Tag Archives: summer

The Start of the Little League World Series

15 Thursday Aug 2019

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close up photography of four baseballs on green lawn grasses

Photo by Steshka Willems on Pexels.com

There’s no better time to grab some peanuts and Cracker Jack. All of you baseball fans out there know that are nearing the end of the season, but today, is the start of an extraordinary period, the Little League World Series.

From now until August 25, young athletes from all over the globe will compete to earn the coveted World Series Trophy. The tournament includes eight US teams and eight international teams. The series kicks off today with four games, featuring the following regions: Australia, Caribbean, New England, Southeast, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Midwest and Great Lakes. The remaining regions, Mid-Atlantic, Northwest, Southwest, West, Canada, Europe-Africa, Japan and Mexico will get their start tomorrow. See the complete schedule.

If you’re not overly familiar with little league baseball, you may be interested to learn about its rich history. The league was first formed back in 1938 by Carl Stotz in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Eight years later, the league had not gained a lot of traction as there were only 12 active leagues. Many believe World War II deterred its growth because many fathers had enlisted in the military. The following year, the board of directors decided to organize a tournament for all known programs and named it the National Little League Tournament. It was changed to the Little League Baseball World Series later on.

Over 2500 visitors came to Williamsport to watch young stars play in the first championship game. Its publicity spread throughout the county, and Little League Programs began forming in every US start. Today’s LLBWS includes seven tournaments played in various divisions.

Many modern-day Major Leaguers got their start in Little League Baseball; some names you may even recognize. Charlie Hayes, Jonathan Schoop and Gary Sheffield were all Little Leaguers who went on to play in the MLB with brief period as Milwaukee Brewers.

Hawaii took home the trophy in the 2018 LLBWS, so it will be interesting to see if they can do it again! Will you plan on watching the 2019 Little League World Series? Let us know in the comments below.

On behalf of Lions Pride, we’d like to wish the best of luck to all of the athletes participating in this year’s LLBWS. Let’s play ball!

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The 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival

25 Thursday Jul 2019

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two white garlics

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Everyone has a favorite ingredient that they want to add to every meal. Many of us love butter, others adore pepper and lots of us cannot get enough garlic. If you’re looking for the last group of people, you will likely find them at this weekend’s garlic festival.

The Gilroy Garlic Festival is one of the most well-known summer food festivals in the country. Attendees enjoy full days of food and drink, live music and, of course, cooking competitions. The fun kicks off tomorrow Friday, July 26, at Christmas Hill in Gilroy, California.

One of the most notable parts of the festival is the world-famous Gourmet Alley. Visitors will have the chance to witness a smoking hot, flame-up show as the “Pyro-Chefs” prepare garlic-laced calamari and scampi in large iron skillets. They can then sample the final product, which also includes pasta con pesto, pepper steak, sausage and shrimp. Everyone knows the festival would not be complete without garlic bread and garlic fries.

If you think Gourmet Alley is the only place to find food, you are mistaken! Attendees will be able to find snacks all over the festival grounds. The committee thoroughly vets all vendors to feature the very best variety. Delicacies include garlic ice cream, quesadillas, kettle corn, ribs, corn on the cob, top sirloin and more. See the entire list of food and merchandise booth vendors.

Visitors can also watch exciting cooking competitions and expert food demonstrations. Celebrity chef appearances include Tom Colicchio, Gerron Hunt, Eddie G and Teresa Giudice.

The garlic entertainment will continue all weekend long with live music, shopping, the Miss Gilroy Festival Queen Pageant and art poster contest.

The Garlic Festival is put on each year by 4000 volunteers throughout the Gilroy area. Their efforts go to show what a passionate group of people can achieve when they work together. We witnessed similar magic last month at our Lions Pride Shoot. It’s truly amazing how events can come together after months of planning and preparation.

How do you feel about garlic in your food? Whether you love it or hate it, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Have a great weekend,
Lions Pride Staff & Board

How to Beat the Cool Summer Blues

20 Thursday Jun 2019

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Tomorrow marks the first day of summer, but in case you haven’t noticed, the weather hasn’t felt very seasonal. If we look at the city of Madison, the average temperature range in June is 75 degrees to 81 degrees Fahrenheit, rarely falling below 64 degrees Fahrenheit.

Madison Temperatures

Source: Weather Underground

This year, however, we’ve experienced some abnormalities in terms of weather. Only half of our days have been in the average temperature range, and we’ve only seen three days reach the 80-degree mark. Days have been gloomy and rainy, making it challenging to stay optimistic about the season ahead.

We understand that it can be disappointing to see another cloudy day. Unfortunately, the weather is one of those areas that no one can control. Luckily, there are ways to enjoy the first part of June, even if it is a bit cooler than usual. We’ve compiled a couple of ideas to get you started:

  1. Participate in activities where warm weather is not essential

When you think about summertime, you probably think about activities like swimming and boating, but there are other ways to get outside. Rather than relying solely on the weather, consider taking part in other fun activities such as fishing or kayaking. If you wouldn’t consider yourself to be much of an outdoorsman, you can always plan trips to the farmers market, a local festival or outdoor concert. You might even enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or coffee to keep your hands warm. How of you have that opportunity in June?

  1. Bring your parties indoors

Many people look forward to June because they have an excuse to get out and socialize with friends and neighbors after a long, cold winter. We know it may be easier to host an outdoor barbecue, but there’s no reason why you can’t bring everyone inside for a small get-together. Invite everyone over for a potluck-style dinner, so all of the responsibility isn’t left on one person. We can almost guarantee you will be thanked immensely for being the volunteer host.

  1. Appreciate your layers

Are you familiar with the term, ‘sweater weather?’ Typically, at the end of September, a transformation happens in Wisconsin; pumpkin is added to everything, and people take out all of their sweaters and sweatshirts. We know that it might be a little too early for pumpkin season, but you can give all of your layers an escape from the back of the closet – at least temporarily.

  1. Plan a weekend getaway

Just because it is chilly here in Wisconsin does not mean that you’re going to find that weather everywhere. Cities like Des Moines and Chicago are expected to see beautiful weather on Saturday and Sunday. Even if it’s too late to pack your bags for a spontaneous weekend away, consider planning a vacation for some time this year. Studies have shown that planning a trip can make you happier than actually taking it. Remember, time away is good for you!

People of the Midwest have mixed feelings about summer. Some adore the warm, humidity that Wisconsin brings while others prefer to stay in with the air conditioning turned up. If you don’t much care for summer due to the heat, think of the cooler temperatures a gift. If you long for the warm, 80-degree days, try to stay patient and know they are coming (just look at the 10 day forecast.) Until then, try to appreciate the unpredictably of Mother Nature. How do you plan to take advantage of the cooler weather?

Madison 10 Day Weather

Happy First Day of Summer from Lions Pride!

Wisconsin Lions Camp Summer 2019

30 Thursday May 2019

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Lions Lake

Photo Credit to Wisconsin Lions Camp

It’s time to start packing your bags because kickoff to camp begins now! The summer staff has now reported for duty, and we are only 10 days away from the start of the 2019 camping season. Each year, nearly 1300 special campers with vision, hearing, intellectual disabilities and Type 1 and Type II Diabetes travel to Rosholt, Wisconsin, for a week of camaraderie, adventure and fun.

See the 2019 schedule below:

Block One

June 9 – June 14                     Adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired

June 16 – June 21                   Children with Type 1 & 11 Diabetes

June 23 – June 28                   Children with Type 1 & 11 Diabetes

June 30 – July 5                       Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism

July 7 – July 12                        Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism

July 14 – July 20                      No campers at camp; staff transition week

July 18 – July 19                      All staff teambuilding & training

Block Two

July 21 – July 26                      Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

July 28 – August 2                   Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

August 4 – August 9                Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired

August 11 – August 15            Adults 18-25 with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism (by invitation only)

August 19 – August 23            Adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

The Wisconsin Lions Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association. The property is 440 acres in size and includes a 45-acre private lake, which is the center of several camping activities. During the summer months, Lions Camp employs approximately 48 counselors, so the camp can maintain a staff to camper ratio of 1:6.

The goals of Lions Camp are to assist each camper in development of self-confidence, interdependence, social skills, outdoor recreational skills and environmental awareness, but most importantly, to provide the space for the child to have a fun, safe and memorable experience. Wisconsin Lions Camp is proud to give special children the resources, skills and knowledge that will serve them long beyond their childhoods.

Many people may be surprised to learn that when the camp was first debuted, it was funded primarily by Lions Club donations. Sadly, in the last decade or so, expenses for Lions Camp and all other WLF statewide projects have increased exponentially. Annual club contributions remain essential but now account for less than half of all yearly WLF operating expenses. Combatting rising costs was actually the primary reason for the creation of our organization. Read the entire story here.

Today, Lions Pride is proud to support the Wisconsin Lions Camp maintain and expand their operations. We work alongside generous Lions and non-Lions alike as it is the power of individual and organization gift commitments that will preserve the projects of WLF for current and future generations.  Last year interest earned from your donations covered the cost of one week of camp.

To all of our donors, we’d like to express our sincere gratitude. Like all of the campers, we too look forward to the start of summer. We feel so lucky to have the opportunity to help create positive change in our world and couldn’t do it without your ongoing support. Thank you for allowing us to continue on in our mission to preserve, protect and provide for Wisconsin Lions Camp and all statewide WLF projects.

Shining Light on Autism Spectrum Disorder

11 Thursday Apr 2019

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text on shelf

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Did you know that autism is now prevalent in one in every 59 children in America? Over the course of the past 50 years, its occurrence has grown by nearly 35 times. To help bring knowledge to the growing and greatly misunderstood disorder, April has been marked as National Autism Awareness Month.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Autism is a complex, cognitive disorder that impacts a person’s ability to communicate and engage with others. It can be present right away at birth but can also form early on in a child’s life (typically within three years.) At this time, there is no one known cause to the disability.

As its name states, Autism is a broad spectrum disorder. It’s essential for us to note that no two people will have an exact set of symptoms, but there are common characteristics, which include:

  • Trouble interacting with other people
  • Difficulties expressing empathy
  • A dislike of physical contact
  • Adverse to sudden changes in their environment
  • Struggle with speech

Autism is a lifelong disability, but thankfully, it is treatable. Studies have shown that early detection can change the lives of both the individual and family. You can learn more about development milestones by visiting the CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early” site.

Since ASD has become much more common, chances are you know someone who is impacted by the disability. Fortunately, with more occurrences comes more opportunities to serve. Today, there are thousands of resources available to help families manage autism. In fact, the Wisconsin Lions Camp, debuted a new program for children with autism. Campers have an opportunity for a comprehensive program designed to help a child in the development of self-confidence, interdependence, social skills, outdoor recreational skills and environmental awareness. Thanks to the generous support of donors, summer camp participation is free of charge. Your gift to Lions Pride, designated for Lions Camp will have a lasting impact on future generations of children.

The Wisconsin Lions Camp is holding a New Camper Open House on Sunday, May 12, 2019, from 9 am to 3 pm. The program was designed to introduce new or potential campers to camp before the summer season. Attendees can try camp activities, enjoy lunch and take tours of the building (weather permitting.) If you know a special child who might enjoy a fun-filled week at camp, consider submitting a registration form today.

As we continue to make our way through the month of April, we encourage you to learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorder. The more knowledge we have, the more we can pass on to others. Together, we can help create a more empathetic and supportive environment for people with autism.

National Honey Bee Awareness Day

16 Thursday Aug 2018

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If we were to ask you, “what is the first thing that pops into your mind when you think Honey Combabout August,” what would you say? More than likely, you’d say something regarding the warm summer days we’ve been experiencing. You might think about swimming pools, barbecues or campfires, but would you think about honey bees

Saturday, August 19, is National Honey Bee Awareness Day. The official celebration was created by beekeepers in 2009 to promote and educate the public on the bee industry. Whether or not, you are an aspiring beekeeper or just love the delicious taste of honey, we thought it was the perfect time to honor our favorite pollinators. Let’s prepare for the celebration with a few buzz-worthy fun facts:

  • A honey bee’s wings stroke incredibly fast, at an estimated 200 beats per second, which is what creates their distinctive buzzing sound.
  • A colony of bees is made up of anywhere between 20,000 and 60,000 honeybees and one queen.
  • The queen is the busiest bee; her role is to fill the hive with eggs. In the summer months, she can lay up to 2500 eggs per day.
  • Honey bees communicate with one another through the art of dance. They perform a “waggle” dance, which tells the other bees where they can find food. See the surprising complexity of the dance.
  • A hive of bees will fly 90,000 miles, equivalent to three trips around planet earth to collect one kilogram of honey.
  • In her lifetime, the average worker bee will only produce 1/12th teaspoon of honey. Doesn’t that fact make every taste of honey that much sweeter?
  • A honey bee is the only insect that produces food eaten by humans. Approximately 35 percent of America’s crops depend on bees in some regard.

Check out even more amazing honey bee facts.

There are several different ways you can honor the honey bee this weekend. Consider using honey as an alternative to sugar or try a new recipe with the sweet nectar as a key ingredient. How will you celebrate?

Happy Honey Bee Awareness Day from Lions Pride!

 

More Enjoyable Back to School Shopping

02 Thursday Aug 2018

Posted by in Holidays, News, Special Events

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Ahh… sweet summertime.

frame of office supplies on white background .photo with copy space

The sun is out, the birds are signing and children all acrossthe state are loving their time away from the classroom. Although September seems like a lifetime away, it will be here before the blink of an eye, which mean it’s time to start thinking about school supplies.

Presumably, no parent looks forward to back to school shopping; it’s time-consuming, groan-inducing and expensive. In 2015, the estimated cost to send a child back to school was approximately $630. Shopping is a necessary part of the annual routine for parents. Fortunately, however, the process will be a bit easier this summer – thanks to the Wisconsin Sales Tax Holiday.

Yesterday was the start of a five-day temporary exemption period. From now until Sunday, sales of certain items will be tax-exempt, including the following:

  • Clothing – each item must have a sales price less than $75
  • Computers for personal use – each item must have a sales price less than $750
  • School computer supplies for personal use – each item must have a sales price less than $250
  • School supplies – each item must have a sales price less than $75

For a full list of tax-exempt items, please follow this link.

If our school supply estimate is correct, parents could see nearly $35 in savings, which means that now is the perfect time to stock up. After all, back-to-school shopping + no sales tax = happy shoppers.

This week, as you are planning your back-to-school shopping, consider making an impact with your extra savings. Think about buying a few extra boxes of tissues for the hard-working teachers or purchasing additional school supplies for a family in need. Together, we can help prepare our children for another successful school year with all of the necessary tools they need to learn. Remember, that even a little help can make a world of difference.

Happy Shopping from Lions Pride!

 

 

The Origin of the Dog Days of Summer

05 Thursday Jul 2018

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Doggone it, the temperature is hot out there! But they don’t call it the Dog Days of Canis MajorSummer for nothing, right? Here at Lions Pride, we thought it would be interesting to find out what this common phrase has to do with man’s best friend.

The official Dog Days of Summer take place from July 3 to August 11. Many people assume that the common phrase comes from the sluggish behavior that dogs exhibit during this six-week stretch, but the real meaning comes from astronomy.

According to the Farmers’ Almanac, the phrase originated in reference to the fact that at this time, the sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius, the brightest star visible from any part of the planet and part of the constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog.

During the summer, the sun rises and sets with Sirius. July 23 is a particularly significant date because the star becomes incredibly bright. In fact, the ancient Romans believe that it acted as an additional heat source, increasing the sun’s warmth. As a result, the Dog Days of Summer came to mean the 20 days before and after Sirius’s alignment with the sun.

Of course, this period may very well be the hottest stretch of the summer, but it doesn’t anything to do with the brightest star. The heat of the summer comes from the position of the Earth’s tilt. The tilt of the Earth causes the sun’s rays to hit at a more of a direct angle and a more extended period of time during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere – meaning hotter, longer days than we experience the rest of the year.

We know that miserably hot, muggy days are not always pleasant, but it’s the perfect time to participate in water activities like boating, swimming and relaxing. Remember, we live in Wisconsin, so it won’t be long until there’s snow on the ground.

Enjoy the Dog Days of Summer and stay cool out there!

Four Ways to Celebrate Summer Solstice

21 Thursday Jun 2018

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Get ready because summer is officially here! This morning, the sun rose at 5:12 am and Sunsetwon’t set until approximately 8:46 am. That adds up to 934 minutes of daylight. And we think that’s cause for celebration (especially after the dreary week we’ve had.) Here are a few enjoyable ways to celebrate the summer solstice:

  • Bask in the sunshine

    You might be surprised to learn that vitamin D is one of the important vitamins for the human body, but many of us aren’t getting enough. Its primary job is to store the right amount of calcium and phosphorous in your blood to keep your bones strong. The best source for vitamin D? The sun! Studies show that if your skin is exposed to 10 to 15 minutes of the summer sun, then you are probably getting enough. Keep in mind; however, when you put on sunscreen, it will prevent your skin from soaking up the rays so there truly is a balancing act.

  • Host an impromptu party

    We know, we know, you can’t just throw a party on a whim – but the truth is you can! Rather than spending weeks planning, preparing and cleaning every surface of your home, consider inviting a few close friends over for a get-together. Encourage everyone to bring a dish to pass and just enjoy the company. We bet you won’t miss the usual summer party stress.

  • Practice yoga or meditation

    Did you know that June 21 is also International Day of Yoga? We can’t think of a better way to honor the lasting sun than with a few sun salutations.

    To celebrate the summer solstice, The Times Square Alliance recently introduced a counterpart to New Year’s Eve (the winter solstice,) by creating “Mind Over Madness Yoga.” Today, thousands of yogis from all over the world will travel to New York City to participate. Of course, we’re not in NYC, but everyone can still participate through webcast.

  • Watch the sunset

There may not be anything different about tonight’s sunset versus any other night of the year, but we think tonight would be the perfect evening to watch the beautiful sunset and reflect on all of life’s blessings.

It’s not every day that we have the chance to enjoy over 15 hours of sunlight. How will you celebrate the longest day of the year?

Happy Summer Solstice from Lions Pride!

 

Graduation Fun Facts

17 Thursday May 2018

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With these bouts of 80+ degree temperatures, we’re getting a first-hand experience of

accomplishment ceremony education graduation

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

what’s to come. Summer is finally on its way. It won’t be long until Lions Camp is filled with the sound of campers’ laughter (our favorite time of the year!) As for the rest of us, our calendars will be filled with weekend barbecues, wedding celebrations and, of course, graduation parties.

This weekend, thousands of students will walk across the stage and out into the world as graduates. Let’s celebrate their educational success with a fun more fun facts about graduation.

  • The first known diplomas were made of sheepskin and tied with ribbons. As paper-making became easier, they were replaced with parchment. Ribbons were eventually removed from the process altogether because the diplomas were too difficult to frame.
  • 16th Century Church Dignitaries were the first people to wear the famous commencement hat. The caps were called “mortarboards” because of their similarity to the masonry tool called the “mortarboard.” The tassel wasn’t added until the 19th
  • Everyone is familiar with the tradition of graduates throwing their caps in the air, but did you know the practice can be dangerous? In 2008, Anglia Ruskin University in England tried to ban cap-tossing after a student received stitches when a mortarboard came down on his head a few years prior, but the practice has since been reinstated. Remember, to be aware of your surroundings.

Here at Lions Pride, we’d like to wish all of our state graduates best wishes. We know that the road wasn’t always easy, but the payoff is great. We hope you have a chance to reflect on your accomplishment and know there is a bright future ahead. Congratulations!

 

“Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” – Nora Ephron