Sun Safety: Learn Before You Burn

New tips, old tricks for protecting your skin this summer.

Living in Georgia you probably know a thing or two about sun safety, but every year it’s important to revisit the basics and brush up on what’s new. The following are the top three things you can do to keep your skin fresh and healthy well into old age. Speaking of labels, the FDA wants you to read the label on your sunscreen with the same scrutiny that you use to read the nutrition label on your food. To make that easier, the FDA has announced new labeling requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens, scheduled to take effect by next summer. Going forward, sunscreen manufacturers will have to list both the UVA and UVB protection of their products using the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) for UVB rays and a star rating system for UVA rays. UVB…

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A Place for Kids to Let Loose

Escape the heat and treat the kids to a day of fun at Bounce-N-Beans!

Bounce-N-Beans Party and Play Center, located at 402 E. Church St., is a great place for kids to run loose and have fun. In Cartersville for almost 3 years, the facility houses giant indoor inflatables, on which kids ages 12 and under can jump, bounce, slide and climb with reckless abandon. The most popular feature at Bounce-N-Beans is the daily Open Jump during which time, for a small fee, children can play on the inflatables for as long as they want. Adults also love Open Jump because, according to manager Ashlee Clark, it provides an opportunity for parents and caregivers to tend to some of their own needs.  “Adults can sit back and relax,” Clark said. “We have magazines, snacks, Wi-Fi and coffee available. Many adults bring books or do…

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Tumble Into Summer with Devilrays

“Kids come from as far as California to take our classes. We want to have fun and get work done at the same time. This really is the best program for your buck.” — Nicole Scott, All-Star Coach

Summer time has fallen upon Cartersville in a rush of 90-degree temperatures, beckoning swimming pools, and yes, hundreds of energized and vacation-starved kids out of school. So the question this year and every year since the invention of organized summer-time activities is what will the kids do this summer to stay busy? Luckily for moms of both the working and stay-at-home persuasion, Cartersville has many opportunities to get the youngsters out of the house and into a hobby. Cartersville Patch is geared up to present a new idea every week of the summer. There are few things in life more delightful and more overwhelming than a play date of bouncy, giggly little girls. With seemingly boundless amounts of energy, summer time presents a hay…

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Ducks, Music and More

This is the weekend to get all your ducks lined up in a row.

Looking to plan your weekend calendar? Cartersville Patch has you covered! Here are ideas for your favorite days of the week. BEST BETS FOR THE WEEKEND • SHERIFF'S BENEFIT SING Where/When: Clarence Brown Conference Center on Friday at 7 p.m. Why Go: Enjoy the musical stylings of The Diplomats, Matt Dibler and Renewed Trio. Pricing: $10, donations also accepted. • 5TH-ANNUAL DUCK DERBY CONCERT ON THE LAWN Where/When: Riverside Day Use Area on Friday at 6 p.m. Why Go: Kick off the annual Duck Derby weekend with an outdoor concert event featuring Eastern Seaboard. The night will also include a cornhole tournament, food, kids’ activities and more! Pricing: Free, donations accepted • DUCK DASH 5K ROAD RACE Where/When: Cartersville Primary …

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Your Weekend's Best Bets

Astronomy Day is Saturday and the sky’s the limit when it comes to keeping busy this weekend.

Looking to plan your weekend calendar? Cartersville Patch has you covered! Here are ideas for your favorite days of the week. • BINGO Where/When:  Emmie Nelson Public Library on Friday from 2 to 3 p.m. Why Go: Take a chance at winning prizes as you have some fun on a Friday afternoon. Note that this is an adult event. Pricing: Free • FUNDRAISER FUN Where/When: Harley-Davidson of Cartersville on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Why Go: Enjoy live music, barbeque, face painting, silent auction, raffles and more with proceeds helping to fund a much needed surgery for Tina Ivester Ulrich. Pricing: Donations • ASTRONOMY DAY AT TELLUS Where/When: Tellus Science Museum on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Why Go: Where better to spend National …

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Spring Break Cabin Fever Already?

A guide for keeping your kids entertained this week.

It’s Spring Break and your kids are looking for things to do. Here are some fun ideas that require little planning. BEST BETS FOR SPRING BREAK • ESCALADE ROCK CLIMBING GYM Where/When: 3694 Kennesaw South Industrial Drive, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Hours are Monday – Friday, 2pm - 10pm; Saturday, 11am - 10pm; and Sunday, 12pm - 6pm. Why Go: Visit the Escalade Rock Climbing Gym in Kennesaw where your kids can burn off extra energy while making lasting memories. The gym boasts a kid-friendly bouldering Island Cage with a slide and a “cosmic monkey bar tunnel” along with climbing walls, rope anchors, lead walls, campus board and training area. Pricing: $15 weekday pass without a guide, $20 weekday pass with a guide and $20 weekend pass. • RED TOP …

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Spring Events, Plays and More

Keep your kids entertained this week with these fun events!

Here are spring events, plays, classic cars and more — pick and choose from this week’s array of events. FAMILY BEST BETS OF THE WEEK • CITY OF CARTERSVILLE AND HOME DEPOT SPRING EVENT Where/When: Home Depot on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Why Go: Free giveaways, free food and free home and garden tips from Home Depot, several city vendors and city departments. Arrive early and your children can attend the kid’s workshop at 9 a.m. Pricing: Free • ED MELL: NEW WEST VISIONARY Where/When: Daily at Booth Western Art Museum. Why Go: If you haven’t taken your kids to see the Ed Mell exhibit yet, maybe this is the week to go. Exposing your children to different works of art is a fun activity that broadens their own creativity. Pricing: Regular…

Light and Fit

Peanut Butter Balls

Here's a tasty after school snack you can feel good about serving your kids!

These peanut butter balls have a lot going for them; they’re a nutritionally balanced snack and decadent dessert all in one. This dish is simpe to prepare and involves no baking; it's a fun recipe to make with the kids! PEANUT BUTTER BALLS Serves 16 INGREDIENTS 1 cup reduced fat creamy peanut butter 1 cup honey 3 cups quick oats 2 ½ cups nonfat dry milk 2 Tbs. wheat germ (optional) ½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips INSTRUCTIONS: Per serving (about 3 balls):  291 calories, 9g fat, 175mg sodium, 45g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, 29g sugar and 10g protein

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Astronauts, Anime and More

There’s a lot going on around town this week.

Here are astronauts, anime, pageants and more — pick and choose from this week’s array of events. FAMILY BEST BETS OF THE WEEK • ANIME SCREENING Where/When: Cartersville Public Library on Tuesday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Why Go: Teens (ages 12 to 18) are invited to the library to screen Funimation’s show, Sgt. Frog. Pricing: Free • MEET AN ASTRONAUT Where/When: Tellus Science Museum on Friday at 7 p.m. Why Go: Here’s a chance for your kids to meet and learn from a real life astronaut! NASA’s Stephanie Wilson is speaking at Tellus about her adventures in outer space. Pricing: Adults $12 and kids (ages 3 to 7) $8. Members are free. • DUCK DERBY KICK-OFF Where/When: Write On Main on Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Why Go: Pick up your little …