(Welcome to our pet column, courtesy of Pet Connection Programs Inc. of Marilla. We post a new article each week, so be sure to check back on a regular basis!)

The next time you consider expanding your family to include a hamster, Guinea pig, bunny or other small pet, you won’t be alone. Some 16 million U.S. families currently cohabitate with small pets, according to the American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey.

Mary Queen of Angels Regional Catholic School in Cheektowaga will once again offer free morning and afternoon Universal Pre-K for the 2013-14 school year beginning in September. The program is made possible through the Cheektowaga Central School District.

Universal Pre-K classes are held for 2.5 hours per day, Monday through Friday. Children eligible for the program must turn four years of age on or before Dec. 1, 2013. Free busing is included, and participants may also qualify for a free or reduced lunch program.

One of nearby London, Ontario’s most anticipated summer events, TD Sunfest 2013 is set for its annual return from July 4-7 in beautiful Victoria Park. Canada’s premier celebration of the global arts, Sunfest is a unique, high-profile event featuring more than 30 professional world music, dance and jazz ensembles based in Canada and abroad.

Sunfest is a nonprofit community arts group dedicated to promoting cross-cultural awareness and understanding of the arts across a range of disciplines, such as music, dance and the visual arts. Through the organization’s World Music & Jazz Concert Series and the free-admission Sunfest event, they celebrate brilliant music and dance ensembles representing diverse cultures from around the world.