Join us on September 16 for some healthy fun and to help a good cause.  Merrick Community Services will hold its third annual 5K/10K Run/Walk and 1 Mile “Fun Run” in conjunction with the Payne-Arcade Harvest Festival.  Proceeds from the run help MCS provide positive, safe programs and activities for local youth.
    The entry fee for the run is $15 if received by September 8 and $20 thereafter.  Each runner will receive a T-shirt and refreshments.  All youth running the 1 Mile Fun Run receive medals, and some youth scholarships are available.  The first three women and first three men to cross the finish line in the 5K and 10K races will receive trophies.
    If it’s inspiration without the perspiration you want, participate in the “No Sweat Marathon.”  Just register for the run—MCS will use your entry fee to help provide year-round activities for community youth.  On the day of the race, pick up your T-shirt, put your feet up, and enjoy the race knowing that you and the community have already won.
    There are many ways for you to participate in this important event: run the race yourself or with friends, volunteer a few hours to help monitor the race course, direct participants, or distribute water.  Whether you volunteer, run 10K, 5K, 1 mile or cheer others on at the sidelines, your participation will help make our community a better place to live, work and raise our children.
    To register, to volunteer, or for more information, please call Mary Roberts at 651-771-9339.  You may also register online at www.merrickcs.org.

Techno Corner! 
by Robert E. Johnstone

   Welcome to the all new Techno Corner: basic computing for the beginner! In this section each month we will bring to you tips and tricks, basic trouble shooting, plus fun and interesting things to do with your computer on the Internet and more.
   Tip of the month: Have you noticed your computer getting slower or sluggish than what it was when you first got it? That's because your hard drive is becoming what is known as fragmented.  Your computer processes information so fast that it sometimes tosses bits of that information into a different area on the hard drive rather than back to where it should be. The next time you use that same program the hard drive has to find those tossed bits of information to make that program work properly. Over time you will see that program taking longer to do what it is supposed to do and perhaps not even work at all.  To keep your hard drive healthy and operate at its fastest speed, you should defrag (defragment) your hard drive at least once a month (depending on usage). You will find the Disk Defragmenter in the folder System Tools, under the heading Accessories.

Web Site of the month: 
www.InteliHealth.com
Here you will information about hundreds of diseases, conditions, and procedures. You can read health-related news stories, and keep track of new treatments and risks. InteliHealth contains several Featured Health Areas that provide information on everything you ever wanted to know about a variety of popular topics, from Allergies to Weight Management.

   Are you thinking about buying a computer for the first time or perhaps wondering if it would be worth it to upgrade your existing computer? Want to get connected to the Internet? Or perhaps you need help understanding how to use your computer. I can help you! I even make house calls. One thing I can never stress enough is that there is no such thing as a dumb question.

If you have any comments or suggestions, questions, or need help with your computer, please feel free to contact me through the Dayton's Bluff Forum. 
Write to:
Robert Johnstone
Dayton's Bluff District Forum
Attn: Techno Corner
P.O. Box  600511
St. Paul, MN 55106

Email: johnstone@uswest.net
Or call  651-772-2075 

Cooking in the Bluff
by Shiela Johnstone
  
Welcome to “Cooking in the Bluff.”  Each month I will bring you great recipes along with the nutritional values. I will also feature recipes for those with special dietary needs and some useful tips.

Simple BBQ Sauce 
This sauce can be made quickly and is good on any type of meat that you have ready to BBQ.
Ingredients:
1/2 (1 ounce) package of dry onion soup mix 
1/2 cup packed brown sugar 
2 cups ketchup 
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 
Directions: 
In a medium bowl, mix together all ingredients. Do not use sauce until the last few minutes of cooking the meat because this sweet sauce will burn if cooked for too long or over high heat.
Makes 3 cups

Nutrition at a glance:
(per serving)
Calories                40
Protein                    0g
Total Fat                 0g 
Sodium                292mg
Cholesterol            10g
Carbohydrates       10g
Fiber                        0g
 
Trinity Catholic School welcomes new staff
by Sister Virginia Bieren, Development Director, Trinity Catholic School 
 
Mrs. Sue Ferrin, principal of Trinity Catholic School, announced the new members of the teaching staff for the 2000-2001 school year:
Grade 1—Mrs. Marla O’Keefe and Miss Laura Johannes
Grade 2—Mrs. Judy Berger and Miss Theresa Triemert
Grade 3—Miss Brenna Fitzsimmons
Grade 5—Sister Mary Lorentz
Grade 6—Miss Heather Schultz
Spanish—Miss Elizabeth Hubbard

   The entire staff attended workshops for the Spalding Language Arts Program that will be used throughout the school beginning this year.
   Trinity Catholic School is located at 835 East Fifth Street.  For information about registration call 651-776-2763, ext. 221.  Preschool registrations for ages 3 and 4 are also being accepted at this time.
   September 19 will be the first Parent-Teacher meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
   September 28 Trinity will sponsor a free Estate Seminar.  It will be held in St. Patrick’s Church Hall at 1095 DeSoto Street at 7:00 p.m.  For more information, call 776-2763, ext. 249.
Trinty’s web site is located at www.trinity-catholic.org.  Check us out! 
 

Dear concerned pet owner:
    It’s only natural to worry, for there are many dangers that the house and its surroundings can hold for a pet. There are a few main groups that you should be aware of:
Plants and Lawn Hazards: There are many types of plants in your yard that can make your pet ill. Most animals will vomit after the plant upsets their stomach, it would only be in cases that your pet continues vomiting or becomes sluggish that poisoning may have occurred. The most dangerous plants to look for are:
Yew: Japanese yew, spreading English yew, or Canada yew
Arcaeae: Starleaf, tuft root, tuberous begonia, wax begonia, water plant, yellow calla, peace lily, etc.
Rhododendrons: Milkweeds, lily-of-the-valley, laurel, oleander, azalea, foxglove, etc.
Nightshade: Chinese lantern, Christmas cherry, ornamental peppers
    To prevent accidental poisoning, you should follow a few basic guidelines:
· Put fences around your vegetable and flower gardens
· Keep your pets off lawns that have been sprayed with chemicals that are not safe for them (if you put something on your lawn, make sure it is animal friendly).
· Properly store and dispose of all pesticides
 
Other potential hazards are fertilizer and compost. Both may contain a chemical, so don’t allow your dog to walk on a newly fertilized lawn. For your compost, make sure it is contained in a healthful manner, so it is not exposed to your pet.
Drugs: This comprises a large percentage of poisoning deaths in animals. Just like children, pets can accidentally ingest or overdose on medications. All drugs should be kept out of reach and only be given if you have a vet’s okay. Listed below are the main drugs that cause problems in animals.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Pets, especially cats, have less of an enzyme found in their liver to break down or detoxify this type of drug. If even eaten in small amounts it can be deadly. Never give your pet Acetaminophen; there are many other drugs on the market for pain relief in animals that your vet can prescribe. 
Aspirin, Ibuprofin, Phenylbutazone, and Naproxen: These are not as strong as Tylenol and are occasionally prescribed by vets; however, in large dosages they can be just as deadly. 
Household Products: There are many threats found all through the house, so you must be careful. Listed below are products that are the main causes of death in household animals.
Insect and rodent poisons: These products are made to kill insects and mammals. They can kill your cat or dog. These products cause the blood not to clot on the animal’s body. Over a period of time, your pet will bleed to death. It can also cause bad coordination, seizures, and cardiac failure. 
Cleaning Products: This category contains those items found in your home such as toilet bowl cleaner, bleach, detergents, drain cleaner, pine oils and other. These cleaners destroy the animal’s inner tissue by causing acid burns. These things are intended to keep human lives cleaner and healthier, but are highly toxic to animals. 
Antifreeze: Antifreeze to you is an aid for your car; to your pet, it is a sweet tasty treat. It takes only about ½ teaspoon per pound for a dog to get a lethal dose, and less for a cat. The damage usually occurs in the kidneys. Clinical signs of poisoning are seizures, depression, and vomiting. The best way to prevent this is to keep the lids closed and the bottle locked up. There is now a type of antifreeze that is safe for animals to ingest. This product may be more expensive, but compared to a vet’s bill or even the loss of your pet, it’s clearly a bargain.
 Pets can be poisoned by many things. It’s up to you, the owner, to protect your animal from any harm. The prevention is a simple one, make sure everything that may be hazardous is put away, fenced or locked up for the safety of your pet. In the case of a poisoning, keep your pet warm and quiet, try to determine what poisoned the animal and the amount swallowed. Immediately call your vet or poison control. I have listed just a few symptoms, but as with humans, you can tell when your pet is sick or if something is wrong. Treat your animals as you do a person and you will get years of love back from your companion, be it a feline friend or a canine buddy. 
If you do not know the number of your poison control or have questions, you can contact the National Animal Poison Center of the ASPCA, free of charge, at 1-888-426-4435.
                                                                                Sincerely,  Amber

If you have a question that you would like answered, please write to me at: 
Attn: Ask Amber 
798 E. 7" Street 
St. Paul, MN 56106 
Or e-mail your question to: askamber1@hotmail.com
  
All answers given herein are solely the opinion of the writer and not the Dayton's Bluff District Forum nor the writers or advertisers or the people and businesses included in the column. Amber's answers will be researched in depth and are accurate as opinion, but not necessarily fact.

Upcoming events at Merrick Community Services

Estate Planning Made Easy
Merrick Community Services invites you to attend a FREE estate planning seminar focusing on medical assistance and long-term care.  Attend Tuesday, September 26 from 1:00 to 2:45 p.m. or Thursday, September 28 from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m.  Each seminar will be held at MCS’ East Side Community Center, 1526 East Sixth Street and will be presented by Jeffrey Schmidt, P.A., a specialist in elder care law. 
  Reservations are required by September 22.  For more information or to make a reservation, please contact Gary Gottfried at 651-771-8821.

Fall Casino Trip for Seniors
Enjoy the fall colors on this 2½ hour cruise down the Mississippi River, lunch on the boat and 4 hours at Treasure Island Casino.
Tuesday, September 26, 2000
8:00 a.m.—bus departs Merrick
5:30 p.m.—bus returns to Merrick
Merrick Community Center
715 Edgerton Street
Cost:  $18.00
Snacks will be served and games played on the bus en route to the casino.  To preregister, call Kathy Hamilton at 651-771-8821.