June 29: Fourth of July Facts, Shelter Cat Month and More

1. A funeral service for Larry Cauley will be held today at the Second Baptist Church. The wake begins at 10:30 a.m. The funeral service starts at noon.

2. It will be mostly sunny today, with a high of 79 °F. The wind will come from the west at speeds between 6 mph and 13 mph. It will be mostly cloudy tonight with an overnight low of 57 °F. The wind will come from the northwest at speeds between 6 mph and 9 mph. Wind gusts may reach 20 mph according to the National Weather Service.

3. June has almost come and gone, so let’s not put the month behind us without recognizing that June is Adopt-a-Shelter Cat Month. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the makers of Fresh Step cat litter have asked shelters to make an extra special effort in finding forever homes for the felines in their care. The ASPCA is promoting cat adoption on their site with cat care tips, feline stories and even a contest.
 
There is still time to enter the ASPCA’s Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month Photo Contest,  entitled The Art of the Cat Nap: Photos of Kitty in Unusual Sleeping Spots. For the rest of June, they’re accepting your photos of kittens sleeping in unexpected places; the sillier, the better! Send your picture to photocontest@aspca.org with 100 words or less about his or her favorite place to sleep. Include your name, mailing address, daytime telephone number, a valid email address, animal name, and one .jpeg formatted photo file. Five winners will be announced in mid-July. Visit the above link for all the contest details.
 
4. If you’re considering adopting a cat, keep in mind that Petfinder.com will always have cats and kittens available nearby. Simply do a search by zip code and cats from surrounding shelters will be at your fingertips. For quick access, press the links below to find felines available at the these organizations:

• Sadie Mae Foundation, Bolton
• The Queenie Foundation, Manchester
• Connecticut Cat Connection, Windsor
• Smith Blowers Animal Adoption Fund, South Windsor
• Mary’s Kitty Korner, Granby
• Enfield Animal Control, Enfield
• Kitty Angels, Coventry
• Ellington Animal Control, Ellington
• Nikolas Canine Rescue, Tolland
• Project Hope Adoptions, Somers
• Northeastern CT Animal Rescue, Mansfield
• Mansfield Animal Control, Mansfield
• Cats Northeast
• Vernon Animal Control

5. Are you in the mood for some random facts about the 4th of July? If so, perfect, because the Census Bureau has bunches!:
 
The Fourth of July 2011

• On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.
• 2.5 million - In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation. Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970.
• 311.7 million - The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth. Source: Population clock.

Flags

• $3.2 million - In 2010, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($2.8 million) was for U.S. flags made in China. Source:  Foreign Trade Statistics.
• $486,026 - Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2010. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing
  $256,407 worth. Source:  Foreign Trade Statistics.
• $302.7 million - Annual dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation's manufacturers, according to the latest published economic census data. Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code 3149998231.