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Show Volume XIV Issue XIX The Ogden Valley news Page 17 July 15, 2007 BIRD WHISPERER cont. from page 1 from the WAES program that she is caring for in a foster care agreement. She hopes to work with them, and get them to the point where she can find them permanent homes. Vass-Strong says that she loves these unwanted birds because she feels like she can relate to them. “I’ve had times when I’ve felt unwanted, or have been the loner in my peer group.” She also attributes her success to the fact that she is not scared of the birds. “Some people Sun Conure named are scared of being bitSunnie. Photos courtesy ten, or are uncomfortof Lindsay Vass-Strong. able around them. The birds can sense that. I’ve never been scared of them.” Birds that have been abused have often been hit or physically punished. Another form of abuse is solitary confinement in their cage for long periods of time. “Birds are actually very social animals,” Vass-Strong explains. “I spend an hour every day with each of my birds. I’ve also found that the best form of discipline for my birds, when they do something that I don’t approve of, is to simply put them back in their cage and not give them any attention.” She goes on to explain that the worst thing you can do is, “yell, or get aggressive with them. This only creates additional problems that show up in the birds’ behavior.” Each of the birds in Vass-Strong’s care has a cage with many colorful and interesting toys. Vass-Strong says that “birds can get easily bored, and this also leads to unwanted habits such as pecking or pruning off all their feathers.” It is important that they have objects that can keep the birds interested. For those thinking about purchasing a bird, COMMENTARY cont. from page 3 Vass-Strong has some practical advice. “Do your research on specific breeds of birds before purchasing them. These big birds live to be, on average, eighty years old. That takes a big commitment. Find a breeder to purchase the bird from, because they typically give their birds more individual care than a bird you may receive from a pet store. If you are serious about getting a bird, there are many different forums that you can join so that you can talk with other bird owners and receive knowledge that will help you become a successful pet owner. Vass-Strong admits that being an owner of seven birds is a big job. “They can be very messy, and I often have to clean out their cages more than once a day. They can also be very noisy.” A number of Vass-Strong’s birds not only squawk, but can talk too. “They are like my kids,” she says. “And they take as much work as most kids probably do.” With all that noise in the house, it’s a good thing that Vass-Strong’s family members are animal lovers too, and that they are very supportive of her bird rescue efforts. Along with rescuing unwanted birds, Vass- Red - Lored Strong also has a passion Amazon named for photography, writing, Pepe. figure skating, art, and painting. In addition to her birds, Vass-Strong has two dogs. “Its hard work, but it’s worth it to me,” says Vass-Strong. “This is what I love to do and someday I want to become a veterinarian.” Now, I should have seen that one coming. This future vet seems to be off to a great start! To find out more about the Wasatch Avian Education Society, visit their website at <www.wasatchavian.com/rescue.html> Lindsay’s parents are Lori and Richard Strong of Eden. Which is to swear off the bottle. passed a resolution to study the issue. There’s really nothing to study, but it’s a start at public Note: This article, which was originally printed education that may convince Americans to do in the Salt Lake Tribune, is being reprinted by permission. the right thing. Bottled Water Only Small Part of the Problem— Pop and sports drinks “gotta” go too! I read with interest the commentary by the Salt Lake Tribune’s Editorial Board regarding the environmental disaster created by Americans use of bottled water. While I agree wholeheartedly with the editorial, I find it amusing that, perhaps, an even more egregious but related environmental and health issue was not included—the generation and use of billions of plastic bottles to accommodate the consumption of water polluted with sugar and artificial sweeteners, food dye, and a myriad of other chemicals. Yes, I’m talking about America’s addiction to “pop” and fad drinks that are often passed off as sport or health drinks. Not only are these drink containers needlessly consuming enormous amounts of oil in their production and delivery, but they carry HORSEBACK cont. from page 15 enjoyable scenery. The horses splash through a slow flowing stream and maneuver up and down several gentle embankments. The trail then inclines upwards into the mountains before proceeding across a ridge where riders can enjoy fantastic panoramic views of Ogden Valley and Pineview Reservoir nestled in the valley below. A one and a half-hour or two-hour rides are both offered. The course is great for novice and experienced riders alike. “We have different levels of horses for different riders to fit their experience,” says Haviland. “We like to say we have spirited horses for spirited people, additional, insidiously linked and malevolent side effects contributing to a health pandemic of never before seen proportions—American’s alarming rising rates of obesity and diabetes, including the unprecedented growth rate of juvenile diabetes. I agree, let’s all cut down on the waste created by using bottled water, and pull out those reusable containers to carry around that cool, refreshing “real thing” . . . mother nature’s H2O. And if you really, really want to do the world a big favor, refuse to purchase those disposable bottles of water containing those nasty artificial flavors and colors. Shanna Francis, Eden gentle horses for gentle people, and for those who don’t like to ride at all, we have horses that don’t like to be ridden,” he comments with a laugh. For those eight and younger, pony rides are also available. “The pony ride is quite popular,” states Stroud. Those eight and under have the opportunity of riding their own horse, but with supervision while one of the guides leads the horse. Horseback riding tours are available Monday through Saturday at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. All rides are available by reservation only. Reservations can be made through Wolf Creek Adventures by calling 745-2000. No Child Left Inside! The Ogden Nature looking for feathers, bones, scat and tracks, setting Center has a new, free program aimed to get children outside this summer. The program, “No Child Left Inside! Out For The Summer,” encourages children and families to enjoy spending time in the great outdoors. To participate in the program, just pick up your “Out For The Summer” guide at the Ogden Nature Center, 966 W. 12th Street in Ogden. The free guide is a booklet and journal with activities for recreation, exploration, and investigation. Participants choose two activities from each category and journal their time spent outside. Children are encouraged to write, illustrate, and use photos to remember their activities. Participants can return to the Nature Center each week for a stamp and prize. Upon completing six activities, participants will receive a grand prize and certificate of completion. Exploration activities include insect hunting, looking for animal eyes at night, star gazing, pressing wildflowers, and more. Recreation activities include swimming in a lake, river or stream, birding, fishing, hunting, camping, and more. Investigation activities include animal counts, Getting Your Affairs Organized— Tips on getting started Get It Together The first step in getting your affairs in order is to gather up all your important personal, financial, and legal information so you can arrange it in a format that will benefit your caregivers, survivors, and even yourself. Then you’ll need to sit down and create various lists of important information and instructions of how you want certain things handled. Here are some key areas to help you get started. Personal Information •Contact List: A good starting point is to make a master list of names and phone numbers of family members, close friends, clergy, doctor(s), and professional advisers such as your lawyer, tax accountant, broker and insurance agent. • Personal Documents: This can include such items as your birth certificate, Social Security number, marriage license, military discharge papers, etc. • Secured Places: List all the places you keep under lock and key (or protected by password), such as safe deposit boxes, safe combination, security alarms, etc. •Service Providers: Provide contact information of the companies or people who provide you regular services such as utility companies, lawn service, etc. •Pets: If you have a pet, give instructions for the care of the animal. •Organ Donation: Indicate your wishes for organ, tissue or body donation including documentation (see www.donatelife.net). •Funeral Instructions: Write out your final wishes. If you’ve made pre-arrangements with a funeral home, provide their contact information, indicate if you’ve prepaid or not, and include a copy of the agreement. Legal Documents •Wills and Trusts: In your files, have the original copy of your will (not a photo copy) and other estate planning documents you’ve made, including trusts. If you don’t have a will, BuildaWill.com is a good do-it-yourself resource for creating a simple will and costs only $20. • Financial Power of Attorney: This is the legal document that names someone you trust to handle money matters if you’re incapacitated. Talk to an elder law attorney (see www.naela.com) to learn more. • Advance Directives: These are the legal documents Thirty years experienced Suzuki Piano teacher relocated from Arizona is now taking limited registrations for Adult Group Suzuki piano lessons, as well as early childhood registrations for beginning group lessons. For more information or to register for fall classes, contact Louise Hill at 745-6524 or candlhill@ovalley.net Are you tired of doing it all on your own? Too busy to create that unique feeling of hospitality and warmth in your home or business? Let me help you achieve that professional look & welcoming feeling using my lifelong European design experience. You need more than just a hand— You need Galina’s European Design! Also available to create exceptional Dinner Parties For you and your guests! Call Galina at 801-920-2288 ggn@bluebellrealty.net up a rain gauge, using a compass, and more. Children are encouraged to use their own creative ideas as well. What about rock painting, making mud pies, and looking for shapes in the clouds? To go the extra mile, children are encouraged to participate in at least one Gold Medal Challenge as follows: • Learn to set up a tent • Clean a stretch of road or a neighborhood park • Learn bicycle safety • Set up a compost pile at your house • Volunteer at a state or national park or nature center • Plant trees, flowers, or a small garden • Get involved with recycling • Build a birdhouse Those who complete one or more of the Gold Medal activities along with their other goals will receive a special “Out For The Summer” certificate. Journal entries will be on display throughout the summer in the L.S. Peery Education Center at the Ogden Nature Center, so participants can share their progress and see what others are doing. The program was designed by a team of teacher/naturalists at the Ogden Nature Center, and education coordinator, April Phillips. For more information, please visit the Ogden Nature Center, or call 801-621-7595. Garden & Landscape Design Project Management www.theardentgardener.net (living will and medical power of attorney) that spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment when you can no longer make decisions for yourself. For state-specific advance directive forms visit www.caringinfo.org. Financial Records •Income and Debt: Make a list of all your income sources such as pensions, Social Security, IRAs, 401Ks, interest, investments, etc. And do the same for any debt you may have - mortgage, credit cards, medical bills, car payment, etc. • Financial Accounts: List all your bank and brokerage accounts (checking, savings, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRAs, etc.) including their location and contact information. And keep current statements from each institution in your files. • Pensions and Benefits: List any retirement plans, pensions or benefits from your current or former employer including the contact information of the benefits administrator. •Government Benefits: Information about Social Security, Medicare or other government benefits you’re receiving. • Insurance: List the insurance policies you own (life, health, long-term care, home, and car) including the policy numbers and agents’ names and phone numbers. •Credit Cards: List all your credit and charge cards, including the card numbers and contact information. •Taxes: Keep copies of your income tax returns over the last five years and the contact information of your tax preparer. •Property: List the real estate, vehicles and other personal properties you own, rent or lease and include important documents such as deeds, titles, and loan or lease agreements. Savvy Tips: It’s best to keep all your organized information and files together in one convenient location—ideally in a fireproof filing cabinet or safe in your home. Also, be sure to review and update your information every year, and don’t forget to tell your loved ones where they can find it. For more help, Nolo.com offers an excellent resource book called “Get It Together” ($22), which comes with a handy CD-ROM so you can organize everything on your computer and print it out. Note: Information used by permission of WSU. WSU May 2007 Newsletter. |