Tonight's the Night!

Everyone is scurrying about the museum, getting ready for Treasures of Stark County: A Behind-the-Scenes Adventure tonight!

I have made all the maps, signs and program. Stephanie is waiting until our field trip students are done to decorate the tables. Steve and his crew already have the tables in place. The caterer is coming at 3:00.

I will be placing our special loaned items in their secure case later today.

We're READY!

Exciting changes in Discover World!

Right now as I type, I can hear installation noise. It's the sound of progress!

Steve and his crew are building a habitat for our newest Discover World resident -- Bandit the Raccoon! He will soon be on exhibit, delighting visitors with his antics!

Another major change is happening today too -- Benchmark is installing the new Watershed exhibit! DW visitors will be able to learn about the water cycle and where our water goes.

Pictures will be posted soon!

Patio Fundraiser!

Come to Buehler's in Jackson Township on Saturday September 11 between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM for a bite to eat!

Our volunteers will be serving food on the patio. At the end of the day, Buehler's will make a donation to the Museum. Come on out and support us!

Treasures of Stark County Event

We're gearing up for our fall fundraiser "Treasures of Stark County: A Behind-the-Scenes Adventure" on September 24 at 6:00!! Have you heard about it yet?

We're hard at work getting ready for it.

If you've been following Chef Meeker's weight loss project in the Repository, you might catch a glimpse of him at our event! Glenmoor is catering it again this year.

For $20 a ticket, you could win a raffle for an overnight stay at Glenmoor that includes dinner AND breakfast. Personally, I won a similar package a few years ago at another event and let me tell you, it was FABULOUS. Definitely a relaxing getaway!

Each guest will have the opportunity to complete a treasure hunt through our galleries AND areas that are usually not open to the public. We will be having a ribbon-cutting for the grand opening of the new Conservation Gallery, which is NOT open to the public! One night only you will be able to get a glimpse behind the scenes at our largest storage facility. You will see some amazing artifacts! We will draw a winner from the completed maps for an evening at Gervasi Vineyards.

This event will be a lot of fun -- call today to make a reservation at 330-455-7043. Tickets are $85 per person.

Computer fixed!

I am happy to report that my "click jacking" problem has now been FIXED!

So I will be blogging regularly about the museum once again.

Special thanks to Chris for figuring this out for me. It has been VERY frustrating!

Goodbye Sweet Bailey

This week Chris and I lost our other kitty, Bailey, also to cancer.

I found a lump on her neck 2 weeks ago. Although it did not show up on her x-ray, the biopsy came back as a carcinoma. A second x-ray showed it was in her lungs. Countless tiny clusters of cancer cells in both lungs. We were shocked, and devastated.

We canceled weekend plans to visit friends in Pittsburgh and stayed home with her all weekend.

As her breathing got progressively worse, we knew we had to have her put to sleep. Chris called on Monday morning, and we went home to spend her final hours with her. I brushed her for nearly an hour, which seemed to calm her and ease her breathing a bit. The time we got to spend

with her that day was so precious to us.

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Klein and the staff at Stark Animal Hospital. Dr. Klein especially. His guidance helped us make this difficult decision, just as he did 8 months ago. We are so thankful to have found him when we moved here from NY 9 years ago.

We had "the ladies," as we called them, one year before we got married. Bailey just turned 11 in July. We lost her sister in December, when they were both 10 1/2.

We are just heartbroken. The house is empty when we come home, and we absolutely hate it.

We know there are two more kitties out there who need a loving home. We just have to find them.

Our cats meant the world to us and more. We will miss them every single day. They were great companions when we were strangers in a strange land, moving three states away from friends and family so I could take this job as Curator. They have made us laugh for most of their kitten lives, and at the end, they made us cry more tears that we ever thought possible.

They wrapped their little tails around our hearts, and made an impression that will last a lifetime...