MATTNOYES.NET - OUT AND ABOUT

June 21, 2009 - Dog Party 2009 to Benefit Strays in Need - Danvers, MA

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The rain was falling and the temperatures hovered in the lower 60s, but that didn't stop quite a crowd from coming out to Rotary Pavilion in Danvers for the big 2009 Dog Party extravaganza!  I was actually really happily surprised at just how many folks...and dogs...showed up for the Dog Party, parade and all-around howling fun time to benefit the Strays in Need rescue group in Danvers.  I kicked off the event as Master of Ceremonies, and my wife, Jessica, with our black lab, Bentley, made fast friends with so many other dog-lovers!

Strays in Need has been saving and finding good homes for dogs who are down on their luck for two decades, and is a vital part of this North Shore Community.  Held in conjunction with Danvers Family Festival 2009, today was part of a couple of weeks of fun in town, leading up to the big fireworks display on July 3 - one of the best, biggest and brightest in the area.

The Danvers Animal Hospital continues to be a great friend and partner for Strays in Need, and was a big supporter of this event, which featured demonstrations by K-9 University from Malden, MA, and a runway for each dog to strut his or her stuff - master in tow - for 5 seconds of fame.  Danvers veterinarian George Myers spoke, in addition to a representative from Service Dog Project, Inc.

The folks at Service Dog Project, Inc., want me to be sure to let you know: if you know of a veteran who served in Iraq or Afghanistan and is in need of a service animal (difficulty walking, balance issues, depression, or any other ailment that a trained service dog would be helpful for), they have one dog nearly ready to find a home, and others that are mere months away.  Please, if you know someone who could benefit from this companion, contact Service Dog Project via their website at www.servicedogproject.org.

Enjoy the video - I'm pretty sure I managed to fit in every dog that I shot video of, so if you were there, hopefully you see your furry friend in here!  This video also will air on Sky Scenes, which typically air Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 6:51 AM, 9:51, 10:51 and 11:51 AM.  The on-air segment will post online in the Sky Scenes section of WeatherNewEngland.com.  Woof!  :) 

June 5, 2009 - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2009 Paul G. Keough Earth Artists Program

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Students, teachers, parents, grandparents and many others from across Massachusetts packed Faneuil Hall in Boston on Friday for the much-anticipated Awards Ceremony and Presentation for the 2009 Keough Earth Artists Program. For the 37th consecutive year, the Earth Artists Program challenges students in kindergarten through sixth grade to focus on the earth and the environment through artwork or poetry. This year's special focus was on how our environmental problems should be addressed, with special attention to conserving energy.

The event organizers were kind enough to extend an invitation for me to speak with the students on-hand, and I had a blast with the kids! I tried to keep the camera rolling for as much as possible - from welcoming words for the students, to the terrific performances the kids had practiced (singing AND choreography!), to a video presentation of some of the posters and poems that were submitted. The event culminated with an Awards Presentation for the top work, as determined by a judging panel with the EPA.

On NECN, I'll show the video of the packed hall cheering loudly...and for a very good reason. That cheer was part of a deal we made together. I promised to show their energy, enthusiasm, creativity and dedication to working together to make the world a better place, as long as everyone in the room promised to carry those same qualities with them from this point forward, always dedicated to working together. As you can see by the cheer...they were willing to make the promise!