Race for the Cure

It seems that everybody has been touched by cancer. The evil beast strikes our family, friends, coworkers...even our pets. That's the bad news. The good news is that cancer is being detected earlier, more treatments are available, and we as a people are fighting back.

Saturday, September 19th is the Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Evansville. There are many wonderful things about this particular event. First we raise a ton of money for research and treatment, with 75 percent of it staying in our local community. It's so moving so see such a massive outpouring of love, dedication, and work by all the volunteers and people that make this thing happen. Whether this is your 1st year participating, your 12th year or somewhere in between I hope to see you there.

Some changes this year include moving the location to downtown Evansville, long-sleeved t-shirts for participants, day of week moved to Saturday, tissue bank. More info at: http://www.komenevansville.org/UserArea/StaticPages/2009RacefortheCure.asp

Giving "In-Kind" Donations

Everybody is having a hard time making ends meet which is bad news for 501c3 charity groups. Cash donations are down which is unfortunate. However, have you ever considered giving in-kind donations? You may have something that a charity could really use and in giving it to them you not only help the charity but also clear some clutter from your home. Contact the charity of your choice by telephone or internet and find out what is on their "Wish List". And if you really want to give of yourself, offer to volunteer your time. Animal organizations always need help with socialization, grooming, and cleaning. Other organizations may need additional help for their major fundraisers or for their day to day activities. Perhaps you could answer phones, address correspondence, help sell raffle tickets, etc. The possibilities are endless! So even if you are short on money, don't let that hold you back when it comes to giving to charity.

Posey Humane Society

The Posey Humane Society is having their 1st Spayghetti and No Balls Dinner on Saturday, May 2nd from 5-8pm. Dinner for adults is $10, children 5-12 $5, children under 5 are free.

Dinner is spaghetti, bread, salad and drink, carryouts available. Catered by Made to Order Catering.

Tour the new shelter facility (tours are free, donations accepted), The Posey Humane Society, 6500 Leonard Road, Mt. Vernon, IN.

The shelter has risen from the ashes after being closed for 4 yrs after a cat virus that forced them to close their doors. They are looking for volunteers and also have a wish list for in-kind donations: wheelbarrow, baby scale, spray bottles, washcloths, cat toys, buckets, bleach, dish detergent, paper towels, newspapers, old towels, office paper, clay cat litter, rubber gloves, 30 gal kitchen trash bags, and dry cat food.

If you would like to volunteer your time, please contact the shelter at 838-3211.

Peggy Mitchell

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/apr/29/local-tv-icon-peggy-mitchell-dies/

If you grew up in the tristate during the 1970's then The Peggy Mitchell Show as a definite staple of your morning routine. It was pretty much some Gumby and Pokey, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Peggy Mitchell. What else did a kid need? A couple years ago Peggy's son had her in for an appearance at his furniture store and it was pretty neat for many of us to see our childhood fave. Condolences to Peggy's family on their loss as we grieve with you. Thank you for sharing her with us.

Cool Story in The Gleaner today!

There is a really neat story in the Gleaner today for Earth Day about turning plastic shopping bags into yarn and knitting them into sturdy, reusable bags. Here's the link: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/apr/21/knitted-shopping-bags/

Priceless Flea Market Finds

Spent the weekend with my mom and enjoyed a plant show (got a lavender plant and some lime thyme). BTW, lime thyme is the funniest herb name ever! Go ahead, say it...lime thyme. hehehe
I fell in love with the roadrunner bird when I lived in Southern California and was extremely pleased to find a brass roadrunner at a flea market we also went to. Also talked the guy down on price so that is always fun. Found a fantastic antique yellow granite stockpot there and I can't wait to make a big pot of chili!
Afterwards we celebrated our finds with lunch and then to mom's house to play some Scrabble. (She won best 2 out of 3)
Plants $4
Flea Market Treasures $11
Lunch at Dennys $20
Hanging out with my mom...priceless

Crown Me!

Thanks to Todd Fox for working for me today so I could get some dental work done. I've been lucky that aside from the 6 month cleaning I don't have to visit the dentist's office often. But today I got my first crown. I have to admit to being a big baby and being apprehensive about the procedure but Dr. Eblen (from Riverbend Dental) and his assistant Hadley made the entire experience painless and easy. What I want to know is now that I've been "crowned" does that mean I'm royalty? Seriously, we should get to be a Countess or Duchess for the day with our new crowns. Okay, maybe not. That's just the Novocaine talking.

3 Dogs and their Bones

For a special treat yesterday I bought three of the raw frozen ham bones from the Pet Food Center for my dogs to enjoy in the yard. I could barely get them shrinkwrap plastic off as they tapdanced around me anxiously to get their treat! Once I got the bones open, I had to put each dog in their respective corner of the yard and they got to gnaw away. My female hound dog tried to steal from my dober-boy, but I intervened and everybody got to enjoy themselves. I even got to relax and sit in my adirondack chair and read a book. Good times for all!

Easter Seals Telethon

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be a small part of the extremely successful Easter Seals Telethon as I got to answer phones for a little while. The end result is $935,430 to fund therapy at the rehabilitation center. Thank YOU tristate for making this happen. The work that the rehab center does helps kids and adults and they are truly amazing! The stories told during the telethon have a way of touching our hearts and as always this community comes together to help our neighbors in need. Way to go News 25 for donating air-time for the event.
http://in-sw.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=INSW_homepage
http://www.news25.us/

Grandpa

My maternal grandfather died before I was born but occasionally I overhear an interesting story about the man. When he and my grandma moved from Evansville to their Kentucky farm, they needed to drill for water. They hired a man to dig for the well and he found water pretty quickly. BUT, he said "let's go deeper and see what we get" and when he did so dug just a little bit too far and broke into an old underground coal mine and all the water just ran out...this literally took days for the water to drain out. I know, horrible isn't it? Curiously my grandfather peeped down into the gurgling drain and his glasses fell into the hole! Poor guy. Money was really tight too with 8 children and establishing a liveable farm out of the wilderness. Nobody seems to remember him getting those glasses replaced which I'm sure he did somehow. They just tell the story of him peering down into the abyss and the specs falling, falling, plip! He and my grandmother along with my mom, aunts, and uncles had to work hard just to survive at the farm but at least they could laugh at themselves. Of course, maybe they weren't laughing then but as they tell the story today they all give a little chuckle. "...and those glasses were brand new too!."

Snakes in the Yard

Yesterday afternoon I was greeting by a little ribbon snake by my backdoor! He was sitting atop some dry oak leaves by the dryer vent. Actually that seem like a pretty neat place to chill for a snake with the warmth from the dryer exhaust and the leaf litter to hide in.

After a girly scream, I scooped him into a jar for show and tell with the neighborhood boys. Good times ensued for all.

Here is my favorite snake identification website. http://www.kentuckysnakes.org/


I try avoidance, but it's nice to know what you're dealing with if you happen upon a snake in the Tri-State. Most experts do warn that snakebites occur when people are messing with or trying to kill snakes. Best to leave them alone if poisonous.

March Catness at VHS

http://www.vhslifesaver.org/resources/news_detail.html?n_id=12378125951188172

WIKY Wabbit

Today a loyal listener of many years, Ruth Spahn re-gifted the WIKY Wabbit that her family won some 42 years ago. The 5-6 ft stuffed bunny has provided comic relief and comfort to children and grandchildren and is now returned and sitting in the WIKY lobby on Evansville's West Side.

Happy Easter!

Dog Park in Evansville

In case you haven't heard, there is now a dog park in Evansville! It is called Central Bark and is off 1st Avenue south of Diamond near Kleymeyer Park (beside Bob Walthers Golf Course).

You do need to "join" in order to take your dog to the park, $25 year, $10 key to gate. The group is called EDOG, for Evansville Dog Owners Group.

Of course, if you are not familiar with dog parks, you do need to follow some basic rules like cleaning up after your dog, leaving if your dog picks a fight, proof of vaccines, etc. When I lived in Southern California my doberman Bob Marley loved to go to the dog park! It's a great opportunity to socialize your dog and get some exercise plus meet other dog lovers.

While dog parks are great, they are not for everybody or everydog. My current doberman will not be going. He was a rescue and was severely abused and even with obedience training I don't think he would quite like it right now. However, my coonhound Princess can't wait to join and get out and network with other fun loving dogs!

This Saturday, March 21st from 10a-12n, you can bring your dog and sign up! Remember, $25 for an annual membership plus $10 for the key.

For more info: Terry Blake at 428-3675.

Here comes Peter Cottontail...

Pet Food Center is offering pet pics with the Easter Bunny on April 4th at the PFC on 1st Ave in Evansville. For more info: www.petfoodcenteronline.com

The same photographer who did the Santa pics will be doing them and she is awesome! I want to take both my dogs but I'm not sure if I can handle BOTH of them at the same time. They have both completed Basic Obedience class but are only "basically" obedient.

Trip A Day

We start giving away trips on Friday, March 2oth! Log in to your WIKY Loyal Listener account to make sure your info is up to date. Tell your friends and family to sign up too! They can sign up by mail if they choose by sending: Name, Address, Phone Number, and Birthday to WIKY, POB 3848, Evansville, IN 47736.

Pack yer bags and good luck!

Pet Food Center pet adoptions

Pet Food Center (Northside location, 1st Avenue, next to Target) now offers pet adoptions on Sunday afternoons from Noon til 4pm. (See schedule at end of article) Several No-kill organizations will be rotating including:
PAAWS
CARING PAWS
TRI-STATE GREYHOUNDS
WARRICK HUMANE SOCIETY
Pet Food Center is donating a free gift bag with each adoption that includes a puppy diary with ProPac coupons, free bag of ProPac food offer, dog wash coupon, Pet Food Center frisbee, tennis ball and bandana.
Check out this email from the first adoption fair at Pet Food Center:
Debra!

I couldn't wait to tell you the news.
1st thing, thank you for the commercial you played last week about the "Caring Paws Adoption" at Pet Food Center North.
2nd thing, my daughter, son-in-law, and 2 granddaughters have adopted a dog. His name is Tippy, he is a 1-yr. old Spitz/Pom (mostly Spitz) mix. He is the sweetest dog. (They may still have his mug shot posted)
Long story short. My daughter has a severe "break-out" to alot of dog and cat hair. After traveling the city in search of a compatible dog, they met Tippy last Sunday at PFC, North. They spent the entire 2-hours with him, loving him up, and no "break-out".

Thanks again. Keep up the great work.
Pam G.
Mom, grandmother, animal lover.
PET FOOD CENTER ADOPTION DATES


MARCH

22ND GREYHOUNDS
29TH NO ADOPTIONS

APRIL

5TH PAAWS
12TH CARING PAWS
19TH CARING PAWS
26TH GREYHOUNDS

MAY

3RD PAAWS
10TH CARING PAWS
17TH CARING PAWS
24TH GREYHOUNDS
31ST NO ADOPTIONS
JUNE

7TH PAAWS
14TH CARING PAWS
21ST CARING PAWS
28TH GREYHOUNDS

JULY

5TH PAAWS
12TH CARING PAWS
19TH CARING PAWS
26TH GREYHOUNDS