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This past February, Ray Rice beat his fiancée until she was unconscious in an Atlantic City hotel elevator. The video of that incident, which is widely available on the internet, is shocking and disgusting. Despite the horrific and unacceptable nature of Mr. Rice's deliberate and intentional acts, the NFL suspended him for just two games; a mere slap on the wrist. For a league that is so image obsessed, this decision is baffling. There is never any excuse for violence against women. Ray Rice holds himself out as an NFL tough guy, an image the NFL itself is happy to promote. Now here that tough guy is, doing one of the most cowardly things I can imagine. What message is the NFL sending to its fans when it basically condones such activity? As bad as the NFL is, though, the Baltimore Ravens and their coach, Jim Harbaugh, are much, much worse. This morning on ESPN, I heard Mr. Harbaugh say the following about his star player's assault: "It's not a big deal, it's just part of the process. There are consequences when you make a mistake like that. I stand behind Ray. He's a heck of a guy." He's kidding, right? Beating your fiancée unconscious is "not a big deal"? It's just a "mistake" instead of a purposeful decision to hit somebody until they can't move? Mr. Harbaugh should be ashamed of himself. At least he told us what he really thinks about this. Just so we all know, Mr. Harbaugh and the NFL stand "with Ray Rice." Not with his fiancée. Not with all of the women around the country and the world who are subject to domestic violence at unacceptable levels. Not with our mothers, wives, and daughters. They stand with Ray Rice. Just a thought to keep in your mind the next time you settle in for an NFL game.

Last year at this time, I was spending a week at Bethany College coaching the West Virginia All-Stars in preparation for the annual OVAC All-Star Football Game. I must admit that serving as the defensive coordinator in that game was one of the highlights of my coaching career. That career began in 1995. Since that time, I have coached in Notre Dame Stadium, coached with some incredible former Notre Dame coaches in an all-star game, served as a high school head coach, and have coached in and won seven state championship games. But the annual OVAC Charity game has a special meaning to me. It brings together the best that our Valley has to offer for one night. On that night, Wheeling Park and John Marshall fans root for the same team. Bellaire and Martins Ferry residents sit side by side as they cheer for the Buckeye state. And, players that battled each other for four years now put aside former rivalries to take on players from the other side of the river. This year, for the first time, I will have a different perspective on the game. After serving on the coaching staff in the game for the first time last year, I now understand the bonding that goes on amongst the players and coaches in the week leading up to the game. Total strangers, or in some instances former enemies, become teammates. During that week, they not only practice together, eat together, and live together, but also become lifelong friends. This game has everything that is great about high school football --- talent, hard work, team work, dedication, and fun. There are cheerleaders, band members, and queens. In short, it is just an unbelievable experience. I am proud that my law firm has been able to sponsor this event for a number of years. But, I now understand so much better exactly why that sponsorship is so important. As I return to the bleachers this year as just another fan at the game, it will be with a smile, fond memories, and a deeper appreciation for everyone involved.

This year finds me unable to run in the race I have participated in for the last two years due to a family commitment. That sent me on a hunt to find some other worthy cause that would allow me to give back to the community in my own small way. I didn't want the summer to go by without participating in something, so I started researching other activities in the local area supporting worthy causes. Drum roll please! I have decided to participate in the 7 th Annual RunWalkRoll Race for Mobility on July 19 th. All proceeds go to the Free Wheelchair Mission. What a worthy cause! Many people unable to afford a wheelchair can receive one through the Mission, not only in the United States but all over the world. To restore dignity and independence to people who are unable to walk is indeed a race worth running. You can sign up by filling out the registration form here: http://www.runwalkandroll.net/docs/2014_race_application.pdf Also, there will be no more walking races for me. I am running this year, along with my son, Adam. We are busy training nearly every day after work and on weekends too. You'll see us running up and down the bleachers at the Bellaire Football Field on any given day or running around the track. Come join the fun! I promise, it's addictive! If running around the track and scaling the bleachers doesn't sound like enough incentive, Bordas & Bordas is going to donate $5.00 for every participant up to 300 people. Come and help me fill up those 300 spots and help those less fortunate become mobile. You will be glad you did.

My youngest daughter is 5-years-old today. While Mamma is at work, she is busy making Oreo pudding cups with her brother, Charles, and sister, Aleigha. Later, we have a special evening planned: she is getting a new bike and a hula hoop. What's the big deal? Kids celebrate their birthdays all the time, but this is very different; it's extra special to me. On July 15, 2009, in another county and state, my daughter was born and I didn't even know it. She was 5 pounds, 2 ounces and born in the middle of the afternoon. At that time, I think I was away at the beach. I had no idea what the next year would bring and where it would leave me and my family today. In November 2009, my husband and I decided we would like to help the children of West Virginia, which led us into foster parenting. On March 5, 2010, I received a call here at work and that was the day that our daughter came to us. She was 7 ½ months old. Instantly, we readied the house for this infant as our youngest at the time was 9. Over the next 2 ½ years, under the watchful eye of The Honorable Judge Ronald Wilson, we cared for Shauney. During this time we celebrated holidays and birthdays in every way that a family would. Little did we know that we would one day be lucky enough to have her as our very own daughter. In December 2012, that became a reality. My family gathered in front of Judge Wilson where he granted the adoption of Shauney to the Dodd family and here we are today. I look back on her last five years and realize each and every day, whether it's a good day or a rocky one, we have been so blessed to have this gift from God: our little angel, Shauney. July 15 is and always will be a happy day. Happy 5 th Birthday Shauney Rose Dodd!

I was so excited when I heard the announcement that Bordas & Bordas was sponsoring Jamboree in the Hills once again. Jamboree has become such an important event for many of my family, friends and for this area in general that I can't help but wish for its continued success. With my firm's announcement, the memories of my first Jamboree in the Hills began to stir in my mind. I have to be honest and admit that rock music has always been the music of my soul. Throughout my life it has been the music that spoke to me, inspired me, moved me and made me want to dance. As a matter of fact, as I sit here writing this blog, I can hear a base guitar, joined by the lead guitar, then the drums and finally Grace Slick of the Jefferson Airplane singing "White Rabbit" in my mind. The fact that I have chosen this song and group probably gave my age away immediately. Yes, I am from the Woodstock generation, the original Woodstock that is. For those of you who don't know, Woodstock was the music festival that drew an unexpected attendance of approximately 500,000 young people on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in the small town of Bethel, New York in August of 1969. It was such a pivotal time in our country's history. The young people in the country, my generation, were not very happy with the status quo and some actually set out to change it, or had the audacity to think they could change it. Our young men were still living under the threat of the draft and a very unpopular Vietnam War was escalating by the day. A lot of the guys I knew and grew up with had already been drafted to fight in that war and unfortunately, a lot of those brave young men did not come home alive. Many of us began to believe we should not have been involved in the Vietnam conflict in the first place. Trying to get the leaders of our country to agree was causing a lot of conflict. Unrest, constant sometimes-violent protests, and forever-long social justice debates were as synonymous with my generation as our slogan of "Peace and Love." In the summer of 1969, I graduated from high school and was chomping at the bit to begin experiencing some of that peace, love and freedom that my generation stood for. I remember lying stretched out on the living room floor in front of the television, watching the news as they showed clips of the now famous music and art festival called Woodstock. As I watched the clips shown on the news, I wanted nothing more than to be in the crowd. The bands in the lineup included many of my favorites, like Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sly & the Family Stone, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joan Baez, Santana, Canned Heat, and Grateful Dead; it was a downright rock and roll fantasy come true! I was 17 years old and it seemed like the perfect weekend road trip. But rolling around on the hillside of Max Yasgur's farm with a bunch of hippy freaks for a few days was more of a fantasy than a reality. Instead, I was more apt to take a family vacation with my parents riding down through the hills of West Virginia, which is exactly what I did that summer. Riding in the car with my parents reminded me of one thing that I couldn't stand, country music. I did not like country music because it was the music that my mom and dad listened to. Instead of listening to the rock stations I loved, I was forced to listen to their country music stations and suffer in silence. Of course we didn't have iPods back then and although I did have a small transistor radio, as most kids did, it never occurred to me to use earphones. So when the first Jamboree in the Hills was held back in 1977, I didn't give it as much as a passing thought. As a matter of fact, the very first memory I have of Jamboree in the Hills occurred in the emergency room at the Ohio Valley Hospital on one very hot and muggy July afternoon in 1979. I remember there were dozens of people coming in from Jamboree in the Hills suffering from heat exhaustion. My thoughts at that time were, "Why in the world would anybody want to sit or stand in an open field, on a humid afternoon, listening to country music?" This probably seems comical coming from the woman who thought it would be perfectly divine to roll around on a muddy hillside listening to rock music in 1969! During the 80s and 90s, the wide divide between rock music and country music began to narrow and there were even a few artists that I was able to enjoy, like The Eagles, Alabama, The Charlie Daniels Band, Willie Nelson and even Dolly Parton. As the music itself began to evolve, so did my feelings about country music. There were some country songs that I actually did like, along with some fun line dances that you could do without needing a dance partner. Jamboree in the Hills was steadily gaining popularity and it was hard to find anybody who didn't enjoy it. Eventually I came around to wanting to go, not so much for the music, but just to experience the fun. So in 1997, when a friend of mine asked me to join her and offered me a free ticket for the Saturday show, I couldn't refuse. I would finally have a chance to experience this exalted event that was now nicknamed "Jambo." We got up very early on Saturday morning to prepare for the drive to Morristown, Ohio. Fortunately for us, her daughter and a few of her daughter's friends had gotten there earlier for the gate opening to claim a good spot for us on the hillside. I learned later on that they refer to this event as the ever so famous "Redneck Run." I've watched it several times on YouTube videos and it is something to behold; I'm really not sorry that I missed that part. It was such a beautiful sunny morning as we sat, sipped our drinks and watched others arrive to find their area on the hillside. There was such a fantastic party atmosphere, everybody was there to have a good time. As the day progressed and the entertainers took the stage, a lot of people were lavishly enjoying their favorite refreshments and the happiness of the crowd increased. Everyone was just there to have a good time and listen to the music. Thinking back to it, I honestly didn't meet a person there who wasn't friendly. It has been quite a few years since I have actually gone to Jambo, but I have family and friends who attend it yearly and stay at one of the campsites for the entire weekend. Everyone insists that staying in the camp area is a special adventure in and of itself. Nowadays, I enjoy watching it on the television from my recliner in my air conditioned home. Not as much fun, I know, but when they scan over the hill and show the crowd, I can appreciate how much fun they are having. If you have never experienced summer's biggest party, I suggest you do. There is still time to purchase tickets and from what I hear there is an excellent lineup this year! Although I enjoy reminiscing about my first Jamboree in the Hills experience, it never did make up for missing Woodstock in 1969! I feel it's safe to compare Jamboree in the Hills as a smaller, more mature and definitely more organized version of Woodstock with one major difference, country music, but I can rock with that.

When we were children we were always looking up to people like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and anyone else who inspired us. But who are our heroes now? Football stars, Olympians, our parents, inventors? A hero is someone who does something to help improve mankind or to execute the intention of helping others in difficult situations. We applaud these people because of the changes they may make in our lives. It's not just the people who make the headlines of the evening news or the front page of the paper that are heroes. Being a hero can be as simple as volunteering at the local homeless shelter or even helping an elderly individual cross a busy street. I've never considered myself a hero until two weeks ago at Boys State when I saved a fellow camper's life. At approximately 2:30 a.m., I woke up to my friend having a seizure. I checked for his pulse, but he did not have one. If you study your surroundings in any building you can almost always find an Automated External Defibrillator, also known as an AED. Earlier that day I remembered seeing an AED in the dining hall, so when my friend wasn't responding, I started running to retrieve it. Upon returning, I administered two shocks that brought his heartbeat back. Right after I had followed the AED's instructions that helped me bring my friend back, the emergency personnel arrived. They immediately called 911 and had him taken to the local hospital. I am happy to say that my friend returned to camp the next day and made it home safely to his family at the end of the week. The concept of a "hero" has changed drastically throughout the different generations. Today, a hero is measured by a person's character, their inner being, and their integrity no matter what their age, race, or gender may be. Whereas before, the term "hero" was a descriptive word primarily describing a male figure. No matter what kind of hero you are, doing the right thing is all that matters in the end. I would like to encourage everyone to take the time to study their surroundings when entering an unknown building; by spotting anything that could help in an emergency situation, you could save a person's life and be their hero.

I've thought about this time in my life for a while now, and it has finally crept up on me. On July 11, I will turn 50 years old. As the day approaches, I find myself wondering, "Where has the time gone?". The most famously asked question, "If you could redo life, what would you do differently?" keeps being asked and has me thinking long and hard about my past 50 years. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't change anything in my life. Of course, there are a few things I would do better than I did back then, but that's only because I've lived and learned through my mistakes. First, I have to give thanks to God for this life He has given me and how very blessed I am. A few of those blessings include having my mother, father, and amazing sisters still in my life. Another one of my many blessings is my wonderful husband of almost 30 years, who will always be my rock and anchor in my life. Of course, I cannot forget my two adult children who are and will always be my pride and joy. I am also thankful for my nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins, very good friends, my four-legged fur children, and my job at Bordas & Bordas. Overall, my life has been pretty awesome, and I can't thank you all enough for making my life so special and loving me unconditionally. Turning fifty is a milestone in anyone's life. It's a sign of getting older, becoming wiser, and receiving our AARP cards, also known as discounts that many learn to love. Fifty should be the time when we look at our lives and say, "Let the party begin, let's rock and roll!" and that's exactly what I plan on doing. I'm going to try new adventures, go to new and exciting places, and not be afraid of what others think of me. Many people spend a long period of time in their lives worrying about being judged, and I say, no matter what you say or do, people are going to think what they want, so why worry about it? As I turn fifty and start a new chapter in my life, with once again the best husband in the world, I want to enjoy everything that life has to offer. I'm going to take this world on, embrace every minute of it, and have some real fun. For those of you who don't know, fun is my favorite "f word." I encourage you youngsters who may be reading this blog to use it more often than that other f word you tend to use. So, for those of you who have said turning 50 means that your life is halfway over, get out of your rocking chairs and get back in the game of life. I have decided that turning 50 means that my life has officially taken a turn into awesomeness. You only live once, so I'm going out to live this life, and when I die, I want to be able to thank God for the awesome ride that he has given me. How do you want people to remember you? I want people to remember me as the one who had a lot of fun in her life, and I can only hope that I've touched others in my life and reminded them to have as much fun as they can. I also hope people will remember me for being kind and caring to others, but most of all to animals who have no voice. Life is for the living, so go out and live your lives, I know I am. I don't call it a "bucket list," I call it a "living my life to the fullest list." With all of this being said, I hope you all enjoy my blogs about my adventures for the next fifty years. So here's to my next fifty years. Yes, I'm planning on living to be 100. Rock on Bordas & Bordas Family & Friends, Rock on...

Fourth of July Safety Tips from Michele Rejonis and Jeanne Dedo Fireworks, barbecues, swimming, fun times with family and friends...that's probably what comes to mind with thoughts of the 4 th of July. But without precautions, those fun times can quickly turn tragic. We are fortunate in the Ohio Valley in that there are many opportunities to view fireworks displays put on by professionals, but if you feel that you want to conduct your own displays, please keep in mind the following safety tips for a happy celebration: Don't let small children handle fireworks and remember that sparklers are not necessarily "safe" as they burn to temperatures in excess of 2,000 degrees. Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that haven't full ignited. Light fireworks one at a time. Never throw or point fireworks at another person. Keep a hose or a bucket of water handy in case of a mishap. Youngsters should always supervision. Fireworks and alcohol don't mix. Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them. While celebrating the 4 th, please remember that the canine members of your family may not be as excited about the fireworks displays as you are. As crowds "oohh" and "ahhh," the sound of "bombs bursting in air" may cause your four-legged friends to become stressed. Bordas & Bordas dogs, Barley and Guinness, would like to remind you that more dogs run away from home on July 4 th compared to any other day of the year as they attempt to seek shelter and escape the loud noises. The safest place for your pet during all fireworks displays is inside your home. Certainly, no one wants to think about their best friend running away, but it's good to be prepared just in case. It could ensure their safe return home. Make sure your dog is wearing dog tags. Terrified animals could end up miles from home. Have a recent picture of them ready in case it is necessary for distribution and never leave your dog outside. Even if your yard is fenced in, dogs may still try to escape and could become injured in the process. Before the fireworks kick off, many of us will be partaking in plenty of great food. As we dig in, be cognizant of proper food preparation and storage. Be sure those burgers are cooked thoroughly to temps that will kill illness-causing bacteria and keep the picnic foods like potato salad cool to avoid spoiling. And remember, when in doubt, throw it out. As we look towards the coming days of friends, family, food and fireworks, have fun, but do it safely. Happy 4 th!

There is a quote floating around the Internet that talks about the impact that people have on your life. The message indicates that every person, independent of the length of time that they are with you, serves a purpose. That every individual, for that time, is an important character in that chapter of your story. It says that people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. I believe this is true. REASON PEOPLE There are plenty of people that have come into my life for a reason. Traci Maurer, an instructor at Bethany College, showed me that my best was something that people deserved always, even when "half-assed" (her words, not mine) would probably still be sufficient. I recall her giving me a B on an assignment that was visibly superior to my peers work ...she told me that she knew I could do better than what I turned in and while it might have been an A for someone else, that it was just a B for me. As angry as I was that day, it is a conversation that I will never forget. That assignment lowered my average in the course and cost me from graduating with honors. Lesson learned professor Maurer. Lesson learned. I became friends in college with a guy who was in almost all of my classes. We got stuck sitting next to each other on a plane to a conference in Dallas, TX and the rest was history. His friendship, which has faded as life and time and distance took their toll, was something I sincerely needed. I was struggling at the time, something not unheard of when you're figuring out who you are and where you are going when you're in your early 20s. He taught me to not care what other people thought about me, that sometimes you need to cut loose and have a little fun, what I deserved from my own relationships and friendships and he introduced me to the Clarks. So Brian Geatano, thanks... Most recently, I met a man who quickly became one of my most trusted confidants. Since he lives far away, our time face to face has been limited. A dinner here or there while he is passing through town on business. But the hours of conversation have taught me more lessons in a short period of time than many get in a lifetime. We've debated religion and discussed relationships and family and careers. Andy Hinkley came into my life for a reason, just when I needed him most. He taught me that it's ok to think differently and that you need to surround yourself with people who "get you". Andy gets me. And I am thankful. Reason people teach you must needed lessons that without them specifically you might not discover. SEASON PEOPLE There are some people that come into your life for a season. A person who in the movie of your life has a significant role for at least part of your story. There are lots of seasonal people that I could mention that have impacted me positively (and negatively). Seasons, like chapters in a book, are defined by time. It could be time at a job or in school or living in a certain place. Season people are easy to spot...they blow in and out of your life depending on circumstance. I worked in the pharmaceutical industry for nearly 10 years. This season brought into my life many people who had impact. Rick Ferguson, who taught me that if I wasn't making people mad that I wasn't working hard enough, Kim Foster, who was my good cop, in our good cop/bad cop scenarios with clients, and Claudia Gironda and Kelly Komorowski, who set the bar with regard to how I wanted to conduct my business shaped my life tremendously. Frank Brawner, my favorite sales partner of all time, made my job fun and I would like to think that my season in his life was also impactful and positive. I was older (and wiser) and Frank was younger and, well, less wise and we shared all kinds of twisted and witty insight into not just how we should approach our business, but how we were conducting our own lives. Frank and I have both since moved on from our days pushing drugs but I am happy that at that time, I had Frank-Furter, drug rep extraordinaire as my counterpart. All of these people, and many more, truly don't know what an important role they played in my life during that season of my professional life. Now my professional season includes former students and interns, an IT guy who has a sick sense of humor and a third floor group of colleagues that keeps things interesting...oh, and a family of Bordas's...I hope this season is a long one as I am sure these people have a lot to add to my experiences. Personally, there have been many people who shared a season of my life. Staci Jones was one of my childhood best friends. We drove around in her vintage purple VW beetle convertible for hours talking about boys and music and where we would go to college. We laughed more than most people probably should about things that were ridiculous and silly and off the wall. We made up our own song lyrics. We worked at Grand Vue Pool. We trick or treated far long after it was age appropriate. We also got arrested. Nothing but a small fine of course. She burnt her eyeball ironing her hair. I will never recall my high school days and not think about Staci Jones. After my divorce, when it was finally time to date again, I went out with a guy who was very important to that season of my life. He let me know it was ok to move forward independent of how damaged your heart was, he taught me to appreciate hockey, he encouraged me to jump out of a plane. He also taught me what I need (and what I don't need) moving forward. He also showed me that there are others who have gone through the same circumstance. Mike Breeden and I commiserated...but we had a ton of fun doing so. Mike's season was one of transition for me, and I wouldn't want to share that period of my life with anyone else. Brian Maddich changed my life. In a good way. Never before, in such a short period of time, has someone impacted me so relevantly. Brian set the bar for honesty and I can without hesitation say that my time being close with him will forever be my benchmark for how I want my future relationships to be. His kindness was unparalleled, the way he treated his friends, unrivaled. Brian opened my eyes to things that I hadn't wanted to look at in years and showed me that you should never, ever settle for less than your dreams. He also introduced me to golf and the jury is still out on whether or not I am thankful for that. Thank you Bri...a million, million times thank you. Seasons aren't always long, but they are significant. LIFETIME PEOPLE Lifetime people are the main characters. These are the people that without them, your life story would forever be changed. I am close with my family. As an only child, you can't help but be. Clearly your family is with you for a lifetime, but I can honestly say that my parents have far exceeded their obligation to me as their daughter. They have always had my back and told me the truth regardless of whether or not it was what I wanted to hear. They have been my best friends and I hope that someday my children will look at me and feel the same way. My lifetime list is long, but there are some that rise above. These are people who came in my life, stayed and that I can count on to be there through the remainder of this story. Jennifer Golden is one of these people. Jennifer is the strongest woman I know. Hands down. Nobody even comes close. My life is forever changed because of her friendship and there is no way I would have navigated the last three years without her. I don't know what or why or how either of us ended up in Marietta, OH but I am so glad that we did. Jennifer Golden is proof that everything happens for a reason. Otherwise how would a gal from Toronto, Canada end up becoming best friends with a girl from Moundsville, WV? Our friendship happened because it was supposed to. Michele Rejonis, Jessie Sutphin, Wendy Clutter. These are the women who I will end up living in a beach house with in Florida someday. The golden girls revisited. Jessie has dibs on being Blanche, however. I'll stick to Sophia. Michele can be Dorothy and Wendy, Rose. I've got it all figured out. These girls, while all came into my life at different times, all have been there for me when others have not been. Personalities...all different, but for me, they all add something that I have needed in my life. There are others, Robb, Mark, Monique...people who you had no idea at the time of your meeting that they would hold such an important place. But they do, and they always have, and you have no doubt that they always will. I am certain that there are many more reason, season, and lifetime people to come into my life. I am so thankful that my eyes are open to the blessings that each deliver to me with their words and their experiences. I can only hope that my presence brings some level of significance to theirs as well. Embrace your friends. Listen to their words. Learn from their teachings. Friends help you to write your story so recognize and appreciate the role they play. I'm happy for the cast of characters that have blessed my life so far and I'm looking forward to seeing how this story ends for all of us.

It should come as no surprise that we here at Bordas & Bordas are extreme animal lovers. Many of our attorneys and staff are very active in volunteering for our local animal shelters and we strive to support these worthy organizations any way we can. While checking my social media this weekend I saw that a handful of my friends had recently purchased a puppy. With the summer months being warm it only makes sense to get a puppy now because it is easier to housebreak them in July than in the cold month of December. After looking at all the new puppies, I continued scrolling and saw that the Marshall County Animal Shelter had a variety of dogs both young and old up for adoption. It made me stop and wonder where my friends had gotten their new furry friends and whether or not they supported the local animal shelter. I myself have made the mistake of finding my dog through the internet, which is not always the most reliable source because many online animals do come from puppy mills. According to the Humane Society, there are about 10,000 puppy mills in the United States with about 2.4 million puppy mill puppies being sold each year. Comparing that to the 3 million innocent animal shelter dogs and cats that are euthanized each year makes me wonder why people choose to purchase from a website or pet store instead of checking the local animal shelter first. The answer being a variety of things like the breed a buyer is looking for, the age of the animal, or even the fact that they don't want the new pet to have a bad past. With the second anniversary of my internet purchase coming up, I have to be honest and say that although I love my dog, I wish I would've adopted from my local animal shelter. I recently visited the Marshall County Animal Shelter and the amount of dogs and cats waiting to be adopted was truly heart breaking. If I had more time I would most definitely adopt one and give it a forever home. Many people do not like adopting from an animal shelter because of the history of the dog, but what many look past is the fact that this is the animals second chance and if you show him or her a better life than what they had before they will love you forever. Puppy mill puppies are usually overpriced and come home with various health problems that result in a pricey veterinarian bill; not counting the neutering or spaying operation. By adopting from an animal shelter like Marshall County's, one can adopt a cat for an $85.00 fee and a dog for a $100.00 fee both including vaccinations, a flea treatment, spay/neuter operation, a tattoo ID and knowing in their hearts that they have been rescued. So many pets are unwanted and if we spay and neuter them, we as a country can limit the amount of euthanization. This is why Bordas and Bordas founding partners Jim and Linda Bordas have taken a stand for innocent animals and made a generous contribution to The Tiffany Dlesk Spay-Neuter Clinic. By adopting instead of purchasing from an unknown puppy mill owner, you can be assured that you have saved a life. Remember that our pets may only be a part of our life, but to them we are their whole life. If you're looking for a new furry family member, I encourage you to stop down and check out the adorable dogs and cats available for adoption. The shelter is open Monday-Saturday 11-4 and Sunday 12-4.

Although I go to college and am currently interning in the beautiful state of West Virginia, my heart will always have a special place for my hometown of Shadyside, Ohio. The Ohio Valley knows us for our excellent football team, our Tiger pride, and especially our famously known main road, "the loop." Every third weekend in June my hometown shuts down the loop and throws a big party for alumni, residents, and visitors from near and far. Everyone is welcome to walk the loop, where food, craft vendors, activities for children, and more are provided. For those of you who don't know, June is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) month. PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after you have gone through an extreme emotional trauma that involved the threat of injury or death. About 67 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from PTSD. My hometown has tried to bring attention to this disorder by starting the "Miles for Mike" 5k Run/Walk in honor of veteran Sgt. Michael Karkowski, who was diagnosed with PTSD and severe depression after returning home from Afghanistan. Sadly, in 2009 he took his own life. His wife and two children started "Miles for Mike" in October 2013 to help bring awareness to this invisible wound. The 5k takes place on the loop and the east side of town, where the terrain is flat so many can easily participate. Unfortunately, I had another commitment the night of the 5k this year, but heard wonderful things about the turnout. After seeing photos of the event on social media, I had goosebumps; to think that my little hometown of 3,800 people made a commitment and came out to support both the Karkowski family and awareness of PSTD is an amazing feeling. Although it is under tragic circumstances, this family has taken the negative and created a positive event in honor of Mike in the hope that they can help prevent another family from going through the same tragedy. As many soldiers continue to return home, it is important that all family members know about and look for the signs of PTSD. Although I love the Shadyside Tigers, it is nice to see Shadyside put on the map for something other than our athletics. It shows that no matter what the situation, we are a tight-knit community. I am positive that "Miles for Mike" will be a successful event, bringing awareness to PTSD for many years to come.

My mother, Carolyn, just turned 83. About a year and a half ago, she bought an iPad! Mom started out with a Kindle and she really loved it. After I received an iPad as a gift from my son, Mom took a gander at it and decided she wanted one of those. So we jumped in the car, went up to Best Buy and she bought an iPad! Mind you, my mother never really used a computer and, in fact, was scared to death of them. So the iPad was truly a new experience. Back up twenty or more years. Pap-Pap Wally, my mother's father, was in his late seventies when he bought his first computer. It was from Radio Shack and had a cassette tape player hooked to it! He loved it and taught himself how to write programs in DOS and use spreadsheets. He bought a new computer about every six months (much to my grandmother's dismay). Pap-Pap Wally was a whiz, especially considering his age. He attempted to teach my mother but she was so afraid she would delete something or make the thing crash, she didn't do very well. Believe it or not, Pap-Pap Wally was instrumental in my beginning interest in computers. When I left work to begin my family in 1980, the office I worked at had just purchased a Word Processor. I didn't get an opportunity to even use it. In 1986, a friend and I opened up a children's used clothing business and decided we should get a computer to keep track of our inventory. So I went to Pap-Pap Wally to take a few lessons! I think my grandfather would now be proud of his daughter and her iPad! So what does an 83 year old woman do with an iPad? After a rough start and hundreds of "mini-lessons," my mother uses her calendar and its reminders for birthdays, anniversaries, doctor appointments and even to remind her to take her medicine! Mom has several journal apps that she uses to keep track of her daily activities. She uses one of the journal apps to reminisce about days gone by. She will write stories of things that happened in our family and she will use Google Images to add a picture to the journal story. Sometimes, she reverses the process and finds an image that reminds her of something and then writes about it. She uses Tags in her daily journal to keep track of atrial fibrillation episodes and then takes her iPad to the doctor to report how many episodes she has had between visits. The doctors are amazed! Mom also keeps track of her weight since she has to weigh herself daily as part of her treatment for congestive heart failure. Mom emails, texts and even uses Facebook. She actually uses Facebook more than I do. She's always asking if I saw the picture of this person and that person. I keep telling her that I don't really use Facebook that much. This morning she pointed out a picture of my granddaughter that she downloaded from Facebook. I had her message me the picture since I've never been able to figure out how to download a picture from Facebook! Of course, Mom uses her iPad in replacement of her Kindle to read books. She has a very close relationship with God and uses at least two Bible apps. She has several versions of the Bible and various concordances. There are many daily devotionals available through Olive Tree, a wonderful Bible application, and she is using at least one read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year devotional. Mom also has a lot of games that she plays. I will hear her in her room berating Mr. Word for using letters that really don't seem to be words at all in a game similar to scrabble. She also has Sudoku and a jigsaw puzzle game. I am sure there are various other ones as well. Needless to say, Mom's iPad has no battery life left at the end of the day. This is a good thing, since it means she is getting her money's worth out of her iPad! The downfall to using an iPad at 83 is that none of her friends even have email, let alone an iPad, so she is pretty much stuck with emailing and texting family. I have to say that I'm pretty proud of my mom, the iPad geek!!