text:
Heart Health Expert Q & A, Part 1
Get expert advice on how nutrition and lifestyle affect your heart
An Everyday Health Special Report
Q1. How is fiber tied to heart health?
I can't say enough about fiber and its importance to heart health. In fact, one of my goals as a cardiologist is to get people to eat more fiber-rich foods. That's because fiber not only helps people maintain a healthy weight, it can also help prevent type 2 diabetes and reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol.
There's no doubt that if people ate more fiber, there would be far fewer cases of obesity and type 2 diabetes in this country and around the world. Why? Because high-fiber foods slow the rate of digestion of starches and sugars, which blunts the swings in blood sugar that lead to cravings for more starchy and sugary foods. Not only does fiber help prevent the constant hunger that can cause weight gain, but it can also be very important for those with prediabetes or diabetes who need to control their blood sugar. It's not surprising, then, that people who consume good amounts of fiber from fruits, vegetables, legumes, and other high-fiber, low-calorie foods gain less weight when followed over a period of years. And of course, keeping weight down helps lower the risk of heart disease.
Beyond helping curb appetite and weight gain, fiber itself seems to have positive effects upon heart health. In fact, a major Harvard study of more than 40,000 male health professionals found that those who ate lots of dietary fiber-especially cereal fiber-had a 40 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease, compared with men who ate the least fiber. A study of female nurses, also conducted at Harvard, found that fiber had the same heart-healthy effects on women.
One way fiber may lower the risk of heart disease is its effect on blood pressure. Getting plenty of fiber from plant foods appears to protect against developing hypertension, or high blood pressure, according to numerous studies. What do plant foods have in common? They're rich in heart-healthy phytonutrients that help keep arteries flexible and blood flowing optimally. In a review published in the March 2005 issue of the Journal of Hypertension, researchers analyzed 25 studies that looked at the effect of fiber on blood pressure. The results? Adding fiber-rich foods to the participants' diet caused a significant reduction in blood pressure among people with hypertension.
As far as fiber's effect on lowering cholesterol, one food that has been recognized for its ability to do so is oats, an important source of water-soluble fiber. The soluble fiber in oat bran binds with bile acids in the intestine to block the absorption of cholesterol by the body. In addition legumes, such as red beans, kidney beans, black beans, soybeans, and lentils, which are excellent sources of fiber as well as phytonutrients, have been found to help lower bad LDL cholesterol. In a study following more than 9,600 men and women for 19 years, those who ate the most legumes had a 22 percent lower risk of atherosclerosis and an 11 percent lower risk of any kind of cardiovascular disease (such as stroke).
Today, the American Heart Association recommends eating 15 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories consumed daily. That adds up to about 25 to 35 grams per day, depending on how many calories you take in. But most Americans don't get anywhere close to this amount. In fact, the average daily intake is a total of 15 grams of fiber. That's why I always remind my patients to keep eating plenty of fiber-rich whole fruits and vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
Q2. Can fiber help prevent other diseases, like colon cancer?
Certainly fiber has been widely studied for its ability to help lower cholesterol and blood pressure and decrease your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. And it definitely contributes to a sense of satiety that helps with weight control. In addition, insoluble fiber helps bulk up stool, thereby promoting regularity of bowel movements. This, in turn, is thought to help protect against a condition called diverticulosis (in which small out-pouches develop in weak spots in the wall of the large bowel) and diverticulitis (in which these small pouches become infected and inflamed). But, the evidence is less clear when it comes to fiber's ability to protect against colon cancer.
Twenty five years ago, when data on fiber and colon cancer started coming in, the results suggested that fiber clearly reduced the risk of this type of cancer. As a result, Americans were advised to load up on fiber as a means of preventing this leading killer of men and women. Fiber's ability to protect against colon cancer became etched in stone. Part of this belief was based on research that showed that countries with the highest rates of dietary fiber consumption had the lowest rates of colon cancer.
But then, in the year 2000, the results of two studies published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine threw this belief into question. In one, researchers randomly assigned more than 1,400 men and women who had had one or more precancerous polyps removed within three months before the study to either a diet including high amounts (13.5 grams a day) of wheat-bran fiber or low amounts (2 grams a day). At the end of three years, colonoscopy results showed the high-bran eaters had no fewer new precancerous polyps than the low-bran eaters.
Likewise, in the other study, almost 2,000 men and women who had a history of having had precancerous polyps were assigned to eat either a low-fat (20 percent of calories), fiber-rich (18 grams per 1,000 calories consumed) diet based on lots of fruits and vegetables or to continue their regular (low-fiber) diets. After four years, colonoscopy on all participants showed that eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet did not prevent the return of their precancerous polyps. High-fiber eaters had as many new polyps as the low-fiber eaters.
In short, these two large randomized studies showed that fiber had no effect on the recurrence of precancerous polyps.
Nevertheless, there are experts who still believe that fiber helps to prevent colon cancer. They cite studies such as one sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and reported in 2007 in the British journal The Lancet, which found that people who had the highest amounts of fiber in their diets (36 grams per day or more) had the lowest incidence of colon polyps. In fact, their risk of getting polyps was 27 percent less than that of the people who ate the least amount of fiber (12 g a day or less). Or they refer to the 2003 European Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study, also published in
The Lancet, which followed almost 520,000 people in 10 countries for five years. This study revealed that people who reported eating the highest levels of fiber had about a 40 percent lower risk of developing colon cancer than those reporting that they ate the least amount of fiber.
So, what to conclude? The truth is, we don't have the whole story yet. The discrepancy in these findings may be due to the fact that the two studies from 2000 were looking at the polyp re-formation rate, rather than the development of colon cancer itself. Or, perhaps once the disease process is underway, a high-fiber diet may not help prevent polyp recurrence. Yet another explanation for the discrepancy is that it may be due to some unidentified factor that differs in people who eat a lot of fiber over the course of their normal lives and in those who don't.
That factor might be, for example, the other good nutrients that accompany fiber in nutritious foods. Even the authors of the National Cancer Institute study mentioned above suggest that fiber may not be the only nutrient causing the protective effect. Many high-fiber foods also contain the B vitamin folate and other vitamins that may be protective. And people who eat a high-fiber diet are also likely to do other healthy things like eat less red meat, drink less alcohol, avoid smoking, and get regular exercise, all factors that reduce cancer risk. What's clear is that the debate about fiber and colon cancer will continue. In the meantime, as I tell my patients, it certainly can't hurt to eat a diet rich in high-fiber plant foods.
Q3. Is there such a thing as eating too much fiber?
Too much fiber is rarely an issue. Most Americans are not getting nearly enough in their diets. And even if you are getting the ideal 25 to 35 mg a day, as long as that fiber is coming from a variety of food sources, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, you should be able to digest it without problems. For most people, it's a matter of getting used to a healthy amount.
That said, I have had patients complain of gas, bloating, and constipation or diarrhea when they suddenly introduce a lot of fiber into their diet. To avoid such problems, increase your fiber intake gradually if you haven't been consuming very much. And be sure to drink plenty of water as your intake increases.
Some of my patients have found that when they give up whole grains for two weeks on Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet, they become constipated, even though they are still eating lots of high-fiber vegetables and legumes. In such cases, I often recommend a fiber supplement to help restore normal bowel function. Fiber supplements such as plant-derived psyllium or synthetic methylcellulose or polycarbophil are safe and effective. Again, be sure to take them with plenty of water.
Q4. What's the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber?
When it comes to fiber, it's important to know that there are two types-soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber is found mainly in vegetables, fruits, legumes, barley, oats, and oat bran. It slows down digestion, so food stays in your stomach longer, making you feel satisfied for a longer period of time. Insoluble fiber is found mainly in wheat, especially in wheat bran and other whole grains. It is not broken down by the gut, nor absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, and thus, it speeds up the movement of food through your intestines, helping to prevent constipation.
Most people don't get nearly enough of either type of fiber in their diets. That's why it's important to check the labels on the packaged foods you're buying to see how much fiber you're getting. Breads in particular can be misleading. When you buy whole-grain breads and other products, be sure the label says "100% whole wheat" or "whole grain," not "enriched" or "fortified" grain or simple "100% wheat" or "multigrain." The process of refining white flour depletes it of much of its fiber and nutrients. Food manufacturers add back some of these nutrients and label the product "enriched" or "fortified," but these are no substitute for the real thing. I recommend choosing whole-grain products that have 3 grams or more fiber per serving.
Q5. Besides getting enough fiber, what can I do to ensure my heart's health?
There are many things you can do besides increasing your fiber intake to keep your heart healthy. As far as diet is concerned, in addition to eating plenty of high-fiber whole fruits and vegetables, as well as legumes and whole grains, you should also make sure you're choosing lean protein (chicken and turkey without the skin, fish and shellfish, lean meats, for example) and low-fat dairy, and replacing saturated fats and trans fats with good monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil and canola oil.
In addition, I highly recommend that you exercise regularly (discuss this with your doctor if you aren't exercising already). I suggest alternating 20 minutes a day of heart protective aerobic exercise, such as interval walking, swimming, or biking (or even dancing or doing jumping jacks in your living room) with exercises that strengthen your core-the vital muscles in your abdomen, back, pelvis, and hips. You may wonder why a cardiologist is recommending strengthening muscles other than the heart muscle. The answer is simple: You can't keep your heart strong and your body healthy if your other muscles are weak.
Finally, I typically recommend that all men over 40 and women over 50 get a heart scan with a calcium score to detect arterial plaque years before it can cause symptoms of heart disease. If heart disease is identified with a scan, I also recommend advanced blood testing that goes beyond conventional cholesterol levels to determine the causes of the plaque buildup and thus the best treatments to halt its progression. Such advanced tests include the hs-CRP test, which measures C-reactive protein, a particle that when elevated signifies inflammation, as well as genetic testing. With this information, treatment can be cost-effectively tailored to each individual and would typically include lifestyle changes (such as diet, exercise, and stress reduction), medications such as statins, niacin, and insulin sensitizers, or all of these.
One of the best kept secrets in this country is that doctors who are employing the prevention strategy of advanced testing and aggressive treatment have been seeing heart attacks and strokes all but disappear from their practices.


text:
I don't know a lot of shops in austria but one:
http://www.espressolutions.at/shop/inde ... ehlen.html
The shop's got a lot of postive reviews on kaffeenetz
Moderators: CakeBoy, GreenBean, Gouezeri, bruceb
Lameen wrote:Hi guys,
I've just joined Too Much Coffee and I live in Vienna.
I am in need of a new grinder as my current one, Isomac (won't recommended it to anyone, good grinding but too much plastic and easily breakable) is now a write-off. I am undecided between going all out and splashing on a Mazzer Mini Electronic (500 Euros), going the middle way (the new Compak K3-Touch for about 350 Euros) or at the "cheaper" end for an Iberital for 150 Euros. Grateful for advice especially for Vienna or for good shipment to Vienna.
fred25 wrote:Don't know if they're supplied in Austria, but the Maccaps (you can check them out at Bella Barista website) are considered by a lot of people to be as good as Mazzers, except for the name and, er, pricetag (when new).
Could be worth checking out....
HughF wrote:Stewart - I have replied on your OTHER thread on the same topic
Ho hum...
Davec wrote:gouezeri wrote:In the pursuit of perfection people will complain about anything and everything. I just think we need to keep things in perspective. My analogy was simply to provoke, I'm not saying that chefs never complain about poor equipment, but rather that the most important emphasis is placed elsewhere. Doesn't matter how good your oven, if you're putting ready meals in it. There are still plenty of posts on TMC about people buying machines before grinders, and trying to use preground, and we're a specialised site!
A bit off topic in the Lever thread, so I thought I would start a new thread. I think it could be an especially useful discussion to those starting out or upgrading from very basic equipment. I'm probably wrong, but the discussion and comments are going to offer a few perspectives to others that could just prove useful. If nothing else it will give them food for thought.
I used to believe an expensive grinder was very important, wasn't sure if more so than the machine, but wouldn't have argued the point. I now think a good grinder is essential...but not necessarily an expensive one.
If I was considering starting from scratch now I would buy:
Good grinder....probably around £100 ish
Very Good machine (£400+)
Good Fresh Coffee (not from the supermarket! and be choosey about your retail outlet )
Then Later (after a few years) get a good "expensive" grinder £300-400 and sell the first grinder. The reason I say this is simply that I have come across a grinder I have since sold that doesn't grind far off the quality of my Mazzer Mini E. Sure, it won't do so for so long, it's not as fast or as quiet and grind quality is bound to deteriorate gradually over a 2-3 year period, unlike the Mazzer. I was however amazed that the cheaper grinder could even approach the quality of the Mazzer. This was a suprise for me and although not all £100 grinders are going to grind well....there are obviously some that will!
It's also the cheaper way round to do things as you will easily get £30-40 for a good grinder that cost £100-120 when it's a couple of years old. However, you might lose a little more on a "mid range" coffee machine. Prehaps not in % terms but in total cash. This being TMC though, I am sure there are lots of conflicting views on these comments
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Work has been crazy hectic & crazy awesome. I turned into a puppy person, because I wanted to meet John. (I am a HUGE fan of those dimples..). I do not know what was the better moment of the day - that I fell completely, irrevocably in love with a wee little cute furball puppy called Moon, or that I stood there and chatted with John Abraham about how cute this aforementioned pup was, and handing the pup to him before a picture perfect shot was taken. I think both. #totalfangirlmomenthappening
|Moon came back smelling like John, I swear I am not crazy.
John is such an incredible person because he was a DELIGHT to shoot with. And an absolutely sweet person to talk to. His mom, Firoza aunty was so much more sweeter! A wonderful lady who loves dogs just as much as we do! :) What a fun shoot. (John's teeshirt said 'Man of Steel' *sigh*)
Before you ask what the shoot was for, it was for the amazing World For All "Pet Parents" calendar. If you want a copy (I only just wrapped up the design with the team, and its looking so AWESOME, it matters next to nothing that I have barely slept in two days!) email me on email@example.com and I will be in touch! Cannot wait for the calendar launch, which happens in two weeks. Our calendar has been covered by pretty much every major newspaper / magazine, and the interest generated has been phenomenal. I. Am. So. Excited! Yay us! :)
Do order your copy today. Its a small amount, but it will ALL go towards saving an innocent life. Everyone from our endorser John to the actors featured to the amazing photographer to the wonderful designing & editing team .. and right down to the WFA team - has put in a LOT of hard work, all for one cause. Help us help the ones who need it the most. It's a personal request. :)
... So how have you been lately?
P.S: Seriously deliberating getting a paw prints tattoo over my heart.
Now Playing: I'm ready | Bryan Adams


text:
A WOMAN suspected of recruiting more than 80 female suicide bombers has confessed to organising their rapes so she could later convince them that martyrdom was the only way to escape the shame.
Samira Jassam, 51, was arrested by Iraqi police and confessed to recruiting the women and orchestrating dozens of attacks.
In a video confession, she explained how she had mentally prepared the women for martyrdom operations, passed them on to terrorists who provided explosives, and then took the bombers to their targets.
"We arrested Samira Jassim, known as 'Um al-Mumenin', the mother of the believers, who was responsible for recruiting 80 women", Major General Qassim Atta said.
"She confessed her responsibility for these actions, and she confirmed that 28 attempts had been made in one of the terrorists' strongholds," he said.
Samira Jassim was arrested on January 21. She is allegedly linked to the Ansar al-Sunnah insurgent group.
Two of the attacks for which Samira Jassim admitted responsibility in the video confession took place in Diyala province, in central Iraq, which is considered one of the most dangerous areas of the country.
The Associated Press reports US military figures indicate at least 36 female suicide bombers attempted or carried out 32 attacks last year. Women are often allowed through military checkpoints without being searched, making it easier for them to hide explosives under their traditional robes.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25006101-12335,00.html
For once in my life I am speechless in regard to these abhorrent acts.
Filed under: blog, Discussion, human rights, Iraq, islamic violence, Terror Attack, women | Tagged: bigotry, freedom, freedom of religion, hadith, human rights, iraq, islam, islamic intolerance, islamic terrorism, islamic violence, islamists, islamofascism, islamoscope, jihad, koran, muhammad, quran, terrorism, terrorists, violence, women in islam | Leave a comment »


text:
Working with entrepreneurs and world-class venture capital firms to create and build fast growing Internet services, eCommerce and Digital Media businesses.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Dopplr meets Mr and Mrs Smith
Dopplr is a service created for frequent travellers who belong to the same social, business or industry network.
If you travel a lot to conferences, meetings or otherwise its amazing how frequently you find that someone in your network happens to be in the same city at the same time - or perhaps you'd miss by a day or two.
The Dopplr site was built early last year and
about 500 heavy travelers from technology and media companies were invited to
road test the software. Since the Dopplr users were logging thousands of air
miles a month, the site quickly became the place for wired
globe-trotters, many of whom are now hooked on checking each others'
The site is now open but of course permission
to view another member's itinerary is by invitation only.
The service has attracted a lot of attention including a nice piece in Time magazine and is now being adopted by some large corporations as a way of optimising 'face-time' between their wide travelling executives.
Now Dopplr have added a superb, fully integrated partnership (through to booking) with the Boutique Hotel group - Mr and Mrs Smith.
The Hotels recommended by Mr and Mrs Smith may not meet everyone's budget but the direction which Dopplr are going is clear - great functionality for the user and smart monetisation of a super service.
Great job, guys!
OFT Clears LoveFilm Amazon merger
Yesterday the OFT gave the go-ahead for LoveFilm and Amazon to merge their DVD rental operations. Whilst most people expected this, it was by no means a 'slam dunk'.
The OFT said that while it had competition concerns about the merger, which will control 90% of the online DVD market, it concluded that LoveFilm had no incentive to worsen its customer proposition because of the competition it faced from an array of other providers of video content.
LoveFilm in the UK and Netflix in the US have once again demonstrated the power of the web to disrupt well established and entrenched business models - in this case the Video Rental stores.
Lovefilm's CEO Simon Calver says the high street film rentals market has "completely imploded" with 50 per cent fewer stores trading today than two years ago as consumers continue to flock online to hire their movies.
Speaking at the First Tuesday 'Retail Revolution' event in London this week Calver said there are simply more attractive options online for film fans, with the internet now accounting for 45 per cent of the total rentals market, as it provides a platform for more choice, greater convenience and better value-for-money.
Although LoveFilm will have 90% of the DVD on-line rental market after the merger, the OFT clearly recognises that the next disruptive wave could be coming from downloads and other VOD channels.
Read previous TAG posts connected with LoveFilm
Posted by Unknown at 6:51 am No comments:
Labels: amazon, DVD Rentals, Lovefilm, netflix, OFT
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
The Central Connecticut softball team topped the Quinnipiac Bobcats in two back-to-back eight run rules with scores of 9-0 and 10-2 on Sunday. Senior Kelsey Barlow hit her 27th home run of her career in game one and added a grand slam to her record in game two. Junior Arielle Bruno also hit a homer of her own in game one, the 16th of her career. Central's record improves to 30-13, 16-4 in the NEC.
With 16 conference wins, the Blue Devils have won the most single-season conference games in CCSU history and clinch a spot in the 2013 NEC Tournament from May 9-11. They are also guaranteed at least a share of the NEC regular season title with the wins.
This is the first time the Blue Devils have completed the regular season in the top four. They are also just one overall win short of the CCSU single-season win record.
Sophomore Laura Messina, who is ranked seventh in the nation in shutouts and owns the CCSU record, registered her 11th shutout of the season, the 18th of her career, in the game one victory. She threw a three-hitter to hand the Bobcats their seventh NEC loss and totaled six strikeouts on the day to break her own single-season strikeout record. Quinnipiac is now 15-31 overall and 8-8 in NEC play.
"It was great to finish out our regular-season NEC games with two more wins," Head Coach Jeff Franquet said. "I am really proud of our team and how well they've played. We are excited to clinch a spot in the tournament and hope to finish out our season strong."
Game 1
The Blue Devils earned the first run of the game when sophomore Kat Malcolm sent a double to right center to score Bruno in the top of the third. Senior Nicole Springer stepped up to the plate and singled to right field to plate Malcolm and put Central up 2-0.
Central held onto the 2-0 lead until a big fifth inning in which the Blue Devils scored seven runs to ultimately end the game on an eight run rule. Bruno led off the inning with a solo homer to left field followed by a Malcolm single and a Springer double to bring Malcolm in and put CCSU up by four.
Following a pitcher change by the Bobcats, Barlow sent a bomb to left field to plate Springer and increase the lead to six.
Central added another run to the board when pinch running senior Sarah Emery scored on a wild pitch and freshman Eileen Purcell followed on a single by senior Stephanie Chotkevys. Purcell reached base on a single of her own.
The Blue Devils wrapped up the scoring with a Brown double to left center to plate senior Lauryn Alibozek for the ninth run.
CCSU amassed 11 hits in the game compared to just three for the Bobcats. Bruno and Malcolm led Central at the plate with two hits and two runs each. Purcell and Springer each added two hits and one run.
Game 2
Central took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when a single by Barlow drove in Bruno who had reached on a single up the middle.
The Blue Devils added another run to the board in the top of the second when Malcolm doubled to right center to plate freshman Brittany Ernst, who reached base on a fielder's choice.
Messina allowed two runs in the bottom of the second to tie up the game before Central exploded in the top of the third for another seven-run rally.
The Blue Devils loaded the bases in the top of the third before freshman Hannah Cooper was hit by a pitch. She advanced to first to plate freshman Evie Rentzel and regain the lead. Freshman Kenya McVey singled to shortstop to drive in Brown and was followed by an RBI single from Chotkevys to put Central up by three.
With two outs in the top of the fifth and the Blue Devils holding a narrow 5-2 lead, Barlow blasted her second homer of the day for a grand slam. She drove in Malcolm, Ernst and McVey on the play to put Central up 9-2.
Purcell doubled in the top of the fourth, her eighth of the season, and was driven in by a McVey single to increase the lead to eight.
The Blue Devils were led in game two by Malcolm and Barlow who each went two-for-four at the plate and scored one run. Purcell and Ernst scored two runs and McVey went two-for-two at the plate, scoring one run. Central totaled nine hits in the win, drew four walks and left seven on base. The Bobcats were allowed six hits and only one walk.
Central will close the regular season at Maryland-Eastern Shore on Wednesday, May 1, in Princess Anne, MD. The doubleheader is set to begin at 1 p.m.


text:
Plant was cited in 2006 for lack of permit
An intermediate school located close to the West Fertilizer Co. plant in West, Texas, a town of 2,000, has more than once been evacuated due to fumes and pollution from the plant that exploded Wednesday night.
But the company failed to report any previous pollution events to state air pollution authorities, according to records and interviews by The Houston Chronicle.
In fact, Texas Department of Environmental Quality shows no reports of pollution releases by either West Fertilizer or by its parent company, Adair Grain Inc.
Adair Grain, which was incorporated in Texas in May 2004, did not get its state air pollution permit until 2007 after a complaint was filed about foul odors from the facility, a wholesaler and blender of fertilizer for area farms.
Other records show that the company has not been inspected or cited by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration in more than a decade.
An individual who answered a top Adair Grain official's phone number refused to identify himself or answer questions and said only: "We have nothing to release at this point."
West Fertilizer Co. was cited by state regulators in 2006 for failing to obtain or qualify for a permit. Records show the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality investigated West Fertilizer on June 20, 2006, after receiving a complaint of a strong ammonia smell.
The Environmental Protection Agency separately fined the company $2,300 in August 2006 for failing to file a sufficient risk management plan, required for all companies that store hazardous materials to keep communities informed of potential dangers.
In its June 2011 risk management plan, the company reported that 54,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia was stored at the site, an ingredient that is toxic but not considered highly flammable unless combined with other chemicals.
"The worst-case release scenario would be the release of the total contents of a storage tank released as a gas over 10 minutes," the company claimed according to a copy on file with the EPA.
"The owners, management and employees of the West Fertilizer Co. are committed to the prevention of any accidental releases of anhydrous ammonia," the plan says. "If an accident should occur, the facility is prepared to work with the local fire company, or other authorities, to mitigate any release and minimize the impact."
EPA records show the company in 2008 also had been registered as a "pesticide producer."
At an Austin press conference Wednesday with Gov. Rick Perry, Zak Covar, executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Covar said the plant has two state air permits an "average compliance history score."
There has not been a complaint about the plant since 2006, and therefore it has not been inspected since then, Covar said.
"Given the size of the facility and authorized emissions from the plant, generally those are inspected based on complaints," Covar said.
He noted there was a violation in 2006. Records show local residents reported "very bad" ammonia smell from fertilizer plant that lingered until after "they went to bed."
The complaint was resolved with the plant being permitted, Covar said.
Asked what an average compliance history score means, Covar said, "They don't have any negative marks against their compliance."
Covar said that the facility has been in existence since 1962 and was grandfathered "up to a certain point. I believe in 2004 they were supposed to come in and get reauthorized. They failed to do so."
Covar said he didn't know why the facility didn't get reauthorized. But in resolving the 2006 complaint, he said, "we got them into compliance.
Asked if there are a lot of similar plants around the state, Covar said, "There are certainly a lot of fertilizer facilities in a lot of small towns in Texas, certainly. Agriculture is a big business here in Texas"
Regarding the "average" ranking for this plan, Covar said, "That means they don't have any negative marks against their compliance There is not really a ranking good, bad or indifferent. Since they have not had a complaint, they just fall into an average compliance."
The plant has been a fixture of the local landscape for decades.
Brian Sykora, whose family owns the local Ford dealership, said it was not unusual to smell anhydrous ammonia at certain times of year. He estimated the middle school was evacuated "not more than once or twice in the last ten years."
Sykora, 46, whose family owns a local car dealership, said the plant has been in operation all of his life.
The current plant owner is Adair Grain Inc., state and federal records show.
Its previous owner was Texas Grain, a company originally started by the Plasek family in 1957 in West, Texas, according to history included in an unrelated federal lawsuit the company filed in 2007. "In approximately 1960, Texas Grain built a small fertilizer blend plant for farmrs in the are and started selling fertilizer and grain storage services for other farmers in Texas," a court record says.
Agriculture in the area once was dominated by cotton, but wheat, corn and other grains have been produced more recently, Sykora said.
The fertilizer plant is a staple in the area, well known to everyone, as farmers all his life have "dragged those anhydrous tanks to their fields," Sykora said.
"You would have anhydrous smells periodically, maybe once or twice a year" during harvests, he said.


text:
You're just a second away from securely connecting to Amazon Prime and streaming their best shows, movies and music at lightening speeds.
Here are 3 easy steps to start streaming with Amazon Prime.
Have any questions? The SaferVPN support team is standing by at all times to help you out.
SaferVPN is a VPN service not intended to be used as a means of copyright circumvention.
Please read the SaferVPN Terms of Service and Amazon Prime Terms of Use for more details.


text:
About December of 1899 Andy Hayford was released from custody regarding the murder of George A. Barclay. There is not much information about Andy Hayford, who he was and where he was from. The 1900 U.S. Census has an Andy Hayford living in Crow Wing Co. who is married with two children born about 1866 in Wisconsin. Whether, this is the same Hayford is unclear, but it is interesting.
Here is a photo of St. Paul about 1908 which is a little later than our subject but it gives you an idea of what the city was like.
Here is a summary of: In the Matter of the State of Minnesota vs. Andrew Hayford, Indicted for Murder in the 1st Degree.
That we Andy Hayford as principal and Con O'Brien and J.W. Koop as sureties of the County of Crow Wing – $1000 dollars. The Condition of the Above Obligation is Such, that is the above bounden Andy Hayford shall personally be and appear before the District Court of the County of Cass 1st day of the term at the Court House in Walker on the 7th of May [1900] to answer to the indictment of the Grand Jury on 9th of May, 1899 etc. Witness Our hands this 29th day of November 1899 and signed by Andy Hayford and others.
What follows is from the 15th Judicial District Court, State of Minnesota, County of Cass.
State of Minnesota, Plaintiff vs. Andrew Hayford, defendant
Application having been made to this Court, for an order admitting the defendant Andrew Hayford, alias Andy Hayford, to bail and fixing the amount of bail bond, for defendant's appearance at the next general terms of District Court to be held at the Village of Walker, Cass County, Minnesota. Messrs. Jones and Peterson appearing for defendant in support of said application, and after due consideration, an order was made, dated November 25th, 1899, whereby said defendant was admitted to bail on approval of his bond by this Court, said bond for his said appearance being fixed at the sum of One Thousand dollars, with two sureties; and a bond as prescribed by said order having this day been duly approved by this Court and filed with the Clerk of District Court of said Cass County. IT IS ORDERED, that said defendant, Andrew Hayford alias Andy Hayford be discharged from your custody. Dated December 1st, 1899. By the Court. [ Holland] Judge. To the Sheriff of Ramsey County, St. Paul, Minn.
The Sheriff of Ramsey County writes:
State of Minnesota, County of Ramsey, I hereby Certify and return that by Virture of the hereto attached order of the Honorable G. W. Holland Judge of the District Court in and for the County of Cass in the State of Minnesota, I have this day released from Custody Andrew Hayford Alias Andy Hayford. [J. Noll, Agent] Sheriff of Ramsey County, Minnesota. Dated at St. Paul this 5th day of December 1899.
There are no other court documents except these since May 1899 when the Grand Jury convened that explain what happened and why Hayford was released.
I am also puzzled as to why the defendants were in the jail in Ramsey County. I suppose that Pine River was too small to have a jail and Walker was recently designated the County seat of Cass and maybe had not built a proper jail. Brainerd probably did have a jail but according to this website from the Crow Wing County Historical Society it was pretty small. To find the 2nd jail information and a picture you will have to scroll a long time or use your "Find" and the term "City Jail."


text:
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee State athletic department held the John Merritt Press Conference on Thursday morning at LP Field in preparation of Big Blue's game against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 1.
The event started with Howard Gentry welcoming the crowd of approximately 100 and introducing the emcee of the conference, Hope Hines.
Hines then opened the floor for TSU Director of Athletics Teresa Phillips to speak followed by Bethune-Cookman's AD Lynn Thompson. The two exchanged playful barbs, but the amount of respect for each other's program was evident.
Tiger head coach Rod Reed spoke next before BCU's sports information director Bryan Harvey concluded the conference.
Reed and Thompson were later interviewed by a handful of Nashville's media members and then lunch was provided by Jack's BBQ.
The Tigers will square off against the Wildcats on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at LP Field for the first game of the 2013 season.


text:
Login Required
You need to have a Pokémon Trainer Club Account to save your Favorite Pokémon!Log In Sign Up No Thanks
Voltorb is extremely sensitive—it explodes at the slightest of shocks. It is rumored that it was first created when a Poké Ball was exposed to a powerful pulse of energy.
Voltorb was first sighted at a company that manufactures Poké Balls. The link between that sighting and the fact that this Pokémon looks very similar to a Poké Ball remains a mystery.
Contact with the Pokémon may cause paralysis.
Gives full immunity to all sound-based moves.
The Pokémon Company International is not responsible for the content of any linked website that is not operated by The Pokémon Company International. Please note that these websites' privacy policies and security practices may differ from The Pokémon Company International's standards.
Pokemon.com administrators have been notified and will review the screen name for compliance with the Terms of Use.
Your request could not be completed. Please try again. If the problem persists, please contact Customer Support.


text:
Last night, we journeyed to Greece for our culinary Challenge. Although we had a small group, our smorgasbord of Greek fare was diverse and glorious.
My first thought was Moussaka or Pastitsio. But with the heat and wildfires raging through Southern California, I shifted my thoughts to something lighter and suitable for the grill - much too hot to heat up the kitchen or the oven!
I go through the same routine every week in order to come up with unique and park/picnic-friendly ideas...surfing the net, including various food blogs, cooking magazine web sites, Epicurious, Food Network, TS & FG, and flipping though the increasing number of cookbooks and food magazines scattered around the house.
I wanted to use lamb as my main ingredient, and Bobby Flay's Merguez Sausage and Lamb Tenderloin Souvlaki first caught my interest. I knew Bristol Farms carried the sausage. I made my shopping list and we jumped in the car Saturday night, put the top down, and drove up the coast to La Jolla. Unfortunately, no Merguez sausage or lamb tenderloin! I had also perused some Chicken Souvlaki recipes, and knew the chicken would substitute nicely with the other ingredients in Bobby's recipe. Actually, I'm glad it worked out that way. The grilled chicken was nicely enhanced by the olive oil, lemon, garlic and oregano marinade. I especially enjoyed the roasted red pepper yogurt sauce, which was an innovative transition from the traditional cucumber yogurt sauce.
Chicken Souvlaki
Adapted from Bobby Flay's Souvlaki with Merguez Sausage and Piquillo Pepper Yogurt Sauce, and various Chicken Souvlaki recipes
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Juice and zest of one lemon
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chopped, fresh oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts , sliced into strips for threading on skewers
Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
Salt and freshly ground pepper
8 pocket pita breads
1 yellow onion, sliced into thick rings, and grilled
2 red peppers, cut in half, seeds and stems removed, grilled and then sliced
2 lemons, cut in half and grilled briefly
Piquillo Pepper Yogurt Sauce, recipe follows
Whisk together the oil, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and oregano in a large bowl. Chill until ready to use.
Prepare the red pepper sauce.
Piquillo Pepper Yogurt Sauce:
2 cups thick Greek yogurt
4 piquillo peppers, or 2 roasted red peppers
6 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano leaves
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Put all ingredients, except salt and pepper, in a blender and blend until smooth. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Transfer to a small serving bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Add the chicken to the marinade and toss to coat. Refrigerate the chicken in the marinade for about 15 minutes, then skewer the chicken onto the presoaked wooden skewers, and season with salt and pepper.
Preheat the grill to medium-high. Grill the onions, red peppers and lemons, and set aside. Then, grill the skewered chicken until golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes total, and transfer to a platter. Grill the pita on both sides for about 20 seconds to warm through.
For dessert, I found a Food & Wine recipe for Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta with Honey-Glazed Apricots. I can't believe I've never made panna cotta! I came across so many variations, flavors, and beautiful presentations, but this recipe was absolutely perfect for our Greek theme.
Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta with Honey-Glazed Apricots
Food & Wine, recipe by Kate Newman
1 envelope unflavored gelatin (2 1/4 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons cold water
1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped
One 17.6-ounce tub of Greek yogurt, such as Fage Total brand (2 cups)
1 cup dried apricots
1 cup semi-dry white wine, such as Vouvray
1/4 cup honey
Bristol Farms came through for my dessert - Fage Greek yogurt and Vouvray wine!
In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water; let stand until softened, 5 minutes. In a small saucepan, bring the cream, sugar and vanilla bean and seeds to a simmer.
Off the heat, stir in the gelatin until melted. In a bowl, whisk the yogurt until smooth. Gradually whisk in the vanilla cream; remove the vanilla bean. Pour the mixture into six 1/2-cup ramekins and refrigerate until set, at least 3 hours.
I bought a dozen of these espresso cups when I tackled Thomas Keller's Coffee & Doughnuts, Cappuccino Semifreddo and Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts, for last summer's Concert in the Park finale challenge.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, simmer the apricots in the white wine over moderately low heat until the apricots are plump and the wine has reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Stir in the honey and simmer the syrup until thickened, about 5 minutes; let cool.
This measuring device is so cool for honey, syrup, molasses, etc.
Apricots plumped with wine and honey
For plating, run a knife around the inside of each ramekin. Set a plate on each ramekin and invert each Panna Cotta onto a plate. You may have to tap and shake the ramekins to loosen the Panna Cotta. Slice the apricots and spoon them on top of the Panna Cotta. Drizzle with some of the honey syrup and serve.
I added a few chopped pistachios over the top of this one.
For easier transport and serving at the Park, I left the remaining Panna Cotta in the espresso cups. Just prior to serving, I dusted a little cinnamon sugar over the top. The honeyed wine syrup flowed down into the cup with the first delicious bite.
Our second dessert of the evening was John's Apollo's Risotto Pudding, served in Phyllo cups and drizzled with blackberry syrup. Brilliant idea - those homemade, cinnamon phyllo cups. My Panna Cotta would have been beautiful in those!
And, completing our Greek table: Pam's Greek Salad, and Kai's Souzoukákia (made with ground lamb and beef), Lachanosaláta (Cabbage Salad), Tsatzíki, and Marinated Feta.
I find it truly amazing that we manage to show up at the park, week after week, without conferring beforehand, and have yet to duplicate dishes!
Thank you for a wonderful journey to Greece! Next week, we're off to Peru!
***REMEMBER, the music starts at 5:00 p.m. for the last two concerts.


text:
Portrait Search
Search Results for John Singer Sargent
Selected Filter
Remove facets below
Refine Your Search
- Theme/Topic
- Date
- Classification
- Gallery Location
As a public health precaution, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will temporarily close to the public starting Saturday, March 14 until further notice. Please continue to check back frequently at npg.si.edu or si.edu for updates. In the meantime, please explore our website, resource materials and online exhibitions.
Search Results for John Singer Sargent
Remove facets below


text:
Senate Bill 1094 (as enrolled)
Sponsor: Senator Bruce Caswell
Senate Committee: Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing
House Committee: Commerce
Date Completed: 6-21-12
The bill would amend the Michigan Employment Security Act (MESA) to allow employers to apply for approval of shared-work plans, and allow participating employees to claim reduced unemployment insurance benefits during the period of a plan without being unemployed.
Specifically, the bill would allow employers to apply to the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) for the approval of a shared-work plan if all the following conditions were met:
-- The employer filed all reports required under MESA, and had paid all contributions and other amounts due.
-- If the employer were a contributing employer, the employer's experience account reserve balance was positive.
-- The employer paid wages for the three years before applying for the shared-work plan.
Employers would be allowed to apply for more than one shared-work plan. Applications for shared-work plans would have to include all of the following:
-- Certification from the employer that the shared-work plan would be in lieu of temporary layoffs affecting more than 15% of the employees in the affected unit, and would result in an equivalent reduction in work hours.
-- Assurance from the employer that it would provide requested reports to the UIA within the time frames prescribed.
-- Assurance from the employer that it would not hire employees in, or transfer employees into the affected work unit while the shared-work plan was effective.
-- Assurance from the employer that it would not lay off participating employees, or reduce their hours more than the reduction percentage, except during holidays, vacation periods, equipment maintenance periods, or similar circumstances.
-- Certification from the employer that it had obtained the approval of any applicable collective bargaining unit, and had notified all affected employees who were not in a collective bargaining unit of the shared-work plan.
-- A list of any week or weeks when affected employees were anticipated to work fewer hours than originally anticipated in the plan due to holidays, vacations, equipment maintenance periods, or similar circumstances.
-- Certification that the shared-work plan was consistent with the employer's obligations under State and Federal law.
-- Assurance that the employer would abide by all terms and conditions of MESA as they relate to shared-work plans.
-- Any other relevant information required by the UIA.
The UIA would have to approve applications for a shared-work plan only if the following requirements were met:
-- The shared-work plan applied to only one affected unit.
-- All employees in the affected unit were participating in the shared-work plan, except for employees who had been employed by the affected unit for less than three months, or who worked more than 40 hours per week.
-- There were at least two participating employees.
-- The participating employees were identified by name and social security number.
-- The number of hours worked while the shared-work plan was in effect would be the employee's normal number of work hours reduced by a standard reduction percentage, as stated in the application.
-- The plan included an estimate of the number of layoffs that would be avoided under the shared-work plan.
-- The plan indicated how the employer would give advance notice, if feasible, to affected employees.
-- As a result of the shared-work plan, there would be a corresponding reduction in wages.
-- The shared-work plan did not affect fringe benefits of participating employees.
-- The specified effective period of the shared-work plan was 52 weeks or less, and the benefits payable under the shared-work plan would not exceed 20 times the weekly benefit amount for each participating employee.
-- The reduction percentage was not less than 15%, or greater than 45%, it applied to all participating employees equally, and it could not change during the effective period of the shared-work plan unless the employer specifically applied for a change to the UIA.
The UIA would have to approve or disapprove a shared-work plan within 15 days after the date it received an application meeting the criteria for a shared-work plan. The UIA would have to express its decision in writing, and include with any disapproval of a plan reasons for that disapproval. Approval of a shared-work plan would be at the discretion of the UIA, and would not be subject to the appeals process as provided in MESA.
Shared-work plans would be effective for the number of consecutive weeks indicated in the employer's application, or a lesser number, as approved by the UIA. The effective period of the plan would begin the first calendar week after approval of the plan by the UIA.
Participating employees would be allowed to file unemployment insurance (UI) benefit claims without actually being unemployed during the effective period of the shared-work plan. An employee's benefits would be calculated by multiplying the reduction percentage by the employee's weekly benefit rate, as calculated under Section 27 of MESA. While an affected employee was collecting benefits in this manner, the weeks of benefits paid would not count toward the 20-week limit on the duration of benefits, but they would count toward the maximum amount of benefits payable. Additionally, the UIA could not deny UI benefits to participating employees due to work search requirements as long as the employees were available for their normal work week with the participating employer.
For purposes of determining a participating employee's benefits under a shared-work plan, a participating employee would receive benefits under the plan only if he or she were paid by the employer for the number of hours specified in the plan. If he or she were paid more or less than that amount, benefit eligibility would be determined without regard to the shared-work plan.
The UIA would have to establish a schedule of two-week consecutive periods during the effective period of a shared-work plan, and the participating employer would have to file UI benefit claims on behalf of participating employees by the end of the week following the end of each period.
The UI benefits paid under a shared-work program would be funded as follows:
-- If Federal funding for the full reimbursement of costs related to benefits paid under a shared-work plan were available, benefits paid would not be charged to the participating employer's chargeable benefits account. However, the UIA could not use these Federal funds to reimburse claims under a shared-work plan for seasonal, temporary, or intermittent employees.
-- If Federal funding for the partial reimbursement of costs related to benefits paid under a shared-work plan
were available, half of benefits paid would be charged to the participating employer's chargeable benefits account. Benefits paid or deposits made under this provision would not be used to calculate the employer's contribution rate. The UIA could not use these Federal funds to reimburse claims under a shared-work plan for seasonal, temporary, or intermittent employees.
-- If Federal funding for the full or partial reimbursement of costs related to benefits paid under a shared-work plan were not available, all benefits paid under a shared-work plan would be charged to the chargeable benefits account of the participating employer.
The UIA could terminate a shared-work plan for any of the following reasons:
-- The plan was not being executed according to approved terms and conditions.
-- The participating employer failed to comply with the assurances given in the plan.
-- The participating employer or a participating employee violated any criteria on which the approval of the plan was based.
A participating employer could terminate a shared-work plan by written notice to the UIA.
The UIA would be required to submit to the Governor, the Secretary of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives for referral to the chair and minority vice-chair of the appropriate committees an annual report on shared-work plans. The first report would be due on March 1 following the first complete calendar year during which the bill was in effect, and each March 1 thereafter. The report would be required to contain the following:
-- The number of approved shared-work plans.
-- The number of participating employers.
-- The number of participating employees.
-- The amount of compensation and aid to participating employees.
-- Any other information determined by the UIA to be relevant in assessing the impact of shared-work plans on the Unemployment Compensation Fund (UCF).
Any provision of the bill that would cause the United States Department of Labor (DOL) to withhold approval required to operate a shared-work program would not apply.
The UIA would be required to transmit the DOL approval or disapproval of the shared-work program to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
The bill would take effect January 1, 2013. An employer could not apply for, and the UIA could not approve, a shared work plan that would begin more than five years after that date.
The State's operational finances would be unaffected by the bill, but to the extent that shared-work plans would serve to reduce future unemployment claims, savings to the Unemployment Compensation Fund could be realized. The UCF is funded from State Unemployment Tax Act taxes, which are paid by Michigan employers. As unemployment rises, SUTA taxes generally increase, and as unemployment falls, SUTA taxes generally decrease. Since SUTA tax rates are calculated on an individual basis for employers, reducing the number of workers laid-off from a particular employer would serve to reduce its SUTA tax rate over time.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.


text:
Welcome to the CRG Discussion Forum!Forum registration problems: Make sure you enter your email correctly and you check your spam box first. *Then* email KurtS2@gmail for help.Classified ads are not allowed on the forum.
When is a good time to order these? If I order now, will they arrive in 4 to 6 weeks? Can specific ordering instructions be provided?


text:
Conservation and Environment in Mexico: Monthly Updates
Conservation in Mexico - Monthly Update - September - October 2014
Turtle project
This high season has turned 2014 into a record breaking year with regards to the amount of nests that the Olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) have laid. We are only half way through October and have already collected over 2,700 nests since June. This is well over the total that we collected over the course of last year, and August was jam-packed with nest collecting and burying. At the end of the month, we had collected 1,275 nests in total, which amounts to 118,266 eggs collected in just 31 days!
By September, things were starting to quieten down but we still collected 885 nests and averaged 30 nests per night. This has kept us nice and busy throughout the night and early into the next morning - all our volunteers have been fantastic about keeping very strange sleep patterns due to all the work we do after dark.
Our current challenge is trying to keep up with the constant stream of hatchlings as we've been releasing about a thousand per night. We're definitely not complaining though! The next job on our agenda is to gear up for the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) season that is due to start in November. There's not long to go until we have the chance to see those majestic creatures once again.
Lagoon bird biodiversity study
With the incredible amount of work that we have been doing with the turtles over the last two months, we have been able to use the bird surveys on our local lagoon as a well-deserved opportunity for some peace and quiet. The lagoon is one of the most serene places that I have managed to find so far on this planet. With only one motor boat allowed on the lagoon, and even that rarely goes out, we find that the lagoon is filled with the natural sounds of nature; with birds and frogs leading the chorus. It really is one of the best places to go and relax.
Our surveys are based in 11 different areas around the lagoon and we spend 20 minutes at each area. With the wet season in full swing, we have an excess of fresh water, which makes the whole area very green and beautiful. However, it also makes the lily pads and weeds grow excessively so we have been unable to visit three of our usual spots over the last couple of months.
Some of the migrating birds are returning, including the American kestrel (Falco sparverius) and the grey hawk (Buteo plagiatus). Huge numbers of resident species, such as the northern jacana (Jacana spinosa) and the purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinica), can also be spotted.
Crocodile repopulation project
The crocodile project is coming along nicely with 18 American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) hatchlings growing healthily in the specially protected area designed for babies. Hopefully this means that our long-term aim, which is to release pure-bred native crocodiles into locally decimated populations, will be a great success.
Our other more short-term project is to convert a side room into a small natural history museum to display all the different flora and fauna surrounding this inland lagoon. We have finished creating 11 posters so the printing will start later this month and we can then begin presenting the information.
The bird surveys continue in this area as well and we have seen a few of the more exotic species return with the end of the wet season approaching. Like the tropical parula (Setophaga pitiayumi) and the American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus). We are also regularly sighting the shy boat-billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius), which is a species that sits so still when spotted that it often gets mistaken for a rock. However, upon closer inspection, a surprising amount of colour can be found in its plumage to assist in its camouflage.
Mangrove reforestation project
With the greenhouse up and running, we have now collected about 500 small saplings, which are growing well. Our mangrove system in Chupadero mainly consists of the white mangrove so we are, therefore, initially only growing these saplings. Once we have had our first successful replanting, we wish to then move onto growing some of the other three species as well. In addition to rescuing the small saplings in wooded areas that would not have otherwise survived, we have also started to collect seeds from which a few seedlings have sprouted already.
Daniel, our resident mangrove expert, is doing a great job of launching this fledgling programme and hopefully, we will have our first large batch of saplings by the start of the New Year. We will then replant these in one of the four areas that have been identified as in need of reforestation.
Motion sensor camera traps
With the wet season in full swing, this project has temporarily been put on hold due to the vast amounts of mosquitoes in the mangroves and the increased flooding, which limits the movement of any animals and prevents us from also using the trails.
We have simply left our cameras dotted around and, after two months of not having captured any activity, we have finally seen images of a family of white-nosed coatis (Nasua narica), which consists of two parents and four little cubs. We have also captured footage of northern racoons (Procyon lotor) and several bird species, including the white ibis (Eudocimus albus), foraging for food. Collecting these cameras was exciting in itself as we had to wade through water that came up to mid-thigh level to reach our camera locations.
However, with the end of the hurricane season in sight, our aim over the next couple of weeks is to relocate the cameras and continue properly with this project again.
Beach clean-ups and camp work
The wet season has presented us with different challenges over the last couple of months. Rather than our regular beach clean-ups to remove any washed up material, we have spent our time trying to keep our camp area intact. The seas have been so high that the areas of our camp closest to the ocean are hit by waves every few days. These areas contain the turtle pools and most of the paths leading around the camp. We have, therefore, been on a constant sand clearing mission. However, over the last couple of weeks, the oceans have been much calmer so we will soon start our regular beach clean-ups again.
With regards to the work on our camp, we have been painting white sticks to keep track of how many nests are collected each morning. Now that these hatched nests are being cleared, we are simply recycling these old sticks, which always come in handy at a conservation camp.
Our peak period has been fantastic this year and we have achieved more than ever. We would like to thank all of our volunteers that have contributed so much time and energy to this. I hope that there will be many more volunteers to help us release the hatchlings that will hatch 45-52 days after the nests were laid, in line with the Olive Ridley egg incubation period.
Flora Blackett
Conservation Coordinator, Mexico


text:
Five acres, a bowling alley, a beauty salon, parking for 100 cars, and 57,000 square feet of living space that late super-producer Aaron Spelling and his wife, Candy, called home. The perfect cozy nest for a single, 22 year-old, right?
It is now. According to reports, Petra Ecclestone, daughter of British billionaire and Formula One magnate Bernie Ecclestone, has purchased the mansion from Candy Spelling. Although the estate was listed for $150 million back in March 2009, it is not clear exactly how much Eccelstone paid to snag it.
Ecclestone created her own menswear label, called Form, in 2007. Shen then signed on to design for Croatian clothing manufacturer Siscia. Eccelstone's mother, Slavica, was a model in her native Croatia.
U.S. & World
The French chateau-style Spelling mansion, dubbed "The Manor," is a nice step up for Eccelstone. She previously made due with a six-story house in London's Chelsea neighborhood worth over $90 million.
Bernie Eccelstone's net worth is estimated to be about $4 billion.
Selected Reading: LA Observed, TMZ, Huffington Post


text:
Check out the latest RPG news | Podcasts | Twitch Streams
WA2: I forgot how there are some monsters can mess you up if you aren't ready.
Tales of Xillia - I'm at the Sapstrath Seahaven, roughly 4-5 hours in. I have to say Graces F has ruined every other Tales game for me, because while I am enjoying the battle system in Xillia...it's still not Graces F's battle system.
Symphonia's battle system can be 3D, but as far as the player is concerned, its strictly 2D (which, when I think about it, annoyed the crap out of me back when I played through it).
I've got my Tales of Symphonia Chronicles yesterday too and a near catastrophic tv-failure, which I hope I've managed to fix for now. Reminds me that these don't necessarily last for more than 4-5 years these days. Wish I had money and I'd buy a more quality brand one than LG.Anyway, the game. It is a bit more archaic than I was expecting. Reminds me that not all stuff of ps2 gen was FF or VP2 level productions, but that is just me being stupid. Oh well, no big deal. There are some issues such as getting stuck in the walls which provide minor annoyances, the world map movement also seems unnecessarily tedious. This battle system also really isn't 3D isn't it? The story is also a bit too... hmmm, build around unnecessary devices that I don't really care about and it already threw at me a five character party that I don't even feel like I know half of. Overall, I hope it balances out a bit. I'm really only hoping for a basic entertaining ride spiced with stupid, yet entertaining things to do. Will continue playing in a few hours.


text:
Before beginning our walk along the route of the Albany and Hudson electric railway, we looked at a timetable from February, 1906. Trains left Albany (24 State Street, opposite Post Office) daily at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:30 p.m.
Trains left Hudson (N.Y.C. Passenger Station) daily at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:10 p.m.
Locals stopped at all 17 stations, which were no more than one to three miles apart, except for six miles between Hudson and Stottville and four miles between North Chatham and Nassau. The cars took two hours to traverse the entire route, which is not surprising considering the frequency of the stops.
The following stations were listed in the timetable:
Stockport Center
Stuyvesant Falls
Electric Park
North Chatham
East Schodack
East Greenbush
Clinton Heights
An express train left Hudson at 9:30 a.m. and returned from Albany at 4:30 p.m. daily, making stops at Stottville, Kinderhook, Valatie, Electric Park, and Nassau, and stopped if signaled at Stockport Center, Roseman, Stuyvesant Falls, Niverville, North Chatham, East Schodack, East Greenbush, and Clinton Heights.
We decided to walk the route in stages, starting in the middle at Valatie. Directly behind the Valatie depot can be found a dirt road which follows the powerline that marks the entire route. This can also be accessed from Rathbone Avenue, behind the Cumberland Farms store.
Nearly hidden in the woods, about a hundred feet from the depot, are the ruins of Nathan Wilde's 1828 mill. The dam which once supplied waterpower to the village's many industries is now broken, and the water rushes from the mill pond down toward Kinderhook creek a few hundred feet to the south.
One of the first artifacts of the railway that we found was a spike, one of many scattered when the rails and ties were torn up sometime after 1929.
A little further on, we saw evidence that National Grid has been hard at work felling trees which threaten the lines. After we passed the Ichabod Crane Schools property, we found the road crew and had an interesting conversation about the old route and took a look at the electric line maps that the crew used.
Our pleasant stroll was interrupted when we found that the railway bridge over Valatie Kill had long since been destroyed. This required extensive backtracking and we went to Niverville on the other side of the creek. Here the route remains very visible and we headed toward the location of Electric Park, two miles away, according to the timetable.
The amusement park, opened by the railway company by 1901, was on the shores of Kinderhook Lake, which was formed by a dam across Valatie Kill. The lake is surrounded by private homes and summer camps, and is not accessible to the public except by a state fishing site at the dam on route 28.
On Electric Park Road, by the side of the lake, we met a woman walking her dog who pointed out the location of the park's carousel in the middle of a pond. She said that when the water was low, the pilings on which the carousel stood are clearly visible.
She also directed us to a stone archway that was once part of Electric Park.
We imagined the happy throngs who poured through this arch a hundred years ago, amid the music of the carousel and the dance hall. There is an interesting little history of the park, published in 1990 by The Kinderhook Lake Corporation, Box 53, Niverville, NY 12130, and also available at the Columbia County Historical Society. According to the book, which contains many photos of the park in its heyday, the carousel and a roller coaster were built on piles in the lagoon. There were also two ferris wheels, a bowling alley, a bathing beach, and a chute into the lake similar to those found in water parks today.
Alcohol was prohibited at Electric Park, but boats were rented, which could be rowed out to taverns on two nearby islands. The theater "began by featuring opera but soon changed to refined vaudeville shows, in keeping with the lighter entertainment of the park."Then we remembered the terrible tragedies within the first few years of the park's existence which took seven lives and left scores injured.
It is easy to be nostalgic for a past of carousels and crackerjacks, not to mention carbon-free transportation, but the reality is that our pleasures are often mixed with pain and loss, a hundred years ago no less than today. Within the first few years of the park's existence, two wrecks on the electric train line took seven lives and left scores injured, and in both cases on weekends when crowded and frequent trolleys carried hundreds to Electric Park from Albany and Hudson.
An old postcard of Electric Park
Update May 12:
Last year the Town of Kinderhook formed a Trail Committee to pursue development of recreational trails in the town, including a section along the National Grid right-of-way between Valatie and Niverville, the section described in this article. The trail would require rebuilding the old railway bridge across Valatie Kill, pictured above.
A public information session on the proposed trail will be held at the Ichabod Crane Middle School Learning Center on May 19, 2009 at 7:00 pm.
Update June 5:
Governor Patterson's office issued a press release on April 2, 2009 announcing funding of more than $81 million in federal funds for non-traditional transportation projects. These funds derive from the Obama administration's recently passed Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP), with some additional funds allocated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
The initiative will provide $552,936 for the Kinderhook Recreational Trail, Phase II, in the Town of Kinderhook, Columbia County, which will encompass the section of the old Albany & Hudson route described in this entry of Upstate Earth.


text:
Conservation and Environment in Mexico: Monthly Updates
Conservation in Mexico - Monthly Update: November-December 2014
Turtle project
With the year coming to a close we are reaching the exciting time when the Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) are visiting our beach to lay their eggs for the season. We have safely protected three nests in our hatchery and are looking forwards to the first one due to hatch in the early part of January. We even had one lucky volunteer see one of these magnificent turtles laying her eggs!
We are still going strong in our Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) department, with the total for the year topping 3200 nests. As a result we have been very busy releasing thousands of little hatchlings into the ocean.
Lagoon Bird Biodiversity Study
Our bird surveys on the local mangrove lagoon always become more interesting at this time of year due to the bursting of the banks of the lagoon which releases most of the water into the ocean. We therfore get a lot of mud flats forming, creating a perfect feeding ground for birds such as the Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) and brings in the usual sighting of the Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus). We also have been seeing the return of the adorable looking Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) and many hundreds of American Coots (Fulica americana).
We have been seeing a huge increase in the number of Snail Kites (Rostrhamus sociabilis), and the return of the American Kestrels (Falco sparverius), Grey Hawks (Buteo plagiatus), Northern Crested Caracaras (Caracara cheriway) and we have even spotted the incredible Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) on the lagoon too. So for those of you out there that are a fan of Birds of Prey the end of the wet season is a great time to come and visit us!
Crocodile Repopulation Project
We have just spend a long day at the crocodile project checking the health and measuring the weight and size of each of the crocodiles here. This means that we had to first restrain each individual and then, as well as taking measurements, make sure that their identifying individual marks are still evident. This ensures that we can tell individuals apart and make sure that when they are re-measured in 2015 we know how much each one has grown.
Our bird surveys around the lagoon here have managed to produce two more species identified to go onto our growing species list: the White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi) and the Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata). This means that we have now positively identified 8 species of Dove and Pigeon in this pretty small area.
The little natural history museum that we are creating for the project is ready to go and we are simply waiting for the print button to be pressed to get our posters out and ready to hang. We have 19 posters with information on the local small spiders and tarantulas, local lizards (including basilisk's whiptails and iguanas), various bird species, local snake species and even a poster created to inform people what the official difference is between reptiles and amphibians.
Mangrove Re-forestation Project
Daniel, the Projects Abroad staff member in charge of this project, has been doing an absolutely fantastic job here and with the help of all our volunteers we have now managed to collect and protect approximately 1,500 individual saplings of the local mangrove species. This means that in the New Year there will be a few days of great planting with the larger and more stable plants into the deforested areas that need help returning to their former glory.
Even in the greenhouse area we have seen a few new little critters around and about which is great news. This includes the Wandering Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans vagrans), a few different species of spiders, crabs and passerine birds. Also, although we have managed to keep them out of the greenhouse itself, there is also evidence of the Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor ) around this area.
Motion Sensor Camera Traps
Our most recent camera trap photos have continued to show us what appears to be a healthy population of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and White-collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu). This is great news especially since it is the wet season, and a growth spurt of undergrowth which has meant that it is very difficult to find good areas for the camera traps which are clear enough for good photography. At this time these vegetarians tend to use a much wider area and so it is harder to pick a specific spot to find the animals.
We have also seen a good population of birds that are coming into the actual trees to find food, and not just using the lagoon itself. These include the West Mexican Chachalaca (Ortalis poliocephala) and the Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea).
As you can see, our project out here on the Pacific coast of Mexico has been finishing up the year in style and we have been doing lots of work to help the environment. With a continuation of the hard work from all our volunteers and staff, 2015 should be an incredible year too.
Flora Blackett
Conservation Coordinator, Mexico


text:
Product CategoriesAll Products Heart Health Digestive Support Bone Health Urinary Tract Support Joint Support Men's Health Vegetarian Products
Health News
Arrhythmia: What is it?What is an arrhythmia? An arrhythmia is a change in the regular beat of the heart. The heart may seem to skip a beat or beat irregularly or very fast or very slowly. Does having an arrhyth..
Featured Product
|View more featured products...
Parkinson's and CoQ10
A promising study found that Coenzyme Q10 may slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. This is potentially an incredible breakthrough because although existing treatments may ease symptoms of the degenerative brain disorder, they are not believed to affect the underlying disease process. This new study found evidence that CoQ10 may actually help stop the nerve cell death that characterizes Parkinson's.
Because this information could be so important to so many people, we have reproduced the complete text of this announcement from the National Institute of Health / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke below.
At the bottom of this page, a link is also included so you can go to this U.S. Government web site yourself
Study Suggests Coenzyme Q10 Slows Functional Decline in Parkinson's Disease
Released: Monday, October 14, 2002
Results of the first placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial of the compound coenzyme Q10 suggest that it can slow disease progression in patients with early-stage Parkinson's disease (PD). While the results must be confirmed in a larger study, they provide hope that this compound may ultimately provide a new way of treating PD. The phase II study, led by Clifford Shults, M.D., of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, looked at a total of 80 PD patients at 10 centers across the country to determine if coenzyme Q10 is safe and if it can slow the rate of functional decline. The study was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and appears in the October 15, 2002, issue of the Archives of Neurology.1
"This trial suggested that coenzyme Q10 can slow the rate of deterioration in Parkinson's disease," says Dr. Shults. "However, before the compound is used widely, the results need to be confirmed in a larger group of patients."
PD is a chronic, progressive neurological disease that affects about 500,000 people in the United States. It results from the loss of brain cells that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine and causes tremor, stiffness of the limbs and trunk, impaired balance and coordination, and slowing of movements. Patients also sometimes develop other symptoms, including difficulty swallowing, disturbed sleep, and emotional problems. PD usually affects people over the age of 50, but it can affect younger people as well. While levodopa and other drugs can ease the symptoms of PD, none of the current treatments has been shown to slow the course of the disease.
The investigators believe coenzyme Q10 works by improving the function of mitochondria, the "powerhouses" that produce energy in cells. Coenzyme Q10 is an important link in the chain of chemical reactions that produces this energy. It also is a potent antioxidant - a chemical that "mops up" potentially harmful chemicals generated during normal metabolism. Previous studies carried out by Dr. Shults, Richard Haas, M.D., of UCSD and Flint Beal, M.D., of Cornell University have shown that coenzyme Q10 levels in mitochondria from PD patients are reduced and that mitochondrial function in these patients is impaired. Animal studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 can protect the area of the brain that is damaged in PD. Dr. Shults and colleagues also conducted a pilot study with PD patients which showed that consumption of up to 800 mg/day of coenzyme Q10 was well-tolerated and significantly increased the level of coenzyme Q10 in the blood.
All of the patients who took part in the new study had the three primary features of PD - tremor, stiffness, and slowed movements - and had been diagnosed with the disease within 5 years of the time they were enrolled. After an initial screening and baseline blood tests, the patients were randomly divided into four groups. Three of the groups received coenzyme Q10 at three different doses (300 mg/day, 600 mg/day, and 1,200 mg/day), along with vitamin E, while a fourth group received a matching placebo that contained vitamin E alone. Each participant received a clinical evaluation 1 month later and every 4 months for a total of 16 months or until the investigator determined that the patient needed treatment with levodopa. None of the participants or the study investigators knew which treatment each patient had received until the study ended. The investigators found that most side effects of coenzyme Q10 were mild, and none of the patients required a reduction of their dose. The percentage of people receiving coenzyme Q10 who reported side effects was not significantly different from that of the placebo group.
During the study period, the group that received the largest dose of coenzyme Q10 (1,200 mg/day) had 44 percent less decline in mental function, motor (movement) function, and ability to carry out activities of daily living, such as feeding or dressing themselves. The greatest effect was on activities of daily living. The groups that received 300 mg/day and 600 mg/day developed slightly less disability than the placebo group, but the effects were less than those in the group that received the highest dosage of coenzyme Q10.
The groups that received coenzyme Q10 also had significant increases in the level of coenzyme Q10 in their blood and a significant increase in energy-producing reactions within their mitochondria.
The results of this study suggest that doses of coenzyme Q10 as high as 1,200 mg/day are safe and may be more effective than lower doses, says Dr. Shults. The findings are consistent with those of a recently published study of patients with early Huntington's disease - another degenerative neurological disorder - that showed slightly less functional decline in groups that received 600 mg/day of coenzyme Q10.
The new study also used an efficient phase II clinical trial design - developed by biostatistician David Oakes, Ph.D., of the University of Rochester, and other study investigators - which should be useful for testing other drugs that might slow the progression of PD, says Dr. Shults. The design allowed the researchers to study the effects of three doses plus a placebo in less than 3 years, and to obtain useful data about the compound's effectiveness.
Dr. Shults and his colleagues strongly caution patients against taking coenzyme Q10 until a larger, definitive trial can be conducted. (epic4health note: Please discuss with your local health care professional BEFORE starting any CoQ10 supplementation.)
Because coenzyme Q10 is classified as a dietary supplement, it is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The versions of the supplement sold in stores may differ, they may not contain potentially beneficial amounts of the compound, and taking coenzyme Q10 over a number of years may be costly, says Dr. Shults. In addition, the current study included only a small number of patients, and the findings may not extend to people in later stages of PD or to those who are at risk but have not been diagnosed with the disorder, he notes. Finally, if many people begin taking coenzyme Q10 because of these early results, it might make it impossible for investigators to find enough patients to carry out definitive studies of the compound's effectiveness and the proper dosages, since patients must not be taking any treatments in order to be considered for enrollment in a definitive trial.
The investigators are now planning a larger clinical trial that will examine the effects of 1,200 mg/day of coenzyme Q10, and possibly a higher dose as well, in a larger number of patients.
The NINDS is a component of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and is the nation's primary supporter of biomedical research on the brain and nervous system.
1Shults CW, Oakes D, Kieburtz K, Beal F, Haas R, Plumb S, Juncos JL, Nutt J, Shoulson I, Carter J, Kompoliti K, Perlmutter JS, Reich S, Stern M, Watts RL, Kurlan R, Molho E, Harrison M, Lew M, and the Parkinson Study Group. "Effects of coenzyme Q10 in early Parkinson disease: evidence of slowing of the functional decline." Archives of Neurology, October 2002, Vol. 59, No. 10, pp. 1541-1550.
Go back to Health News.


text:
Special Needs Registry Application
The Special Needs Registry is a database containing information about individuals in Rockingham County with special needs who may require assistance in the event of a disaster.
Attached is an application for registration in the Rockingham County Special Needs Registry serves those who do not need hospital care but require special assistance.
In the event of a disaster or the potential for a disaster, the information that you provide in this application may be used to:
Who may be registered?
Eligibility for the Registry is determined on a case-by-case basis. Generally, those eligible do not require hospital care but may need assistance that cannot be provided by public shelter staff. This may also include individuals who are homebound. Examples of individuals with special needs may include:
Participation in the Special Needs Registry is Voluntary. No on is required to participate. You will be included in the Registry ONLY with your permission.
Applying for the Registry does not guarantee that you will be included. Each application will be screened. Only those individuals who meet the criteria will be placed on the Registry. You will be notified whether or not you are included in the Registry within 60 days of receiving your application.
The Registry is designed as a means to contact individuals with special needs and help them get assistance during a disaster. Individuals on the registry decide whether or not to accept assistance and/or remain responsible for themselves in the event of an emergency.
NOTE: If there are specific medical concerns or additional information required based on your application, you may be contacted by a representative from the Rockingham County Emergency Management Special Needs Task Force.


text:
Popular now on KPCC
Alex Schaffert-Callaghan
Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning & Chief Digital Officer
Alex Schaffert-Callaghan is the Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning & Chief Digital Officer at KPCC: Southern California Public Radio. Alex oversees KPCC's digital platform, including the station's Web site, video production, social media outreach and digital fundraising initiatives. Under her leadership KPCC's Web site has transformed from a simple online archive into a thriving destination for news, culture, and intelligent conversation.
Before joining Southern California Public Radio in 2005, Schaffert-Callaghan created and managed a broad portfolio of motion picture Web sites for NBC Universal. During her tenure, she helped launch sites for major movie franchises such as "Jurassic Park," "Meet the Parents," and "Bourne Identity."
In 2008, she became a member of the faculty at USC's Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, where she teaches courses in online journalism.
Schaffert-Callaghan holds master's degrees in psychology and telecommunication from Indiana University, and an MBA from Loyola Marymount University. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son.
Stories by Alex Schaffert-Callaghan
Data science meets real life struggles at LA City College
On this class's agenda: How community college students can help local government make sense of a mountain of internal records using "big data" tools.
Story time becomes 'coder time' at LA library
Libraries are transforming into computer science hubs for children. They're responding to increasing demand for programming and technology skills in the workplace.
Apps and little kids: should we worry?
How much smartphone and tablet use is too much for young minds? And do games marketed as "educational" live up to the label? A couple of recent articles dig in to those questions.


text:
Blessed to live in Chestnut Hill
A couple of weeks ago I had a terrible fall on the cement in the 200 block of E. Willow Grove Avenue.
It is a busy street and it was especially busy that Saturday afternoon.
I am so grateful to the many persons walking and driving by who stopped to lend a hand. A young lady (Sherry) came to my aid – called family and 911. A young man who parked his car and ran home to get water. A good friend (Donna Howley) driving homewho stopped and stayed with me until the fire company came to take me to the hospital.
I am so blessed to live in a community that still believes in neighboring love and concern.
Jane Dougherty
Chestnut Hill
'Amazing coverage'
I grabbed six copies of the CH Local today. Just wanted to thank you so much for your amazing coverage of me, my blog and the book signing ("I Just Want to Pee Alone"). I already sent an email to Steve Ahern thanking him for the wonderful article he wrote.
It was a pleasure working with you. I feel lucky to live where we do, where the sense of community and support is practically tangible!
Thanks again!
Bethany A. Meyer
Chestnut Hill
2013 Volunteer Day At Fort Washington State Park
Thank you all so much for taking the time to volunteer at Fort Washington State Park this spring. After a cold and rainy Friday, we were blessed with warm, sunny weather for our Annual Volunteer Day. A tremendous amount of work was accomplished by 200 energetic volunteers, all with an enthusiastic "What can I do?" attitude. The help the park receives is greatly appreciated and your efforts help ensure the park's sustainability for future generations.
Huge quantities of leaves and branches were removed from picnic areas and roadsides. Fresh mulch was added to the park's playground and new soil was spread on the ball field. The flower gardens throughout the park were cleaned out and readied for the growing season. Picnic tables were tightened, and tree tubes were secured or replaced. Vines were cut, volleyball courts were raked, and trash was removed from creek areas. Everyone enjoyed the delicious snacks and picnic lunch donated by local merchants.
We thank you again for helping to revitalize YOUR Park. We hope you will volunteer again next spring and will enjoy the park throughout the year.
Eric Ihlein, Park Manager
Fort Washington State Park
Dick Flavell, President
Friends of Fort Washington
Marylea Klauder,
Friends of Fort Washington,
Volunteer Coordinator