October 26, 2017
01. Gold Star Mom – Change the Conversation
02. Now That’s a Great Pumpkin!
03. Haunted Houses Go High-Tech
04. Pet Costumes Are Huge this Halloween
05. Great Halloween Show – Are Ghosts Real?
06. Your Moustache Can Make a Difference
07. Are Women Children of a Lesser God?
08. Nearly $40B Stolen from Churches Annually
09. Fight Fake News – News Consumers’ Movement
10. Tick, Tock: Expert Holiday Travel Tips
11. 5 Things to Know Before Choosing a College
12. The New BRCA Debate
13. Military Brat Shares Pre-War Vietnam Tales
14. October Is National Pet Wellness Month
15. 10-Steps to Rate Your Mate
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1. ==> Gold Star Mom – Change the Conversation
Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, made
headlines and rejuvenated the peace movement in 2005
when she camped out outside then-President George W.
Bush’s ranch in Texas. She said in an interview just
published by The Daily Beast: “Trump has proven himself
to be a loose cannon who doesn’t seem to have very many
social graces. But Bush was no better. I wish the
conversation was about the barbarism of war and, in
this instance, why are there special ops forces in
Niger? Where is the movement to oppose U.S. wars,
instead of liberal hand wringing over botched messages
of condolence? She says, “I feel like we Gold Star
Mothers, or families, are honored as long as we expound
the company line: as long as we take our Gold Star pins
and just grieve in silence. My grief was exploited by
Democrats and Republican alike to score political
points and win elections. And the wars I swore to stop
are still going, and have expanded dramatically.”
Contact her at cindysheehanssooapbox@gmail.com
2. ==> Now That’s a Great Pumpkin!
Talk about a great pumpkin! In Carefree, Arizona this
week, master pumpkin sculptor Ray Villafane and his
team are carving up a massive 672-lb pumpkin! Grown in
a four-by-30-foot flower bed in Fullerton, California
over the course of 84 days, Villafane is transforming
the pumpkin this week for the annual Enchanted Pumpkin
Garden. What is he creating? And how is he doing it?
Dubbed “The Michelangelo of pumpkin carving” by Martha
Stewart, Villafane has carved for the President at the
White House and even holds two Guinness Book World
Records. Villafane is well-known for his talents
working with sand, snow, and yes, pumpkins. He won the
Food Network Pumpkin Challenges in 2008, 2009, and
2010. Contact Tracy McCormick at (310) 766-7560 or Gina
Kaegi at (480) 488-3686.
3. ==> Haunted Houses Go High-Tech
Thinking about a trip to a haunted house this
Halloween? No matter where you live you’re bound to
find a house of horror to scare the bejeebers out of
you. Invite Amber Arnett-Bequeaith of America Haunts to
talk about some of the scariest spots across the
country this Halloween. At the Asylum in Denver, what
begins as a tour transforms into an escape room
escapade with technology making everyone feel trapped.
At the Bates Motel in Pennsylvania, you’ll find more
pyrotechnics than a Kiss concert; the customer favorite
is the creepy Headless Horsemen. And at the Dent
Schoolhouse in Cincinnati, the horrifying tale of a
killer janitor is alive with Hollywood quality sets.
“We are talking high budget 4D, virtual reality sets
combined with actors and artists whose scare tactics,
costuming and makeup set the trends in Hollywood,” says
Amber. “If you haven’t been inside a haunted house in a
while, you just might implode from fright!” Amber can
talk about the popularity of high-tech haunted houses,
where the scariest ones are, and the behind-the-scenes
wizardry that takes place to creep out the crowds. With
more than 28 haunted attractions nationwide, America
Haunts delivers fear-based entertainment to more than a
million thrill-seekers annually. Contact Amber Arnett-
Bequeaith at (816) 842-4280; amber@fullmoonprod.com
4. ==> Pet Costumes Are Huge this Halloween
Instagram, Twitter and Facebook will be full of
Halloween selfies this year, but for many, the
picture’s not complete without their pet, in costume of
course. “More and more dog- and cat-owners are treating
their pets like surrogate kids. And what proud parent
doesn’t enjoy a good photo op?” says David Sprinkle,
research director for Packaged Facts. Sprinkle will
share recent costume trends and run down the top
costumes. He says, “Dogs and cats aren’t the only pets
wearing costumes this Halloween. Guinea pigs and
rabbits are also getting in on the action! Plus, many
towns and cities host annual Halloween puppy parades
and costume contests — a fun chance to show off your
furry friend and be inspired by other people’s pets.”
Packaged Facts, a division of Market Research,
publishes market intelligence on a wide range of
consumer market topics, including consumer demographics
and shopper insight. Contact Daniel Granderson at (240)
747-3000; dgranderson@marketresearch.com
5. ==> Great Halloween Show – Are Ghosts Real?
Ghosts and goblins are all over the place this time of
year, but is there really such a thing as a ghost? What
are the signs someone from the other side is trying to
communicate with you? Can you actually develop psychic
abilities? Are there more spirits around on Halloween?
Ask psychic medium Vincent Genna, a veteran ghost-
buster! Vincent is available to provide fun, on-air
readings and offer some haunting insight from those who
have already crossed over. Vincent Genna is a triple
power psychic – a psychic with the knowledge and
experience of a licensed psychotherapist, and the
personality of a showman. He’s appeared on Coast to
Coast AM, Hay House Radio, and many other radio shows
around the country. Contact Emily Maloney at (661)
255-8283; emily@steveallenmedia.com
6. ==> Your Moustache Can Make a Difference
Movember is almost here! It’s the month when a little
facial hair goes a long way. This November the Movember
Foundation will once again ask men of all types of
follicles to grow a stash to raise awareness and money
for prostate and testicular cancers as well as men’s
mental health and suicide prevention. Men start
Movember 1st clean-shaven and grow only a moustache for
the month. Men and women can also commit to move every
day during Movember, or host a Movember event. Groups
of all kinds are encouraged to participate, from
offices to gyms and schools. Started in 2003, the
Movember movement has grown to be a truly global one,
inspiring support from over 5 million ‘Mo Bros’ and ‘Mo
Sistas.’ Contact Shanetta McDonald at (310) 450-3331;
shanetta.mcdonald@movember.com
7. ==> Are Women Children of a Lesser God?
The topic of sexual misconduct by abusive men in
positions of power is in the headlines daily lately.
What causes this behavior?
Why do people choose to be silent instead of speaking
up? Marina Shakour Haber says, “Fear! And it goes back
to the Bible, where woman was made from man and for the
man, and is there to serve him. Now it’s in our DNA,
both male and female.” According to Marina, the world
is in a state of imbalance causing disturbances and
inequality everywhere, including climatic ones.
“Underlying cause of imbalance is fear and we are a
society run by fear,” she says. “There must be a
balance of both male/female or positive/negative energy
to create a forward and upward movement. The imbalance
in energy causes stagnation and requires both to change
by joining forces.” Marina Shakour Haber specializes in
energy balances and is the author of “Dream A Better
Dream: Change Your Mind to Save the World.” Contact her
at (973) 725-0017; marina.shakour@gmail.com
8. ==> Nearly $40B Stolen from Churches Annually
According to the Association of Certified Fraud
Examiners, nonprofits lose an average of 5-7 percent of
their revenues each year to fraud and theft.
Brotherhood Mutual, an insurance company specializing
in serving religious institutions, says that over $39
billion was stolen from churches in 2014, surpassing
the $35 billion churches spent on missionary work in
the same period. Certified public accountant Lisa
London, says the thieves are usually the people you
would least suspect. “Their crimes require motives,
means, and opportunity. Not much can be done about
motives,” London notes, “but churches and nonprofits
can do something about limiting the means and
opportunities!” She’ll discuss how to keep money safe
and employees and volunteers above suspicion and share
valuable tips including always having two people handle
the money, not letting the person in charge of the bank
account also have access to the donor records, and
regularly comparing the financial results to a budget.
Lisa London, CPA, is the author of “The Accountant
Beside You” series of resources which includes “Using
QuickBooks Online for Small Nonprofits and Churches.”
She’s been quoted in U.S. News and World Report and
featured on numerous national and local media outlets.
Contact her at (919) 770-3746;
lisalondon@lisalondoncpa.com
9. ==> Fight Fake News – News Consumers’ Movement
Suzanne Nossel, executive director of PEN America, says
there’s always been a problem with fraudulent news but
it’s now compounded by social and political divisions.
She says, ultimately, the power of fake news is in the
minds of the beholders — namely, news consumers. “The
fight against fake news will hinge not on inculcating
trust in specific sources of authority, but on
instilling skepticism, curiosity, and a sense of agency
among consumers, who are the best bulwark against the
merchants of deceit.” Nossel says consumers need new
tools to sort through choices and make informed
decisions about where to invest their attention and
trust. “We need a news consumers’ equivalent of the
venerable Consumers Union that, starting in the 1930s,
mobilized millions behind taking an informed approach
to purchases, or the more recent drive to empower
individuals to take charge of their health by reading
labels, counting steps, and getting tested for risk
factors.” PEN America is a leading human rights and
free expression organization. Nossel is a featured
columnist for Foreign Policy magazine and has published
op-eds in the New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times
and dozens of other outlets. Contact her at (646)
779-4810; (646) 779-4811.
10. ==> Tick, Tock: Expert Holiday Travel Tips
If you want to get away for the holidays this year,
it’s time to get planning. The holidays are the busiest
travel Orbitz Travel expert Keith Nowak can offer
insider tips on how to save money and save your sanity!
Last year, the number of Americans who traveled for the
holidays reached an all-time high with more than 103
million people. This year, with Thanksgiving falling on
Nov. 23, earlier than usual, we may see all new record
travel numbers. Keith can discuss the best days to fly
for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, the
least expensive days to book flights, the latest trends
in holiday travel such as “family destination
holidays,” tips for getting through airport security as
quickly and smoothly as possible, and tips for
traveling with kids. Contact John Angelo at
John@premieretv.com.
11. ==> 5 Things to Know Before Choosing a College
With the first round of college application deadlines
fast approaching this fall, students (and families) are
getting ready to make one of the biggest decisions of
their lives. Adrian Ridner can give tips about some of
the most important factors to consider when selecting a
school, and what things like graduation rates can tell
you about your true cost of college. He can also walk
through strategies for making your dream school more
affordable, even if you don’t qualify for financial
aid. Adrian is co-founder and CEO of Study.com, an
education website that helps students in kindergarten
through college excel academically, and working
professionals gain the skills they need to advance.
Contact Chandni Brunamonti at cbrunamonti@study.com
12. ==> The New BRCA Debate
If you learned you or someone you love had a gene
associated with cancer, would you consent to have
healthy tissue removed as a preventative? After
Angelina Jolie went public with her prophylactic
mastectomy (having her healthy breasts removed), many
women with the same BRCA gene had their breasts removed
so they would not live in fear of getting breast
cancer. But is this a good idea? Jeanne Dockins, RN,
BSN, who spent more than three decades as a surgical
nurse at a level I trauma center, says research
suggests otherwise. For October’s Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, there is no better time to discuss the
myth that having a positive BRCA gene test makes women
at high risk for breast cancer. Jeanne says women with
the BRCA gene have a genetic predisposition for breast
cancer but a woman’s lifestyle, attitudes, external
environment, and beliefs determine if the gene will be
turned on. Distressed by the numbers of women having
their healthy breasts removed at her hospital, Jeanne
wrote a short story, “The Breast Cancer Gene Dilemma.”
It contains resources to inspire women to do their own
research and make an informed decision prior to having
their breasts removed. Contact her at (520) 343-0222;
jdockins@gmail.com
13. ==> Military Brat Shares Pre-War Vietnam Tales
From age 10 to 12, Sandy Hanna lived in Vietnam with
her family where her father—a colonel—was stationed in
the early 1960s. She has some fascinating stories to
tell about what it was like to be a kid living in
French luxury at a time when politics and intrigue
resided between plot and counterplot in Saigon, which
was then known as the Paris of the Orient; she touches
on an area not covered by Ken Burns’ recent documentary
yet her stories are currently attracting interest from
multiple movie producers. Sandy is the author of the
upcoming book, “The Ignorance of Bliss: An American Kid
in Saigon,” a book she promised her now deceased father
she would write after he gave her an expose written by
his Vietnamese counterpart. The expose has explosive
revelations about the Diem regime that came into power
with support from the United States in violation of the
Geneva Accord; a regime that was anti-American. Sandy
is an experienced guest who holds a master’s degree in
education and was a designer and marketing and sales
director for Sesame Place. Reach her at (908) 361-1843;
sndyhanna@yahoo.com
14. ==> October Is National Pet Wellness Month
October is National Pet Wellness Month but it might
just as well be called National Pet and Human Wellness
Month. That’s because the time we invest in helping our
pets to lead healthier lives also leads to a health
boost in our own lives. Carlyn Montes De Oca, an expert
on animal and human health, shares three ways we can
help our pet’s health and our own at the same time!
She’ll encourage listeners to take a play break with
their cats and dogs, to eat healthy food with them and
to walk with them. Carlyn says, “People who live the
longest are not going to the gym; they are walking.
People who have a pet tend to walk more than those that
don’t and that is a boon to your heart health and your
pet’s overall health and happiness.” Carlyn is the
author of the award-winning “Dog as My Doctor, Cat as
My Nurse: An Animal Lover’s Guide to a Healthy, Happy
and Extraordinary Life.” She is also the founder of The
Animal-Human Health Connection, which focuses on
bringing awareness to the many powerful ways that
animals enhance human health, happiness, and longevity.
Contact her at (415) 306-1853 or
cmdo@AnimalHumanHealth.com
15. ==> 10-Steps to Rate Your Mate
We all know people who keep winding up in relationships
that go nowhere, or who fall for the wrong person time
and time again. Some people think they’ve found their
perfect match and suddenly, without warning, discover
their relationship is in shambles. What went wrong?
Beatty Cohan says, “Chances are the signs were there
all along. They just didn’t know what to look for!”
Invite her to share a 10-step, fail-safe formula,
already successfully used by thousands of men and women
around the world for assessing who’s right or wrong for
you BEFORE committing to any serious relationship.
Beatty Cohan nationally-recognized psychotherapist, sex
therapist, speaker, columnist for the Huffington Post,
Thrive Global, DivorceForce and Three Tomatoes. She’s a
national radio and television expert guest and the host
of Ask Beatty on the Progressive Radio Network. Her
latest book is “For Better, for Worse, Forever:
Discover the Path to Lasting Love.” Contact her at
(941) 914-3063 (cell); BeattyCohan.msw@gmail.com