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Monthly Archives: January 2011
Mustang Tripper FastbackTM
Mustang does it again, a great looking seat with all the comfort needed built in.
Mustang’s one-piece Tripper FastbackTM design offers a super clean, custom style.
Cut low and sleek, this seat provides good back support for the driver. Smoothly tapered in the back, the Tripper FastbackTM still gives passenger comfort for “tripping” around town.
Mustang’s One-Piece Tripper FastbackTM is priced right at only $339; models are available to fit Road King, FLHT, FLHX and FLTR 1997-up.
Mustang offers a full line of replacements seats for Harley-Davidson® and Metric Cruisers, all proudly handcrafted in the USA. For more info, visit MustangSeats.com or call 800-243-1392.
Finally Garage-Girls Apparel Available
You asked for it, we delivered, you can now purchase Garage-Girls Apparel in our Store! What are you waiting for, go get yours!!!
CATNIP
Hey there, I’m Catnip. Not only do I have good looks, I am one special kitty. I only have three legs, but I don’t let that hold me back. I live life to the fullest and want a family to share it with!
I love to play and snuggle with people, but I’m not happy living with other cats. I’m not sure how I feel about small children or dogs, but we can talk about it and figure something out.
Why don’t you come to Animal Friends and ask to meet me? I’d love to show you all my toys!
How Creative is Your Child’s School Lunch?
By, Alyson Walls
Much has been written over the past few weeks about passage of the Child Nutrition bill, known as the Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010. As children head back to school in the new year, I decided to dig in and take a closer look at the new legislation.
In doing some initial research, I discovered an interesting blog called Fed Up with Lunch. It’s the story of a Chicago-area public school teacher, “Mrs. Q,” who ate, photographed and wrote about 160 elementary school lunches — one per school day for a year.
In writing the blog, Mrs. Q, who protects her identity for fear of losing her job, learned that for kids and adults, “food is personal, food is life, food is health.” She ultimately changed her own eating habits, began cooking healthier for her family and became an accidental crusader for school lunch reform. (Her photos of unidentifiable meat and grease-slogged pizza from the cafeteria alone are proof school children need healthier lunch options.)
Read the blog here: http://fedupwithschoollunch.blogspot.com/
Enter the Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010.
The bill, championed by First Lady Michelle Obama as part of a strategy to combat childhood obesity and hunger, aims to expand the school lunch program and provide children with better access to healthier foods, including more fruit and vegetables. It sets new standards for school cafeteria foods, as well as those sold in vending machines and offered through school sales.
Proponents say the bill will help address problems including childhood obesity, poor nutrition and hunger. Opponents say it’s just another example of government intrusion, now in school kitchens.
Among other things, the new bill, which reauthorizes the Child Nutrition Act first enacted in 1966, provides the first increase in federal support for school lunches in 30 years — 6 cents per meal above the inflation rate.
The bill isn’t perfect – no legislation ever is – however, with childhood health problems increasing and visual proof in Mrs. Q’s blog that school lunches leave a lot to be desired, it does offer a starting point for providing healthier meals for the children most in need (those receiving free or reduced-price school breakfast and lunch).
While reducing childhood obesity rates goes beyond offering kids plastic-wrapped carrot sticks and syrupy fruit cups, a recent article in The Washington Post outlined five myths about school food, including the notion that kids won’t eat anything green.
Schools in Compton, Calif., have introduced salad bars, which are now one of the most popular options for students. In New Orleans, a school chef conducts fruit and vegetable tastings with kindergartners – one for each letter of the alphabet – as they learn their ABCs (Apples, Bananas, Carrots, Daikon radishes).
Education goes a long way toward helping kids and adults make healthier choices. For example, in a San Francisco Elementary school, children made “funny-face” sandwiches using pita, hummus, raisins and raw spinach, with the school’s nutrition coordinator. What’s more, they actually ate them! In fact, research has shown that when presented with healthy foods in creative ways, kids will try, and perhaps even enjoy, eating them!
Read about the funny-face sandwich lesson here:
Teachers around the U.S. say they have observed students eating all sorts of stuff that is “good for them,” especially if they first encounter the food in a school garden or classroom cooking demonstration, help to plant seeds or harvest vegetables as part of a science lesson, or meet the farmers growing their greens.
However, studies overwhelmingly confirm kids are far less likely to try healthy foods on their own, especially if there is a vending machine filled with junk food nearby.
School officials and nutritionists agree that federal legislation can do only so much to get kids to eat balanced meals. We need to do more for both adults and children in terms of increasing nutrition knowledge, presenting food in creative ways and making sure that what we offer in the cafeteria reflects what we are teaching in the classroom and what is reinforced at home.
Education, creativity and fun go a long way with kids in general, not just in terms of healthy eating. When I student-taught Kindergarten a few years ago, I actually observed this. Give a kid a whole orange on her tray, and she probably won’t take the time to peel or eat it. But cut it in quarters, take a big bite and make a silly smiley face with the peel in your mouth, and just watch how fast they all do the same.
Read more about the myths of school lunches here:
Ladies and Gentleman,……. Start your snowblowers!
Much of us are dealing with a few inches or even a few feet of snow this week and the emails have been coming in on how to properly get the snow blower started. Here is a great video we found showcasing the proper starting procedure. Note you may have a different model that what is in the video, but the general idea is the same. If you find yourself with a snowblower that refuses to start, call your local sales or repair shop for help in trouble shooting. Now, get out there and move that snow!
HEIDI
Heidi is an affectionate and mild-mannered Pit Bull mix who was abandoned and found on the street in a nearby county. She was brought back to Animal Friends and is so content to be safe, warm and cared for. Although, what she hopes for most of all is to find a loving and caring forever home where she can take walks on a leash and chew on her favorite toy – a pig’s ear.
Heidi would do best in a home with older children, and one where she would be the only dog. This sweet senior has had enough excitement in her lifetime and she looks forward to lounging around in her “golden years.” She has lots of love and affection to give.
The staff and volunteers feel that Heidi would benefit, as well as enjoy, taking some of the classes here at Animal Friends with her new lifetime companion…it is such a great bonding experience.
If you have the loving, quiet home that Heidi is looking for……stop by the adoption desk at Animal Friends and arrange to meet her
2011 Ford Mustang from Auto Show
CHIC
Chic is a beautiful fawn and white Beagle mix who is looking for an extra special home. One look into Chic’s eyes and you can see she is just waiting for someone to whom she can give her love.
Chic has not had a special person to share her love with. She came from a home where she lived with 50 other dogs. Because of this she is a little shy at first, but warms up once she learns that she can trust you. She shares her kennel with a dog and would love a home with another dog with whom she could bond. Or perhaps you would like to adopt her cage mate as well!
No one has ever taught Chic what it means to play or how to do all those great doggy tricks. She would be grateful to someone who would show her these joys and be patient with her while she learns. She would love to take a class with you at Animals Friends University to learn the things she needs to know to please you. If you are a person or family who has the love and patience to show Chic what it means to be a cherished member of your family, please meet her. Her eyes will melt your heart. Seeing her blossom into a trusting, loving companion will be a touching experience that you will forever cherish. Chic will be extremely thankful and repay you with years of unconditional love and friendship.
Chich is currently learning positive behaviors in a foster home! If you are interested in meeting him, please call 412.847.7002 ext. 1 so that an Adoption Counselor at Animal Friends can contact his foster family!
Fairy DogParents
We were so impressed with this organization we came across, we had to share with you, we know most of our readers are just as passionate about animals as all of us here. Enjoy! Fairy DogParents is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that helps prevent dogs from being surrendered to shelters. They provide assistance with food, medical and general wellness needs of qualified dog recipients in Massachusetts. Fairy DogParents is 100% dependent on donations and cannot guarantee any goods or services for applicants. All payments go directly to those providing good and services. If you are faced with the choice of surrendering your dog because of personal financial circumstances you may qualify for assistance.
The inspiration for Fairy DogParents was Ladybug – a rescue dog who changed lives. Ladybug was 10 years old when she was adopted and 14 when she crossed the rainbow bridge in January 2009. Ladybug had many medical conditions and the family was fortunate enough to afford her prescription food, medications and regular vet visits. After the family lost Ladybug they donated her prescription food and pills to the vet to help others who could not afford them.
To honor her FDP wanted to sponsor another dog who had similar needs but was at risk of being surrendered due to financial limitations. After much research FDP could not find an organization that prevented dogs from being surrendered.
And Fairy DogParents was born- March 2009. The mission, help save dogs from being surrendered by keeping families together- you can help too!
For more info please check them out online at fairydogparents.org