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Year after year, many parents watch the calendar until the school year begins. That’s never been me. This week, my teenager and my 7-year-old went back to school.  In a matter of days, my son goes off to college and it has really taken my emotions for a ride. I’ve always struggled with the first couple weeks surrounding the beginning of the new school year. I dislike the restrictions it places upon us requiring extraordinary diligence and structure evening after evening, meeting all the homework deadlines, athletic commitments and other obligations in addition to our already overbooked lives.  It takes me a few weeks to adapt before settling into my comfort zone. This year, I have dreaded the beginning of the school year more so than others.  No matter how long I have tried to prepare myself, I am struggling because I have one going away to college. While he is anxiously awaiting the move-in date and has beamed with excitement to experience the new chapters of life on his own, it has left me feeling empty.  Although he is only an hour and a half away, it has my heart palpitating knowing he will not be under the same roof. My ideas of showing up on campus to randomly surprise him with a visit don’t seem to go over well with him. I picture it differently in my mind.  How do I go weeks without seeing my son?  Yet, he has this huge smile of independence on his face.  I know, I know.  Some may categorize me as smothering, and that’s okay.  I suppose I am. We all raise our children with the values we hold dear.  We give them the tools to help them succeed and pray they take full advantage of those tools along the way. As smothering as I may be, I am realistic and understand this is life and what we do, but this year it may take me just a little while longer to get into the whole school year thing.

Like many Americans, I feel a natural attraction to the summer Olympics.  So many athletes representing so many countries in so many different sporting events--all packed into a thrilling and mesmerizing 16 days. To be honest, part of the reason I watch is to see things I never see any other time of the year.  I’ve never seen a rugby match before, but this year marked the return of rugby to the Olympic Games.  I was amazed at how much rugby resembled American football, but there were plenty of differences that made the game more fast-paced, engaging and fun to watch.  Aside from rugby, I also watched ample amounts of volleyball, diving, cycling, wrestling and even synchronized swimming. Every Olympics has its high points--athletes who accomplish incredible feats and embody the ideals that the games stand for.  I think of Michael Phelps, who captured six medals this year to become the most decorated Olympian of all time.  I may be a little biased, but I also think of Ginny Thrasher, the WVU sophomore who won America’s first gold medal this year and became a cause célèbre on the Mountaineer campus.  You may also have seen footage of the two women who collided while running 5000-meter race, only to help each other up and finish the race.  That’s an Olympic moment! But there was also low points.  It’s always a shame to see athletes work so hard, and then face an injury in the games that prevents them from competing--like the Armenian weightlifter who broke his arm during a lift.  Poor sportsmanship was also on display from athletes who refused to shake hands with their Israeli competitors.  As I am writing this blog, Ryan Lochte is dominating the Olympic headlines.  Unfortunately, it’s not for his swimming.  It seems he made a false report of a robbery to cover up an episode of bad behavior at a Rio gas station.  Not only will this blemish his own career, but also the reputation of a highly respected and decorated American swim team. Every Olympics will have its highs and lows.  We aspire to greatness, as we should, and the Olympics embodies that lofty goal.  But we are also human, with all of our human frailties and shortcomings.  Where there are highs, there will also be lows. What about you?  Was there an Olympic moment in this year’s games that sticks out in your mind?

Happy Friday! We here at Bordas & Bordas would like to congratulate those of you who are completing your first week of the new school year. That includes students, teachers, faculty and staff. We hope that the new school year has gotten off to a wonderful start! As we look forward to the year ahead, it is important that we all keep in mind a few safety rules.  Particularly as it concerns children around school buses.   A new bill signed into law earlier this year by West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin will give law enforcement officers “more capability to pursue drivers who ignore the flashing lights of stopped school buses.” The new law, which was aptly named the “School Bus Stop Sign” bill, provides that “the driver of a vehicle, upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus which has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children, shall stop the vehicle before reaching the school bus when there is in operation on the school bus flashing warning signal lights.”  “he driver may not proceed until the school bus resumes motion, or is signaled by the school bus driver to proceed or the visual signals are no longer actuated.”  W. Va. Code § 17C-12-7(a). The new law then states that, if a vehicle fails to heed a school bus stop sign and the license plate number of the offending vehicle is known, law enforcement officers can infer that the owner or lessee of the car was the person driving the vehicle.  The owner or lessee of the car will then be charged for the crime.  If there is more than one registered owner or lessee for a vehicle, the first-listed owner or lessee will be the responsible party.  Prior to the passage of this new bill, law enforcement officers “had to have eye-witness testimony of the person operating the vehicle in violation before a citation could be issued.” Thus, if you could find the vehicle but you couldn’t identify the driver, a citation could not be issued. Penalties for drivers who fail to heed a school bus stop sign will remain the same under the new law: First Offense ·      A fine of not less than $150 or more than $500 and/or confinement in jail for not more than 6 months; and ·      Suspension of driver’s license for a period of 30 days Second Offense ·      A fine of $500 and/or confinement in jail for not more than 6 months; and ·      Suspension of driver’s license for a period of 90 days Third Offense ·      A fine of $500 and confined in jail for not less than 24 hours but not more than 6 months; and ·      Suspension of driver’s license for a period of 180 days In addition, a driver who fails to stop for a school bus stop sign and causes “serious bodily injury” to any person other than themselves will be guilty of a felony.  Upon conviction, the driver will be fined not less $500 but not more than $2,000 and will be confined in a state correctional facility for not less than 1 year but not more than 3 years. A driver who fails to stop for a school bus stop sign and causes death will be guilty of a felony.  Upon conviction, the driver will be fined not less than $1,000 but not more than $3,000 and will be confined in a state correctional facility for not less than 1 year but not more than 10 years. Lawmakers were careful to write the bill to insure that charges would fall to somebody else if it could be proven that the car in violation was actually being operated by another person.  Thus, the new law merely enables law enforcement to create a presumption that the owner or lessee of the vehicle was driving. For those of us who may need a refresher on when we are required to stop for a school bus stop sign, the State of West Virginia Driver’s Licensing Handbook states, “n all highways, streets, parking lots, private roads or driveways, traffic in both directions must stop before reaching a school bus that has its red lights flashing.”  “Only on interstate highways does traffic coming toward a school bus stopped on the other side of the median not have to stop.”  A good rule of thumb then is, if there isn’t a median, you should always stop, regardless of the direction you are traveling in. Stay safe out there, folks! And be sure watch for the flashing lights of stopped school buses! Happy Friday!

There are lots of reasons why a person who has been injured due to someone else’s carelessness should always consult with an experienced attorney before trying to settle his/her claim. One of those reasons has to do with what is known as subrogation claims.  I am always amazed at the number of people out there who are completely unaware of the principle of subrogation and the effect it has on the settlement of personal injury claims.  A bit of explanation is in order. With the recent passage of the Affordable Care Act, I think it’s a fairly safe bet that most of the folks who are reading this blog are covered by some sort of private health insurance.  Those who are not may be able to look to Medicaid or Medicare to take care of hospital bills in the event of an unexpected injury.  Either way, it is becoming more common to find that folks who need hospital or medical care have some sort of insurance in place to pay the bills. Unfortunately, in many circumstances the hospital or medical care referred to above resulted from the carelessness of someone else.  Maybe a person gets hit by a drunk driver, or someone who was distracted by texting/cell phone use, or even a truck driver who fell asleep because of too many hours behind the wheel without sleep.  In any of those cases, it is likely that the injured party will hire an attorney to help in the prosecution of a claim against the party responsible for the accident.  As a part of that claim, the injured party will ask the jury to reimburse him for the amount of medical/hospital bills that were incurred as a result of the accident.  If $5,000 in medical bills were incurred, the injured party is, at the very least, entitled to receive $5,000 in compensation. This is where the principle of subrogation comes in.  Put in its simplest terms, subrogation means that if I collect damages for medical bills that were paid by my insurance carrier, I am obligated to pay that insurance carrier back the money that they paid out on my behalf.  An example might make this clearer.  Let’s assume I get hit by a drunk driver, and as a result I incur $10,000 in medical bills.  The bills are paid by my health insurance, which is provided to me through my employment.  I file a lawsuit against the drunk who hit me, and the suit is ultimately settled before trial.  Once I receive the settlement proceeds, my attorney will tell me that I am obligated to write a check to my health insurance carrier for the $10,000 they have already paid out on my behalf.  Despite the fact that I paid for that health insurance out of my own pocket, and maybe even despite the fact that the settlement was far less than I should have received because the at-fault driver had lousy liability insurance, I am still going to have to write a very substantial check to my health insurance company so that it can recoup what it paid out.  In some circumstances, courts have ruled that the insurance carrier’s right of subrogation takes priority, even if it means that the company collects every single penny of the recovery, leaving the injured party with exactly nothing in his pocket. This is precisely where the need for experienced legal help comes into play.  There are various legal principles that can be utilized to reduce the amount of money the injured party can be required to pay back to the insurance company.  In some instances, a lawyer may be able to convince the carrier to waive its subrogation claim entirely.  Each case will depend upon its own facts and circumstances.  The one thing that is certain is that an injured party who tries to settle his claim without experienced legal help runs the risk of losing a very large chunk of the settlement to his health insurance carrier. Subrogation is just one of the many factors that come into play when prosecuting a personal injury claim.  If you have a question about subrogation, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys here at Bordas & Bordas.  We would be happy to talk to you.

Wouldn’t it be great if, on National Dog Day (Aug. 26), all those dogs living on chains, in our shelters, on our streets or in a dog fighting ring could find someone to take them and love them the way they should be? This year, I’ve heard of more and more about abuse of animals.  This hurts my inner soul and makes me feel sick. How many times have you gone by that one house in your area and seen that poor dog that is living on a chain outside all year round?  I wonder why people who do that with a pet even have a dog?  They’re not lawn ornaments.  Dogs have only one instinct and that is to LOVE unconditionally. It bothers me, too, to notice when the owner is out in the yard and that same poor dog is begging for attention only to be ignored.  I think these people need to walk a mile on the dog’s paws for a day and see how they like it. The biggest soapbox I get on is the dog fighting rings that are out there.   I talk about this a lot in my blogs and always state that dog fighting is not a sport, that it is abuse. Dog fighting happens more than any of us know.  It is an underground and deadly activity that is hidden in the darkness for only one purpose - to make money.  Animal fighting is abusive, uncaring and criminal.  These people need to be locked up just like any criminal who hurt a person. My point is, if you see a dog in your area that is chained outside, or just not being taken care, please report it to the local authorities so they can keep a watch on this animal.   Never go on the owner’s property and take a dog. That’s why we have dog wardens and police officers. That’s their job.  Our job is to watch and report any animal abuse. I have had people tell me, “You know, Jeanne, you can’t save them all.” I know this is more than likely true, but I’ll die trying to save that one dog and find that other dog a loving home and I’ll keep doing this one dog at a time.  Not every home deserves a dog, but every dog deserves a good and loving home. I leave you with important reminders: Don’t shop, adopt, and dog fighting is not a sport, it’s abuse.  Help spread the word on adoption and dog fighting; we might just be able to save them all. Bark on, Bordas dog nation. Bark on.

Are you the type of person who stands by and says nothing? Do you let others confront the imminent issues, but you remain silent? Long before I was born, racial issues have had devastating effects on our nation. I suppose that is something that I was somewhat sheltered from when I was young girl. Today, with all the technology and access to the world, there is no sheltering nor should we be ignoring the numerous daily incidents. The last couple of months, racial issues have been a constant topic on our news without a moment of peace. Ignorance is no excuse and action is required. This is a subject that I, too, was ignorant about until a few years ago, going about my day in disbelief that some very real prejudicial actions and words exist still in our communities — communities that everyone should be able to call home. As a human being and as a white woman who adopted a 100 percent African American child, I personally can offer testimony to the differentiation society seems to place on some because of the color of one’s skin. I have made it a priority to learn what I can so I can properly prepare and educate my child for some of the morally-offensive realities that continue amongst us. For more than 100 years now, the NAACP has advocated for the civil rights of those in communities and all they ask for is simply equal opportunity. It is sickening that the organization even had to come about and I cannot bear the thought of those heinous conditions that made it a necessity. I am embarrassed that as part of our history, we once upon a time enslaved and lynched people. We committed as a nation in the early 1900s to end slavery, the equal protection of the law, and equal opportunity for political, educational, and social interests of minority groups. Fulfill the commitment. It took our country 50-60 long years to end segregation and include everyone in the right to vote, not a very swift action plan if you ask me. I encourage you to learn something about the NAACP and participate in equal rights and treatment for all. As millions of African Americans continue to be afflicted by discrimination, do not simply stand by and watch while leaving the issues for others to manage. If each of us became proactive and put more effort into taking responsibility for our own actions, this would not be the race-based nation we see before us today. Now hear me loud and clear…Take away the labels…I am not a “white” woman. My skin is actually a peachy-tanned tone. My child is not black. She has beautiful glistening brown skin. We have both been given the individual traits hand-picked by our Creator, but our hearts are one. I instill in her soul, faith, hope and love. Don’t let her down. Be proactive in your community. Get involved. After all, we are all made in the image of God and ALL lives matter. If you would like to become involved here in the Upper Ohio Valley, check out the Wheeling Branch NAACP - Freedom Fund Banquet at 6 p.m., Friday, August 12, 2016 at Wheeling Jesuit University’s Swint Hall.

A teenage summer is incomplete without attending a few concerts. Whether it’s a major music festival like Jamboree in the Hills or Lollapalooza, a small coffee shop concert or a packed arena, there is music out there for everyone. I have seen Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, Coldplay, Beyonce and Journey plus a few others in my last few summers. Looking back on my music filled summers I have made incredible memories. Some, however, stick out more than others. After attending the Justin Beiber concert in July, I was thrilled to sit in a parking garage for 45 minutes following the conclusion of the concert. Just when I thought we were finally on our way back to Wheeling, I was the first car to be stopped and told that the Fort Pitt Bridge would be closing and there was a detour that would put me right back on where I should be. When I failed to find that magical road to Wheeling, I wondered “what do you mean” the bridge is closed, and if it was “too late now to say sorry” to the passengers in my car. We could only listen to Beiber’s Purpose album so many times before the puns were just unbearable. Finally, we found our way to a familiar road just as the gas light flicked on. After an intense 15 minutes looking for the nearest gas station, I refilled the car and hit the road once more. All while this was happening, heat lightning flashed in the background which was such a nice touch on the tiring and stressful drive home. Looking back, the concert was great even from the second-to-last row. Justin Beiber put on a phenomenal show with water effects and a large trampoline that hung from the ceiling, and I now know how to navigate myself around what seemed to be the entire state of Pennsylvania. The Doobie Brothers and Journey concert had a different crowd than Justin Beiber. I attended the concert with a friend and her parents; she and I were undoubtedly the only two under age 40 in our section. Although we were not alive when most of the songs were produced, we still knew the lyrics to the classic hits. During one particular song, I realized I was a part of something foreign to me. Normally during the slow ballads, crowds pull out their cell phones, turn on the flashlight and sway side to side. At Journey however, people in the crowd had actual lighters. Yes, the concert was outside unlike many others, but still, I could not recall a concert where I saw more lighters in the air than cell phones. This crowd took the phrase “any way you want it” to heart. It was a generational difference to which I was oblivious until seeing it firsthand. “Lights” I will not forget. The concert was a fantastic evening, and I was sad when the band and I had to go our “separate ways.” My favorite concerts above all else are ones in which the crowd is given a bracelet or glow stick upon walking into the concert. The bulky plastic bracelets never look like much, but they change an entire concert experience. The Taylor Swift 1989 Tour and the Coldplay A Head Full of Dreams Tour were kaleidoscopes of lights and colors thanks to those bulky wristbands. The wristbands were put in sync with the music and somehow pulse rainbows of colors in time with the song. During “Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift, Heinz Field turned into a sea of twinkling red whereas the bracelets created a “sky full of stars” during hits from Coldplay’s latest album. Afterward, my eyes had become accustomed to neon flashing lights, but I just had to “shake it off.” I would never think blinking bracelets would make or break a concert, but in both cases, it was just the touch the artists needed to make their concerts go from good to great. My summers would be bland and quiet without a series of concerts to entertain me. Whether it is a hip-hop or country artist, indoor or outdoor, or today’s hits or oldies, I will gladly accept an invitation to a concert. The memories I have made both at concerts and navigating home thereafter in some instances are unforgettable. I hope I can continue my summer concert tradition in the next few years as I enter college. New artists, venues, friends and memories await.

This year at Jamboree in the Hills, Bordas & Bordas handed out cell phone wallets, a pouch to put on the back of your phone to hold credit cards, money or whatever you can fit into it. It was an awesome giveaway.  When you are handing these kinds of things out at events you get to meet a lot of interesting people.  This was Bordas & Bordas’ third year for a giveaway and I’ve been blessed to work all three. Last year we didn’t hand out anything and the people who came through the gate this year said how much they missed the Bordas & Bordas giveaway.  I saw so many familiar faces come through the line. Some people told me to come on over to where they were sitting and have a drink with them, or they said they were glad to see me back. This year, I got to meet a lot of new people and one young man and one group really stuck out in my mind.  The young man told me he was down on his luck and the Jamboree was the only thing that he had going for him at this time. We talked for a few minutes and when he was about to walk away I looked at him and asked him if he would like to pray with me to help him get though the crossroads in his life. He took my hand and we prayed together for a brief moment.  I felt blessed that maybe I might have helped him out to hopefully get back on the right path in his life. I also met people who had a dog kennel business in Ohio. We talked for a little bit and they said, “Bordas & Bordas? I know you, you’re the one with the dogs.”  I told them yes and I also started to tell them that I write a dog blog for Barley and Guinness on our web page, and right as I was telling them about the dog blog the man spoke up and said he had read the dog blogs before!  I was shocked and very surprised that anyone would read anything I write, even if it is for the dogs. I guess the moral of the story is that you’ll meet people along the way in your life and you’ll never know how you may have or could have helped them.  I hope my prayers for that young man will help him with the crossroads he is facing in his life and the nice people with the dog kennel will keep on reading the boys’ dog blog. Jamboree in the Hills 2016 is now in the books. Rock on people, rock on. And for my dog lovers out there, Bark on, Bordas Dog Nation, bark on.

Our Lady of Lebanon’s 2016 Mahrajan will be held this year on Aug. 14 at Oglebay Park in Wheeling. For more than 80 years, the parishioners and extended family members of Our Lady of Lebanon have hosted this celebration of their heritage and the Assumption of the Blessed Virginia Mary.  I remember going to the Mahrajan as a child with my grandfather and enjoying all of the wonderful food parishioners had prepared for the day.  Unfortunately, due to the continued success of the festival and an aging and declining parish population, gone are the days when the traditional Lebanese delicacies served at the Mahrajan are made by the parishioners themselves.  While the families of Our Lady of Lebanon have not been able to personally prepare the volume of food items, such as kibbee, stuffed grape leaves, tabouli and hummus, needed for the festival for some time now, they remain deeply involved in making this annual tradition a success. While traditional Lebanese food and pastries are the main attractions for many Mahrajan attendees, there is much more to do than just satisfy cravings for ethnic delicacies.  A traditional Maronite Catholic Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. to kick off the festivities.  Although a little more relaxed due to the outdoor setting, those who have not previously attended a Maronite Catholic Liturgy may enjoy experiencing the rituals of this Mass for the first time.  Once Mass concludes, the festivities continue with the opening of food booths and other activities at noon.  Free entertainment includes live Middle Eastern Music and dance shows beginning at 1 p.m. and continuing throughout the day.  There are also games for both children and adults, a children’s play area and vendors offering souvenirs and hand-crafted items for sale.  As always, admission is free. For those of you who joined us last year, you likely noticed that the 2015 Mahrajan marked the transition from the traditional use of purchased tickets as the primary form of festival currency to cash being accepted for purchase of food, drinks and games.  You may also have noticed there were a few hiccups with the transition, such as not always having enough change immediately on hand when people attempted to pay for small items (food prices range from $1-$7) with $50 or $100 bills.  The lessons learned in 2015 should make 2016 a much smoother experience.  Additionally, the Mahrajan will be accepting credit cards this year as well. As the Mahrajan changes with the times, one thing will never change: the commitment of four-generations of Our Lady of Lebanon families to honor their heritage, faith and tradition.  The festival is still put on, for the most part, by the parishioners and their families.  For me and many of the festival workers, Our Lady of Lebanon is not our home parish.  Rather, it is (or was) the parish of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents and we are there to make sure the tradition continues and the needs of this historic church are met.  Our Lady of Lebanon’s Mahrajan began in 1933 as a way to raise funds to rebuild the 10-year-old church that had been destroyed by fire in 1932.  It continues today not only to honor the heritage of the generations of Lebanese-Americans who made Our Lady of Lebanon their home, but to ensure sufficient funds for the continued maintenance of the church – the only Maronite Catholic Church in West Virginia.  If you are in the Wheeling area on Sunday, Aug. 14, you are welcome to be one of our family for the day and join us at the 2016 Mahrajan.

“USA, USA, USA, USA.” I can hear the chants now as athletes from across the globe head to the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. From gymnastics to basketball, rowing to judo, the United States always boasts top contenders. I have always been fascinated with the Olympics. Okay maybe not fascinated - more like obsessed. I remember crying as I watched Michael Phelps win his eighth gold medal in Beijing and Lolo Jones hitting a hurdle and failing to medal in the 110m high hurdles in 2012. The Olympics truly showcase the best of the best in the world. Here’s what to watch after the opening games on Aug. 5. While I am bias toward gymnastics, this year’s women’s competitors are fierce and hungry for gold. Simone Biles of Ohio is a reigning world champion and is the first female to ever win the national title four consecutive years. She may be 4’9”, but I can assure you she is one of the greatest athletes to dazzle crowds in Rio. While Simone is a shoe-in for the All-Around Gold Medal, don't count the rest of Team USA out. Veteran performers Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas are back to help the United States win its second team gold in a row. Madison Kocian and newbie Laurie Hernandez round out the medal contending team. The USA men’s basketball team is also ready to defend their gold medal status from 2008 and 2012 with an all-star lineup. While NBA stars LeBron James and Stephen Curry have pulled out of the Rio Games, their teammates Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson will be joining the rest of the star-studded team. Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant will be leading Team USA under the direction of Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski. I see gold in the future for this team, especially considering that they are in qualifying group with no world ranked teams. In the pool, Team USA truly has some of the world’s best swimmers going into the Rio Games. On both the men’s and women’s sides, world records were broken at just trials. Katie Ledecky, also an incoming freshman at Stanford University in the fall, has the fastest time in the world in the 800-meter freestyle. Ledecky has eight of the top 10 best times in history and plans to make that nine out of 10 in August. Michael Phelps will be swimming for gold once again as he ousted long-time rival and teammate Ryan Lochte at the United States trials. The 200-meter freestyle will surely be one to watch to see which American can take home the gold. Familiar faces from the 2012 games, Missy Franklin and Nathan Adrian, will take on the world again hoping to defend their gold medal titles. The Summer Olympics would not be complete without the world’s oldest sport - track and field. Decathlete Ashton Eaton is back and ready for gold as he competes in the shot put, high hurdles, pole vault and the metric mile just to name a few. If he reclaims the title of World’s Greatest Athlete, Eaton will be the first male ever to do so. Justin Gatlin, gold medalist from 2004, will be competing in the 100- and 200-meter sprints, but will face fierce competition from the fastest man the world has ever known, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt. Evan Jager looks to be the first American to place in 31 years in the 3000-meter steeplechase but will have to complete the run of a lifetime in order to do so. He currently holds the United States record. The 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter relays also hope to be atop the podium in Rio. The women’s track and field team has gold medal contenders as well. English Gardner hopes to knock off Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson for gold in the 100-meter sprint. Her teammate Tianna Bartoletta is also in the hunt for a medal in the shortest track event. My track inspiration Allyson Felix will run for gold in the 400-meter dash. While boasting 2016’s best 400 time, she unfortunately did not qualify for the 200 meter event where she won gold in 2012. Longtime American favorite, famous for defeating Russia in the home stretch of the 4x400 meter relay in Beijing in 2008, Sanya Richards-Ross will notbe joining Team USA this year. Overcome by injuries at the US Trials, Richards-Ross retired with a few golds under her belt. A younger generation of runners is now preparing for Rio including the youngest female to compete for the United States since 1972- Sydney McLaughlin; she’s only 16, and yes, she is the sixth fastest in the world. Men’s and women’s soccer are going for gold after capturing World Cup wins since the last Olympic games along with a handful of divers, weightlifters, volleyball players, boxers and tennis players. The beach volleyball duo we have all grown to love, Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh, will not be a pair this summer, but Kerri Walsh hopes to earn her fourth gold medal in four Olympics with a new partner. I expect to see the stars and stripes flying high and our national anthem playing pretty frequently between the wide variety of sports at the Summer Olympics. This August anything could happen. Some could achieve unexpected golds, and some could be knocked off the podium unexpectedly. Tune in starting with the opening ceremony on Aug. 5 to see all of your favorite sports and athletes take on the world in the best showcase of athletic abilities and talents the world has to offer.

A conversation that I often have with friends this time of year is about where everyone is planning to take a vacation. Since moving to the Ohio Valley, I have learned that Myrtle Beach is the go-to vacation destination for people in this area. The Outer Banks also seems to be a popular choice. While I have been to both North and South Carolina on a few occasions, and enjoyed my time there very much, I always have to make a plug for my absolute favorite summer vacation destination of all time, back in my home state of Michigan. My mother’s family has been taking summer trips up to the Leelenau Peninsula in Michigan for as long as she can remember, and while I obviously don’t remember, I made my own first trip up there just a few weeks after I was born, and almost every summer since. We have always stayed at condominiums and a ski chalet at what used to be a thriving ski resort called Sugar Loaf, near Cedar, Michigan, but the real action is in the nearby town of Leland, which is conveniently located just inland from Lake Michigan and on the beautiful inland Lake Leelenau. Unlike the majority of inland lakes in Michigan, Lake Leelanau has the clearest, cleanest and most spectacularly blue water I have ever seen outside of tropical ocean locations. It’s warm enough to swim in, even in the deepest areas, and there are beaches and sandbars all around the lake, which helps to alleviate the crowding of public beaches and swimming areas, and really lets you just enjoy your surroundings. You can also rent paddleboards or canoes and kayaks, allowing you to experience the lake in a number of ways. The town of Leland is a classic upper Michigan seaport. The “Fishtown” area offers a variety of shops in converted fishing shanties, and you can buy some of the best ice cream, candy, cheese, and meats in the whole state there. You can also take a boat out to some of the islands in Lake Michigan, where there is plenty of hiking, camping and general outdoor wonder to be enjoyed. Restaurants in the town make the most of the fresh fish supply, and almost all of them offer great waterside views and patios to enjoy a drink or meal outside. There are also a number of excellent wineries on the Leelenau Peninsula, and it’s easy and convenient to schedule a bus tour to take you from one to the next. My personal favorite, Chateau Chantal, is located on top of a hill, and their beautiful stone patio offers a view of almost the entire area. The Leelenau Peninsula is also home to the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, several beautiful state parks, biking and hiking trails, world-class golf courses and a number of casinos and resorts. It offers something for everyone, and is a place that I would recommend everyone try to visit at least once in his or her lives. I am always proud to be able to describe such a place as being in my home state.

With the temperatures rising this time of year, I began thinking of all the ways we can keep our dogs safe during the hot summer months, and how to make this weather a little bit more enjoyable for them. Most of these pointers are just common sense. 1.         If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, always make sure that your dog has some shade and plenty of cool, clean water. 2.         NEVER leave your dog unattended in a closed vehicle, whether the day is sunny or not.  Think of your car as a metal box--the temperatures inside a car can go as high as 100 degrees within minutes. 3.         Dog owners should use caution when exercising their dog outdoors if temperatures get above 85 degrees--wait until it cools down. 4.         Many dogs love to swim—we have a couple of small plastic swimming pools that our huskies love—your dog might love one, too. 5.         Make frozen “popsicle” treats for your dogs with low sodium broth or they may enjoy plain old ice cubes. 6.         Don’t shave your double-coated dog.  Double-coated dogs like Siberian Huskies, Samoyeds, Pomeranians, etc., have a soft, cottony undercoat which works as insulation, and a top coat that protects them from the elements.  Although all of that hair may look awfully hot in the summer, the undercoat actually works to keep the heat away from the skin.  Think about how hot a house that’s not insulated would get in the summer—this is the same concept with the undercoat of a double-coated dog—it acts as insulation to keep the heat out.  Shaving your double-coated dog also puts them at risk for sunburn and skin cancer, not to mention certain breeds just look ridiculous after they’ve been shaved. 7.         Watch for signs of heat stroke.  Extreme temperatures can cause heatstroke in pets.  Some of the warning signs are heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, excessive drooling, dizziness and lack of coordination, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure and unconsciousness.  Dogs are more at risk for heat stroke if they are very old, very young, overweight, not conditioned to prolonged exercise or have heart or respiratory problems.  Some breeds with shorter muzzles also have a harder time breathing in the heat.  If your dog shows the symptoms of heat stroke, you should immediately try to cool them down.  You can do this by applying a small amount of rubbing alcohol to the pads of their feet, apply ice packs or cold towels to their head, neck and chest, or run cool water over your dog, let your dog drink cool water or lick ice cubes, and get them to your veterinarian as soon as you can. 8.         Walking your dog on sidewalks, streets, patios, sand and pavement can burn the bottom of their feet.  Think about how hot that material can get.  Press your hand onto the surface for 30 seconds—if it’s hot to you then it will be hot to them.  Walk your dog in the morning or evening after the pavement has cooled down. Have a safe and enjoyable summer with your dog.