Marley is a beautiful 2-year-old momma cat who is ready to find her forever home! She came to one of the staff member’s homes to have her six kittens when her previous owners moved away and abandoned her. Now that her kittens have all found homes of their own, Marley is spayed and ready to settle down with the family who will love her for who she is! During the month of October, spin the wheel and take Marley home for $15, $20, or $25 (up to 83% off regular adoption fees!) This still includes her spay, vaccinations, microchip, and a bag of food to take home.

Mesker Park Zoo& Botanic Garden welcomes more than 20 volunteers from Alcoa Warrick Operations on Tuesday, October 15, 2013.   Alcoa employees will spend the day at the zoo to make various improvements, including landscaping and painting. While onsite, the president for Alcoa Global Packaging and Litho will join the volunteers and present an Alcoa Foundation ACTION (Alcoans Coming Together in Our Neighborhood) grant zoo leadership to assist the zoo.  A check presentation as well as remarks and announcements from zoo and Alcoa leadership will occur at 1:30 in the Entry Plaza at the zoo.

Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden and Alcoa and the Alcoa Foundation enjoy a strong partnership of support. With the help from the Alcoa Foundation, the zoo’s education team recently developed the Alcoa Institute for Sustainable Living Education (AISLE), providing hands-on environmental training and instruction to school children.

Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden is open 365 days a year from 9 AM – 5 PM; with last admission at 4 PM.  Admission for adults is $8.50 and children ages 3-12 are $5.50.  Children under 2 and under are free.  In recognition of their support, Vanderburgh County residents receive $1 discount.

Visit www.meskerparkzoo.com for information regarding yearly memberships or other Zoo services.

Bosse District to Host Family Fun and Fitness Night

Wednesday, October 16

6 – 8 p.m.

Bosse High School, 1300 Washington Ave.

Zuma, Taekwondo, Bosu Ball and CrossFit are just a few of the activities in which families can participate at the Bosse District Family Fun and Fitness Night, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Bosse High School. The event, which is free, is open to students and their families attending Bosse High School, Glenwood Leadership Academy, Lodge Community School, Washington Middle School, and Dexter and Harper elementary schools. In addition to healthy activities, there will be healthy snacks and health information as well as a drawing for two youth bicycles.

The Randall T. Shepard Academy for Law and Social Justice will be expanding its offerings for 2014-15 to include ninth and tenth grade students, so that now all four high school grades will be represented in the unique half-day program that introduces students to topics around law, social justice, social values and American policy, as well as core honors curriculum areas of history and English.

Now in its fourth year, the program expansion is allowing 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th grade students to apply to be a part of the half-day classes for the 2014-15 school year.  An informational meeting for potential incoming students for 2014-15 is planned for October 17, at 6 p.m., in the Harrison High School Media Center.  While students can enter the program at any point betwee their freshman to junior years – the junior and senior year program is considered a two-year sequence.  Students in the program study at their home school half the day, and at the Shepard Academy at Harrison High School half the day.  Transportation to the program will be provided through the EVSC for EVSC students.  The program is open to students outside the corporation, as well, for students who can provide their own transportation.

In the program, students have the opportunity to hear a wide variety of guest speakers including former Chief Justice Randall Shepard, the Academy’s namesake.  They will engage in authentic field experiences, attend courts in session, volunteer in advocacy programs, participate in mentor programs with community leaders, among other opportunities.  Areas of study by grade include:

9th grade:   Leaders and Literature that Shape America
Credits:  English 9H, U.S. History H, Speech, State and Local Government

10^th grade:  Leaders and Literature that Shape the World
Credits:  English 10H, Geography and History of the World H, African Studies, Asian Studies

11^th grade:  Building Leaders through Composition, Discourse, and Oration
Credits:  AP Language and Composition, Advanced Speech CC,  Debate, Law Education, Social Justice CC,
Community Service, and Political Science

12^th grade:  Building Leaders through the Critical Analysis of Politics, Economics, and Literature
Credits:  English 12 CC/AP; Government CC; Economics CC; Current Problems, Issues, and Events; International Relations