Support Healthy Schools and Healthy Communities: Don’t let Big Soda Buy our Council Members’ Votes

Last year, the DC Department of Health found that 43% of students enrolled in our DC public schools were overweight or obese — one of the highest rates in the nation. These students live in a city where over half of the adult population is overweight or obese.  In some neighborhoods, the percentage of overweight or obese adults can be as high as 70%.

On May 4, the DC City Council unanimously passed a groundbreaking piece of legislation called the ‘DC Healthy Schools Act’ to fight this problem. Building off many of the ideas in Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, the DC Healthy Schools Act tackles the obesity problem on several fronts.  The school lunch program will be reformed, with enhanced nutritional standards and a strong emphasis on bringing fresh, local fruits and vegetables to schools.  Physical and health education will be increased threefold.  And through a new school garden program, students will have a hands-on nutrition education and be empowered to make healthier eating choices.

“Great Ancient China Projects” on Indie Next List

“Great Ancient China Projects” was selected to the Indiebound Fall ’08 Kids’ Indie Next List, a collection of “inspired recommendations for kids from Indie Booksellers.”

“Children’s book creators inspire Bethesda Elementary students”

Another story from The Black & White’s Richard Scordato, about the presentation Steven and I did at Bethesda Elementary, our old elementary school from way back when:

Author Lance Kramer and illustrator Steven Weinberg, creators of the children’s story book “Great Ancient China Projects You Can Build Yourself,” visited Bethesda Elementary students to speak about their careers Dec. 2.

“Whitman Grads Pen Book”

A story by Richard Scordato about our book, as published in the Oct. 27 edition of my old high school newspaper, The Black & White:

For most young children, ancient China symbolizes nothing but a blur of iconic images: the Great Wall, dragons, porcelain figures and emperors. Determined to give toddlers a proper introduction to the social and cultural importance of China, Whitman graduates Lance Kramer (’02) and Steven Weinberg (’02) recently published “Great Ancient China Projects You Can Build Yourself,” a storybook that teaches children about ancient China through interactive, hands-on activities. The book is one installment of a build-it-yourself series of children’s books printed by Nomad Press.

MusicFestNW 2008

From Willamette Week’s MusicFestNW 2008 Guide:

Trio Subtonic:

[FUNKY JAZZ] In the spirit of Medeski, Martin & Wood, Trio Subtonic’s Galen Clark, Jesse Brook and Bill Athens almost always manage to inject a healthy dose of funk into their jazz experiments. The Portland trio’s style also has a diverse range — drawing from influences as diverse as Brazilian traditional rhythms and the turntablist wizardry of DJ Papercuts.

American Booksellers Association (ABA) on “China Projects”

A short review from the ABA’s Bookselling This Week:

Great Ancient China Projects: You Can Build Yourself by Lance Kramer, Steven Weinberg (illus.) (Nomad Press, $14.95, 9781934670026 / 1934670022)
“Vocabulary, timelines, and sidebars are included in a fun, hands-on approach to educating young readers about ancient China. Cook egg noodles, make an instrument, create a kite, learn feng shui …what a fun book! Use it on weekends, holidays, and vacation to keep kids busy and having fun.” –Lori Peters, Wild About Books, Clearlake, CA

“China Projects” in Willamette Week

The very wonderful Whitney Hawke was kind enough to make a cool mention of my book in the latest edition of Willamette Week. If you’re in town this weekend, stop by and check out the reading!

From Willamette Week, 8/6/08:

For kids, learning about ancient China has always been a total snooze…until now! Author and WW freelancer Lance Kramer’s interactive children’s book,Great Ancient China Projects You Can Build Yourself, aims to engage kids in more than 20 hands-on projects that educate youngsters about ancient Chinese society and its influence on contemporary culture.

“China Projects” in The Outlook

A short piece on “Great Ancient China Projects,” from my old newspaper, The Gresham Outlook.

“Former Outlook Writer Pens Book,” The Outlook, July 26, 2008:

Former Outlook news clerk and obituary writer Lance Kramer has published a book to introduce children (and adults) to do-it-yourself Chinese projects. The book arrives just in time for the Olympics in China.

Best of Portland 2008

Here’s a smattering of all sorts of write-ups I did for Willamette Week’s “Best of Portland” issue, which hit the streets 7/23/08:

Best Place to Hear Live Music: Hawthorne Theater

[The People’s Republic] 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. Thanks to OLCC regulations, running an all-ages music venue here is about as easy as opening up a Planned Parenthood office in the Vatican.

Portland’s Best Globetrotting, School-Building Coffee Company

From Willamette Week’s “Best of Portland” issue, 7/23/08:

Putting a label on the “best” coffee company in Portland is like determining who’s the most heroic superhero in the Hall of Justice. Our city is unsurpassed when it comes to socially conscious, environmentally friendly, goddamn tasty coffee roasters. So, why’d we single out Portland Roasting ?