Oct
22
2009
Tips for your Trick or Treat walk
Travel in groups. A Parent or responsible Adult should always accompany children on their neighborhood rounds - stay with your group.
Carry a flashlight with fresh batteries and a glow stick.
Stay on the sidewalk, never cut across yards or use alleys.
Do not cross the street in the middle of the block or between parked cars - cross at a designated cross walk.
Walk never run across the street.
Look both ways before crossing (a good rule for crossing is to look left, then right, then left again).
Follow all traffic signals.
Children should carry all important telephone numbers in case of emergency. Emergency information can be secured discreetly within Halloween clothing or on an identification bracelet (name, address, phone number).
Never enter a stranger's home or car for a treat.
Only go to houses that are well lit.
Do not approach any pets that you are not familiar with.
Children should remain in well populated places and not go into empty or deserted areas.
All parents and responsible parties should always know where their children are going.
Children should never go home with a strange adult or another child.
Do not permit children to bicycle, roller-blade or skateboard while Trick or Treating
Drivers
All drivers should always drive slowly and be alert for all Trick or Treaters .
All drivers should watch for children in the street and be extra careful entering or exiting driveways.
All drivers should be ...
Posted in: Holiday Articles
Oct
21
2009
As we approach the 2009 Halloween Evening, and start thinking about the massive amounts of sweets our children will be exposed to, it’s important for all of us to remember what happened on that Halloween night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania back in 1950. Five children went door to door with their pastor to collect money for their friends in post World War II Europe. At each door, they not only opened their bags for candy, but held out empty milk cartons to collect coins for children in need overseas. They collected a total of $17 and donated the entire amount to UNICEF. The ‘Trick or Treat for UNICEF’ program was started by that philanthropic action. In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson declared Halloween, October 31st, to be “UNICEF Day.”
Since 1950, over $130 million has been raised by the ‘Trick or Treat for UNICEF’ campaign. Children from all over the world participate in the program including Canada, Ireland, Mexico and Hong Kong. Monies raised go for vaccines, clean water and improved nutrition for less fortunate children. Movie and TV star Sarah Jessica Parker, herself a trick- or- treater for UNICEF as a child served as the 2006 “Trick or Treat for UNICEF” spokesperson and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador . “My involvement with ‘Trick or Treat for UNICEF’ is particularly dear to me because I participated as a child,” Ms. Parker said. “Halloween can be ...
Posted in: Community, Editor's Page
Oct
21
2009
There are many foods that people routinely eat without a problem. These same foods, however, can have a very different effect on our pets. The spectrum is broad, ranging from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to major toxic reactions.
With the approaching holidays, veterinarians will soon be treating some of the most serious cases of food indiscretion and food toxicity. At this time of the year, it is very important for you, as pet owners to have a good working knowledge of which foods are potentially harmful to your pets.
In general, any kind of “people food” can cause an upset stomach in your pet. Unlike humans, dogs and cats generally eat only one type of food. The result is that their gastrointestinal tract becomes accustomed to digesting only that food. Similar to people, the intestines of dogs and cats contain certain types of bacteria, which aid in their digestive process. When we feed our pets new foods that they can not digest easily, it can result in serious abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Your pet may be affected for several days, becoming lethargic and refusing to eat. Fortunately, in most cases, after a few days he or she will begin a rapid recovery. So, always keep in mind that there is a real risk involved when you decide to give your pet a new food.
To this point, the foods that ...
Posted in: Your Pet with Dr. Birken
Oct
20
2009
Skiing: Olympic Gold Medal Winner Herman, the Herminator Maier will retire this year at the age of 36. Maier, a native of Austria has won 54 World Cups, 2 Olympic Gold Medals and three world titles among his many accomplishments.
Golf: The American Team lead by Tiger Woods, won the 2009 Presidents Cup.
Olympics: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was chosen as the site for the 2016 Summer Olympics by the International Olympic Committee despite a valiant effort by Oprah, First Lady Michelle Obama and President Obama, who all flew to Copenhagen for the meetings.
MLB: It will be the Los Angeles Dodgers facing the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2009 National League title and the New York Yankees battling the other LA team, the Angels for the 2009 American League title to determine who will meet in this year’s World Series. Looks like ex-Yankee and current LA Dodger Manager Joe Torre could face his old team if both get to the finals!!!
NFL: It’s only been six weeks and we are starting to see which teams are dominating their divisions: Remaining undefeated so far are the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts. Teams that have not won a game: Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and St. Louis Rams.
Tennis: Former number one in the world, and holder of seven Grand Slam titles, Justine Henin announced that she will return to the 2010 ...
Posted in: Benny's Sports My Way
