Galion Town Money Saver | October FOM 2022

Pink Ladies Aim to Make a Di erenc

Galion'sPinkLadies clubhas been helping cancer patients in the

localareafor nearly adecade– and they areactively seeking your help in finding people to assist.The club provides direct funding tocancer patients,toaid withexpensessuchas paying utilitybills, andbuying gas so theycan drive to and from doctor appointments and treatments.

The nationalPinkLadies league was foundedin2011 in South Dakota and the Galion Pink Ladies– the firstin Ohio–was establishedin2014 at the Galion Owls Club. Cindy France was instrumental in the club’sformation and remains active in the Pink Ladies as the club’s president.

Clubofficers HeidiMatney (who owns the Owls Club with herhusband,Rod) andKathy Jenneexplain thatat first, the Pink Ladies’ focuswas solely on providing assistance to breastcancer patients,but theyhaveexpanded their doneegroup to include anyone battling any type of cancer.

The group meets everyWednesday evening at the Owls to throw darts. Between the spring and fall leagues, about two dozenparticipants

comprise the club currently. “We go for the cause… but also to have fun!” the ladies declare with smiles.

the club “We go

League fees, a “cuss jug,” dart tournaments, bake sales, and an annual golf tournament that Jenne and Matney say has grown immensely – to name a few of the Pink Ladies fund-raisers – have enabled them to assist over 100 people in the tri-county area. Multiple plaques hang on the wall at the Owls Club, bearing the names of people they have helped.

100+ People Helped

Jenne explains that the local Owls Club is a “Sister Club” with the Pink Ladies: “It’s a separate club, but it’s our ‘home base’ and biggest supporter… The [Galion Pink Ladies] club is still small, but we have grown in our ability to help, thanks to larger contributors.”

Matney a rms that the Owls’ designated charity proceeds are split between the Galion Boosters Club & the Pink Ladies.

Any expenses the club encounters are

Any expenses the club encounters ar paid out-of-pocket by the club’s members, so that 100% of the money they raise goes to those facing cancer

Recipients are referred to the organization by a yer that is included in informational packets provided by oncology doctors to patients who are given a cancer diagnosis – but patient privacy protections prevent doctors from making direct referrals to the group. Jenne says that occasionally people who are aware of the club refer friends or family members who have cancer and need assistance, and a local wig shop also makes referrals.

“We actually need referrals,” pleads Matney, “because we know that there are people out there who need this help, and we’re able and ready to provide it.”

If you know someone with cancer who could use nancial assistance from the Pink Ladies, please contact Matney at 419-545-2292, Jenne at 419-566-4042, or France at 419-571-5194.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Remember to have your own regular medical checkups and recommended screenings; early cancer detection is linked to higher survival rates. Also please consider researching and implementing cancerpreventing lifestyle choices to increase your odds of staying cancer-free, especially if you are at-risk.

*Prices are per tire and does not include installation. These prices valid through 12/31/22. **Plus taxes & fees.

TOP 5

TOP 5

Tips to Keep

Li’l Ghouls & Goblins Safe

1. Never trick-or-treat alone

An adult should accompany young children, and older kids should walk as a group on an approved route

2. Don’t be invisible

Carry a flashlight at night. Opt for a bright or reflective costume, or use reflective tape

3. Stroll safely

Stay on the sidewalk. Use crosswalks to cross streets, and never enter the street from between parked cars.

4. Be afraid of the dark

Only approach homes that are lit, and never go inside a home (or a car) for a treat. Stay in well-lit areas, and avoid shortcuts through alleys or yards.

5. Check candy

Discard any unwrapped, spoiled or suspicious treats,

kids, pets & pumpkins

ghoulish tips for

In all the excitement surrounding Halloween, take a moment to review these tips to help ensure a fun-filled holiday without any real scares!

TOP 5

Pumpkin Carving Tips

1. Begin with a fresh pumpkin

Look for a pumpkin with a green stem. A thick, fresh pumpkin is best for carving.

2. Draw a plan for your pumpkin before you cut Then transfer that design to the pumpkin with pen or a thin marker.

3. Try to shave off layers of the outer rind until it becomes more translucent. The level of transparency can be adjusted based on how much skin is removed and as a way to add texture and shadowing.

4. Delay carving until the last minute Pumpkins begin to rot as soon as you begin carving. Spritzing them with water can help, but there’s no turning back the clock once the first cut is made.

5. Cut a hole in the back

Cutting off the top of the pumpkin can cause it to rot faster. Instead, cut a hole in the back of the pumpkin and use an electric light to illuminate it. LEDs don’t generate much heat, which can cook and rot the pumpkin from the inside out.

TOP 5

“HalloWag” Pet Safety Tips

1. Keep candy out of reach from pets. Xylitol sweeteners and chocolate in particular is toxic to dogs & cats

2. Keep pets away from the front door for their security and the safety of trick-or-treaters

3. If you’re dressing up your pet, careful not to restrict movement, vision, hearing or ability to breathe. If your pet is distressed by wearing a costume, remove it immediately.

4. Make sure your pet is microchipped and wearing a collar with identification tags to help ensure his or her safe return

5. Keep candle-lit jack-o-lanterns & other candles a safe distance from pets who may knock them over

Gift ideas to Get Kids Off the Couch

Devices can be hard to ignore. Seemingly always within arm’s length, devices such as tablets and smartphones are as popular as ever. In a survey designed to gauge smartphone ownership, the Pew Research Center found that 85 percent of Americans owned a smartphone in 2021. at re ects a signi cant increase since 2011, when 35 percent of Americans owned a smartphone.

Adults may recognize the potential pitfalls of spending too much time on their devices, but those pitfalls are not nearly as apparent to children. For instance, a 2021 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry found that excessive smartphone use is associated with various health problems in adolescents and young adults. Such issues include psychiatric, cognitive, emotional, medical, and brain changes. A separate 2021 study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that children have a 62 percent greater risk of developing a binge-eating disorder for each additional hour they spend on social media.

Parents know that getting kids to put down their devices is no small task. However, the holiday season can be the perfect time to nd fun gi s for kids that have nothing to do with screens and encourage kids to be more physically active.

LESSONS

Whether it’s sur ng, boating or music lessons, various courses do not require devices or even allow them to be used during sessions. Parents and loved ones of children can look for lessons that inspire youngsters to pursue a new passion that promotes physical activity and encourages kids to get up and go.

TRAMPOLINE

Aunts and uncles should de nitely clear this one with mom and dad before purchasing it. However, no kid, including tweens and newly minted teenagers, can resist a good trampoline. Modern trampolines are safer than yesterday’s models, especially when shoppers choose ones with enclosures that prevent kids from falling o the trampoline and onto the hard ground below.

SPORTS EQUIPMENT

Organized sports instill lessons about sportsmanship, hard work, overcoming adversity, and the value of working as a team, all the while promoting physical activity. Young children who haven’t yet participated in organized sports may be compelled to do so if a new baseball mitt or basketball hoop is waiting under the tree this holiday season.

KITES

Kites can be perfect for kids who don’t take to sports or those who simply need a break from competition. Kites can help young children develop their gross motor skills and instill in them a love of the great outdoors that lasts a lifetime.

Getting kids to put down their devices is no small task. But parents and loved ones can do their best by giving gi s that encourage kids to get o the couch and be more physically active.