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(02/18/08 2:58am)
Love is in the air this month, which means it’s the perfect time to get that special pet spayed or neutered.\nThe 14th annual Spay Day USA is Feb. 26, but events will be taking place throughout the end of February and into early March. \nSpay Day, sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States, is the only national day to promote the spaying and neutering of pets. \n“Spay Day is important because of increasing animal overpopulation,” said Sarah Hayes, chief executive officer of the Monroe County Humane Association. “The Bloomington Animal Shelter admits over 5,200 animals a year and only around 53 percent get adopted.” \nAccording to the Humane Society’s Web site, Spay Day both offers spay/neuter services, but also promote spaying/neutering as an essential component of good pet care, and a humane means of decreasing the number of homeless animals.\n“Spay Day is a national campaign by the Humane Society, where each local shelter carries on their own promotions,” Hayes said.\nThe Monroe County Humane Association will celebrate Spay Day by selling $5 vouchers for a spay or neuter surgery to low-income Monroe County applicants at both Bloomington K-mart locations. \n“I think that us being out among the public brings more of an awareness of these vouchers to more people,” said Nancy Lee, a regular Monroe County Humane Association volunteer, “There are a lot of people that do not know of the MCHA’S Spay/Neuter Assistance Program, which pays a portion of the cost of the surgery. Spay Day not only offers vouchers for $5, but it helps get the word out about the regular program.”\nMonroe County residents that are eligible can go to K-mart East, 3216 E. Third St., Feb. 23 and 24 to fill out an application and purchase vouchers. Vouchers will also be available at K-mart West, 3175 W. Third St., March 8 and 9. The vouchers are good for either Pets ALIVE Spay/Neuter Clinic or Town and Country Vet Clinic. \nWhile every day might be Spay Day for Pets ALIVE for Karla Kamstra, founder of Pets ALIVE, they have teamed up with the Monroe County Humane Society for several years now to help out on Spay Day.\n“(Pets ALIVE was founded) when I became aware of how many animals were being euthanized at our local shelter in 2002,” Kamstra said. “Since then, thanks largely to the efforts of Pets ALIVE and the programs we helped bring to Monroe County, that euthanasia rate is much lower.”
(12/06/07 4:30am)
With the help of a $50,000 donation by Canine Companions, an official dog park will be built next year on the grounds of Karst Farm Park near the Monroe County Fairgrounds \nin Bloomington. \nCanine Companions, a Bloomington dog training and boarding company, has partnered with Monroe County Parks and Recreation to create an official dog park for the area. The dog park, expected to open in June 2008, will be built on two acres and feature separate enclosures for big and small dogs. “This park has been a dream for awhile and it wouldn’t be happening without Canine Companions support and sponsorship,” said Kelli Witmer, assistant administrator for Monroe County Parks and Recreation.\nThe park will feature watering stations, shade, video surveillance and a 6-foot fence to create a safe, clean and fun facility, she said.\nThe park will require a $120 yearly membership to help maintain the park. Members will need a key pass to enter, and owners will also need to show proof of vaccinations and make sure the dog is spayed or neutered, according to the Canine Companions Web site. \n“The park will have strict regulations to ensure only responsible owners gain membership to make the park a fun but safe place,” said Bryan Bailey, chief executive officer of Canine Companions. \nThe park will even have a limited number of memberships sold, so as not to overpopulate the park, he said.\nRequiring each owner to have a pass key is a way to keep the park safe by ensuring that only healthy, registered dogs are allowed into the park, Bailey said.\n“We wanted to give back to the community, Bloomington needed an official dog park,” Bailey said. “It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a while now but didn’t have the financial means at the time.”\nMonroe County Parks and Recreation had approached Canine Companions in order to build a safe dog park, Bailey said. \n“We’ve been involved in every aspect from designing to picking out fencing and lighting equipment,” he said.\nDog owners wanting to gain access to the park will also be encouraged to attend a free training class for the proper dog etiquette at the park, Bailey said.\nOnce open, the park will be accessible seven days a week during daylight hours, Bailey said.
(11/09/07 2:58am)
IU will host its first conference on obesity, “Obesity: Causes, Consequences and Policy Challenges” starting at 8:30 a.m. Friday in Wylie Hall Room 005. The conference, sponsored by the Bureau of Social Science Research and the Department of Economics, will feature various researchers and professors presenting topics such as “Free Trade Makes You Fat,” “The Economics of Obesity” and “Public Views on the Causes of Obesity.” Lunch will be provided.\n“The obesity epidemic is one of the major public health or public policy issues in the country,” said Gerhard Glomm, the conference’s organizer and chair of the IU Department of Economics, when asked why the conference was organized. “Excess annual mortality from obesity and obesity-related health (conditions) has been estimated to be over 100,000 deaths.” \nGlomm said several departments are collaborating on this conference because obesity is caused by many factors.\n“Obesity seems to me to be an issue that naturally calls for a multi-disciplinary approach,” Glomm said.\nGlomm said economics plays a direct role in the rise of obesity.\n“We know from economic studies that in large part, the rise in obesity can be explained by a drop in the relative price of food and the time of preparing or acquiring food,” he said.\nRobert Goodman, dean and professor at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, said IU is a good place to have a conference like this due to high student interest and the resources available.\n“We have great expertise across the campus in specialty areas like economics, public health, nursing and others that, in combination, can make a bigger difference than any one discipline by itself,” Goodman said. “IU also has a venerable history as a health-conscious campus.”\nOne of the main purposes of the conference is to bring scholars together who have an interest in researching this increasing health risk.\n“We are hoping to bring interested faculty and graduate students together and see if there is potential for conducting joint research,” said Rusty Tchernis, co-organizer and presenter. “We already have people here who are interested in the topic and hopefully enough will and energy to generate synergy.”\nAnyone with interest in researching or learning more about obesity is welcome to attend. The conference is free, but registration is required. To register, contact Harriet Kenny at 855-0836 or hkenny@indiana.edu. More information is available at http://www.iub.edu/~econdept/conference/Obesity_Conference_2007_Program.pdf.
(11/05/07 1:53am)
Tengo famiglia,” an Italian expression for putting the family first, is the central concept of the Monroe County Civic Theater’s latest production, “Over the River and Through the Woods.”\nThe play, which opened Friday in the John Waldron Arts Center Auditorium, balances comedy and heartwarming moments, all the while making the audience nostalgic. \n“Over the River” is set in New Jersey and tells the story of Nick, played by Gabe Gloden, and his four Italian grandparents.\nWhen Nick’s grandparents realize that he wants to move to Seattle for a new job, they will do anything to keep him close, including setting him up on a dinner date with Caitlin O’Hare, played by senior Erin Sullivan, in the hopes the two will fall in love and live happily ever after in New Jersey.\nThe small atmosphere of the auditorium makes the audience members feel like they are part of the family. The acting is so real and spot on that some viewers might envision their own families in the comedic situations and heartwarming moments.\n“It’s grandparents with their grandson. Everyone is loud and loves to eat,” Sullivan said. “My family is like this. My friends’ families are like this. I think a majority of people can relate to it.”\nEven Sheila Butler’s portrayal of a much older woman, Emma Cristano, will have the audience longing for their grandmothers.\n“It has been a challenge and a lot of fun creating her character,” Butler said. “She has taken on a personality all her own.”\nAudience members will be able to see their own family’s characteristics reflected in at least one of these characters. If not from the overbearing you-need-to-eat Aida Gianelli, played by Linda Ostermeier, or Nick who cannot even play a game of trivial pursuit with his grandparents without feeling frustrated, then perhaps Frank Gianelli, played by Frank Buczolich, or Nunzio Cristano, played by Jim Hettmer, who both just want a couple of pictures of their grandson.\nThe play’s director, Rance Fawbush, hopes families will be able to enjoy the show together.\n“I want them to have a wonderful time watching,” Fawbush said. “It’s just a fun presentation of intra-family trials and tribulations, done with universal humor.”\n“Over the River and Through the Woods” will show again at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the John Waldron Arts Center Auditorium. Tickets are $12 for the general public and $9 for students. Tickets are available at the door before the performance. Visit www.mcct.org for more information.