Author: Lisa Mungovan

72 years ago, Alan Ball sent a postcard to his parents while visiting New York. The postcard recently arrived at the Ottawa Post Office, and the postmaster took on the challenge of returning it to its sender. Alan, now 88 and living in Idaho, recognized his handwriting, but didn’t remember sending the card.

A rare species of bird called the Socorro dove, has some new members. The Chester Zoo in England, welcomed 8 chicks, called squabs. Socorro doves have been extinct in the wild since 1972, but conservation breeding programs have brought the captive population up to 200. The zoo hopes more eggs are on the way.

A semi truck overturned on a Colorado highway, spilling its load of sweet corn. The vegetables have been cleared off the road, but instead of getting another truck to deliver them, the undamaged corn is being offered to the public for free. Any leftover remnants beside the road, will be enjoyed by deer.

Do you own a pair of Crocs? People seem to either love or hate the colorful rubber clogs, but Doogie Lish Sandtiger loves them most of all. He’s got the biggest collection of Crocs in the world, featuring more than 3,800 different pairs. He hopes to show off his comfy collection someday, in a Crocseum.

Today is Trail Mix Day. That means you can take the last of all your bags of pretzels, peanuts, chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds, raisins, and whatever else you like, and mix them together. Then go for a long hike and eat your snack for energy, because it’s Eat Outside Day. Don’t worry about crumbs.

International Whale Shark Day celebrates the biggest fish in the world. It’s not a whale, but it’s nearly as big! Whale sharks can reach 41 feet long. They eat tiny plankton, and have to travel great distances in tropical waters, to find enough to feed their giant bodies. Their teeth are only 6 millimeters long!

In 1860, before the United States Postal Service delivered to the wild west, there was the Pony Express. A chain of horses and riders, carried mail across vast stretches of land to deliver the mail. Today is Pony Express Day! Don’t forget, Crayon Collection Month is nearly over. How many crayons do you have?

Summer’s nearly over, but there’s still time to celebrate Beach Day. While you’re there, pick up any garbage you see, and be sure you don’t leave any new trash of your own. It’s also Slinky Day. The talented spring was invented in the 19 40’s, and has been walking down stairs ever since.

Today is Frankenstein Day. Lurch around like Doctor Frankenstein’s creature, or read the original book, written by Mary Shelley. Maybe Frankenstein should have electrified marshmallows instead of people, since it’s Toasted Marshmallow Day. Have a bonfire, and roast one on a stick, or watch a marshmallow grow huge in the microwave!

David Rush has broken hundreds of Guinness world records, including 47 with his buddy Jonathan Hannon. They recently recaptured their record, for getting hit in the face with wet sponges the most times, in one minute. Jonathan pelted sponges at David’s face, and 96 found their target. Now his face is squeaky clean!