AUGUST 2008

Monthly

Cataract Awareness Month. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world. For more information, go to www.preventblindness.org.

Get Ready for Kindergarten Month. Support a happy entry into kindergarten for the almost 2 million children who will attend this fall. For information about preparing children emotionally and intellectually, visit www.education.com/grade/kindergarten.

National Immunization Awareness Month. Immunization is critical to maintaining health and preventing life-threatening diseases among people of all ages and cultures. For more information, go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/default.htm.

National Inventors’ Month. Pay homage to the inventors of the world who have changed the quality of our lives. For more information, visit www.inventhelp.com/National_Inventors_Month.asp.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Month. Families affected by this often fatal congenital disease use August to raise awareness and research support in their communities. For more information, go to www.fsma.org.

Weekly

World Breastfeeding Week. Aug. 1–7. Advocates, healthcare professionals, and social service agencies focus attention on the importance and benefits of breastfeeding. For more information, go to www.lllusa.org/wbw/.

Elvis Week. Aug. 9–17. Each year, Elvis fans from around the world visit Memphis to celebrate the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” at his beloved Graceland. For more information, go to www.elvis.com.

National Safe at Home Week. Aug. 25–29. More people are injured in and around the home than at work. Recognize and eliminate the dangers that lurk in your own backyard. For more information, go to www.safeathomeonline.com.

Daily

Rounds Re-sounding Day. Aug. 1. This is an effort to preserve rounds, catches, and canons sung in the folk contrapuntal tradition. Motto: “As rounds re-sound and resound, all the world’s joined in a circle of harmony.” For more information, go to www.delamar.org/roundsresoundingsociety.htm.

Solar eclipse. Aug. 1. A total eclipse of the sun will be visible on this day in the Northeast, as well as in Europe and Asia. This is the second and last solar eclipse for the year. The first occurred on Feb. 7 and was an annular eclipse, meaning the sun appeared as a halo around the moon.

National Mustard Day. Aug. 2. Mustard lovers across the nation unite and pay tribute to the oldest known condiment. The Mount Horeb Mustard Museum houses the largest collection of prepared mustards in the world: more than 4,600. For more information, visit www.mustardmuseum.com.

National Night Out. Aug. 5. This marks the 25th anniversary of this event created to promote police-community partnerships and encourage everyone to help fight crime. For more information, visit www.nationalnightout.org.

Vinyl Record Day. Aug. 12. Preservationists of vinyl—and its cultural influence, recordings, and cover art—chose this day to honor the predecessor of the CD because it was the date in 1877 on which Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. Use the day to celebrate music memories with your family and friends. For more information, go to www.vinylrecordday.org.

Assistance Dog Day. Aug. 14. Assistance dogs transform the lives of their human partners who have physical and/or mental disabilities by serving as companions, helpers, aides, best friends, and close members of the family. For more information, go to www.workinglikedogs.com.