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hvparent.com n Hudson Valley Parent 31 ©2017 NaturaLawn ® of America, Inc. A division of NATURLAWN ® 6HUYLFHV3URGXFWV(DFKRIÀFHLQGHSHQGHQWO\RZQHGDQGRSHUDWHG Kick the ticks the safer way. When considering the KHDOWKEHQHÀWVIRU \RXUIDPLO\XVHD VDIHUDOWHUQDWLYH 2XUSURJUDPRIIHUV VHDVRQORQJFRQWURORI WLFNVRQ\RXUSURSHUW\ ( 845 ) 471-8308 6DIH11DWXUDO#7LFN5DQJHUFRP www.TickRanger.com Contact us for your FREE price quote. $50 OFF a Full Program! :KHQ\RXEHFRPHDQHZ7LFN5DQJHU ® customer. Satisfaction guaranteed or ZH·OOUHWUHDWDWQRFRVW-2IIHUHQGVVRRQ By JILL VALENTINO I t is important to foster a child's creativity. One way to do so is to help them discover an enjoyable outlet for their own unique self- expression. Just ask Red Hook father of four Todd Poteet. "If a child shows interest in a particular subject or skill," says Poteet, "it should be taken to the highest possible level." His 15-year-old daughter Audrey has already authored and published two novels, which certainly gives credence to his argument. Avenues for a child's creative self-expression can encompass a wide swath of possibilities. A few popular examples include painting, theater, dance and music. But for a child with an aptitude for the written word, perhaps the perfect creative outlet could be poetry. Is poetry a dying art? Robert Milby, Poet Laureate of Orange County, feels strongly that poetry benefits children. "Encouraging children and teens to pursue and Todd Poteet's 15-year-old, Audrey, found confidence and her voice while writing. Encourage early literacy, confidence and self-expression Poetry benefits at every age (Continued on Page 32)