Pet smart

For the past year or so, I’ve gotten inquiries from readers asking if the Jewish Light could offer a pet column. Starting July 6, I am pleased to announce a new monthly column on the subject of all things animals, “Ask Dr. Doug,” by Dr. Doug Pernikoff, a local veterinarian with more than 30 years of experience in the St. Louis area.

“Dr. Doug” currently has offices in Chesterfield at the Clarkson-Wilson Veterinary Clinic. He trained as a Zoo and Wildlife veterinarian at the St. Louis Zoo and has worked as an International Conservation Veterinarian, Zoo Veterinarian in Fort Worth, Texas and both in small animal and emergency medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Doug has lectured and worked worldwide, and hosts a weekly radio segment with Frank O’pinion on KTRS radio each Wednesday afternoon. Further, he founded the Veterinary Pet Rescue (VPR), a not-for-profit rescue and adoption organization on behalf of the St. Louis community.

Dr. Doug brings a wealth of veterinary experience to our Jewish Light audience in order to entertain and educate you about the wonderful world of animals. Born and raised in St. Louis, he lives with his wife, Marilyn and kids, Bobbi, Tom and Rick, in Wildwood.

Please feel free to send your pet questions directly to Dr. Doug at [email protected] and be sure to write “Ask Dr. Doug” in the subject field. And look for his debut column July 6 – and continuing the first Wednesday of every month – exclusively in the Light.

Cruise your cares away

If you or someone you know is a devoted family caregiver, consider entering the Home Instead Senior Care Network’s sweepstakes for a free, five-day cruise. Just go to http://cruise.caregiverstress.com/ before the July 14 deadline to learn more about the contest and to nominate yourself or someone else for the drawing, which will be conducted July 22. One nominator will be entered into a secondary drawing to receive a laptop computer and camcorder, worth up to $600. The public, entrants and nominees will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite caregiver story. The nominee with the most votes will receive an Apple iPad, worth up to $400.

The five-night, six-day “Caregiver Stress Management Cruise” is scheduled for Jan. 21-26, 2012, on the Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas. For more information, visit http://cruise.caregiverstress.com/.

Change of venue

The St. Louis Sippery & Cafe, which used to be located at Plaza Frontenac, has doubled its space and opened in the Chesterfield Valley at 161 Long Road (at Edison). In addition to its regular menu, the Sippery has dozens of catering options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It also offers gluten-free baked goods, prepared by Amy Fenster Brown and Brown Sugar Baking.

Speaking of Plaza Frontenac, look for Pottery Barn Kids and PB Teens to open Saturday, July 16 at the location previously occupied by the freestanding William-Sonoma home store.

Frum fashion

Some months ago, Orli Axelbaum held a trunk show of sorts featuring modest but fashionable clothing from Israeli designer Bat Ayin, and Internet retailer Frumalicious. The results and demand were such that now she and a business partner are offering these fashions at Axelbaum’s home-based boutique, with the hope that young girls, teens and women who desire modest, fashion-forward clothing will have more options. For more information about Frumalicious, call 314-724-1134 or email [email protected].