Who Do You Think You Are?
By Diane Burns

Sometime in your life you may have found yourself questioning where your ancestors came from and how they got here.  What were their lives like and what stories could they tell us?  We may know about our parents and grandparents but what about generations past?  We ask ourselves who do I look like, why do I like to paint, write or travel so much? Do I have a famous relative?

Beginning to trace your family’s history can take you on an adventure of untold proportions.  Once you start the search, it seems to take on a life of its own.  The more you learn the more you want to know about your relatives and their lives.  All of our families have a story to tell but sometimes you have to go a distance back in history to discover the really interesting ones; some times what you have been told over the years is not always accurate.  You have to peel back the layers to reach a true picture of your family background.

To get started tracing your ancestors you should set a goal for yourself.  Begin with only one side of your family and decide how far back in time you want to go.  Let’s say you want to start with your mother’s side like I did.  My mother was able to trace her mother’s family back to Queen Victoria’s reign and found that a relative of hers was a lady-in-waiting to the Queen.  Your journey should start with conversations you have with family members.  Question all your relatives for as much information as you can get from them.   Ask about where and when the relative you are researching was born, in what city, siblings’ names, where they lived, where they went to school and anything else they can contribute.  Most of your relatives will know a little bit of information that will help to further your search, and it all adds up.

It may be about friends of your relative or what occupation they had.  Maybe they can tell you about neighbors and co-workers.  Any little bit of information helps contribute to the larger picture.  It is very important to double check the information you get to avoid going down a misleading path.  Never accept only one source as being accurate. Check everything you learn until you have verification or documentation.  This can be done by checking Vital Records that contain a list of births, marriages, obituaries and the Censuses of 1850, 1900 and 1930.

The next step is to build a family tree.  Most of our children learn to do this in school.  We of course will go further in our tree building than they do but the idea is the same.  Begin with your name then your parents’ and grandparents’ names.  Keep in mind to only search one side of the family.  Trying to do both sides can only get confusing and muddy the waters.  Go beyond just adding a name to your tree. When you dig a little deeper into the story it brings the people to life.  It may be necessary to consider an alternate spelling of the name.  Record keepers were not always careful about correct spelling and they would write down how the name sounded. Names were often changed or misinterpreted.  Consider how a name sounds and jot down a list of possible spellings.

There are a number of places to look for information that will help you with your research.  One good resource is military records that contain drafts, enlistments and discharge records.  Another source is immigration records containing passenger lists, citizenship and naturalizations lists, border crossings and passports.  Many of our ancestors came into this country via Ellis Island which is another great source of information.  Newspaper publications are also a useful tool when researching an event from the past.  These lists may help in determining how or why your ancestor immigrated to America.  That story could contain some very interesting facts about your family.

One of the most important things to remember is to keep careful and accurate records.  The basics like name and birth date are only the tip of the iceberg when researching an ancestor and building your tree. Never make an assumption about a relationship, a religion or a family legend. Depending on how far back in time you care to travel, you may be able to answer many questions that you and your family have wondered about.

There are some useful resources online.  Ancestry.com is probably the most well known.  They will lead you step by step in the process. The first 14 days are free and then the annual fee is $179.95.  There are other resources as well like Geneology.com, Genes Reunited and the Mormon Church which has the largest genealogical library in the world.  Most of the resources have a free period followed by a membership fee.   However you choose to go about your search I hope you enjoy your journey.

Diane Burns is a freelance writer currently residing in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Once in Touch, Always in Touch
By Sharyl Volpe

“You don’t get to choose how you’re going to die. Or when.  You can only decide how you’re going to live.”  Joan Baez
If you have lost a loved one to the “other side”, you may find great comfort in someone who has the ability to help you communicate with that person. If that energy, or soul, or spirit – whatever term you choose – can be brought near and listened to, you might find peace through the answers to the questions you may have. Meet Elizabeth Herrington, a specialist in facilitating this inter-dimension conversation.
“They are a frequency and it just comes through me. The physical body is a vessel and I am just the communicator or perhaps the instrument that they choose to use.” Elizabeth is a spiritual medium who uses her extraordinary gift in grief counseling. “There is an actual process whereby we leave our bodies and it truly is real phenomena. And after that, those that have passed on are still a part of our family and can still see and hear us. They are just on the next frequency, a different layer, a different dimension. We just move on to the other side and continue our existence in spirit. We still have our loved ones around us, just in a different way.”
After meeting and being tested quite a few times by one of the world’s foremost authorities on the subject, James Van Praagh, he observed of Elizabeth’s ability: “I have witnessed her intense and comforting work with the Spiritual realms and she is indeed a gifted and compassionate vessel of light.” Elizabeth has been one of James Van Praagh’s recommended mediums on his Community website since 2005 and is periodically a guest speaker in his chat room.  “James Van Praagh and his staff have been very kind to me and I will always appreciate his support and belief in my work. They are great!”
Elizabeth’s ability has also been tested by skeptical award-winning journalists such as Brad Christman and Janelle Wolfe from CN-8. She has been on Janelle Wolfe’s Comcast Tonight Edition several times. In addition, Elizabeth has donated her time to the Compassionate Friends Candle Lighting Services in December as a guest speaker for two years in a row. This is a support group for parents who have lost a child.
She also donates her time and on several occasions has accompanied a local pastor and his wife, a hospice chaplain, on their rounds. They go into homes and help the families whose loved ones are in the process of dying. She brings comfort to them by letting them know who is waiting for their loved one on the other side and what is spiritually going on around them at the time. Elizabeth would like to see this type of work more often integrated with those who are in hospice and are perhaps facing a terminal illness.
She also feels that animals are very important to people and she does communicate with them in the afterlife too. Elizabeth says, “We will be with our beloved passed over pets as well. They are part of our soul group just as family and friends are. I meet so many people who are grieving their pets and want to make sure that they are ok.”
Elizabeth has studied five languages and enjoys learning about new cultures and countries. Her education has been largely centered on learning languages; not surprisingly she feels that talking to a spirit is a type of language.  As a Rotary Club Scholar she spent her senior year in Sweden and graduated with their 13th year class. Two years later, she attended the University of Iceland in their International program.  “I had the best time in Iceland studying with so many different people of the world and learning so much about different ways of life.”  She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Ursinus College.
Over her lifetime, Elizabeth has discovered that, “We are all the same. As a species, internally, we are all people. We all have emotions, we all experience death… We all cross similar thresholds, and we all transcend barriers, no matter what religion we ascribe to. All of this helps with being a medium because the more we know about the world the better the souls on the other side can communicate with us.”
Elizabeth works through her clairvoyance (seeing), clairaudience (hearing), clairsentience (feeling), claircognizance (knowing), and clairambiance (tasting and smelling). She has been conducting workshops for about six years now teaching others how to recognize their own psychic strengths. About utilizing these extra sensory perceptions in concert, she says, “To fill the hole of the grieving heart is what it is all about. My work is only as good as the healing that comes from it. When a client walks out of my office I want to see a smile break through and overtake the tears of loss.”
Without hesitation, Elizabeth addresses the obvious questions. How does she handle the skeptics? “I begin by explaining how the process works and I ensure that they have many validations. And I always ask at the end of every session, ‘Are you happy with your reading?’” It is important to her that each one of her clients has an accurate and meaningful reading. She adds, “And remember: you will have some souls come through who you know but were not expecting.  They just show up! But in most cases the souls bring through who the sitter needs to hear from. You may also receive messages for a friend with whom you just have spoken with from their relatives too.”
When asked when she became aware of her ability, Elizabeth provides a series of answers in her fast-flowing, almost stream-of-consciousness manner.  Around the age of five, Elizabeth experienced a serious illness that caused her to have seizures. During this period, she says, “I remember during circle time in school – reading the Velveteen Rabbit… I saw a man from the late 1800′s, from the past, and he said to me ‘Ottsville’ along with a first and last name. I didn’t look into it any further; I had never heard of the place, I didn’t know where it was, or who the person named was. I just wondered about it from time to time.” This would eventually be very close to the town she settled in with her husband and two sons. The person named is the minister at the church in Ottsville where she began conducting sessions full time many years later. There were also many, many other spiritual occurrences while growing up.
“I recall as a child that the physical contact with others, just holding hands, this would start the flow of information. I wouldn’t walk into dark areas alone, I was always afraid of the dark, as if there was always someone there. Now I know why. I was sensing others even then. Thinking back on my childhood, we were always surrounded by death. Someone was always dying.”
In yet another example, Elizabeth explains a near death experience after a surgical procedure on October 18, 2010. Her mother was driving her home from the hospital and the pain medication she’d taken, despite another premonition not to take anything, caused her to have a cardiac arrest.
“I felt my soul leaving my body, I saw the whole scene from up above. I was conscious of it all. I saw a beautiful field with trees, not a place I recognized.” She was observing everything. She felt herself leaving; and then she began to worry. “How would my husband pack the lunches for the boys from now on – how would he manage?” She laughs at these recollections, and goes on. “My next sensation was of my soul coming back into my physical being. I stretched out my arms, as if stretching back into a favorite shirt. What I saw that day was the most beautiful and peaceful panoramic view that will forever be imprinted on my soul. Absolutely amazing!”
The whole event took about 20 seconds. She made a complete recovery.
Elizabeth also survived an airplane crash in 1980 when she was just a child.  “I can totally remember us crashing and everything was in slow motion. I truly didn’t feel a thing but seemed to be experiencing it. If I would have passed over in that crash I would not have known or felt it. It was after the airplane stopped that I could feel the cuts on my leg and my head hurt a little. I was just so happy to have survived.” It was a small private plane and Elizabeth feels that she was supposed to experience that event, especially in light of how she helps so many that have lost their loved ones in accidents. “All of our lives follow a plan and things do happen for a reason.”
With regard to matter, substance, and energy: “When I teach my workshops the first thing that I tell everyone to think about is the vibration of molecules. For example, if you hold an ice cube it is very dense, you can’t see through it. The molecules are vibrating at a very slow speed. If you take that same ice cube and put it in a frying pan on the stove and heat it up, the molecules vibrate at a much faster rate and it melts. You can see through it better and it becomes less dense. However, if you boil the water it transforms into steam. You can’t see it any longer but it is still there. It is similar to the process of our soul leaving our body. When we are about to pass over, our souls vibrate at such a fast speed that they disconnect from the body and enter the next dimension, which runs at that same rate of speed. It is all physics really.”
“Coming and going are very important aspects of the communication process. Sometimes I feel like an avatar of myself, in terms of body vs. age.”  The suggestion is that physical endurance and energy renders time almost without effect. “I am not afraid to die; I just don’t want to leave my family.”
When in a session with a sitter, Elizabeth says, “Those that I sense tune in by choice. I am respectful of what they need to tell us and of the souls.”  When asked if she’s been called upon for forensic work, she replies, “I help when I can. I leave it up to them. If they choose to tell me what may be painful for family members to hear, I have to be careful. What brings peace, connection and comfort–these are the most important parts of what I do. I receive mostly loving messages.” Of the occasional session in forensics, Elizabeth says, “I sometimes learn from a spirit that the documented time and place of death was wrong, or even the date. These things are very important to share. I have found that with mediumship – validation is very important.  It is everything really.”
According to Elizabeth, the most powerful period of time for “benchmarks”, or distinct signals from beyond, come within the first three months after passing. She explains that they do continue on for years but there seems to be a surge of activity right after the passing. She helps families become aware of these signs as a form of grief support.  “Typical signs include tampering with lights, and with TVs, or causing static on the phone. I have found that for some reason, boys like to do that especially.” She says that they will often stay around to help loved ones get through their sorrow. “They may do other things in spirit, but they do come back to help us in our grief if they feel their loved ones here are having a difficult time and need them, or just want to check in and share in the fun times in our lives as well.”
Elizabeth summarizes: “This type of healing work, in conjunction with conventional grief support, can make the path to recovery a little easier. My sessions are a rather holistic and spiritual approach, in addition to what psychic insight I can bring to retrieving information that can only bring peace and answers to the parties involved.”
If you are interested in contacting Elizabeth Herrington for a session or to sign up for one of her workshops, e-mail her at eherrington@comcast.net. For more information you can go to her website: www.elizabethherrington.com. There is also a link to her videos from the site if you would like to see a sampling of her work.

Sharyl Volpe is the Editor-in-Chief for Local Living Magazine.

Glenn Schwartz takes the weather very, very seriously.

The man known as Hurricane has spent four decades forecasting the weather – nearly 20 of those years on Philadelphia’s NBC10 – and has developed a reputation for his straightforward, accurate delivery of weather news. And an impressive collection of bow ties.

“I want to work harder than anybody else because I don’t want to miss anything,” Schwartz said. “There’s so much information out there. I could spend 24 hours a day just looking at it. Obviously you can’t. But if the forecast goes wrong, I don’t want to say, ‘Gee, I wish I would have seen this piece of information, or I wish I would have worked a little harder to look at that.’ I’ll know that I’ve done everything I can, to the limit of what the science will allow. I never want to lose that.”

The 60-year-old Schwartz is every bit the weather bug one would expect him to be.

His love of all things meteorological dates back to childhood, when he was first introduced to the science in the fifth grade.

“I would go home and watch all of the TV people,” Schwartz said. “They had some all-time greats at the time: Herb Clarke at Channel 10, Dr. Francis Davis at Channel 6, and my favorite, Wally Kinnan the Weatherman, on Channel 3. I would sit in front of the TV and flip the stations. Everybody did the weather right around the same time. I didn’t want to miss anybody’s forecast.”

He received a set of weather instruments for one of his birthdays, and they hung outside the bedroom window of his childhood home in Philadelphia’s Mount Airy section.

“I would take observations every day and make my own forecast,” he said. “By the time I was 12 I was trying to out-predict the other people in town. That was a big part of my life. It didn’t necessarily have to be on television, but I was most fascinated with forecasting the weather.”

Following his graduation from Central High School, Schwartz went on to study meteorology at Penn State. After graduation – which he missed, thanks to flooding from Hurricane Agnes in 1972 – he joined Accu-Weather in State College, where he provided radio forecasts for clients. He then moved to Atlanta, where he became the disaster preparedness meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

It was in Atlanta that he began his television career, on WAGA-TV. In 1985 he joined Atlanta-based The Weather Channel, where he produced hurricane documentaries and was the station’s first storm chaser before the term was ever popular.

“There are a lot of chasers that have access to radars now, stronger vehicles, bigger teams that have advice on where to go,” he said. “When I was doing it, it was just me and the photographer and the camera. We would just drive to where the hurricane was going to go, and then take the video of it. There was no way to get the video back to the Weather Channel other than shooting it on tape and driving to the nearest airport and putting the tape on a plane.”

A New York anchorman dubbed him “Hurricane” after watching one of his old storm chaser videos of Schwartz being blown about by the storm. The name stuck.

“Hurricanes are the most fascinating weather event,” Schwartz said. “It’s also a fascinating news story. It’s something that goes on for days. There’s a continuing drama about it. It’s a very visual thing. It affects so many people. I’ve always been especially interested in that.”

Schwartz, who lived and worked in Florida for many years – his first day on the job in Fort Myers happened to be the same day Hurricane Andrew hit the state – returned to Philadelphia and joined Channel 10 in 1995, shortly after the station switched affiliation from CBS to NBC. His new boss suggested the bow tie.

“He said, ‘You’re a scientist. What’s wrong with looking like a scientist?’” Schwartz said. “And in TV, it’s a good thing to stand out. It’s important to be noticed, for people to know who you are. That’s one of the things that helps you keep your job.”’

Schwartz, who lives in Lower Merion, became NBC10′s chief meteorologist in 2002, the same year he co-authored “The Philadelphia Area Weather Book,” a regional account of weather events. In 2005, Schwartz was awarded the Louis J. Batton Author’s Award by The American Meteorological Society in recognition of the book. He also became one of the first Philadelphia-area broadcast meteorologists to become a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist.

That same year, Schwartz founded HOPES – Hurricane’s Outreach Program to Educate Scientists – to provide mentoring and professional guidance to minority students aspiring to study meteorology and atmospheric science.

“One of the biggest problems in meteorology has always been a lack of diversity,” Schwartz said. “So because I grew up and was inspired by TV meteorologists when I was in the 10-year-old, 15-year-old range, I thought it might be something that could work here in my hometown. We take students who already have an interest and just give them more exposure to the science and careers, and help foster that interest.”

In 2010, Schwartz was inducted into the Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame, an honor he shares with his childhood weather idols.

Weather forecasting, Schwartz said, has advanced and improved tremendously over the years as technology has gotten better at predicting weather patterns. And with debate about worldwide climate change and the recent unusual weather patterns, it’s an exciting time to be a weather forecaster.

“We’ll never be able to make perfect forecasts,” Schwartz said. “But forecasting has improved tremendously since I started my career. The computer models have gotten faster and faster and more detailed and have been a great help to forecasters. But there is still some art to it. There’s such a thing as having a feel for a weather pattern. It’s a combination of the technology itself and the experience and the knowledge of how the atmosphere works that helps make for the best forecaster.”

Crissa DeBree is a writer based in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.

Is this your second marriage? Wedding rules for encore brides have changed. Second weddings tend to be smaller than first weddings – and oftentimes, they’re more personalized. Couples marrying for the second time are old enough to know exactly what they want. Many of them have done the big wedding thing, and prefer to celebrate with only close friends and family. Besides, they have different priorities. Many of them have careers, homes, kids, and they no longer feel pressured by their families – or society in general – to have a traditional wedding.
For a couple entering into a second marriage, wedding plans aren’t necessarily less elaborate. Many encore brides and grooms pull out all the stops for their second ‘I do’s.

If you are planning a 2nd wedding, here are some things to keep in mind:

• If you want to wear a traditional white wedding gown, go for it. The ‘no white’ rule has been abolished.
• Registering for gifts is perfectly acceptable. If you already have all the household items you need, consider setting up a honeymoon registry at www.thebigday.com.
• If you are divorced and want to have a church wedding, check with the cleric well before your wedding date to make sure the church permits 2nd weddings. If you get turned away, try a nondenominational minister.
• Consider a destination wedding. They are a popular option for 2nd weddings.
• If you have kids, involve them. This is a great way to prevent them from feeling alienated and to help them get excited about your nuptials.

For couples entering a second marriage, wedding plans often include children. Here are just a few ideas to get children involved:

• Encourage kids to offer input on wedding-day decisions. This will make them feel part of the process. Ask for input on everything from the wedding day music to the favors.
• If kids are artistic or into crafts, have them make favors, place cards, invitations or wedding programs. Also have kids help decorate the venue.
• A young girl can serve as flower girl or ring bearer, while a young boy can serve as ring bearer.
• Preteens could serve as junior bridesmaids or junior ushers. A teen or adult could serve as bridesmaid, groomsman, usher, maid of honor or best man.
• Have a child give a reading or a speech if s/he desires.
• If a child is musical have him or her perform during the ceremony or reception.
• Don’t force kids to take a role. Ask them if they would like to participate, and if so what they would like to do.
Visit Christina Friedrichsen at www.intimateweddings.com/blog/contact.

Unique Etiquette Questions for Encore Weddings
By Susan Polyot

Encore brides often have etiquette questions that first time brides don’t have to face: How to word invitations, who to invite, registry issues, and other questions of formality.  There are many etiquette books for brides available, and many of the topics will apply to encore brides as well. Here are some of the more common questions posed.

Invitations:
Do I need to send an invitation?
Can I send e-vites?
Who sends the invitation?

A traditional invitation is sent by the bride’s parents, with a more contemporary version
including the groom’s parents. Traditionally, this is done because the bride’s parents are hosting the event.  In an encore wedding, the couple is usually hosting the event.  They are financially responsible for the event and assume most of the planning details traditionally reserved for parents and attendants. An encore wedding is still a special event and invitations should always be sent if your guest list includes more than immediate family. A common question is how to word the invitation.  An invitation should come from whoever is hosting
the event. If the couple is hosting, as with most encore weddings, it would read as: Jane Doe and Robert Smith invite you to…or,  request the honour of your presence…whatever
wording you chose to follow. The brides name is listed first, followed by the groom’s name.
If the couples parent’s are hosting, but you would like to make a distinction from a first marriage, an acceptable wording would be: The Doe and Smith families request ….
If the groom’s family only is hosting: Mr. and Mrs. Smith request the honour of your
presence at the marriage of Jane Doe to Their son, Robert Smith.
The bride is still listed first. Children should not be listed as hosts on an invitation.

Some encore brides opt for a private ceremony followed by a reception. If that is the case, the invitation should be clear about what guests are being invited to attend. Such as:
Jane Doe and Robert Smith invite you to join them in a celebration of their marriage at a brunch reception following a private exchange of vows.

Again, whoever is hosting the event would be identified as those who are extending the invitation for attendance.

An invitation can be as formal or informal as you would like, but the invitation should match the event. If you are hosting a formal event, a formal invitation should be sent. If the event is more casual, a casual invitation would be appropriate.  There are a number of choices available through both retail and on line vendors with many selections appropriate for encore brides.

You may have done this before, but small details can get overlooked when planning an encore wedding.  Make sure to order and include response cards, and thank you notes. Encore brides still need to know how many will be attending for planning
purposes, and thank you notes must be sent promptly.
The Guest List
Who should be invited?
All of the relatives came to a first wedding, do we include them again?

Encore weddings are frequently smaller than first time weddings. Some of this will depend on whether or not your groom is an encore groom. If not, he will likely feel a need to include friends and relatives you may not be including from your side. Do not feel obligated to match his guest list. Invite those you think appropriate, and those who are comfortable with your encore wedding. Sometimes, encore brides feel awkward inviting extended family to an encore wedding, especially if the relationship is not particularly close, and they attended a first wedding.   It is appropriate to send an announcement after the event, to inform them of
your wedding and new groom without including them in the event. Design your guest list to include those who are supportive of your event, and the two of you feel are important to share your day (see archives for tips on including children).

The Registry:
Should we have a registry?
How do we let people know we are registered?

Registering for gifts is not reserved for first weddings. Encore brides may opt out of registering for gifts because for many the issue is eliminating duplicates in combining households, not adding more.  A registry can, however, be helpful if there are specific items you need for establishing your new home. Traditionally, China and Silver registries are not common for encore brides. If you choose to register, register for gifts that are in keeping with establishing a new home. As with any wedding, enclosing a notice of registry with your invitation is not in keeping with good etiquette. You are inviting people to share in your event, not inviting them to bring a gift.  Family and friends will pass the word of your registry, or people may ask you directly if you have registered and where.  A plea for gifts via an announcement is simply
poor taste.

You can find other etiquette-related discussions in the archived editions of encore bride at www.encorebridemagazine.com.

Vacation just wouldn’t be the same without your best friend.

According to the American Pet Products Association, of the 72.9 million pet-owning households in the U.S., 67 percent travel with their pets each year. This can range from taking Fluffy by car to the beach or mountains to stowing her under the seat in an airline approved carrier for a jet setting getaway.

I’ve done both recently, taking my Westie Ruby to Phoenix by plane, and driving with her and Roxy, a poodle mix, to and from New Orleans. Both excursions were successful, but there was some planning involved.

If you’re flying with Fido, Betsy Saul, co-founder of Petfinder.com, suggests getting your pal used to his carrier a few days in advance of the trip. I did this with Ruby, putting her in her Sherpa soft carrier with treats to get her acclimated, gradually lengthening the time until she seemed at ease. Invented by an airline attendant, Sherpa’s small and medium sizes fit under the seat in a plane. Most airlines only allow one pet, so be sure to reserve in advance, and expect to pay $125 or so each way for the privilege. Also, make sure to exercise your pet prior to the flight and get to the airport early – checking in with a critter takes a little extra time. If you think your dog may get nervous when travelling, there are herbal calming remedies on the market, or check with your vet for options.

To find pet friendly stays, check websites like DogFriendly.com and PetTravel.com or www.luxurypaw.com, a pet-friendly hotel booking site that allows you to use your pets weight as part of the hotel search criteria. Many hotels require a pet deposit or add a surcharge, so this additional cost needs to be including in a vacation budget.

When I was on the road between Philly and New Orleans, we overnighted at a La Quinta, a budget motel chain with no charge for pets. Download the hotel app to your smart phone, and it will direct you to the closest location. For a swankier sleep, more than 1,000 Best Western properties in the U.S. are pet friendly, but check in advance for specific policies.

Ask local contacts on the ground about a vet recommendation, or check  www.gopetplan.com/find-a-vet to scope out local veterinarians ahead of time. And remember to travel with your pet’s latest vaccination records, required for visits to a vet or day care.

Spend a little time to scope out doggy parks and daycare options before your trip. I knew I’d need day care for Ruby while I was at an all day conference, and found Camp Bow Wow, a franchised doggy daycare and overnight camp with more than 100 locations in North America.  In New Orleans, we frequented Cabrini Park, the French Quarter doggy park at the corner of Dauphine and Barracks. Becoming regulars during our month-long stay was a great way to meet people and introduce Ruby and Roxy to a new pack. Check http://www.usadogparks.com/ for parks near your destination or download the park finding app on http://www.doggoes.com/ to be sure your bud gets the social time and exercise he needs.

With just a little bit of advance planning, you’ll find that bringing your dog on vacation is a surefire way to feel at home no matter where you are.

Three places to Sit and Stay

Billmae Cottages, Cape May, NJ

This Victorian seashore getaway is notoriously pedestrian and pet friendly, especially if you’re based at these comfy cottage suites located about 15 minutes from the beach. Reserve an 18th century four bedroom cottage from $425 per night, or a one-two bedroom place from $220 for two people and one dog. All units have kitchens and are decorated with “rustic charm,” i.e., put your feet up and Daisy can get on the couch. http://www.billmae.com/
Aurora Cove, Oxford, MD

Chill out in Oxford, a laid back burgh in the sleepy Eastern Shore. Aurora Cove is just one of 42 pet friendly vacation rentals offered by Eastern Shore Vacations. Most have a three night minimum stay. Aurora Cove is walking distance to town, sleeps 2-4, and has a private pool, Wi-Fi and a screened-in porch. Rates start at $470 per night.
http://www.easternshorevacations.com/

Lazy L at Willow Creek, Lewes, DE

Located about 20 minutes from the beach and dog-friendly Cape Henlopen State Park, the Lazy L is super pet friendly and welcoming to up to three (socialized, well-mannered and housebroken) dogs per room (a $20 per pet fee is charged). There’s a large fenced in off leash exercise area, directions are provided to pet friendly beaches and restaurants, and there’s an outside shower with a hand help sprayer to keep sand (mostly) out of your bed. Dogs are even allowed to hang out at the pool–but not to go swimming. Comfy rooms all have coffeemakers, queen-sized beds, ceiling fans/AC and small fridges. A larger cottage with a kitchenette is also offered. From $140 off season to $200 during summer.  http://www.lazyl.net/

Travel Editor Beth D’Addono celebrates local living wherever she goes on her blog, unchainedtravel.com.

The Women’s Board of Abington Health Foundation and its Auxiliaries welcome you to the 99th June Fete Village Fair and Horse & Pony Show on June 8, 9 and 10, 2012 at The June Fete Fairgrounds in Huntingdon Valley.

It is the grand finale of the Women’s Board fundraising year orchestrated by hundreds of volunteers to gain community support for the hospital.  The proceeds from this event and all the events throughout the year benefit Abington Health, which includes Abington Memorial Hospital, Lansdale Hospital, and Abington Health Center – Warminster Campus and Abington Health Center – Schilling Campus.  Funding supports nurses’ scholarships, continuing education, a fund for patients with special needs, as well as other hospital needs.

The June Fete is a weekend of family fun activities in an idyllic setting reminiscent of country fairs.   This tradition started as a street fair in 1913 and continued as grand garden parties held at various estates in the area, all to raise funds for a new and desperately needed hospital in Abington and to help furnish the rooms and purchase equipment.  The types of fundraising events have changed through the years but the goal of the Women’s Board has remained the same – to meet the healthcare needs of the community by raising funds, further public relations and providing funding for educational opportunities.

Let’s take a “tour” of what you can expect to see and do at The June Fete Village Fair and Horse & Pony Show:

As you enter the gates you will see “Kid’s Korner” where you will find one of the children’s favorites, face painting, and some new hands-on activities. “The Belmont Magic and Illusion Show” is a classic magic show with lots of audience participation. Show times are Friday 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday noon, 3 p.m., 7 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m.  Before enjoying the magic show, you can stop by the Ice Cream Shoppe for a cool treat.

After watching your children on all the rides that Skelly’s Amusements provides, you will certainly work up an appetite.  Stop by the refreshment tent for delectable fair food. Need a snack? Visit South of the Border, which has scrumptious nachos grandes, or visit our omelet booth, which has added a fruit and cheese plate to its legendary selection of made to order omelets.  Our Bake Shoppe offers homemade goods that will remind you of your grandmother’s kitchen. For a pick me up, who can resist fresh smoothies from our Smoothie Booth. If that is not sweet enough, then there is always the Candy Booth with its nostalgic Lemon Sticks!

Have you ever heard of fresh cooked lobster at a fair? Only if you have been to the June Fete. Purchase your tickets on Friday night. Pick up your lobster on Saturday, hot and tasty from our Lobster Booth.

When your feet are tired, sit down and enjoy entertainment from a stilt-walking balloonist to a jazz concert.

The June Fete would not be complete without traditions like the fantastic firework display that begins at dusk on Friday evening and our Marketplace Tent, filled with unique crafters all weekend. You also won’t want to miss our award winning Horse & Pony Show, which is recognized by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) as one of the oldest and continuously run horse shows in the tri-state area.  In 2009, it was named, “Horse Show of the Year” by the Pennsylvania Horse Show Association (PHSA).  The show will run all day Saturday (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) featuring the Dixon Hunter Derby, the highlight of the show.  This event puts as many as 35 riders through the paces of rigorous jumping courses to determine the winner of a  $5,000 prize!

Admission price is just $4.  Children under five are free and so is the parking!  The fair is open Friday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Come visit all our attractions and enjoy entertainment throughout the weekend.

For many of us looking back sparks fond memories of past June Fetes.  Looking forward to the 100th celebration, we hope to create new memories with our families and hospital community.  We encourage you to come out and experience the magic of The June Fete with your family and make memories that last a lifetime!

Diane Burns is a freelance writer currently residing in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

• For the Classic style you should wear well-fitting, smooth line clothing and just a little jewelry.
• You also have to consider what your body type is: small boned, middle frame, or big boned.
• For the Natural look consider a relaxed, comfortable layered look, something in tweed      perhaps.
• If yours is the Feminine look you should wear colors and prints and maybe ruffles.  Nice jewelry   and stylish shoes are a must.
• The Dramatic look is for the women who like to be noticed the minute they enter a room.    Bold, strong solids are for you.

Once you determine what style you want check out your closet and see if that has been what you have been wearing.  If not, it’s time to clear out all those items that are not portraying who you are now.  Sometimes we purchase clothing on a whim or just because it’s on sale and sometimes we don’t even try it on until we get home only to discover that it’s all wrong for us.

Senior fashions can be stylish as well as comfortable.  However, we seniors have to consider how our body has changed in recent years.  For instance, if our middle has expanded we shouldn’t wear belts or sashes and short skirts are not complimentary for those who have varicose veins.

Another problem that we have is the inability to button our clothes because of some medical issue.  The remedy is the use of Velcro near the button hole.  What style shoe we chose is very important too. A good shoe may be a little more expensive but in the long run they may give you more support and help to relieve  stress and some of the aches and pains we get as we age.  Sneakers can feel comfortable but they may not give enough support or help you with your balance.

Now that we have chosen our clothing style we must consider our hair style.  What looked good on us at 30 does not necessarily look good on us now. Our faces have changed over the years and so should our hair style.  The next time you go to a salon for a cut, check out some styles in a hair magazine and find one that flatters the “more mature” you.  If you decide on a new doo remember hair grows back and you can always try a different style next time.  Consider not only a new cut but possibly a fresher color.

Finally to complete our makeover we have to check our makeup.  Aging creates new skin problems that we have to contend with. Crow’s feet, wrinkles and sun spots cause us to consider new makeup applications.   First we have to prepare our face with a good cleansing and moisturizing.  Always remember when applying your makeup a heavy application is not becoming; less is more. Use a rosy, pink blush instead of one of the darker shades. Also avoid dark lipsticks. Use a light pink or pretty nude.  Finally, eye shadow should compliment your eye color and liner should be thinly applied.

Now that you have had your makeover from head to toe, go out and enjoy your new younger-looking, stylish self.  Make some heads turn this Mother’s Day!

Dr. Robert J. Skalicky is one of the most highly respected plastic surgeons in the Bucks County and Philadelphia area. Board Certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, he is also Associate Director and Trainer of plastic surgery residents and fellows in the Philadelphia area.