby Civic Recreation Complex will offer free kids' crafts and activities throughout the day. Face painting, balloon art and more will also be offered at Iroquois Park Sports Centre. For the complete list and schedules of the activities being offered, visit whitby.ca/familyday This year's event is proudly sponsored by Scotiabank and Trafalgar Castle School. Free Family Day Activities on Feb. 19 The Town's 2018 call for Whitby Idol applicants has begun - and is nearly over. By February 2, all Whitby youth are invited to apply (as individuals or groups) for Whitby Idol - the Town's annual singing competition that invites youth to share their vocal talents. Interested youth ages 12 to 18 can apply online at whitby.ca/ youthevents. Auditions will be held at The Music Scene (1916 Dundas Street East) on Thursday, February 15, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Selected finalists will be awarded recording time courtesy of sponsor The Music Scene. They will also perform live at the Whitby Idol Finale on March 1 and at various Town of Whitby events throughout the year. Whitby Idol is presented by the Whitby Youth Council - youth and adults from local schools, agencies and organizations who work together to address the needs of Whitby youth. For more information, visit whitby.ca/youthevents or call 905.430.4300 x6521 Whitby Idol Deadline Feb. 2