Teamwork Booth at Local Biz! November 6, 2009

A few photos have come in of a completely inspiring booth at this year’s Local Biz Expo. George Walker (Dovetail Carpentry), Bogdan Slominski (Delta B77 Electric), Jason Luery (Painting Improvements) and Yvonne Greene (Why Not Show Off – Home Staging and Design) pulled together to build a booth representing all four businesses. The result was jaw-dropping and we would like to share some of the photos with you …

The beginning:

George preparing everything:

George & Bogdan’s end of the booth …

Jason posing with his painting …

Yvonne’s beautiful staging …

Excellent job everyone!!!

If anyone has photos from the trade show they would like to add, simply contact Susan at inquiries@momentsthatshine.com

Students write ‘furry fables’ to raise funds for Durham Humane Society October 27, 2009

As a follow up from Lesley Kelz, here is a wonderful article about her campaign featured at http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/138122

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Students write ‘furry fables’ to raise funds for Durham Humane Society

DURHAM — As soon as Lori Lowes’ students heard the story about the fire that destroyed the Humane Society of Durham Region building last December, they wanted to do something to help the agency get back on its feet.

“I really want my class to focus on things that are happening in their own community to help out in any way that they can and when I told them the story, they immediately wanted to know what they could do,” said Ms. Lowes, who teaches Grades 4 and 5 at R.H. Cornish Public School in Port Perry.

That opportunity presented itself in Furry Fables, a competition that has been launched this month by Squid Press, a Brooklin-based publishing company.

Durham students from kindergarten to Grade 12 are encouraged to submit poems, stories and illustrations surrounding the theme of pets. Entries will be judged with winning submissions being compiled into a book with proceeds from sales going to the Humane Society.

“They were very enthusiastic right from the get-go to do this and especially when it’s open-ended like this, it allows them to take off on their own and make it their own so they’re quite happy to be involved,” Ms. Lowes said.

Squid Press works with schools, churches and charities in the community to raise funds for important causes through creative means involving publishing.

“I wanted to have a wide variety of entries from four-year-olds up to 18-year-olds because I think it appeals to everyone to write their own story or poem as a way of expressing themselves,” said owner Lesley Kelz, adding older youth even have the option of submitted comics or graphic novels.

Judging will be based on grade level quality, creativity and originality and organizers are hoping to select several winners from each age group to balance out the final book.

“Right now we’re hoping to spread the word so we do get as many entries as possible and we have lots to pick through and make a really great book that’s a hot seller to raise lots of funds for the Humane Society,” said Oshawa resident Tammy Gay who is assisting Ms. Kelz with the fundraiser.

Humane Society staff are currently working to raise $1.5 million to construct a new shelter in Whitby and welcome any contributions from the community, shelter manager Ruby Richards said.

“I think it’s great to get the kids involved because a lot of schools have already held fundraisers for us and students have been very enthusiastic about starting their own individual fundraisers or finding some way to continue helping us,” she said.

“This way, if they put (an entry) into the book, it’s something they could get back in return as well — something that they’ll have forever as a memorial of what they’ve done for us.”

Deadline for all entries is set for Friday, Oct. 30 and full contest details can be found at www.squidpress.ca/pages/furryfables.htm