APRIL: This month marks the awareness of some serious topics, and others that are more on the strange side.

It’s Child Abuse Awareness month; look for the blue pinwheels for prevention decorating lawns across McKean County. In 2008 Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign, as pinwheels “represent childlike whimsy and lightheartedness and our vision for a world where all children grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in supportive families and communities.”

On the serious side, April is also awareness for Limb Loss and Limb Difference, Esophageal Cancer, Sarcoidosis, Alcohol, Parkinson’s, Sexual Assault, Stress and Autism. 

On the not-so-serious side, it’s also awareness or celebration month for pickleball, brunch, afternoon tea, volunteers, canine fitness, cannabis, safe digging, welding, pecans, poetry, straw hats, soy foods, soft pretzels, jazz appreciation, humor, garden, fresh celery, couple appreciation and so much more.

April also brings National Unicorn Day, National High-Five Day, National Chase a Rainbow Day, and World Penguin Day.

Speaking of penguins, there’s a BBC documentary series called “South Pacific” narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch. Throughout the documentary, the Sherlock actor — whose name is often mispronounced with hilarious consequences, like Benadryl Cucumbersnatch — mispronounces the word “penguins.”

He calls them “pengwings” or “penglings.” British talk show host Graham Norton aired a clip of the documentary, pointing out the six different pronunciations Cumberbatch used for the flightless birds. Now the man who played “Dr. Strange” in the Marvel film, along with the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and even Stephen Hawking may be just as famous for a mispronunciation as he is for his acting skills or unusual name.

And its playful variations — Bendystraw Cabbagepatch, Buttercup Thunderpants, Buffalo Custardbath.