Bark In The Park – May 18
Now Includes 5K Run & Pancake Breakfast
The Humane Society of Missouri and Purina ONE® present Bark in the Park, the largest dog festival in the Midwest! The annual event will be held Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at Cricket Field in Forest Park.
New this year! In addition to the 1-mile Walk for Animals and family festival, there will be a 5k run and a pancake breakfast. The 1-mile Walk will be led by 2013 Bark in the Park Mascot, Trooper, and his entourage. Trooper has been chosen to represent all shelter animals because of his amazing spirit after surviving horrific injuries after being dragged more than a mile behind a truck last November. Randi Naughton from KTVI and Melanie Moon from KPLR will help kick-off the Walk for Animals with Humane Society of Missouri president, Kathy Warnick.
Other activities include:
- Performances by the Purina® Incredible Dog Team
- Heartgard® and Frontline® Interactive Family Fun Center
- Ceva Animal Health “Keep the Love Alive” Behavior Express Tour
- Agility course and pet contests hosted by Y98’s Jen Myers
- Bounce house, inflatables, face painting, balloon animals and music
- Barn Buddy farm animals from Longmeadow Rescue Ranch
- Pet adoptions and microchipping for just $25 per pet
- Silent Auction and Gift Shop
- St. Louis’ best food trucks!
5k Run/Walk begins at 9 a.m. 1-mile Walk for Animals begins at 11 a.m. Rain or shine!
Largest Selection of Missouri Native Wildflowers On Sale At Shaw Nature Reserve May 11
Choose from a huge variety of native wildflowers, ferns, trees and shrubs for home landscaping at the Shaw Nature Reserve’s Wildflower Market on Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The annual sale offers the widest array of native plants available in the metro St. Louis area, selected by the Reserve’s horticulture staff and several local nurseries.
The Shaw Wildflower Market offers hundreds of varieties of annual and perennial plants that are beneficial in attracting native species of birds and butterflies. Select from the showiest and hardiest native plants for sun or shade, including pale purple coneflower, butterfly milkweed, rose turtlehead, dwarf crested iris, cardinal flower, compass plant, wild phlox, maidenhair fern, bottle-brush buckeye and fringe tree.
“Right now, native plants are in huge demand,” said Scott Woodbury, horticulturalist at the Shaw Nature Reserve. “The Shaw Nature Reserve will offer hundreds of Missouri species of native plants that are great for home gardens, rain gardens, prairies, wetlands and woodland gardens.”
Along with the Shaw Nature Reserve, participants include Forrest Keeling Nursery, Missouri Wildflower Nursery, Pan’s Garden, Wild Ones Natural Landscapers, Ozark Berry Farm and Andy Weiss Native Plants.
You’ll also enjoy the chance to shop for wine, honey, meat, bread, beer, eggs, cheese, cut flowers, birdhouses, artwork, books and much more while enjoying the toe-tapping live acoustic music by The Folk School on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Red, Yellow, Orange & Green: What’s It All Mean When It Comes To Air Quality
Article courtesy of the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership
As the weather heats up, the risk for poor air quality conditions also accelerates in the region. And at this time of the year, daily air quality forecast updates let us know if it will be a green, yellow, orange or red air quality day. With each color meaning something different for your health, it’s important to be able to decipher this forecasting system to avoid the harmful effects of air pollution during the summer months.
The colors represent values within the Air Quality Index (AQI), a numerical system that measures how clean or polluted the air is. The Environmental Protection Agency calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants as regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. With values ranging from 0 to 500, the AQI determines health effects that may be experienced within hours or days after breathing polluted air. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and potential for concerns.
The AQI is divided into six categories, each corresponding to a different level of health concern. Symbolized by the color green, an AQI in the 0-50 range is considered “good,” and air pollution poses little to no risk. When the AQI ranges from 51-100, the health concern level is “moderate” and symbolized by the color yellow. In this range, air quality conditions are acceptable; however, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms.
When the AQI ranges from 101 to 150, air quality conditions are “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” and symbolized by the color orange. People with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, while those with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air. An AQI from 151 to 200 represents “unhealthy” air quality conditions and is symbolized by the color red. At this AQI, everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects. Any AQI from 201-500, is considered “very unhealthy” or “hazardous,” and can trigger negative health effects and health warnings for the entire population.
You Can’t Change Your Weight Until You Change your Mind! Hypnosis Works!
by Rev. William Mitchell, CI
Hypnotism can be applied successfully as a tool in psychotherapy, medical and dental pain management, to enhance academic achievement, to overcome fears and stage fright, to improve sleep, to increase athletic performance and other applications, however most people think of Habit Control, smoking cessation, weight loss, nailbiting etc.
When I was first introduced to Hypnotism for weight loss, I was a skeptic. Then I witnessed the powerful hypnotic phenomenon in the sessions and the dramatic results of the clients. Many clients lost 20,40,50 even 100 pounds with hypnosis sessions! When I applied the very basic techniques of induction and hypnotic suggestion with clients, the immediate results were dramatic. The evidence for using Hypnotism to control habits, like overeating, was very convincing. . Years later, I am still amazed when clients tap into their own “hypnotic ability” and change old habits like smoking or overeating.
One client had gained 100 pounds since she stopped smoking 10 years before. She was overeating at night, so I utilized “hypnotic amnesia” and gave her the post-hypnotic suggestion that after her evening meal she would “forget” about food until morning. This woman lost 103 pounds in one year.
Solving Chronic Health Challenges: A New Approach
by Amy K. Davis, MD
I am in awe of the human body, and how amazing it is that, by design, it can heal itself. This capability is under fire however. In my years of practice, I see patients with increasing difficulty in maintaining health. The annoying symptoms and chronic health problems just keep growing. I see many adults that just don’t feel well. They are tired, irritable, depressed, have poor digestion, constipation and/or diarrhea, and forgetful with brain fog to name a few common symptoms. Until a few years ago, I had never heard of brain fog. It’s not in the medical text books, yet many people have it. Children have frequent infections, are hyperactive or lethargic, irritable and have learning and behavioral problems. Allergies to foods, pollens and molds are rampant! Many diseases are on the rise. The list goes on and on.
Despite all the advances in medicine, we are not feeling better. WE ARE NOT GETTING BETTER. With widely available fitness clubs and interest in vitamins and healthy food – WE ARE NOT HEALTHY. In fact, many are feeling worse. Each generation is getting sicker at a younger age. Our children are struggling. We all know someone with Autism now, but I never saw Autism early in my medical career. The NIH published new rates recently, with 1-in-50 children having Autism. This new “norm” in medicine is not what we expect or want – not feeling well, being frequently sick, and having allergies is the new “normal”. As a medical doctor, this is unacceptable.
Now Trending: Urban Gardening!
by Patrick Geraty, St. Louis Composting
At one time urban landscapes were viewed as barren and cold slabs of concrete, asphalt and glass. They were perceived as the opposite of the rural setting, rich in vegetation and greenery. However, throughout St. Louis City, residents are finding a way to reconnect with the natural world through gardening.
Urban gardeners are finding themselves in new environments with new challenges and limitations. Container gardening, rooftop gardening and even hydroponics are examples of how urban gardeners are adapting to these new conditions. In addition, communities throughout St. Louis are working together to share the sparse open space that exists in the city to create community gardens that provide them with fresh produce all year round and also add beauty to their neighborhoods.
Communities throughout the St. Louis Metro Region are pioneering urban gardening technologies and techniques. There are more “green roofing,” community gardens and urban gardening projects popping up every day.
Community gardeners and urban gardeners alike are finding that when times are tight, the most natural and cost-effective fertilizer is compost. The results are bountiful and fool-proof. These gardeners will attest that the single most important thing you can do to improve gardening success in your urban garden is build better soil. And the single best way to do that is to condition your soil with compost, the finest organic supplement known to humankind. Compost delivers five major benefits to the gardener, all of which help the environment.
Summer Camp Guide
