The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • K4

4K Sunday, November 2, 2008 charlotteobserver.com The Charlotte ObserverNEIGHBORS We have lived in our house 17 years as of Halloween. When my family moved back to this area, we chose Corne- lius for two reasons. First, my husband loves to fish, and we would be close to the lake. Second, parts of Cor- nelius still felt like living in the country. We have seen deer, rabbits, possum, owls, hawks, raccoons, chipmunks, moles, mice and other wild- life run through our yard.

The squirrels, however, think their yard, not ours. When we moved into our house, one squirrel would ac- tually come to the back door on the patio, tap on the glass and wait for us to feed him. For years we have tried to feed the birds in the back yard and watched one squirrel go up on the birdfeeder, shake down all the seed and join the mass of squirrel friends wait- ing below. When we drive home, they sit in the driveway and dare us to proceed. When I come back up the driveway with the Observer, they walk 2 feet away, escort- ing me to the back door.

They yell at us if we inter- rupt their chasing and wres- tling tournaments. They drop hickory nuts on our heads as we return from the mailbox. another thing I love about Cornelius: the free en- tertainment. Thank you, squirrels, for enjoying our yard. Condolences Last week, my friend Do- die lost her Pomeranian, Bug.

Though blind and 15 years old, Bug was doing just fine. But Bug got a staph infec- tion from clippers at the groomers. Her veterinarian confirmed it. Dodie found out that groomers are gov- erned by the state Board of Agriculture but are not mon- itored for how clean the equipment is. The infection spread to liver and kid- neys, causing her death.

Dodie asked all of us whose pets are our family members to be careful who grooms your dog. Help the dogs I have written before about the wonderful people at North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue. Many of you have volunteered, donated time and money or adopted dogs from this organization. You may have heard that NMAR was closing, but one of the members is trying to keep it going. NMAR has existed six years, and I imagine life without a place that helps dogs no one else seems to want.

Just last year, it helped adopt 356 dogs. To raise money, Charlotte Meetup is holding a charity benefit for NMAR from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 8 at Harley- Davidson of Charlotte, 9205 E.

Independence Blvd. The organizers are looking for donations for a silent auc- tion and raffles, and for ven- dors to rent spaces. For de- tails on the fundraiser, call Richard Gruica at 704-421-6155 or e-mail epicurious1972 For details on NMAR, go to www.north- mecklenburganimalrescue- Lisa Daidone: Squirrelly antics keep home fun CORNELIUS LISA DAIDONE In the first picture, all three are dressed in white, sitting in an expansive field. The girls have ribbons in their hair. Their mother smiles as if she a care.

But when the picture was taken, Jane Jacobs had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, she feared she survive. The photog- raphers knew it. The session was painful. And yet this picture of soft joy was the result.

story is part of a traveling exhibit created by Ir- resistible Portraits of Kannap- olis. Its purpose? To put a face on the disease. To give women and their families a chance to tell their stories. To raise mon- ey, consciousness, hope. The photo project began more than a year after Jacobs had come in to have her picture taken with her two young daughters.

The disease had struck again, even closer to home. In August 2007, Renda Ays- cue, photographic artist assis- tant at Irresistible Portraits, learned that her sister, Rhon- da Sloop, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Sloop was in her late 30s. first six months after she was explains Jessica Barringer, graphic art designer at the company, did some Sloop is a single mother, and she was struggling to put her son through college. As they raised money for Sloop, the folks at Irresistible Portraits heard stories of other women, other sisters, other mothers.

more we talked to Barringer says, more people started to tell us their story. is how I got through it. This is how my mom, my sister got through what got us started on thinking about ways to have these women tell their stories. If they could tell their stories to one other person, it would be worth Employees first committed to walking in the Avon Walk in Charlotte this month and raised $3,000 for their team. Then they decided to start their own campaign, calling it on a and be- gan asking clients for their sto- ries.

They asked whether their clients would come in for an- other photo session. They wanted to spread awareness, encourage women to take bet- ter care of their health and in- spire those battling breast cancer. Seven survivors are pic- tured in the Focused on a Cure campaign. This month and next, their exhibit is traveling throughout the Concord and Kannapolis area. Irresistible Portraits hopes to create such an exhibit annu- ally, maybe even create a foun- dation to guide year-round fundraising.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. We all know someone who has traveled that terrible road. My mother, my sister, my daughter, my cousin, my friend. Jane Jacobs told her story and came in for a second pic- ture. In this one, she holds her younger daughter tenderly.

Her older daughter holds her. She and her daughters stand together; they are intertwined. Their lives have changed. There is hope again, but there is also knowledge. May this exhibit bring both.

Barbara Thiede teaches in the UNC Charlotte Department of Religious Studies and writes from her home. Write to her in care of Cabarrus Neighbors, 371 Concord Parkway Concord, NC 28027, or e-mail her at barbara.thiede@earthlink.net. Traveling exhibit features faces of cancer survivors A Kannapolis photo studio spearheaded this collection of silent hope and joy. ON COMMON GROUND BARBARA THIEDE Focused on a Cure The schedule for the traveling exhibit on breast cancer: Monday-Friday Cabarrus Family Medicine, 270 Copper- field Blvd. N.E., suite 102, during business hours.

Nov. 3-9 Carolina Mall, center court, 1480 Concord Park- way during business hours. Nov. 10-14 Wachovia, 868 Church St. N.E., Concord, Con- cord, during business hours.

Nov. 17-21 Sportcenter Athletic Club, 233 Country Club Drive N.E., Concord, during business hours. The exhibit is also displayed at Irresistible studio in Kannapolis. For more information or to donate to on a contact Renda Ayscue at 704-933-5600 or ibleportraits.com. Town of Cornelius DUKE ENERGY EXPLORI- UM AT MCGUIRE NUCLEAR STA- TION IN HUNTERSVILLE HOSTED MORE THAN 400 HOME-SCHOOL- ERS AND PARENTS DURING THE INAUGURAL HOMES- DAY OCT.

15. The students heard a presentation on electricity, interacted with educational hands-on exhib- its, and came face to face with the environment on the mile- long nature trail. ST. MARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL IS HOSTING ITS FALL BOOK FAIR THROUGH FRIDAY. The sixth- grade class will celebrate Mass on Wednesday.

Friday is Dress Down for a Dollar Day. Proceeds benefit a service project selected by the school. Details: 704-766-5000. TODD PARKER, PRINCIPAL OF FRED L. WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HAS BEEN NAMED 2008-09 KANNAPOLIS CITY SCHOOLS PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR.

Since he became principal of Fred L. Wilson in 2004, Parker has consistently led the school to outstanding levels of student achievement. For example, Fred L. Wilson has made Adequate Yearly Progress every year since the No Child Left Behind Act was passed in 2002. Parker will represent Kan- napolis City Schools in the regional competition for state Principal of the Year.

Contact: Ellen Boyd, 704-939-1334. THE ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMU- NITY COLLEGE ACCOUNTING PROGRAM WILL OFFER ONE STU- DENT A SCHOLARSHIP THAT COVERS THE APPLICATION FEE FOR THE N.C. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY EXAMINATION. RCCC accounting graduates and current students who meet the eligibility require- ments to sit for the N.C. CPA exam on or before Dec.

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