9/11/25 - New Cookie, Sun Screen Flavor - What? and Teddy Bears

Thursday 9/11/25

Celebrate:

Today in 2001 we had the worst terrorist acts in this country.

Many of the things we celebrate today come from that horrific day.

Too bad we don't have and remember that "we are all one" feeling that happened after. The country is more divided than it has ever been. 

Locally, there will be remembrances. 

Elmira College will mark the 24th anniversary of the September 11th attacks with a campus-wide flag ceremony.

The community is invited to gather at the campus fountain on Thursday, September 11th at 8:40 a.m. A moment of silence will follow at 8:46 a.m., the time when the first tower of the World Trade Center was struck.

The ceremony is scheduled to last until 9:40 a.m., with American flags displayed along Park Place to honor the victims of the attacks.

The Town of Owego, in partnership with the Village of Owego Fire Department, will hold its 10th Annual September 11th Memorial Ceremony on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 8 a.m. at the Town’s 9-11 Memorial located in Hickories Park.

National Day of Service and Remembrance

National Emergency Responders Day

Patriot Day

Remember Freedom Day

"I Want to Start My Own Business" Day

Libraries Remember Day

Make Your Bed Day

National Hot Cross Bun Day

National No News is Good News Day

Women's Baseball Day

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Kiss My Grits!!!! Actress Polly Holliday, who's catch phrase from Alice in the 70s, has died at 88.

Holliday began her career on the screen in the mid-1970s ... grabbing parts in "All the President's Men" and "Distance" before she won a lead role on the hit sitcom "Alice."

In the show -- loosely based on Martin Scorsese's 1974 movie "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" -- Holliday played Flo Castleberry, one of the title character's coworkers.

Polly had a number of other roles in iconic projects as well ... including parts in the films "Gremlins," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "The Parent Trap" and TV shows "The Golden Girls" and "Home Improvement." Her last credit came in the 2010 film "Fair Game" starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn.

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The Girl Scouts have just unveiled their newest cookie:  They're called Exploremores . . . and they're ROCKY ROAD-inspired.

They're "chocolate cookies, which have a creamy filling with notes of chocolate, marshmallow, and toasted almond-flavored crème."

The Exploremores will be available when Girl Scout Cookie season begins in January.  

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Cracker Barrel is..i mean was trying to rebrand and become a bit more contemporary. But that is all stopping. First the logo isn't going to change.

NOW..they're reassuring customers that they've scrapped the remodeling plans.

Cracker Barrel released this statement:  "You've shared your voices . . . not just on our logo, but also on our restaurants.  If your restaurant hasn't been remodeled, you don't need to worry, it won't be."

According to reports, they'd only actually remodeled FOUR of their 660 locations.

They also added, "The vintage Americana will always be here . . . the rocking chairs on the porch, our fireplaces and peg games, unique treasures in our gift shop and antiques pulled straight from our warehouse in Tennessee."

The initial plan was to freshen up the design and clean up the dining rooms . . . most of which hadn't been touched in decades.  The chain has been struggling since the pandemic, and they thought maybe a cleaner, spruced up look would attract more customers . . . especially younger ones.

But old-schoolers felt like they were messing with tradition, and harassed the company on social media until they caved.

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It's NFL season, when many football fans watch their favorite teams over a few beers and some have a few too many.

A new survey talked to more than 3,000 football fans about their drinking habits.

The fanbase with the "heaviest drinkers" is . . . the Arizona Cardinals.  Nearly 19% of Cardinals fans admit to downing FIVE OR MORE drinks on gameday.  Which is really pushing the limits of the "drink responsibly" thing.

Buffalo Bills fans are next, followed by fans of:  The Houston Texans . . . the Carolina Panthers . . . the Tennessee Titans . . . the Washington Commanders . . . the L.A. Chargers . . . the New York Giants . . . the New Orleans Saints . . . and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The fanbase that binges the LEAST on gameday is the Green Bay Packers.  Only 3% of Packers fans have five or more drinks.  Possibly because they filled up on cheese.

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Carnival cruises teamed up with the brand Van Leeuwen for a new sunscreen-flavored ice cream. 

They're not selling it yet, but maybe next summer.  They say they're gauging the reaction online to see if they should do a limited run.

Ingredients include coconut cream, cocoa butter, vanilla extract, and sea salt.  "People" magazine got their hands on a tub and called it "surprisingly delicious."

They say the main flavor is vanilla, with "notes of coconut followed by a distinctly salty 

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Animal Control in Connecticut is investigating how two squirrels ended up painted blue and red.  They shared photos . . . and it does seem like they've been deliberately painted.

They say the squirrels "appear to be okay" . . . but they're asking for help in identifying the person or people responsible for doing this, and why.  (Some are joking it was a gender reveal gone bad.  Which, sadly, is possible.)

Interestingly, this has happened before.  Last year, a 62-year-old man in New York was arrested for trapping and spray-painting squirrels a bright, "apple red" color.  It's still unclear WHY he did it . . . or how he was caught.

For what it's worth, that was happening in Putnam County, New York, which DOES border Connecticut . . . but it's NOT the area where these new squirrels are.  There's no indication the cases are related.

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National Teddy Bear Day was a few days ago and nearly 100% of respondents believe teddy bears are for all ages, not just kids, and an overwhelming 92% still own their favorite childhood stuffed animal. Plus, a remarkable 67% said their furry friend has helped shape not just their mood, but also their life plans. Perhaps even more telling, a playful 86% admitted their teddy bear knows more of their secrets than their therapist.

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Today’s Useless Fact of the Day - In ancient China, people ate tea like a vegetable. (don't tell the TikTok'ers)

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