Good people doing good things. Sing for Hope project.

The Internet is a place I love to spend a few minutes of each day. I travel to far off lands, see inventions first hand, look deep into the human structure, and find that the good being done far outweighs the negative events thrust in our faces each day.

Why is it that the mainstream media chooses to present natural acts of nature as devastating as never before? Why is “Child dies in fire.” in some obscure town making headlines on CNN or other major news outlets? Sure it is important to the family and friends of the victim and to humanity as a whole, but it happens many times over throughout the course of life. It is a given, like car accidents and snow storms so why are those things the focus of our top stories?

By reading only those stories one would think that life is only about grief, greed and graft. What should be celebrated and thrust before us each day are the stories of the millions of positive things happening around the globe. The volunteers building homes for working poor, the doctors traveling to underdeveloped nations, the artists and musicians who bring delight to the masses.

Today I ran across something on CNN that I hope you will share with your friends either through linking to this page or directly to the StreetPianos.com. Pianos in public spaces across the globe positioned for the passerby to play as he or she wishes. It is amazing how we often overlook the many talented people that we know in our everyday lives. This program gives people a public forum to share that talent with all of us.

Watch the videos. I guarantee they will make you smile.

Posted in Getaways for Parents. | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Doug Miller of the Strasburg Chamber of Commerce featured on WSVG Radio

Doug Miller dropped by to explain his involvement in the development of a cooperative effort to draw tourists to Shenandoah County. Both being “new comers” as some refer to us helps us see the beauty of the area with a fresh eye.

Catch this and all my interviews weekdays on WSVG 790AM and WAMM 1230AM. For those living a bit father from the the Shenandoah Valley visit WSVGRadio.com to hear all my interviews with some of the Valley’s most interesting people.

Chelsea's Tree an Activity Book for Stepchildren

Chelsea's Tree an Activity Book for Stepchildren

Cranberry Thanksgiving Tea

Posted in Read about Marcy's Radio Interviews for WSVG 790 AM | Leave a comment

Chelsea’s Tree makes a great gift from grandparents.

Chelsea’s Tree an Activity Book for kids in step families is selling both through my main site MyWholeFamily.com and through Amazon. Amazon sales are steady with many grandparents purchasing as a gift for new blended family members.

Check out all the great reviews and purchase directly from me to save.

Activity book for step kids

Activity book for step kids

Posted in Book Reviews - Kids | Leave a comment

Police Department in Waynesboro Virginia Books Kids

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 16, 2010!

It has been my pleasure to be involved with this great organization and when I received this email I knew it had to be shared. Chelsea’s Tree a book for young step children is the book I showcase each year at these events. I’ve attended three in Waynesboro and 1 in Charleston, S.C. and it is always a pleasure to see so many police officers on hand to help with this great undertaking.

Please feel free to contact Mark if you are interested in presenting your books at Book ‘Em this fall or put the date on your calendar for an amazing day of meeting the authors of such a wide range of interesting books.

Charleston S.C. Book 'Em Event 2008

Charleston S.C. Book 'Em Event 2008

From Mark P. Kearney
7th Annual Book ‘Em literacy event

We started and held our first ever Book ‘Em in October 2004. We had 46 authors in attendance that first year and we had 75 authors one of the years.

We are the first book event of our kind, to my knowledge, to be held and hosted by a police department. And, if I’m correct, we are also the first book event that has a goal of spreading around the world. This is due to our cause.

Our cause is to highlight the connection between illiteracy/poor reading skills and crime rates. Besides our annual Book ‘Em event, which we are working to spread to select locations around the world, I have started about half a dozen literacy programs that I’m working to spread to law enforcement agencies around the world. The proceeds raised from this event are returned to various literacy programs which help to reduce crime and hopefully improve society as a whole. We have a reading program that we started 5 school years ago where police officers go into elementary school classes to read to children. During the year, we’ll read to many classes from Pre-K to 5th grade in the 4 local elementary schools here in Waynesboro.

We have another program where several publishing companies donate books. In turn I have gone into all the English classes for the local 7th graders, 8th graders, 9th graders, 10th graders and 11th graders and gave monthly talks and at each talk each student receives a free book. Over the past several years I’ve passed out over 25,000 books to these students, as well as students in other schools, prisoners at 6 prisons, and many individuals.

I’ve gone into 6 prisons/jails so far to talk to prisoners on how they can help themselves through reading and education. I also donate books to the prison libraries. On my last visit, I was able to give them roughly 500 books. I’ve had individuals released from jail attend Book ‘Em events in the past.

I have other programs I’m working on as well that target “at-risk” teens.

I’m also working with young, elementary school children where I’m giving them free books and I’m also taking groups of them out on nature walks to help promote their love of nature.

Nothing happens overnight, so I hope to continue working on the expansion of Book ‘Em and my literacy programs the rest of my life if I can.

We hope you will consider attending because you can help us to make an even bigger difference in positively shaping the future of our country. Our goal is to improve society through the promotion of literacy. Please let me know if you have any questions at all about our event or our literacy programs.

Officer Mark Kearney
Crime Prevention Officer
Waynesboro Police Department
kearneymp@ci.waynesboro.va.us
(540) 942-6683
www.bookemfoundation.org

Books for step children are available at MyWholeFamily.com

Posted in Adventures along Route 11 | Leave a comment

An Wine female carpenter speaks with Marcy McCann

Monday and Tuesday is the time to catch my interview with An Wine a delightful and talented woman with exceptional carpentry skills. We discuss the influence our fathers had on our lives and how An’s childhood experiences have developed into a full time business.  An is also an accomplished artist who adds humor to her paintings and includes carpentry to each piece.

An's

Catch us on WSVG 790AM from 6 until 10 in the mornings and on WAMM 1230AM at 11:30AM. You can hear this and all my interviews by visiting WSVGRadion.com

Don’t forget to check out all the beautiful limited edition aircraft, nature and nautical posters on LtdPrints.com and used the coupon code WSVG to receive a discount.

Books for stepchildren can be found at MyWholeFamily.com or on Amazon.com

National Wildlife Federation

Posted in Getaways for Parents. | Leave a comment

King Street Art Works welcomes public to ribbon cutting and gallery opening.

For the past three months artists and art lovers have come together to create the first professional art collective and gallery in Strasburg. King Street Art Works or KSAW as it is being called is across from Cristina’s Cafe another art lover’s stop along historic Route 11. Twenty Five artists from Winchester to Staunton have brought an eclectic selection of paintings, pottery, fabric arts and jewelry into the newly decorated space. Adding an international flair artists from Russia and Germany bring a special look. In fact Valentina Dimilo a Russian Batikist sold the first piece before the doors are officially opened. The lovely Madonna and Child Batik wall hanging was sold to Richard Seelback of Bygones Antiques and Art just down the street after he visited during a recent morning stroll.

Valantina2

Linda L. Anderson whose mixed media work was featured in a recent article announcing the gallery’s formation is a professional exhibit installer. Ms. Anderson was hired to hang each member’s work to best showcase the pieces and tie the entire exhibit together. “Ms. Anderson was a Godsend” said Marcy McCann the inspiration behind the gallery. “She’s done a fabulous job bringing the various artist’s work together into a cohesive collection. The colors, textures and types of work create an feast for the eyes.” she said.

Diane Artz Furlong a life long native of Strasburg said “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this gallery to open. Painting is something I’ve done since my teens and now to be part of this makes me very proud.” It was Diane who came up with the name King Street Art Works. And at this trendy and hip little gallery she is right. King Street “art works” to enliven your soul, makes your spirit dance and will add excitement to your walls.

Ribbon cutting will be followed by the doors opening for the first time. The gallery will be open Thursday, through Monday from 10 AM until 6 PM with the exception of Sunday when it will be open from 11 AM until 7 PM. Call 465-3878 or KSAW234@gmail.com for more information.

KSAW is located in the shared space with LtdPrints.com.

Posted in Getaways for Parents. | Leave a comment

Elmdea Bean featured at Women Celebrating Women

On the first Sunday each month women of the Shenandoah Valley corridor from D.C. to Staunton come together to share their life experiences, adventures and aspirations at an informal gathering called Women Celebrating Women. All women 18 years and older are invited to attend the meeting that attracts both professional workers and stay at home moms.

Sunday March 7th focused on the life and work of Elmdea Bean an executive coach focused on personal, leadership, and team development. Bean, the author of Liberating Incarnations and a hypnotherapist spoke about her journey through life and the turns that took her to believe that we experience more than one life. She also treated to a guided meditation along a wooded trail and bubbling stream. What a relaxing way to wrap up and exciting evening of meeting new women.

Elmdea Bean speaking at Women Celebrating Women

Elmdea Bean speaking at Women Celebrating Women


Women Celebrating Women meets at 6PM on the first Sunday of the month at the offices of LtdPrints.com an online poster shop located at 234 West King Street in Strasburg, Virginia. Bring a dish to share and a passion for new friends.

And don’t forget to check out MyWholeFamily.com for activity books for young children in blended families.

Posted in Women Celebrating Women | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Drumming with Kester a new radio interview.

Drumming with Kester… a new radio interview coming soon on WSVG 790AM and 1230AM. The music is delightful, hypnotic and energizing. The chat is informative and enlightening. And to my surprise Kester had me pounding out a tune in no time even after I had denied having rhythm.

Of course she claimed “Everyone of our generation knows We Will Rock You!” And I did. It was great fun chatting with her. She explained the dynamics of the jimbay drum and its origins and then made the drums wail. Had me dancing in the groove there for a few minutes.

Kester agreed to be the featured musician at my annual Strasburg Mayfest Parade Party that I began when I chaired the parade for a couple of years. It was a great way of enticing people to be in the parade. Serving up some Nathan’s Hot Dogs and having great music has been our gig ever since.

Kester will facilitate Drumming at Mayfest for LtdPrints.com

Kester will facilitate Drumming at Mayfest for LtdPrints.com

Drop by LtdPrints.com’s studio and the new King Street Art Work! gallery that shares space in this great 190 year old building.

Posted in Adventures along Route 11, Getaways for Parents., Read about Marcy's Radio Interviews for WSVG 790 AM | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Fun things for the family to do in Virginia

UnityDrumCircleFlyerFinal75jpeg

Don’t forget to check out the books for kids on MyWholeFamily.com’s Books section.

Posted in Adventures along Route 11, General Interest | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Art co-op in Strasburg invites artists to join.

“King Street Art Works” is in the budding stages and is inviting artists to join us from the ground up!

We are looking for artists interested in participating in a new juried art venture in Strasburg, VA so we invite you to view the gallery space on Sunday March 7th at 2 PM.

There will be a info session with a guest who has already started a gallery co-op within our region. Refreshments will be provided by Cristina’s Cafe across from the new art space.

Several local artists have been working hard to make this happen. We look forward to working with artists who produce high quality art and are excited about ways to reach the art buying public.

Location: 234 West King Street, Strasburg, VA
Time: 2 PM
Date: Sunday March 7th
Contact: Marcy McCann Marcy@LtdPrints.com or 540-664-8028
Refreshments: provided by Cristina’s Cafa

National Wildlife Federation

Posted in Getaways for Parents. | Leave a comment