10th Annual March for Parks.

This year’s March for Parks event will be Saturday, April 24th at George Washington Carver National Monument. The event will feature bluegrass bands, environmental exhibits and activities, and a walk-a-thon from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All activities and events are free to the public.

According to a media release by the National Monument, the event will kickoff at 9 a.m. when the 10 mile hikers leave for their walk on the Carver Historical Trail. A shuttle bus is scheduled to bring the hikers back to the festivities at the park.

Trophies will be awarded to the largest walking team, the fastest team, the team that raises the most pledges and the individual with the most pledges for completing the 10 mile hike. The pledge money raised will assist in creating new educational programs and enhance current programs at George Washington Carver National Monument.

Exhibits include a solar bike, solar cooking, a truck that does not run on gasoline, enviroscapes from the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Neosho Fish Hatchery, Tri-State Woodcarving Guild, Ozark Master Gardeners, Beekeeping, Discovery Center activities for the kids, animals, and an assortment of reptiles.

The National Monument is located two miles west of Diamond, Missouri on Highway V, then ½ mile south on Carver Road. For more information on the event or to request a walk-a-thon pledge sheet, call the park at (417) 325-4151.

This annual event is administered by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of Interior. George Washington Carver National Monument preserves the birthplace and childhood home of George Washington Carver, scientist, educator and humanitarian.

I’ve had the good fortune to have never been in a serious auto accident. Seen a few fender benders up real close, but nothing’ where someone was injured. I hate to bring the matter up ‘cause it’s been several years since I’ve been involved with a collision and I’d just like to keep it that way.

I don’t know if the few times I had a fender crushed has taught me to be more careful, or it’s just dumb luck. I have had a couple narrow escapes that just happened to fall my way. Then there was that deer that I knocked over just as I got the car stopped. It got up and ran off. Guess it was its lucky day too. And there was that owl that took off a little late from the middle of the highway. Heard its feet hit the top of the windshield. Usually it’s better to be lucky than good.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My fingernails have become as brittle as cheap glass. I cannot blame it on aging, since I am only 39.

Could it be a sign of something serious going on in my body? What can I do to strengthen my nails? — D.N.

ANSWER: Brittle nails are a sign of illness in only a small number of people. Thyroid malfunction and anemia are two examples where the nails become brittle secondary to an illness. For most people, brittle nails come from the ravages of subjecting them to repeated immersion in strong detergents.

If you have to submerge your hands into water many times, wear rubber gloves whenever you do.

Don’t use nail-polish remover.

Do keep the nails moist by applying a light coat of petroleum jelly or alpha hydroxy acids frequently during the day. Two brand names of products that have alpha hydroxy acid are DermaNail and Neutraceuticals Nail Lotion.

Biotin, one of the B vitamins, has been hailed by some people as being the answer to their brittle nails.

The exact dose is disputed, or I would give you an amount.