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The popular notion that pets see in black and white, notably dogs, is false. People once thought that their furry companions couldn’t see the color spectrum. However, the American Kennel Club reports that new research and conclusions about canine anatomy point to dogs having color vision, after all - it’s just a bit more muted than their human friends. According to Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC’s chief veterinary officer, dogs have more rods than cones in their eyes, which improves low-light vision. Cones are responsible for controlling color perception. Due to these anatomical differences, it is believed dogs’s vision mimics that of a person with red/green color blindness. Color is perceptible for dogs, but not in the spectrum enjoyed by humans with healthy vision. Cats also can see in color, but similarly not with the same level of detail as people. Furthermore, their vision is much more attuned to up-close sight than to focusing on objects that are far away. According to Birdfact, an online resource about birds, birds have arguably the best eyesight and ability to detect color of any member of the animal kingdom. Birds can see more color than humans because they have a fourth type of light-receiving cone in their retinas (humans have three). Therefore, a pet bird will be in tune with vibrantly colored items in and around his environment. Arizona State University’s Ask a Biologist offers an interesting chart that illustrates colors certain animals can see at https://askabiologist.asu. edu/colors-animals-see. People who want to know if their pet rabbit can see color, or what those fish in their home aquariums can see, can consult the chart.

A tradition spanning more than two decades returned to the Forney area this week. The local council of the Knights of Columbus kicked off its annual Fish Fry Dinners last Friday night, held annually in the Parish Hall of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Parish.

Thursday night February 16th, Forney ISD held the 2023 Dual Language Academy Spanish Spelling Bee. 17 students from grades 3 through 8 competed for the top honor of District Spelling Bee Champion. The winners will go on to compete and represent Forney ISD at Region 10 on March 3rd, 2023.

Get your boots polished and your blue jeans starched! And bring out the sparkling accessories to brighten up the evening! The first Saturday in April brings the 5th Annual Casino Night for the Forney Education Foundation. This year’s event will be held at Silver Saloon in Terrell, April 1, 2023. Not only will there be casino games as well as live and silent auctions but also the announcing and awarding of the Teacher of the Year candidates from Forney ISD. There are still opportunities to be a sponsor at several levels for this fun event. Don’t delay on purchasing tickets as this event has sold out every year before the date! Individual tickets include dinner, 2 drink tickets, and $100 in casino chips.

1889—1939…..Golden Anniversary.....

When planting trees, know where different species flourish

Several new programs have been added to the already robust career and technical education opportunities for high school students at Forney ISD. In the 2023-2024 school year, program selections have been expanded to the current list to include: Automotive Technology, Construction Management, Cosmetology, Emergency Services, Exercise Science and Wellness, and Fashion Design. All six of the new programs will be offered at The Opportunity Central (The OC) starting this Fall 2023.

Consumers familiar with the disparity in price between organic fruits and vegetables and conventional alternatives may be curious if that difference in price pays off with healthier foods. According to a 2014 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, it does. Researchers behind the study concluded that the antioxidant compounds in organic fruits and vegetables deliver between 20 and 40 percent higher antioxidant activity. That’s a significant benefit, as the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health notes that antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables and legumes are associated with a lower risk of various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and deaths from all causes. In addition, the Mayo Clinic notes that organically grown produce has traditionally had lower levels of pesticide residue than conventionally grown alternatives, though safety measures governing conventional produce and residue levels have changed in recent years and reduced that gap.

Thanks to the educators from Crandall ISD and Terrell ISD who made the trek to the Capitol this week to discuss how the legislature can continue to support the students of HD 4!

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurant, school and work closures were integral components of mitigation plans designed to prevent the virus from spreading. That resulted in much fewer cars on the road. Many things have changed since then, and life has gradually returned to pre-pandemic conditions. That return to normalcy has been marked by a return to the workplace. The United States Census Bureau says the average person commutes just over 27 minutes each way when traveling solo by car. Those times were slashed when only essential personnel were commuting during the height of the pandemic. Census data paints a picture of shorter commute times now. Data indicates that, in 2019, there were nearly nine million workers who were doing their jobs outside of a centralized workplace. In 2021, that part of the workforce increased to about 27.6 million workers, resulting in roughly 18.6 million fewer commuters across the U.S. Census surveys indicate round-trip commute times dropped by around 7 percent in 2021 from 2019, equalling about 4 minutes saved on a round-trip commute each day. Only time will tell if commutes will continue to decrease or if a return to the office from remote working will once again increase commute times.

The CDC released a preliminary report regarding changes in suicide rates examined by race, ethnicity, and age. Within the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the authors state that their “…analyses demonstrate disparities in suicide rates among populations based on race and ethnicity and age group in the context of overall suicide rates nearly returning to their 2018 peak after two years of declines.” More than 48,000 Americans died by suicide in 2021.

Vehicles are among the most costly expenses individuals have. According to data from Kelley Blue Book, the average price paid for a new vehicle in the United States in September 2022 was $48,094. Canadian car buyers face an equally expensive reality in their country, where the average MSRP for a new car is more than $45,000.

Can You Plan For an Unplanned Retirement?