Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: Raincoats over costumes
This week, you'll find some extremely dumb, niche Halloween costume ideas in case you wanted to go as "person who has to explain their costume to everyone." You'll also learn about a new childcare facility that's filling an important gap in our community. Happy Hallo-weekend, everybody!
And now, news:
JUST FOR FUN
A procrastinator's guide to weird, niche Halloween costumes only Sioux Fallsians will understand
Simplified: The thing about journalists is, we're deadline-focused people. And what that usually means is, "due today, do today." So, if you, like me, are a wait-til-the-last-minute person, here's a gentle reminder that it's not too late to put together a Halloween costume – as long as you're cool spending the whole night explaining what you are. And, as with everything we do here, the focus is on Sioux Falls.
Why it matters
- It doesn't. It's just for fun. Humor me.
Ok, show me the costume ideas
COMMUNITY
This new childcare center is meeting the needs of medically complex kids
Simplified: Brittany Lux used to get calls every day from her daughter's childcare center about behavior challenges or medical questions. It got to the point where she started working overnights because it was easier to find someone to watch her daughter while she slept than while she was awake. Then, she found Uniquely Yours.
Why it matters
- Uniquely Yours is a childcare center and day habilitation facility for medically complex kids who currently fall into a gap between traditional childcare facilities and full-on residential services. They serve kids ages 3 to 21, and construction is underway on a brand new building in Harrisburg.
- Founders Sarah Parmenter and Emily Bartscher both have a background in special education. They also both have children with disabilities and know firsthand the challenges of finding trusted care – even for a few hours to just rest and get a break from their caretaker roles.
- Uniquely Yours is also preparing to launch its first-ever fundraising campaign to support Parmenter and Bartscher's work in serving this historically underserved population of kids.
- For parents like Lux, Uniquely Yours has meant going back to a normal 9-5 weekday job. It's also meant trusting that her 13-year-old daughter is in a space outside of school where she's not only safe, but truly cared for and engaging with others. In other centers, Lux worried she'd just sit by the door and stay there waiting for pickup. But at Uniquely Yours?
"She's with kids like her – everyone understands her," Lux said. "She's developed a ton of new friendships ... she's gotten her first crush. She's loving it."
Tell me more
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
How to know if your kid is ready for braces – and who to trust when it's time
This is a paid piece from Barrow Orthodontics.
Simplified: When it comes to straightening your teeth (or your children's), who you work with matters. And with a 40-year track record, Barrow Orthodontics is a group you can trust to safely move teeth while protecting the bones – keeping health and wellbeing at the forefront. Here's why that's especially important when it comes to young kids.
Why it matters
- Doctors Keri Barrow and Lauren Witte recommend kids come in for a complimentary screening once they turn 7 years old. It's important to see kids at a young age because then it's easier to correct something like a cross-bite or teeth that aren't coming in as they should. That said, Barrow has worked with patients as old as 86 and everyone in-between.
- What sets Barrow Orthodontics apart is the clinic's specialized care and professional knowledge of how teeth can move through bone. Owner Keri Barrow and her team are on top of the latest orthodontic technologies and practices, and Barrow herself serves as chairperson for the special committee of women orthodontists within the American Association of Orthodontists.
- Orthodontics isn't just about aesthetics, either. Properly aligned teeth can prevent the need for dental restorations down the road, as well as ensuring teeth can be adequately cleaned. Plus, a nice, stable bite is important in everyday life, Barrow said.
"My hope would be that people get orthodontics as a young person and do a great job with their retainers and never have to go through orthodontics again," Barrow said. "Not only that, but also that they don't have to pay for crowns and bridges and other periodontal problems."
Tell me more about Barrow
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
WANT TO HELP MORE PEOPLE FEEL THIS SMART?
Support Sioux Falls Simplified
Here are a few ways to ensure this smarter, easier local news outlet is here to stay:
- Forward this to a friend. Sharing is caring, and the best gifts are the ones that make your life easier – like this smarter, easier local news.
- Become a member. Consider buying into a smarter Sioux Falls by becoming a member and offering financial support to the no B.S. journalism you've been reading here.
- Give a one-time gift. Not ready to commit to a membership? That's OK! If you want to help in a smaller way, you can give a one-time gift here.
- Advertise with us. Tell the "simplified" story of your business to your target audience. Want more info? Reach out to megan@sfsimplified.com.
Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including SafeSplash Swim School, Wayne & Mary's Nutrition Center, Startup Sioux Falls, Encompass Mental Health, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion, The Premiere Playhouse, The Good Night Theatre Collective and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.
Oh, by the way
Your feedback is extremely helpful – hit the reply button and send any news tips, typos, complaints, compliments or cups of coffee my way. ❤️
