Happiness comes when you live your truth and allow others to do so as well.

Have you ever heard someone say something that resonated with you, even though the thought wasn’t necessarily a new one? Yesterday, sitting in my place of worship, I heard the speaker say, “We can’t make other people live our truth.” This wasn’t a new concept for me or one of those “Aha!” moments Oprah always talks about having, for it is a lesson I learned during college psychology classes and have read in numerous journals over the years. But the reminder is one that I believe most of us need to hear from time to time.

All too often, we put expectations upon others. Sometimes these are societal norms that we feel every man, woman and child should obey and includes things like obeying the law or living according to the “golden rule” of treating others as you would like to be treated. Other times, our expectations are more self-serving and we expect friends to be honest, children to love us and spouses or partners to be loyal.

Problems arise, however, because all of us have free will. We live, at least in the United States, in a democracy where everyone has the right to pursue what makes them happy. Unfortunately, the same thing that makes my friend, neighbor, or relative happy may not always align with what constitutes my happiness and therefore conflicts arise.

Read the Declaration of Independence at USHistory.org

For example, growing up, I’d always thought that one day I would watch one of my relatives don her wedding gown, walk down the aisle on her father’s arm, and kiss her new groom. I knew I would have the chance to dance at her wedding, to celebrate her special day. Hollywood always portrays shining moments like those in films like “Father of the Bride,” and we look forward to replicating those moments in our own lives.

But then one day, she disappeared without a trace. We didn’t know if she had run away, eloped or been taken into witness protection. My parents and I were frantic with worry and wondered where she went or if she was even alive. Legally, she was an adult and had the right to pursue her happiness with the man she loved, whether or not we as her family understood her reasons or method of doing so. But our expectations had been based on a dream we all had for her, rather than -on the one she had for herself. Therefore our disappointment was great and it took us a long time to move past what I can only describe as a feeling of betrayal.

Learn to let go of grudges and bitterness on MayoClinic.com

In another instance, several years ago, I confided my best kept secret to a dear friend. When I told him about a childhood experience that affected the rest of my life, he empathized with me and even wept with me, which was what I needed at the time. At that moment, when he didn’t judge me but seemed to understand where I came from, he became my rock, the one friend I believed I would always be able to trust.

Later, however, when he invited me over to talk, I thought it was to check on me, to see if I was still holding up and dealing well with the secret I’d shared with him. What happened was something altogether different. He wanted to confront me about something I didn’t anticipate; a piece I had written that he didn’t agree with. The encounter took me by surprise, and I felt blindsided and confused. Now I understand that he felt close enough to broach the subject with me, and in fact had every right to share his opinion, but emotion got in the way of my comprehension at that moment in time.

In both instances, my emotions suddenly combusted and raged like a wildfire out of control because of one problem that was mine alone. I expected people to live up to my idea of them, to conform to what I thought they should think, how I believed they should behave, what I assumed should make them happy. At the center of every equation, I was the factor I unconsciously thought everyone else should have implemented in their life. After numerous conversations with others, I realize this is a trait common among mankind.

Discover the Power of Authenticity on Oprah.com

Yet as I sat listening to the speaker yesterday, hearing his reminder that we can’t make other people live our truth, I knew he was right. None of us can really say who others should love, how they should react to the work we do, the words we write or the art we create. The only person any of us can truly shape and control is ourself.

We will never eradicate our emotional responses to other people’s actions no matter how hard we try, to do so would be to strip ourselves of our humanity. But we can change how we react by striving to truly live in the moment and accept each positive interaction as the gift that it is. We can get more in touch with our spiritual center and live life with an open heart, examining the possibilities each situation provides rather than the roadblocks that stand in our way. Most of all, we can embrace all of life, every joy and every sorrow, as the constant reminder that we are still here taking the occasion to learn from experience, teach from wisdom, and accept each new day as a chance to live healthier, happier lives as we pursue our own truth, free from expectations and filled with opportunity.

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Tell us what you do to live your authentic life!

© 2012 Jadeworks Entertainment. All rights reserved.

Take charge of your life in 2012. Set goals now to accomplish everything you want to do this year.

January 2012

Dear Friends,

I can’t even tell you how happy I am that 2011 is officially over. I was sick much of December, and I thought I’d lose a lung by the time I recovered after three long weeks. My entire body felt bruised from the inside out, wracked as it was with violent coughing spells that left me gasping and breathless. Thankfully I’m better now, which is a blessing I’m grateful for.

The end-of-year festivities were fun as always, packed with friends, parties and tons of food. But as much as I like to host these gatherings, all the work it takes to invite my guests, clean the house, decorate the tables and prepare the food is exhausting. Friends say I go above and beyond when it comes to entertaining, but my dad raised me to do nothing halfway, which is a good quality to have but requires lots of planning and stamina to accomplish. In fact, I remember one of my favorite books as a child was “Euphonia and the Flood” by Mary Calhoun, which taught the moral that “a job worth doing is worth doing well.” So I guess that value was ingrained in me since birth. Thankfully, my wife is always there to help out with whatever comes up. We make a great team.

Get tips on how to have a great party

The year’s events on the whole, however, were frightening and bizarre. They far outshined anything Dorothy would have ever encountered in her journey through Oz. If that little diva from Kansas in the gingham dress and ruby shoes had scampered down the yellow brick road in 2011 she’d have likely gasped over the ‘disasters, deaths and wars, oh my!’ while Toto and her trio of unlikely band of misfit friends ran after her like some deranged pack of baby daddies on an episode of “Maury” or “Cops.” (For more highlights from last year, read “New Year, New Beginning” on JathanAndHeather.com.)

Watch Dorothy skip down the yellow brick road

So it is with great enthusiasm that I welcome 2012. Now I have a chance to do better in practically every aspect of my life, and that includes working on the blog you’re currently reading. I can’t believe that I haven’t posted anything here since April, which is really unforgiveable. But I won’t sit here and make excuses, telling you that I was focused on other projects, quoting Scarlett O’Hara and saying that “I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.” Besides, I don’t own a hoop skirt and have never lived on a plantation, even if I did grow up in the South.

Watch Carol Burnett’s classic turn as Scarlett O’Hara

What I will say is that from now on, my goal is for this blog to really reflect what is going on with me personally, from my professional life to my most private thoughts. Hopefully, you’ll find some modicum of worth in what I write, whether that is from my insights on what is going on in the world, advice on practically everything related to writing and journalism, or my wry (and frequently sarcastic) commentary on the insanity of my own life. But the content will be fresh, and regularly published.

Aside from improved blogging, other big changes are currently in the works and news about them should be available soon, but I’m not yet at liberty to discuss them. So don’t ask! You’ll know as soon as I can tell you, though. What I can say now, however, is that I plan to continue writing my novel, articles and reviews; developing and testing recipes for the cookbook I’m writing with my wife; and growing my business as a multimedia company and consulting firm.

Start your own blog on WordPress

I continue to be an active member of the Society of Professional Journalists, as many of you are aware. As such, I’m really looking forward to attending some great events coming up this year, including the annual SPJ Spring Conference in March and the Excellence in Journalism 2012 conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in September, which is sponsored by SPJ and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Both events are always packed full of useful workshops to educate people in the news business and provide awesome opportunities to network with other professionals, which is very important these days. After all, it is increasingly apparent that who you know is oftentimes more important than what you know, whether or not you subscribe to that adage or think that it should be the case.

Become a member of the Society of Professional Journalists

Undoubtedly, busy times are ahead of me. But the year is already looking brighter and I’m optimistic about the future of 2012. I hope you take advantage of this new beginning too, making it the best year yet in your private and professional life.

Cheers,
Jathan

What plans do you have for 2012? Tell us on Facebook!
Tell us your goals, dreams and aspirations for the new year.

© 2012 Jadeworks Entertainment. All rights reserved.

The SPJ 2011 Spring Conference provided valuable training to help journalists adapt to changes within the industry.

In coming posts, I will highlight some of the breakout sessions I attended and will also provide links to information I think you should know. To begin, I listened to freelance journalist Tara Puckey present a session titled Website Roulette: 50 sites in 50 minutes. Tara, a military media reporter and member of the SPJ national board, showed us how to add some real pizzazz to our stories with great online tools, some of which I already use, but many I have never even heard of! Below are some of her favorites.

Muck Rack helps journalists see what is happening right now in the world of journalism. This site shows what is trending for everyone. They’ll even send a synopsis of trends to your inbox!

Storify helps journalists create stories using social media! It collects photos, tweets, videos, comments and more from various sites and puts them in one place so we can utilize them to write compelling stories, regardless of our media affiliation.

Addict-O-Matic allows users to “inhale the web” by instantly searching the Web for buzz on any topic, then it creates a custom page based on your inquiry.

HARO makes finding a source easier than ever! This site offers the largest repository of mainstreet and expert sources who will respond directly to queries from reporters. Best of all, it is free for journalists.

Evernote is a wonderful sharing tool and makes it easy to remember everything. Users can capture anything, including pictures, ideas, videos, audio streams and more. They can also download a desktop program, use it as an application on their iPhone or iPad, or access their information directly on the Web.

Trying to synchronize multiple schedules for various people can be a headache, but Doodle makes scheduling a snap. Simply poll participants, find what time works for everyone, then send out a free invite via e-mail.

Mezzoman makes meeting a friend for dinner, a colleague for a meeting or a source for an interview easier than ever. By inputting the locations of two or three parties, this site will locate the center of the mapped points to calculate a place to meet that is convenient for everyone.

These are only a few of the sites covered during Puckey’s presentation. To see all 50, watch her Prezi presentation or visit her site and enter password: SPJ2011.

I’ll check in again soon with more about the conference and to feature exciting news and tools for today’s journalist.

Best,
Jathan

© 2011 Jadeworks Entertainment.

Dear friends,

Spring is always a crazy time of year. Last month, my wife and I caught whatever bug is going around and it threw a wrench into everything. There isn’t much fun or work to be accomplished when you’re bound to your bed, coughing and sputtering and getting absolutely no sleep.

Because this month will be a hectic one, I definitely hope that I’m not around anymore sick folks because I don’t need their germs to slow me down! I took one look at my calendar and said, “Wow!” April is bound to be just that busy, both professionally and personally.

This spring's SPJ Spring Conference will provide valuable training to help journalists adapt to changes within the industry

The following weekend, I’ll catch up with more classmates and friends from my college days at the Delta Chi Fraternity Region 6 Leadership Conference. There I’ll brush up on my leadership skills through a variety of workshops and catch up with new brothers and alumni, so that should be fun.

Students at Silverton Paideia Academy benefit from one-on-one intruction and mentoring from volunteer tutors.

And then there is my own writing. When I’m not testing recipes for my cookbook, writing away on my novel, or creating Websites for clients, I’m blogging away over at Jathan & Heather. There you can read about everything from food and health, to family, entertainment and more. Check it out. Better yet, subscribe to our site and you’ll get updates delivered right to your inbox.

Whatever you may be doing this April, I hope you learn something useful that makes your life a little simpler, better organized, and helps you enjoy the warmer days ahead.

Love,
Jathan

© 2011 Jadeworks Entertainment.

Dear Friends,

March is one of my favorite months of the year. With the arrival of spring, days get longer, temperatures rise, and the landscape grows more verdant as poppies and crocuses poke through the winter-battered soil. It is a great time to embrace new beginnings, start new ventures and clear out the clutter in your life.

Today, I threw open the windows to air out the house and let the sunlight in while I began spring cleaning, scrubbing appliances and tossing out forgotten items or putting them into bags to donate to Goodwill. They get all the electronics, bedding, clothing and other miscellaneous things that I no longer use. It is a great way to recycle my unwanted stuff, give it a second life, and support a great cause in the process.

Started in 1993, World Water Day focuses attention on the importance of freshwater conservation.

The sunnier, warmer days also inspire me to get active. In fact, they inspired me so much that I joined Urban Active, a new gym near my home that has a fantastic workout space, state-of-the-art fitness equipment and a staff that delivers great customer service. Heck, they even offer free valet parking! But the best part of all is that I’ve already noticed my clothes getting looser and my waistline shrinking. That’s enough to keep me motivated for a long time to come!

My latest venture, however, is that I started volunteering at my local elementary school as a tutor. Working with fourth graders, I’m helping them practice their reading, build their vocabulary and get excited about opening a book. It’s so rewarding to see their eyes light up when they realize that they’re actually reading well! I encourage you to give it a try too. Likely, teachers at your local school will welcome you with open arms if you volunteer your time. And in most instances, you can make a big impact in as little as an hour a week. Simply contact the school’s volunteer coordinator for details.

Also, don’t forget that March 22 is World Water Day. Started in 1993 by the United Nations, this event focuses attention on the importance of preserving one of our most valuable resources, freshwater. Discover what your community is doing to commemorate this day and how you can get involved by visiting the World Water Day website.

No matter what you find yourself doing this month, I hope the warmer weather, longer days and the arrival of spring spurs you on to make changes in your life, both big and small.

Love,

Jathan Fink

Members of LEAP enjoy their win for best student group award from the Hamilton County Environmental Services.

CINCINNATI — The Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection, a new student organization started at the University of Cincinnati in October 2005, received the best student group award from Hamilton County Environmental Services Saturday.

UC students and other environmentally conscious Cincinnatians flocked to the One Earth Party at Sawyer Point, which ran all day on Saturday. 

The award, the Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition environmental Award for Earth Day 2006 for Best Student Group, was given for LEAP’s contribution towards environmental conservation and protection. 

Holly Christmann, the co-chair for the Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition, presented the award. 

Only five awards were given out in years past, but with the creation of LEAP, a sixth award was created for the best student group, according to Christmann.

LEAP received the award as a result of their meet-and-greets and their entry into Recycle Mania, a recycling competition between universities that began in 2001, Christmann said. 

“This is the first year that UC has been involved in the program,” she said.

According to Autumn Garrison, the graduate advisor for LEAP, about 30 students from UC went to help at the event.

Earth Day began in 1970 as a day for Americans to recognize the need for a cleaner environment, according to the EPA. 

Now, Earth Day is celebrated all over the globe. 

LEAP vice president Marla Frank escorts Dustin Hoehn as a recycling dog to interact with children and guests at the One Earth Party.

“Cincinnati first celebrated Earth Day at Sawyer Point in 1990, but the event was then moved to Fountain Square for years,” said Pati Schultz, who is with the public affairs office at the EPA. ”In 1996, the EPA joined with the Earth Coalition and we came back to Sawyer Point and have been here for five years.”

One student who attended the event, Dustin Hoehn, wore a dog costume and interacted with children and other passers-by while being led by Marla Frank, the vice president of LEAP. 

“LEAP also participates in Keep Cincinnati Beautiful and in Return the Warmth, a program which turns plastic bottles into fleece coats for children,” Frank said.  “The organization is also working with Student Government to improve recycling efforts on campus next year.”

Garrison said the awards ceremony served as the prelude to “Earth Week,” a series of events scheduled to be held on UC’s McMicken Commons starting on Monday. 

The activities are scheduled each day between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and are being sponsored by LEAP, Hamilton County and other non-profit organizations, Garrison said. 

On Monday, students will be dumpster diving in white suits and respirators to draw attention to the issue of recycling, Garrison said. 

Hamilton County will also provide information about recycling and a basketball hoop will be set up where people can shoot hoops with their recyclable.

Garrison said the Ohio Office of Energy will provide UC with specific information about energy on Tuesday, and the Dorm Energy Challenge will also be promoted. 

A local band is scheduled to perform as well.

LEAP members work an information table at One Earth Day in Sawyer Point.

Wednesday’s focus will be on transportation and will feature information about alternative fuels and vehicles, Garrison said. 

Two to three hybrid vehicles, a large Metro bus powered by Soy Bio Diesel and information about the new UC shuttle system will also be displayed, Garrison said.

Earth Week will come to a close on Thursday when the focus turns to organic foods. 

Because we were born organic, Garrison said, the focus will be on how to distinguish between good and bad foods, and how to live a healthier life. 

LEAP’s goal is to educate people at UC and to help out other environmentally conscious organizations where needed, as they did at the One Earth Party on Saturday, said Frank.

Originally published in the News Record on April 24, 2006.

Nearby, empty buildings stand as tired sentinels, bereft of attention, their paint peeling as opaque windows face the community like dead, soulless eyes.

Meanwhile, two other students, Derek Vogel, 19, a civil engineering major, and Anamika Modawal, 19, a business and biology major, shared a desk in a computer lab at the University of Cincinnati.

Together they performed database searches on the Internet, shared ideas on how to address the issue of cleaning up the uptown neighborhood, and planned for a meeting of the Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection (LEAP).

The two co-presidents were pleased with the current size of their organization. “We now have about 15 members who regularly participate, but over 150 members on our (e-mail) roster,” Modawal said.

LEAP originated in October 2005 when a small group of UC students recognized the need to promote environmental protection both on campus and in the community, said Vogel, who has been with the organization for two years.

Since its inception, LEAP has not desisted from its goal. It has partnered with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful and has continually supported the Return the Warmth program. “This is not part of the ‘pitch-in’ recycling initiative,” Vogel said. “It was solely put on by LEAP.”

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful provided LEAP with 25 cardboard containers that feature the Rumpke logo. These bins are placed in several buildings around campus and are used to gather No. 1 plastics which LEAP members collect and will give to Rumpke, a privately owned waste and recycling company, on May 31.

The best laid plans are not always able to be followed, however. In the beginning, Rumpke gave LEAP a large trash container in which the plastics could be stored and held for collection by the company. “This dumpster has been full of trash since its placement, so I have stored the bags in my basement for the time being,” Vogel said.

When Rumpke does collect the plastics at the end of the month, they will be recycled and turned into fleece coats for children and given back to the community, Vogel said.

LEAP Secretary Julia Ferguson, 21, a political science major, helps coordinate events between LEAP and Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, where she works as an intern.

The two organizations distributed 75 recycling bins throughout the Clifton community on April 12, Ferguson said. They also registered people for recycling service, which is free for Cincinnati residents.

Members of the community were grateful when they received a recycling bin because many people had not known how to obtain one. “We had a couple of other people tell us that they had their bin stolen,” Ferguson said, laughing. “And then a couple of doors down someone actually said, ‘Oh, well I stole a bin.’ So it was a really good response.”

Members of LEAP come from a wide range of disciplines, including: neuroscience, political science, environmental science, business, and more. “It’s an interest that touches a lot of different areas and engages a lot of people,” Ferguson said.

In an effort to create interdisciplinary programming that has a greater impact on campus, LEAP partnered with two other environment-friendly student organizations, the Environmental Law Society and Students for Ecological Design.

LEAP invited students to attend a showing of “The Eleventh Hour,” a documentary produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio that details the possibility of human extinction and the importance of decreasing the carbon footprint.

Together, the three organizations have created programs like “Earth Education Week,” which was held earlier this April.

During that week, LEAP’s leaders focused on the importance of educating students about environmental sustainability. On April 17, LEAP invited students to attend a showing of “The Eleventh Hour,” a documentary produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio that details the possibility of human extinction and the importance of decreasing the carbon footprint.

Two representatives from Tree Media Group and the Eleventh Hour Action Campaign flew in from California and Washington, D.C. to host the event and make it more of an action oriented plan, said Modawal.

The co-presidents were pleased with the university’s response to the event. Upwards of 40 people attended the event, Vogel said.

Despite the message and global impact of “The Eleventh Hour,” however, Vogel said that LEAP’s real goal is to focus on local issues.

Ferguson hopes to beautify the razed blocks between McMillan and Calhoun streets in Clifton, but she discovered that making improvements in the community is not always easy. Sometimes bureaucratic roadblocks get in the way of change.

“Basically we’re trying to plant wildflowers,” Ferguson said. She approached Matt Bourgeois, director of the Clifton Heights Community Urban Redevelopment Corp., about planting native wildflowers on the vacant lots.

Ferguson’s requests for permission to plant the flowers on those particular lots have been denied. “The argument is that this big field will be developed soon so they don’t want to bother putting in the flowers,” Ferguson said.

On April 26, close to 100 volunteers from the Clifton neighborhood joined 12 LEAP members in participating in Great American Cleanup. During that event, LEAP was allowed to plant native wildflowers such as cosmos, sunflowers, and zinnias along the edge of the lot bordering the parking lot and Krishna’s on McMillan.

“Those flowers will likely bloom in the late summer,” Ferguson said. “This lot was deemed by both LEAP and Matt [Bourgeois] of the Clifton Heights Community Redevelopment Corporation as a better location for the planting of wildflowers because this site will likely be the last one along this strip that will see development and may be available for planting projects such as this until then.”

Despite the unforeseen snags it encounters, LEAP and its partners are happy with the progress they have made thus far. Modawal said her goals are to sustain momentum for the long-term with ongoing events and to make the recycling process more efficient so more people can get involved.

One plan LEAP is working on is a swap meet that would be held near campus. Students could bring two items which are still in good condition but which they do not want anymore, and then they could pick two things that they would like to have, Ferguson explained.

“So you want to redecorate your room but you don’t have the money, then come to our swap meet,” Ferguson said. The swap meet will likely be held during finals week so it coordinates with the time that students are moving.

“Keep Cincinnati Beautiful did one in Northside and that was really successful,” Ferguson said.

Modawal said that she hopes LEAP’s efforts simply encourage students to try and make a difference and that they do not get overwhelmed by the process. “Whether you just participate here and there or go to one of our events, it’s about taking that step to get there,” she said. “Just making that effort to take some action can add up.”

Unable to ignore what had happened, the girl cried out, “You leave that animal alone or I’ll call the police!” After the boys fled the scene, she scurried over to the orange tabby. The kitten lay on the ground in a heap, motionless and wounded where the boys had stamped it in the head.

His story is a common one,” said Linda Rilea as she recalled the day the girl brought the 6-month-old kitten into The Scratching Post, a no-kill shelter for cats. “But most of the time, we don’t know anything about where these cats come from or what they’ve gone through.”

Rilea and 10 other animal lovers founded the rescue organization in June 1990. Within a few years of opening, however, it became apparent that the old house originally used to keep the cats awaiting adoption was too small.

The Scratching Post is a no-kill shelter that houses approximately 100 cats at any given time.

“We receive 20 to 30 calls per day from people needing us to rescue a cat,” Rilea said. “Unfortunately, we usually have to turn them away because we are at full capacity.” The Scratching Post typically holds upwards of 100 cats, which exceeds the limit imposed by the city of Silverton.

The Scratching Post recently moved to a new $900,000 facility at 9484 Plainfield Rd. and opened to the public on May 18, 2008.

The new structure has been properly outfitted with accoutrements the previous building never had such as a separate room for mothers and their kittens, three isolation rooms to prevent the spread of illnesses among the animals, and 12 large cat dens with plenty of room for the cats to roam, windows for sunbathing and scratching posts to flex claws.

“Now we have a big wash room where we can wash litter boxes and shelving for them to air dry,” said Steve Brown a Scratching Post employee. Before moving, the litter boxes were all washed in a small sink in the same bathroom that the employees used. “It’s much more sanitary now,” he said.

Other features of the new facility include special paint on the walls and a central vacuum system, both of which make the building easier to maintain, three outdoor fenced runs so the cats can play outside, and a special recycling area.

“We’ve really tried to go green with the new place,” Brown said. GBBN Architects designed an environmentally friendly building and installed special skylights throughout so the lights are rarely turned on. The staff also takes extra care to recycle cans, cardboard, and even cat litter. “Instead of the traditional sand, we use pellets made from recycled paper. It’s better for the cats and for us,” Brown said.

The move to the new location did not occur overnight, however. “Ten years passed before enough money had been accumulated to make this new building happen,” Brown said.

Donations, memberships, adoptions and money raised by The Meow Mart, a small store attached to the shelter and managed by Nancy Darenkamp, fund the Scratching Post. “We sell anything relating to cats,” Darenkamp said, “including crafts, t-shirts, and cat toys sold and made by volunteers.”

The Meow Mart also sells deluxe cat nip bags that sell in local veterinarians’ offices around town. “The vets say they sell the bags almost as soon as we deliver them,” Darenkamp said. “We made $25,000 last year from the cat nip alone.”

On the weekend of the grand opening, The Scratching Post received $55,000 in donations, which will go towards the mortgage on the new building. “Our donors have been good to us,” Darenkamp said. “Now we only owe about $250,000 on the building.”

The Scratching Post managers want to pay off the loan as quickly as possible so funds can be spent on the cats rather than on interest rates.

When the shelter accepts a cat it is immediately tested for feline leukemia and FIV (the feline AIDS virus). Other medical costs are sometimes incurred too, such as surgery.

Not long after The Scratching Post opened in 1990, a cat named Molly arrived that needed emergency surgery. “We received a private donation that paid for her medical expenses, but there was some money left over. That’s when The Molly Fund was born,” Darenkamp said. The staff set aside the remaining cash for future surgery expenses and a portion of every donation received thereafter.

Another program The Scratching Post initiated was Cat S.N.I.P., a program that helps cats get spayed or neutered, a surgery vital to a cat’s health. “With Cat S.N.I.P., we gave cat owners certificates that reduced the cost of spay by $35 or neuter by $20 at local veterinarian clinics,” Darenkamp said. “We put the program on hiatus until the loan is paid off.”

Despite the opening of the new and improved shelter, Hamilton County felines still need help. “We really need 50 more places like this,” Rilea said. “The sad fact is that the cat population is so great, every person in Hamilton County would have to own seven cats in order to take all the strays off the streets.”

According to Rilea, many kindhearted people think they are helping simply by putting food out to feed strays. But feeding a stray is like slapping a bandage on a gunshot wound. It does not solve the problem and oftentimes makes matters worse.

Cats can get pregnant up to four times per year, and may have anywhere from one kitten to more than ten. “If you really want to help a cat, you’ll get them spayed or neutered,” Rilea said. “If you do that, you’ll not only reduce the cat population, but you reduce the risk of that cat getting cancer by 80 percent.”

Generous corporate and private donations help save hundreds of cats’ lives each year.

Over 900 members, 75 volunteers, and a small staff of five employees all contribute to the success of The Scratching Post.

Yet the shelter’s staff knows that no matter how much they accomplish many of the cats and kittens that reside there will never leave. “Only one or two cats are adopted out each week,” Rilea said, shaking her head. “Cats are just too easy to come by. So the real message here is to spay or neuter your cat. It’s the only answer.”

© 2008 Jadeworks Entertainment. All rights reserved.

Dear friends,

For many of us, this has been one of the most frigid winters in recent memory. Although some of you in California can’t help but brag about the warm days you’ve had, others who live in places like Dallas and Atlanta were buried in snow, which is always interesting since those towns aren’t equipped to deal with that kind of precipitation. The Eastern seaboard saw snowdrifts that shut down cities like New York for days. But thankfully, although we saw some ice and snow here in Cincinnati, we never had the accumulation that many of you did. How did you spend your winter months this year? I’d love to hear your stories. Heather and I are both readers, so more often than not we curl up with a blanket, a good book, and a steaming mug of hot chocolate or Earl Grey tea.

Gary Braver keeps readers riveted with 'Gray Matter,' his bestselling medical thriller

This winter, I discovered two great authors that I’ve never read before. The first is Gary Braver, and his novel Gray Matter kept me on the edge of my seat. Reminiscent of Robin Cook and Michael Palmer, this medical thriller asks us all just what we would do to ensure the success of our children. As a recent college graduate myself, I’m keenly aware of how important it is to have every academic advantage possible. But would you put your child’s future in the hands of an unorthodox doctor and an experimental surgery if it could make him smarter? What would you pay for this kind of procedure? And more importantly, what would be the ramifications of such a surgery on your child and upon society? In Gray Matter, Braver presents a chilling and thought-provoking modern parable that is impossible to put down.

Lee Child's action hero Jack Reacher saves the day before he is 'Gone Tomorrow'

For the first time, I also read Gone Tomorrow, a novel from Lee Child’s popular Reacher series. Stephen King has said that Child writes “man fiction” and other critics have praised the main character as “the thinking person’s action hero.” In Gone Tomorrow, we meet Reacher on a New York City subway train in the wee hours of the morning. When he watches a woman commit suicide before his eyes, he finds himself embroiled in a government conspiracy that could rock the nation. From the first page to the last, you’ll find yourself staying up late, biting your nails and turning the pages until the novel’s exciting climax. With Jack Reacher, Child delivers a new hero for our time. I guarantee you’ll love Reacher, a complex character who is as laugh-out-loud funny as he is charismatic and intelligent. Do yourself a favor and get hooked on this series!

But even with these great books to keep me occupied, like all of you, I am ready for the arrival of warmer weather. Hopefully Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction was spot on and spring is just around the corner. But until spring actually arrives, I’ll stay busy writing, working on my new novel, and sending you warm winter wishes.

Love,

Jathan Fink