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Amanda Dehnert is an Associate Professor at Northwestern University who teaches: Special Topics, Music Theatre: Song Performance, Music Theatre Techniques: Principles of Auditioning, Studies in American Theatre & Drama: Conceptualization, Music, and Theatre.
"The Verona Project", A New Musical written and directed by Amanda Dehnert, her latest work, is currently playing Northwestern University's Josephine Louis Theater until November 4, 2012. Check the Chicago Splash Magazine calendar for details.
An Interview with Amanda Dehnert follows:
1. In addition to Shakespeare's "Two Gentlemen of Verona", what was your inspiration for creating "The Verona Project"?
I wanted to write music for theatre again; I hadn't done so in awhile, and it's something I really enjoy. I also wanted to make something that was really based in a group, an ensemble, and something fun and funny and lovely and moving.
2. My daughter and her family greatly enjoyed seeing "The Verona Project" production at Cal Shakes. What factors lead to your opening the play there?
It's where I was asked to do it! Jon Moscone, the artistic director, had hired me to direct Shakespeare's play - and then, the more we talked, the more it started to turn into something inspired by rather than adapted from. And so, it really was very impulsive in a lot of ways, and I think that is actually part of what makes the piece as fun as it is.
3. What are some of the differences between working with the professional cast at Cal Shakes and the primarily student cast here at Northwestern University.
Well, honestly, the biggest difference is simply one of time. The cast out at Cal Shakes was hired to do nothing except work on the Verona project - and we only worked on it for four weeks before it opened.
Here at NU, the American Music Theatre Project was able to get us some rehearsal before school started so we could get ahead of the curve on some things (particularly the music, which is very involved -) but once school started these students become full-time students. They've given the show an amazing amount of their time and energy in addition to being in classes all day long!
4. How do you balance your teaching and creating and producing a work like "The Verona Project"?
I just try to be where I'm at when I'm there. I really love teaching, and so, it's not hard for me to show up and be present in class; I really love working on this piece, so the same holds true there.
5. In this Northwestern production, I thought the lighting was outstanding and a star in its own right. How did the plan for lighting develop as a concept--both separate from and integrated with other elements (music, staging, etc) in the play? How does it change from venue to venue?
Lighting was actually one of our biggest challenges! When we were an outdoors show (in California), much of what we were able to do was determined by when the sun would go down. Inside a theatre we are more responsible for creating lighting throughout, and still trying to capture that lovely open energy that one has on a nice summer night outside. The show is so free-wheeling, there are so many different ways to approach things. We experimented a lot, and we will continue to do so.
6. Pursuing that line, how much do the music, costumes, scenery, and staging from production to production? What elements are integral to the play and won't ever change?
It's hard to say that nothing will ever change because, of course, in live theatre things are always evolving. Also, I do hope that this show will be done by other companies someday, and it will be up to them to do whatever they would like. But as far as I'm concerned, I wrote about four new songs for the production here at NU, and I think at least three of them will stick around into the next production. The setting and the costumes are very tied into my imagining of what the world of the play is, but I still try and look at them and ask myself "is this still working?" We have done some things differently here in Chicago and I expect we will continue to do so as we move on to our next production.
7. What future plans do you have for this musical?
We are being produced by the South Coast Repertory theatre this spring (May of 2013), and I'm in discussions with a theatre on the East coast for a production in the fall.
8. You have lived in many places. What do you like best about being In the Chicago area?
The lake, hands down.
9. Here at Northwestern University "The Verona Project" is presented under the auspices of the American Music Theatre Project in partnership with the Theatre and Interpretation Center. Can you offer any information about these programs?
AMTP is a great program that brings new work to our audiences both on campus and the community. The Theatre and Interpretation Center is where all our theatre offerings happen - productions directed by faculty and guest artists, featuring the work of our students. AMTP specifically serves to find new musicals and help them develop - and along with that, we are able to give our students experience working on new work, which is going to be a big part of their future professional lives. We expose them to many different artists, lots of visiting guests, and it's really a great, exciting thing.
Amanda Dehnert
Associate Professor
Theatre and Interpretation Center
1949 Campus Drive, Room 229
Evanston, IL 60208-2430
Photos: Courtesy of Northwestern University


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CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago teachers, students and parents began learning Thursday whether their schools are among those the city plans to close as part of a cost-cutting plan that opponents say will disproportionately affect minority children.
Chicago Public Schools, the nation's third-largest school district, hasn't said how many schools or students will be affected. Administrators identified up to 129 schools that could be shuttered, although the total number is expected to fall short of that number.
The district says many of those schools don't serve enough students to justify remaining open, and that the closures will help it deal with a $1 billion budget shortfall and better allocate its resources to students.
The pending closures have been the subject of highly charged community meetings all over the city. Critics say that, among other things, the closures will threaten the safety of students who may have to cross gang boundaries if their schools are closed and that they will cause major inconveniences for families.
Chicago is among several major U.S. cities, including Philadelphia, Washington and Detroit, among others, to use mass school closures to reduce costs and offset declining enrollment.
The issue has led to yet another clash between Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Teachers Union over the direction of the city's schools. A strike by the union's 26,000 teachers last fall idled roughly 350,000 students for seven days, and Emanuel has clashed with the union over his push to lengthen the school day.
At Lafayette Elementary, a school in the Humboldt Park neighborhood where 95 percent of its 483 students come from low-income families, the principal read teachers a letter from the district Thursday saying the school is among those it plans to close, said teacher Rosemary Maurello.
Sandra Leon, who was picking up her two grandchildren from kindergarten at Lafayette, wept as she spoke to a reporter about the plans, which she heard about from their teacher in a tearful phone call.
"It's been so good for our kids. This school is everything," said Sandra Leon, whose children also attended the school.
The message read to Lafayette teachers said a final decision would be made in May after more community meetings are held and budget plans are reviewed. But Maurello said letters and information packets were already being sent to parents, and the district's message to teachers included a mention of specific plans to move the Lafayette students to another school about 10 blocks away.
"It sounds like a done deal to me," Maurello said.
Like many teachers, she is worried about where her students will end up. As a tenured teacher, the contract allows her to follow her students to their new school, but she wonders if some of them will opt to go to other schools instead.
The district has plans for community organizations to help students get to their new locations safely, but Maurello wonders how long that will last.
"I truly believe that it's going to be chaos," she said.
Many of the schools targeted for possible closure are in parts of south and west Chicago that are beset by gang violence and that have the highest homicide rates, leading to concerns for the safety of students who might have to enter areas farther from home to get to their new schools. Chicago registered more than 500 homicides last year for the first time since 2008.
That violence has hit areas like North Lawndale, where 59-year-old Eular Hatchett walks her 13-year-old nephew, DaVontay Horace, to school to ensure he gets there safely.
"Our parents know about this area," she said. "They don't know about those other areas. If they send him way north or way south, I'm not going to do that. It's too dangerous."
When she dropped her nephew off at Henson Elementary on Thursday, teachers were coming out of a meeting looking distraught and with their heads down, leading her to suspect that it's among those that will close. The teachers told her and others that they weren't permitted to talk about it.
For some of the affected children, it would be the second time in recent years that they've been displaced. When Chicago closed many of its public housing high-rises in recent years, school closings followed.
Many teachers and parents expressed anger and frustration at how the news of the school closures trickled out, leaving some to agonize over rumor and conjecture, instead learning the list of schools in one official announcement.
"In a word, the approach was brutal. It's certainly not deserved by these parents and these kids," said Mary Visconti, the director of the Better Boys Foundation, a youth organization in Lawndale.
A member of the City Council who represents the area, Michael Chandler, told a community gathering that he was informed Wednesday night of two Lawndale schools that will be closing, but he didn't name them.
Chicago Public Schools has until March 31 to announce which of the 129 schools it will close.
After published reports late Wednesday said the announcement would occur Thursday, a CPS spokeswoman said she could not confirm that information. The district released a one paragraph statement from CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett that reiterated that the announcement would be soon.
"For too long children in certain parts of Chicago have been cheated out of the resources they need to succeed in the classroom because they are in underutilized, under resourced schools," Byrd-Bennett said in the statement.
The district did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
The list will not be final until the Chicago Board of Education votes on it in late May.
The Chicago Teachers Union, which has vigorously fought the closure plans, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to the UNESCO Chair MATECSS upcoming events page. Find below details of coming events.
Sorry, no events were found.
2017-07-11: Today the call for the 2017 MATECSS Excellence Scholarships for PhD students is launched. Deadline for application is August 31st, 2017
2017-06-14: The Quebec government funds 9 collaborative projects between Quebec and Cuba for 62500 $, one project is lead by MATECSS, cf.here.
2017-05-30: Yufeng Zhou, MATECSS Excellence Scholarship (2014), published two articles related to photovoltaic energy in reputable journals, cf. here and here.
2017-04-11: Juan Carlos Abrego, last year's MATECSS Excellence Scholarship winner working with Prof. Mohamedi, published already two articles related to hydrogen energy, cf. here and here.
2017-01-17: Two MATECSS professors publish articles with partners from Nigeria and South-Africa in the J. of Electroanalytical Chemistry as well as in Electrochimica Acta.
2016-09-10: Yufeng Zhou, winner of the MATECSS excellence scholarship, publishes an article in frontispiece in the reputed journal Advanced Energy Materials together with several MATECSS professors and researchers.
2016-05-10: The prestigious Harbin Institute of Technology attributes the institute's highest honour to Prof. F. Rosei: the title of honorary professor.
2016-04-04: Today the call for the 2016 MATECSS Excellence Scholarships for PhD students is launched. Deadline for application is May 16th, 2016
2016-02-28: Professor Andreas Ruediger wins a grant from the XVth Quebec-Mexico Working Group, to do collaborative work with Mexico on oxides for energy conversion
2015-12-02: The president of Jinan University (Shandong Province) awards Prof. Rosei a certificate as visiting expert. On this occasion Prof. Rosei gives a talk on the latest developments in his group's MATECSS-related research, and discusses with the University's officials the potential for further tightening the links with INRS.
2015-10-29: A one-day session is dedicated to MATECSS at the EMP16 Conference which will take place in Troyes, France in July 2016.
2015-10-06: MATECSS will organise a breakout session at the UNESCO Tech4Dev Conference at EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland in May 2016. We invite you to participate and submit abstracts via the Tech4Dev website.
2015-08-17: MATECSS organizes a Symposium at the International Materials Research Conference in Mexico, and gathers 38 speakers.
2015-07-30: Professor Federico Rosei has been elected ASM International Fellow (American Society for Metals)
2015-06-15: Professor Andreas Peter Ruediger made an honorary Fellow at te Munich University of Applied Sciences
2015-06-14: Professor Federico Rosei has been elected as Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering
2015-03-24: The 2015 Call for Applications of the MATECSS Excellence Scholarship Program is now CLOSED. The winning candidates of over 30 applicants will be informed beginning of July 2015.
2015-03-23: Professor Federico Rosei has been awarded the recognition for Excellence in Leadership from the American Vacuum Society
2015-02-15: Professor Federico Rosei has received the Lash Miller Award from the Canada Section of the Electrochemical Society
2015-02-12:The current issue of Chemistry International includes an article about MATECSS.
2015-02-08: Professor Federico Rosei has received the Khwarizmi International Award from the Government of Iran
2015-01-25: Professor Federico Rosei has been awarded the Chang Jiang Chair Professorship from the Government of China
2015-01-19: Professor Federico Rosei has been selected as IEEE Nanotechnology Distinguished Lecturer
2015-01-14: Professor Federico Rosei has been elected as Fellow of SPIE
2014-12-02: Professor Federico Rosei has been elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society
2014-09-09: Professor Federico Rosei has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
2014-06-10: Professor Federico Rosei receives 2014 José Vasconcelos Award


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text: That lot with the MTA trucks has been on the prime corner space for at least 10 years now: it has always been an odd and unsightly visual blight in the middle of that 'showcase' location. Why does that place, of all places, have to be the location for parking MTA tractor trucks: WTF. LOL


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Longtime scouting executive Clark to join Dodgers
Has worked with team president Kasten in Atlanta and Washington
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers are expected to announce the hiring of longtime scouting executive Roy Clark, who has worked for Dodgers president Stan Kasten in Atlanta and Washington.
Clark was assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel in Washington for the last four years and will now be a scouting crosschecker for vice president of amateur scouting Logan White.
Despite exploding the payroll over the past two seasons to jump-start competitiveness on the Major League level, Kasten has insisted that the franchise is committed to a long-term player development system that will allow the team to rely less on expensive free agents and veterans obtained by trades.
Clark, 56, was the Braves' scouting director for 11 years. He spent four years as a Minor League infielder in Seattle's organization before turning to coaching and scouting.


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May 08, 2014
LAWT News Service
When Alvin Lovett first met his wife, Joyce more than 20 years ago, the Alabama native had to walk from 121st and central to 74th and Central, a total of 47 blocks, to see her. "I hadn't called in advance. So when I got there, she wasn't home," says Lovett. "So I had to turn around and walk all the way back." Today, Alvin "Alabama" Lovett is the number one Kia Salesperson at the number one Kia dealership in America. "I went from walking because I didn't own a car to being able to drive any car in the world I want—as long as it is a Kia".
Alabama's journey has been long, and along the way he has never forgotten where he came from—Mobile to be exact—or any of the stops along the way. Today, he is committed to giving back by being of service to his community. "One of the lessons I learned when I married into my wife Joyce's family was that family and community matters; that's why getting involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS is so important to me. HIV is attacking our families. And the only way families survive is for every member to do their part." There are approximately 1.25 million Americans living with HIV in the US today, nearly 50 percent (50%) are Black, and many of them don't know they are infected.
"Every time I would see him, Alabama would say, 'Phill, I'm gonna help you with that AIDS thing,' said Phill Wilson, President and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute. "People tell me that all the time, but usually, it's just talk." On World AIDS Day 2013, Car Pros Kia of Carson, at the urging of Alabama, announced the "Drive Out AIDS, Win A New Car" raffle to benefit the Black AIDS Institute and other HIV/AIDS organizations.
"I jumped on the opportunity to work with The Black AIDS Institute on this project, knowing that they are the world's greatest advocate for informing our communities about the epidemic," says Alabama.
"Sometimes it gets extremely hard to keep going," says Wilson. "AIDS in America has become a Black disease. At the same time there are fewer and fewer resources to fight the epidemic. Governments are pulling back. Foundations are backing away, and corporations are not as supportive as they could be. The Black AIDS Institute is one of the leading Black organizations in the field and even we are having a difficult time keeping our doors open. The only way for us to survive, the only way to end the AIDS epidemic in our community is for people and businesses in the community to step up to the plate. That is what Alabama, Ken Phillips [the owner of Car Pros Kia of Carson] are doing. They are doing their part. Now if we can only get the community to do their part by purchasing raffle tickets."
To win a brand new car and support the work of the Black AIDS Institute, people can purchase raffle tickets (www.AIDSraffle.org) for $25 each or $20 each, if you buy five. The grand prize is a brand new 2014 Kia Forte or a five day Carnival Cruise for two to either the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Baja, Mexico. Because of the generosity of Car Pros Kia of Carson, 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales goes to the charities.
One of Alabama's operating sales principles is "doing well by doing good". "After my first month at Car Pros Kia, Ken Phillips, (the owner of the dealership) would allow me to discount the cars sold to the citizens of Compton," says Alabama. He would give the City of Compton $100 for every car he sold to a Compton resident". They have been able to build up thousands of dollars through that program to support youth , seniors, and programs that serve poor residents of the community.
"When I spoke to Ken Phillips, he decided that the dealership would donate the 2014 Kia Forte and sponsor the raffle," says Alabama. "I don't think a lot about selling cars. As long as I keep the community in my heart, people will keep coming in to Car Pros Kia of Carson asking for Alabama. And, as long as people keep asking for Alabama, I will keep doing my part to help the community."
The 2014 Kia Forte Sedan comes fully equipped with a 10-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty—the best in the United States—as well as AM/FM satellite radio, MP3 and USB outlets and Bluetooth.
The winning ticket for the Kia Forte will be drawn on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at the 15th Anniversary Black AIDS Institute Heroes in the Struggle Gala Reception and Awards Presentation on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at the Directors Guild of America. The honorees this year include Academy Award winning actress Mo'Nique, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Jamar Rogers and corporate hero, Walgreens. For more information about the Heroes in the Struggle Gala or the Black AIDS Institute go to www.BlackAIDS.org.


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The First Time is a modern and realistic look at the angst and excitement of young love. Dave (Dylan O'Brien) is a high school senior who meets Aubrey (Britt Robertson), a junior, one night at a party and a casual conversation sparks a connection that keeps drawing them back to each other. From writer/director Jonathan Kasdan, the film also stars Victoria Justice, Craig Robertson, Joshua Malina and Christine Taylor. For more on the film, here's the trailer.
At the film's press day, actor Dylan O'Brien spoke to Collider for this exclusive interview about what drew him to this story and role, how relieved he was with the positive response as the film started to screen at film festivals, really staying in the moment as an actor, and how memorable the entire experience was. He also talked about what it was like to make The Internship with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, and how director Shawn Levy is going for a more PG-13 family feel, that they'll return to shoot Season 3 of his MTV series Teen Wolf in December, with 24 episodes now, how he has no idea what's to come for Stiles, and that he has no idea what Stiles' first name is. Check out what he had to say after the jump.
Collider: How did you come to be a part of this film? Was it just an audition, or was it something you specifically pursued?
DYLAN O'BRIEN: It was an audition for me, like any other thing. The only thing that separated this film was that it was something that me, my manager and my agents all just really loved and really thought that I was right for it. For me, the script and subject matter was so personal to me. This was all still very fresh in my mind, too. I was 19 years old and this had all just happened to me, two years prior. So, it was really refreshing, in that sense, and in the sense that it's entirely different than any other script I was reading or going out for. It's a teen comedy, but none of it was raunchy or tasteless. It was really classy and really sweet, and a really true, honest, endearing story. Jon [Kasdan] changed a lot with the script and was writing the whole way, but he has such an understanding of relationships and how people communicate with each other. It's fascinating because I don't [have that]. It's really incredible when somebody has such a beat on it.
Doing an independent film is always a bit of an iffy proposition because you never know how it will turn out or if it will ever get distribution. Did you breathe a sigh of relief when you finally screened the film and audiences really responded positively?
O'BRIEN: It's weird because I knew that this could be good and I knew that I wasn't just doing this for no reason. I was trying to make it good. I want everything that I'm doing and putting my life into to be good. We all felt that way. But, what was amazing was that it never became about that. That's what helped it come out okay. We always had a quiet confidence that it would be good, and just a genuine love for doing it. I could have shot the movie forever, or three months. We didn't have that budget, so it was five weeks. But, we genuinely loved coming in every day and doing the scene and talking about the scene and talking about the movie. It was something that became really personal to all of us. Even the whole crew was great. It was a really nice shoot. We had a really amazing time. Me, Britt [Robertson] and Jon [Kasdan] were really close, the whole way. The movie had a sense of comradery about it. Everybody wanted it to be good, and everybody thought it was so cute while we were doing it.
The friendship between Dave and his friends was so great. Was that part of the appeal of this?
O'BRIEN: Yeah, that's such a great part of the movie. [Craig Robertson and Lamarcus Tinker] are so good, and it's such a good buddy friendship. It's such a good threesome of friends. It's exactly what it should be. It's so real and so how friends would be. They're three people who are kind of opposite to who each other are, but have this grounded love for one another. It's who they turn to. I think Aubrey's parents (played by Joshua Malina and Christine Taylor) are like that, too. It's a different kind of relatable part to the story. They're reactions to her antics in the scenes are such classic parenting. It feels like what parenting would be like. So much of the movie is what things are like. It makes you laugh because it's like that, and it's funny to portray it the way it is.
It seems like this performance really depended on both you and Britt Robertson being in the moment. Is that something that's easy for you, as an actor, or do you catch yourself acting and have to adjust for that?
O'BRIEN: Yeah, it depends. That's such a good question because that's such a relevant thing, as an actor – committing and not being distracted by any kind of technical awareness, or whatever. You do have to block things out sometimes, and sometimes it's easier than others. For instance, when we were shooting the sex scene for 12 hours, that was actually the easiest thing to do in the world. You're never thinking about where the camera is, and you're never thinking about anything else. You're so directly and physically involved in the scene that you're very much in it. It's easier, in that sense. Something like the alleyway scene, where it's like a mini one-act play and you run the whole 18 pages of it, it's so much easier to get lost in it. That's why actors love doing theater so much, I guarantee you. It's refreshing to be able to do something where you don't have to be stopped every two seconds, and you can just play it out and it's done. I'm very technically aware. I always know what it's looking like and what the camera move is. It's hard for me to block that out and become actor-y and be in the moment. I think it helped that I connected to the material so much and that I connected with Britt so much and that I loved the movie so much. I just felt so comfortable in it.
What was it like to do The Internship? Was that an entirely different experience?
O'BRIEN: Oh, it was completely, leaps-and-bounds different. We all had so much fun. It was this big ensemble cast and we all just fell in love with each other, which was a really lucky thing. I've never been on such an inspiring set, in the sense of just being blown away by everybody's performance in the movie. Vince [Vaughn] and Owen [Wilson] are amazing, obviously. We all joked about how much fun we had on that movie, and that it didn't even feel like we were working, really. It was like a summer camp, especially because it was such a big production and there were so many big production weeks. The First A.D. would be on a mic and you'd just hear your name from the heavens going, "Dylan O'Brien, time for coverage," and you'd get up and run. But, it was a very supportive group. It was an amazing thing that I've never seen before, on anything else. Literally, the whole cast would tuck behind the monitors to watch someone's coverage, and love it. Everybody genuinely just enjoyed each other's performances and what everybody was doing. It was really an amazing thing. It has to be funny. There's no way [it's not]. The people in that movie blew my mind.
Would you say that the film is leaning toward an R rating?
O'BRIEN: No. I think the really smart thing that Shawn Levy did with it – and I could be wrong when it comes out R and is the raunchiest thing in the world – is that he has such good taste and he's very classy in his taste and he's very family-oriented, and he really did the right thing and leaned toward the PG-13 family feel. Box office is not what I'm referring to with this, but just as a movie, I think it's the right call. I think you can take the most away from the movie with the lighter version. We don't need the fucks and the shits and the cocks. It's about the group coming together. It's a total family feel, so it has to have [a rating that reflects that]. I think it will be good, and I think it will be sweet, too.
Who is the character you're playing?
O'BRIEN: I'm a very cynical dick, at first, who eventually comes around to love the group. I'm very kept in about my feelings and who I am, and not open, in any way.
Have you talked to Jeff Davis at all about Stiles' storyline for Season 3 of Teen Wolf?
O'BRIEN: I literally just texted him last night, telling him that we needed to get dinner and I needed to hear about my character for the season 'cause I don't know what's happening.
O'BRIEN: We start shooting in December. And what I do know is that there's going to be a four month gap that goes by, between seasons. We also have 24 episodes this season, so we'll see how that goes. It's quite a lot. I don't know how that will go. I think 12 episodes was enough for us to handle on the budget that we have. It will be interesting. We've gotta squeeze it into one calendar year, too.
Have you thought about where you'd like to see your character go? Are you rooting for Stiles to remain the non-supernatural character throughout the series, or would you like to see him get more involved?
O'BRIEN: I don't know. I don't think about that stuff. I feel like it's not my place to decide where my character goes. I definitely weigh in, heavily, with stuff. But, I'm as entertained as everyone else is, by finding out what my arc for the season is going to be and what I'm going to get to play. If it's presented to me and I think it's barbarically wrong and not, at all, anything that Stiles would be doing, I'll say something about it. But, I really admire what Jeff does for everyone's characters, and not just mine. He puts it out there for you and gives you the opportunity to play a great arc, over the course of a season. I just let him do his thing. You don't disrupt genius at work. I think we just have a good balance, with the way he writes it and the way I play it, and the way I understand it and the way he perceives it. It is very collaborative. We do talk about it a lot. We'll talk a bunch at this dinner, about everything – about what's gone on in these four months, about where Stiles is what, about what's going to be happening for him and what's going to be changing. With the supernatural stuff, I personally think it would be silly if Stiles was turned into anything. But, if we're in Season 5, sure, we've gotta do something. At that point, maybe it could even be funny. I was joking with somebody recently about how funny it would be if Stiles finally did get a superpower, but he was really cynical about it because he was Frog Man, or something. He did have a superpower because he could leap and jump really high, long and far, but it was essentially useless and embarrassing. I thought that would be funny. But, I don't think something like that will happen.
Will there continue to be a bit of a bromance triangle, between Stiles, Scott (Tyler Posey) and Isaac (Daniel Sharman)? Where will Scott's friendship with Isaac leave Stiles?
O'BRIEN: That will definitely be something that's tested this year, absolutely, with the nature of Scott and Stiles and how strong their bond is. They're both growing up and having to go different routes, and that may or may not disrupt their friendship. It will be a test.
Do you know what Stiles' first name is?
O'BRIEN: Oh, no, I don't. There's no first name. There just isn't one. That's just the joke. I don't have one. I think the original Stiles was Rupert Stilinski, or something like that. There was one episode where they showed half of the name on a paper. I don't remember what it said. The fans get really angry when you tease them with that stuff. I see it as being a comedic story point. I thought it was funny because you couldn't see it, but people were outraged. Jeff is so funny because he spends a lot of time on Twitter. He gets so into it that he reads everything. People threatened him about Sterek, being like, "I swear to god, if you don't let them be together, I will come to your house and kill you." Jeff actually plays into this stuff. He sent me and Tyler Hoechlin an email that said, "You guys, I know that this is insane, but remain calm and don't acknowledge any of it, no matter what you do." But, we don't go on Twitter, so we don't read any of this and didn't know what was going on, at all. It cracked me up. But, I can't wrap my brain around that. Do they really want us together, on the show?!
The First Time opens in limited release this weekend in Southern California, New York City, and Phoenix, Arizona. If you're in NYC or Los Angeles, it's playing at these theaters:
- AMC Burbank Town Center 8
- AMC Broadway @ The Santa Monica Promenade
- AMC Orange 30 @ The Block
- Loews Village Theater 7
- AMC Empire 25 Theaters


text:
Reception and enquiries
Reception and enquiries
How can we help you?
Getting help with
Keep us updated
About appointments
Register as a new patient
Can't find what you're looking for?
Treatment Room
Treatment Room
Let's see what we can do…
Get immediate help with minor illnesses and injuries:
- Coughs
- Colds
- Headaches
- Hay fever
- Back pain
- Sprains
- Burns and scalds
- Animal bites
- Cuts and grazes
- Minor head injury
- Norovirus
- Shingles
Pharmacists can also advise on minor illnesses and injuries:
Alternatively you can visit your nearest Minor Injury Unit:
103 Broad Street Mall,
Reading, Berkshire
Tel: 0118 902 8300
08.00am – 20.00pm
London Road,
Thatcham, RG18 3AS
Tel: 01635 273508
8.00am – 22.00pm
Eastern Gate, Brants Bridge,
Bracknell, Berkshire,
Tel: 01344 551 100
8.00am – 20.00pm
Please remember that A&E departments deal only with genuine life-threatening emergencies. Less severe injuries and illnesses can be treated in urgent care centres or at minor injuries units (MIUs).
If you wish to get advice or see a Nurse or Doctor, please visit our Consulting Room.
Consulting room
Consulting room
How can we help you?
For Health reviews, including Asthma reviews and Smoking cessation please visit our Health Review and Assessment Clinic.
Call 111
Visit a Pharmacist
- No appointment necessary
- Many pharmacists have a confidential area
- Open till late and at weekends
Contact a Nurse
Contact a Doctor
COVID-19 Support Room
COVID-19 Support Room
If you think you might have coronavirus or you've been in close contact with someone who has it visit NHS 111 online coronavirus service for advice.
Well-being while staying at home
Taking care of your mind as well as your body is really important while staying at home because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Visit NHS Every Mind Matters for advice, practice advice and support groups.
If you cannot wait to see a doctor and feel unable to cope or keep yourself safe, it's important to get support.
Keeping Active
To stay fit and healthy whilst at home, try the NHS Home workout videos.
Advice for patients with pre-existing conditions
- Macmillan – Cancer and coronavirus
- Asthma UK – What to do if you have asthma
- Blood Cancer UK – Information for people affected by blood cancer
- Diabetes UK – Coronavirus and diabetes
- Kidney Care UK – Guidance for patients with kidney disease
Advice for Vulnerable Patients
- Guidance on shielding and protecting extremely vulnerable people
- How to get support for extremely critical vulnerable person
- Advice for people at higher risk – those who are 70 or older, are pregnant or have a condition that increases the risks from coronavirus.
- Pregnancy advice
Wellbeing Centre
Wellbeing Centre
Let's see what we can do…
Social Prescribing is linking people up with activities or services in the community that they might benefit from. It's about connecting people to non-medical sources of support. We aim to help people live well and safely, and to maintain healthy lives, through non-medical support offered by Reading's voluntary and community groups.
Website: rva.org.uk/social-prescribing
If you have problems with bladder or bowel control, we can provide you with a variety of specialist continence treatments and advice.
Our nurse specialists offer confidential advice by telephone and at our clinics by appointment.
Telephone: 0118 949 5145
Website: www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk
Berkshire Care Services Directory 2019/20
This guide can help you make informed decisions about your care.
It contains information on care in Berkshire, including having a care assessment, funding social care and supporting carers.
There is also a comprehensive list of social care services in Berkshire, including care homes for the elderly, home care for people with learning or physical disabilities and dementia nursing homes in Berkshire.
Telephone: 01223 207770
Website: https://www.carechoices.co.uk/
The Little Blue Book of Sunshine
Life can be tough! If school is pants, you're trying to figure out who you are and parents are stressing you out… then why wouldn't you feel down on the world? But that's rubbish if it means you feel bad about yourself, lose confidence or can't bounce back.
The Little Blue Book of Sunshine explains some of the things you can do right now to feel better, or who to turn to if things feel too much.
Website: https://www.berkshirewestccg.nhs.uk/
Berkshire Talking Therapies
Problems such as anxiety, depression, stress and phobias are very common. Talking Therapies is a friendly and approachable service that helps people with these problems.
Telephone: 0300 365 2000
Website: www.talkingtherapies.berkshire.nhs.uk
Time to Talk: West Berkshire
Time to Talk West Berkshire provides free confidential counselling services to young people in need aged 11 to 25.
Telephone: 01635 760331
Website: t2twb.org
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Sport in Mind
Sport in Mind® is the independent Berkshire mental health sports charity formed in Reading in 2011 to use sport and physical activity to help aid the recovery of people experiencing mental health problems and encourage individuals to move their lives forward in a positive direction.
Telephone or Text: 07341 267740
Website: sportinmind.org
Email: email@example.com
Free anonymous online chat for young people to discuss your mental health issues.
Website: kooth.com
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is an award-winning charity dedicated to preventing male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK.
Telephone: 0800 58 58 58
Facebook: theCALMzone
Twitter: @theCALMzone
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
Berkshire Children, Young Peoples and Families Services
We provide care and support to children, young people and their families in Berkshire. We offer Specialist Children's Services, Mental Health & Therapy Services.
Telephone: 0300 365 1234
Website: cypf.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk
No5 offers confidential listening to support children and young people and those around them, through our free counselling service for those aged 10-25 in the Reading area.
Telephone: 0118 901 5668
Text: 07984 357551
Facebook: no5youngpeople
Twitter: @no5youngpeople
Website: no5.org.uk
Email: email@example.com
Relate Berkshire
Relate Berkshire offers relationship counselling, sexual therapy and family counselling for couples, families and singles to help make relationship changes for the better.
Telephone: 0118 987 6161
Website: www.relateberkshire.org
BEAT Eating Disorders
We are a champion, guide and friend to anyone affected by eating disorders, giving individuals experiencing an eating disorder and their loved ones a place where they feel listened to, supported and empowered.
Helpline: 0808 801 0677
Youthline: 0808 801 0711 (for under 25s)
Facebook: beat.eating.disorders
Twitter: @beated
Website: www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Emotional Health Academy
Helping children, young people and families find support for emotional well-being earlier, faster and more easily within West Berkshire.
Telephone: 01635 519018
Website: info.westberks.gov.uk
MindEd UK
MindEd is a free educational resource on children and young people's mental health for all adults.
Twitter: @MindEdUK
Website: www.minded.org.uk
SANE provides emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including families, friends and carers.
Helpline: 0300 304 7000
Facebook: charitySANE
Twitter: @CharitySANE
Website: www.sane.org.uk
Rethink provide expert, accredited advice and information to everyone affected by mental health problems.
Telephone: 0300 5000 927
Website: www.rethink.org
Email: email@example.com
Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever's getting to you. You don't have to be suicidal. Call Samaritans free, 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
Telephone: 116 123
Website: www.samaritans.org
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Telephone: 0300 123 3393
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Daisy's Dream
Established in 1996, Daisy's Dream is a professional support service which responds to the needs of children and families affected by life threatening illness or bereavement. We work across Berkshire and the surrounding areas.
Originally set up to meet the needs of children who had been bereaved, over recent years we have expanded our service to encompass families where there has been a serious illness diagnosis.
Telephone: 0118 934 2604
Facebook: Daisys-Dream
Twitter: @daisys_dream
Website: www.daisysdream.org.uk
Sands is the stillbirth and neonatal death charity. We operate throughout the UK, supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby, working to improve the care bereaved parents receive, and promoting research to reduce the loss of babies' lives.
Telephone: 0808 164 3332
Website: www.sands.org.uk
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Cruse Bereavement Care - Berkshire Area
Cruse Bereavement Care is the leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies and work to enhance society's care of bereaved people.
Telephone: 01344 411919
National Helpline: 0808 808 1677
Website: www.cruse.org.uk
Support with Confidence
Support with Confidence provides a list of providers of care and support services who have been successfully approved, and undergone the appropriate training and background checks. Support with Confidence is a joint Trading Standards and Adult Social Care scheme that is growing nationally.
Website: www.supportwithconfidence.gov.uk
Reading & West Berkshire Carers Hub
Carers Trust provides timely, personalised information and support via the Reading & West Berkshire Carers Hub to make caring for a loved one easier.
Telephone: 0118 324 7333
Facebook: RWBCarersHub
Twitter: @RWB_Carers_Hub
Website: www.berkshirecarershub.org
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
This service is provided by Carers Trust.
Carers Direct Helpline
You can call the Carers Direct helpline if you need help with your caring role and want to talk to someone about what options are available to you.
Telephone: 0300 123 1053
Website: www.nhs.uk
Crossroads Care Reading
Crossroads Care Reading offers a full range of services for all groups, disabilities or health conditions. We also provide special care services.
Telephone: 0118 945 4209 or 0118 945 4218 (out of hours)
Website: www.readingcrossroads.org
Carers UK
They're here to make sure that no matter how complicated your query or your experience, you don't have to care alone.
Telephone: 020 7378 4999
Website: www.carersuk.org
Carers Trust
Carers Trust provides a range of support and services which can be accessed via the Carers Hub – funded by Reading Borough Council, West Berkshire Council, North & West Reading CCG, South Reading CCG and Newbury & District CCG.
Telephone: 0118 324 7333
Carer's Registration
It is important that we know if you are a carer so that we can make sure you receive information, services and the help that is available. If you are a carer please complete our form.
Getting Informed
First steps to finding care and support for older people.
Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
We support children and young people (up to the age of 25) who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). We provide advice, information and can carry out specialist assessments and give ongoing support where necessary.
Telephone: 0118 937 3641
Website: http://www.reading.gov.uk/localoffer
Vaccination planner
Download a personalised vaccination calendar, which highlights the dates your child needs to have their vaccinations by.
Download from: www.nhs.uk
Childhood illness visual guide
Use this visual guide to help you identify common conditions and illnesses that may affect your child. Includes conditions such as measles, slapped cheek syndrome, chicken pox and warts.
Website: www.nhs.uk
Young People with Dementia Berkshire
YPWD (Berkshire) provide a range of support and ancillary services to younger people with dementia (those diagnosed below the age of 65), and to their families and carers, within the Berkshire West area covering Wokingham, Reading and Newbury.
Telephone: 0118 949 5286
Facebook: YPWDBerkshireWes
Twitter: @YPWD
Website: www.ypwd.info
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Age UK Berkshire
The Age UK Berkshire service provides ongoing one-to-one support for people with memory loss or living with dementia, and can give some respite to carers.
Telephone: 0118 959 4242
Website: www.ageuk.org.uk/berkshire
Alzheimer's Society UK
Alzheimer's Society provide information, advice and support to help those affected by dementia live as well as possible with the condition.
National Dementia Helpline: 0300 222 11 22
Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk
Dementia UK
Dementia UK offers specialist one-to-one support and expert advice for people living with dementia.
Telephone: 0800 888 6678
Website: www.dementiauk.org
The Dash Charity (formerly Berkshire East & South Bucks Women's Aid). We're here for one reason, to help individuals and families affected by domestic abuse with confidential advice and support.
Telephone: 01753 549865
Facebook: TheDashCharity
Twitter: @TheDashCharity
Website: thedashcharity.org.uk
Berkshire Womens's Aid (BWA)
BWA works throughout Bracknell, Reading and Wokingham, and we are affiliated to the Women's Aid Federation of England (WAFE).
BWA provides advice, support and refuge services to victims of domestic abuse and provides information and education on the subject to make the case for effective action against domestic violence, intimidation and psychological abuse and for policies that support victims of abuse.
Helpline: 0118 950 4003
Website: www.berkshirewomensaid.org.uk
Alana House West Berkshire
The Alana House West Berkshire satellite service is supported by the centre in Reading and works in partnership with organisations and agencies locally to provide women only targeted support for vulnerable women with complex needs in the West Berkshire area.
Telephone: 0118 921 7640
Website: pactcharity.org
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Men's Advice Line
Men's Advice Line: confidential helpline for men experiencing domestic violence from a partner or ex-partner (or from other family members).
Telephone: 0808 801 0327
Website: www.mensadviceline.org.uk
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
West Berkshire Local Safeguarding Children Board
The purpose of the West Berkshire Local Safeguarding Children Board (WB LSCB) is to ensure that everyone is working together towards the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
Are you worried about a child?
Telephone: 01635 503090
Website: www.westberkslscb.org.uk
Trust House Reading
The centre in Reading offers a safe place for those affected by rape and sexual abuse.
Helpline: 0118 958 4033
Facebook: trusthouse.reading
Twitter: @TrustHouseR
Website: trusthousereading.org
Karma Nirvana - Honour Based Abuse
Karma Nirvana is an award-winning British Human Rights Charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. Honour crimes are not determined by age, faith, gender or sexuality, we support and work with all victims.
Telephone: 0800 5999 247
Website: www.karmanirvana.org.uk
Email: email@example.com
If you are in immediate danger call 999.
National Centre for Domestic Violence
The National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) provides a free, fast emergency injunction service to survivors of domestic violence regardless of their financial circumstances, race, gender or sexual orientation.
Telephone: 0800 970 2070
Facebook: nationalcentrefordomesticviolence
Twitter: @_NCDV
Oxfordshire / West Berkshire Helpline: 0800 731 0055
Freephone 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Police (non emergency): 101
Victim Support: 0808 168 9111
Kiran Asian women's aid: 0208 558 1986
Men's advice line: 0808 801 0327
LGBT helpline: 0300 999 5428
Elder abuse: 0808 808 8141
Childline: 0800 1111
IRiS Reading
IRiS Reading is an adult alcohol and drug treatment service available to anyone over the age of 18 who lives in Reading. We also have services available for family members of drug and alcohol users who need support.
Telephone: 0118 955 7333
Website: www.irispartnership.org
SOURCE - Young People's Drug & Alcohol Service
SOURCE is Reading's Young Person's drug & alcohol service, we work with young people under 18 years old or up to 25 if they are vulnerable adults or have LDD. We also offer family work support for our clients.
Telephone: 0118 901 5666
Website: servicesguide.reading.gov.uk
Email: email@example.com
If you're worried about your own or someone else's drinking, you can call this free helpline, in complete confidence.
Telephone: 0300 123 1110
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
Telephone: 0800 917 7650
Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Email: email@example.com
Talk to Frank
If you have a problem with drugs Talk to Frank for friendly, confidential drugs advice.
Telephone: 0300 123 6600
Text: 82111
Website: www.talktofrank.com
Email: email@example.com
We're a national alcohol and drug charity that helps people change and be happy. We believe in a society free from problem alcohol and drug use.
Telephone: 0300 003 7025
Website: www.swanswell.org
Email: email@example.com
Drinkaware Online Tools & Apps
Online trackers and apps from Drinkaware to help you avoid harm from alcohol.
Download from: www.drinkaware.co.uk
One You Drinks Tracker - Mobile App
Drinking a bit too much can sneak up on you. Our free drinks tracker app makes it easy to keep an eye on the booze and take control with daily tips and feedback.
Download from: play.google.com
Download from: itunes.apple.com
One You Days Off - Mobile App
The One You Days Off app is a simple and easy way to track the days you drink alcohol and the days you don't.
Download from: play.google.com
Download from: itunes.apple.com
Crossroads Care Reading
Crossroads Care Reading offers a full range of services for all groups, disabilities or health conditions. We also provide special care services.
Telephone: 0118 945 4209 or 0118 945 4218 (out of hours)
Website: www.readingcrossroads.org
Readibus Reading
ReadiBus is the dial-a-ride bus service for people with restricted mobility in and around Reading, UK.
Telephone: 0118 931 0000
Website: www.readibus.co.uk
Age UK
Age UK is the country's largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. We believe in a world where everyone can love later life and we work every day to achieve this.
Telephone: 0800 169 2081
Website: www.ageuk.org.uk
Dementia UK offers specialist one-to-one support and expert advice for people living with dementia.
Telephone: 0800 888 6678
Website: www.dementiauk.org
Silver Line
Free phone support for older people, 24 hours a day.
Telephone: 0800 4708 090
Website: www.thesilverline.org.uk
Vocational Training for Adults with Special Needs
This site identifies the best vocational training programs for the disabled this year. Vocational training for the disabled offers a chance for employers to bring diversity into the workplace. People living with disabilities also need to know that there are specific laws which protect them.
Website: www.vocationaltraininghq.com
Wokingham Local Offer for 0-25 year olds with Additional Needs
Website: www.wokingham.gov.uk
SEND Local Offer
We support children and young people (up to the age of 25) who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). We provide advice, information, and can carry out specialist assessments and give ongoing support where necessary. We provide some services ourselves, and arrange and fund other services.
Tel: 0118 937 3641
Website: www.reading.gov.uk
West Berkshire Directory
West Berkshire Directory – Your one-stop shop for help and support in West Berkshire.
Website: www.directory.westberks.gov.uk
Special Needs Checklist: How Disability-Friendly is Your City?
A usual website which helps you evaluate the disability-friendliness of where you live.
Guide to Remodeling a Home for Adults with Special Needs
This guide offers comprehensive solutions for families who care for young adults with special needs.
Website: www.bigrentz.com/how-to-guides
Renters Rights for People with Disabilities
Living independently is a goal for many young adults with disabilities. It's an important part of having a fulfilling life, and the drive for freedom exists regardless of ability.
Berkshire Healthcare: Learning Disabilities (CTPLD)
Our team is made up of experienced healthcare professionals who will work together to give you a personalised care plan.
We also work in partnership with social workers and social service assessment officers to make sure you're getting the best support possible.
Telephone: 01189 373742
Website: www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk
Reading Your Way
Services offered:
- Community support
- Peer support
- Social networking
- Volunteering
- Your Way
- Your Way individually tailored support
Telephone: 0118 966 0240
Website: www.together-uk.org
Reading Mencap
We provide services for children and adults with learning disabilities and their parents and carers.
Telephone: 0118 966 2518
Website: readingmencap.org.uk
Email: email@example.com
Talkback Reading
Talkback in Reading focuses upon supporting and developing self advocacy, participation and involvement across the Borough. These groups empower people to raise issues and concerns about their lives, their services or their communities.
Website: www.talkback-uk.com
Royal Berkshire Maternity Services
The Royal Berkshire Hospital has a range of Maternity Services available to residents in Berkshire.
Telephone: 0118 322 7296
Website: www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk
Planning your Pregnancy
If you're planning on getting pregnant, you can improve your chances of conceiving and having a successful pregnancy.
Antenatal Care
Your Antenatal Appointments Explained
Find Maternity Services Near you
Baby Buddy App
Baby Buddy is an award winning mobile phone app for new parents and parents-to-be, created by mums, doctors and midwives.
Download from: play.google.com
Download from: itunes.apple.com
Berkshire Sexual Health Services
Berkshire Sexual Health provides a range of services throughout Berkshire including contraception, STI checks and relationship advice.
Website: www.safesexberkshire.nhs.uk
The Florey: Sexual Health
Our clinics will provide you with accurate information, confidential care and support for all aspects of your sexual health. We offer the full range of sexual health services including testing for and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and contraception.
Telephone: 0118 322 7202
Website: www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk
Royal Berkshire Hospital
21a Craven Road
Reading RG1 5AN
British Pregnancy Advisory Service - Reading
BPAS (British Pregnancy Advisory Service) cares for women with an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.
Telephone: 03457 30 40 30
Website: www.bpas.org
NHS Sexual Health Guide
Everything you need to know about sexual health, including contraception and STIs.
Website: www.nhs.uk
Sexual Health Help Line
The Family Planning Association Sexual health help line can give you confidential information and advice.
Telephone: 0845 122 8690
Family Planning Association
They are a sexual health charity. They give straightforward information and support on sexual health, sex and relationships to everyone in the UK.
Telephone: 0300 123 7123
Website: www.fpa.org.uk
Brook provides free and confidential sexual health and wellbeing services for nearly 250,000 young people UK-wide, each year.
Website: www.brook.org.uk
Smokefree Life Berkshire
Smokefreelife Berkshire is a free service from Solutions 4 Health serving Bracknell, Reading, Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead, West Berkshire & Wokingham and we offer support that works!
Telephone: 0800 622 6360
Text: Quit to 66777
Twitter: @berkssmokefree
Website: www.smokefreelifeberkshire.com
Quit with help
Everyone has a different reason for quitting, get a personalised Quit Smoking Plan.
Website: www.quitwithhelp.co.uk
NHS Smokefree - Mobile App
The Smokefree app can help you stop smoking by providing daily support and motivation. If you stay smokefree for the 4-week programme you're up to five times more likely to stay quit for good.
Download from: play.google.com
Download from: itunes.apple.com
The Little Blue Book of Sunshine
The Little Blue Book of Sunshine explains some of the things you can do right now to feel better, or who to turn to if things feel too much. You can pick up a copy at school, download a copy to your phone or simply read some of the great advice.
Website: www.berkshirewestccg.nhs.uk
West Berkshire Directory
Your one-stop shop for help and support in West Berkshire!
Website: directory.westberks.gov.uk
Reading Services Guide
A website full of useful information and services in and around Reading.
The free weight management programme serving West Berkshire, Wokingham, Reading, Slough, Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead.
Telphone: 0118 449 2036
Text: 'MyHealth' to 66777
Website: www.eat-4-health.co.uk
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Slimming World
You'll find delicious recipe and menu ideas at your local group, along with all the help you need to get started and reach your target weight.
Website: www.slimmingworld.co.uk
NHS Weight Loss Plan
The plan is designed to help you lose weight at a safe rate of 0.5kg to 1kg (1lb to 2lb) each week by sticking to a daily calorie allowance.
Website: www.nhs.uk
Weight Watchers
Meetings, Online or a little bit of both. We've got options and support, whatever your lifestyle.
Website: www.weightwatchers.com
One You Couch to 5K - Mobile App
The Couch to 5K app has been designed to get you off the couch and running in just 9 weeks. Grab your trainers, download the app and follow the step-by-step instructions.
Download from: play.google.com
Download from: itunes.apple.com
One You Easy Meals - Mobile App
The free Easy Meals app is a great way to eat foods that are healthier for you. You'll find delicious, easy meal ideas to help get you going if you're ever short of inspiration.
Download from: play.google.com
Download from: itunes.apple.com
Am I a Healthy Weight?
Calculation your BMI using this NHS Choices Tool
Website: www.nhs.uk
Health Review and Assessment Clinic
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The Salon — Jewish women discuss! Hosted by Forward editor-in-chief Jane Eisner, with Rachel Sklar of Change The Ratio and The Li.st.
The first-ever television show about Jewish women's issues, The Salon brings together women from across the spectrum of Jewish life for lively discussion about a range of topics affecting Jewish women.
If you're thinking about it, we're talking about it!
Clip from Episode 38: Is Where You Sit on an Airplane a Religious Issue?
Episode 38. Women in Tech and at the Western Wall, anti-Semitism on college campuses, religion on airplanes, and more. Jewish women discuss it all on The Salon. With the ACLU's Ariela Migdal, JWA's Judith Rosenbaum, and GothamGal.com's Joanne Wilson.
Episode 37. Jewish women discuss: ideas for liberation this Passover, gains made for haredi women in the Israeli elections, brands and social issues, and parenting tips for co-host Rachel Sklar, who's nine months pregnant! Featuring Yeshivat Maharat's Dr. Esther Altmann, NCJW-NY's Andrea Salwen Kopel, and Lenore Skenazy, host of "World's Worst Mom."
Episode 36. Why all the fuss over "Fifty Shades of Grey?" Also: anti-Semitic violence in Europe; Netanyahu's address to Congress; and the thrill of spilling secrets. Featuring Hello Flo founder & CEO Naama Bloom, essayist and cultural critic Daphne Merkin, and documentary filmmaker Lacey Schwartz.
Episode 35. Terror attacks in France, 2015 Oscar nominations and who wasn't included, transgender woman barred from the kotel, and Standing Again At Sinai, 25 years later. Featuring journalist and author Abigail Pogrebin, Modern Loss Co-Founder/CEO Rebecca Soffer, and B'nai Jeshurun's Rabbi Felicia Sol.
Episode 34. Jewish women on Ferguson and beyond, Jewish communal salaries, walking the line between our personal and public selves, and more. This episode features Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend The Arc; Rachel Cyrulnik, Partner at Altruicity; and Sarah Wildman, author of "Paper Love: Searching for the Girl My Grandfather Left Behind."
Episode 33. Rachel's big news, the R' Barry Freundel mikvah scandal, egg-freezing, street harassment, and more. This episode features JOFA Executive Director Sharon Weiss-Greenberg, documentary filmmaker Debra Gonsher Vinik, and Bustle.com Senior Features Editor Rachel Krantz, plus host Jane Eisner puts co-host Rachel Sklar in the hot seat!
Episode 32. Jewish women discuss: why it's so hard to talk about the war in Gaza; sexual harassment in the Senate; Ferguson, race and the Jewish community, and how to find High Holidays inspiration. With Lisa Goldman, Marjorie Dove Kent, Rebecca Honig Friedman.
Episode 31. It's a panel of authors on this episode. "Cut Me Loose" author Leah Vincent, "A Dual Inheritance" author Joanna Hershon, and "Breaking Free" author Abby Sher join Jane Eisner and Rachel Sklar for a wide-ranging discussion on everything from anti-Semitism to motherhood.
Episode 30. The first woman at the helm of a Jewish denomination shares her story. Plus: what to do about Woody Allen's films, Barbie as swimsuit covergirl, metzizah b'peh, and why women don't give money to political candidates? With Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Vanessa Hidary and Lilly Rivlin.
Episode 29. The Shriver Report — why are so many American women are living in poverty; celebrities as messengers of social justice; Ariel Sharon's life and death; and the justice of Oscar nominations. Featuring Simone Dinnerstein, Rabbi Joanna Samuels, and Susan Stern.
Episode 28. Why do Jewish organizations pay women less than men? What does the future hold for Orthodox feminism? Was Bibi wrong to skip Nelson Mandela's memorial service? Guests Gabrielle Birkner, Debra Nussbaum Cohen and Basya Schechter discuss all this and more.
Episode 27. Dr. Ruth answers your questions about sex on this episode of The Salon. Also: debating conclusions from the Pew study on Jewish America, Thanksgivukkah, and more. With Marie Claire's Lea Goldman and Sisterhood contributor Johnna Kaplan.
Episode 26. Challenges for women opting back in to the workplace, ultra-Orthodox violence in Israel, why talking about race is hard, "The Camp Gyno" viral video, and hopes for the High Holidays. With Dr. Ruth Pinkenson Feldman, Chava Shervington, Limor Suss.
Episode 25. Taped before a live audience at the JCC in Manhattan, this special 25th edition of The Salon is not to be missed! With the JCC's Rabbi Joy Levitt, The End of Men author Hanna Rosin; and "The New Republic" science editor Judith Shulevitz. Click here to watch the complete episode 25 of The Salon.
Episode 24. Is an egalitarian section the way to gender equality at the Kotel? How big of a deal was President Obama's comment about Kamala Harris' looks? Plus: Margaret Thatcher's legacy, the morning after pill, and Mother's Day. Featuring Judy Batalion, Rabbi Jacqueline Koch Ellenson, and Dvora Meyers. Click here to watch the complete episode 24 of The Salon.
Episode 23. Why were a group of women detained at the Kotel in February? One of them shares her story. Plus, the fiftieth anniversary of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, universal preschool education for Jews?; and in the aftermath of Purim, Esther v. Vashti. Click here to watch the complete Episode 23 of The Salon.
Episode 22. Roe v. Wade turns 40; Israel bans too-skinny models; why gun control is so hard to talk about; a Jewish marriage problem?; and "Les Miserables." With "Love Letters" columnist Meredith Goldstein, The Daily Show staff writer Jo Miller, and The OpEd Project founder Katie Orenstein. Click here to watch the complete episode 22 of The Salon.
Episode 21. Lessons from Hurricane Sandy, the "Jewish Vote" in the 2012 presidential election, sex education in the Orthodox community, and how to game J Date to meet your mate. With sex educator Jennie Rosenfeld, media consultant Amy Webb, and freelance journalist Sarah Seltzer. Click here to watch the complete episode 21 of The Salon.
Episode 20. Jewish women discuss: Ann Romney and Michelle Obama's convention speeches, which party has the women's vote, why a women's group in Israel is suing an ultra-Orthodox radio station, NY State Senate candidate Mindy Meyer's pink persona, and more! Click here to watch the complete episode 20 of The Salon.
Episode 19. Jewish women discuss Nora Ephron's legacy, whether women can have it all, the most recent Jewish population study, and summer wedding trends. Featuring NMAJH's Ivy Barsky, The Today Show's Rina Raphael, and HuffPo's Sara Wilson. The complete episode 19 of The Salon is not currently available online.
Episode 18. The first openly transgender professor at YU, Joy Ladin, shares her story. Plus, filmmaker Liz Nord and performer Allison Goldberg join the panel to discuss Obama's support of same-sex marriage, the firing of a teacher for undergoing IVF treatments, the popularity of the show "Girls" and more! Click here to watch the complete episode 18 of The Salon.
Episode 17. The author of the bestselling memoir "Unorthodox" reacts to criticism from the Jewish community, the healthcare debate and Rush Limbaugh's attack on Sandra Fluke, Passover traditions from feminist seders to vegan replacements for the shank bone, and more! With Deborah Feldman, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, and Joy Sisisky. The complete episode 17 of The Salon is not currently available online.
Episode 16. Jewish women discuss: gender segregation in Israel; "stuff" girls say viral videos; why American women are being left out of Jewish public life; Roe v. Wade 39 years later, and more! With NYT columnist Gaby Dunn, NCJW's Nancy Kaufman, and The Israel Project's Jennifer Mizrahi. The complete episode 16 of The Salon is not currently available online.
Episode 15. Occupy Judaism, the plight of agunot, could Steve Jobs be replaced by a woman, Herman Cain and sexual harassment, and more! With communications strategist Jo-Ann Mort, documentary filmmaker Beverly Siegel, and technology journalist Joanna Stern. Click here to watch the complete episode 15 of The Salon.
Episode 14. Jewish women discuss: the Leiby Kletzky tragedy, the "submissive" wife running for president, sexy magazine covers, Hadassah's centennial year, and more! With Hadassah's Marcie Natan, comedian Caroline Waxler, and Kveller.com's Deborah Kolben. Click here to watch the complete episode 14 of The Salon.
Episode 13. The Anthony Weiner Twitter debacle; gay marriage in NY; Orthodox Jewish basketball star Naama Shafir; Facebook COO's controversial Barnard commencement speech, and more! With Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, author/illustrator Ilene Beckerman, and journalist Michelle Goldberg. Click here to watch the complete episode 13 of The Salon.
Episode 12. Jewish women discuss: the Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Arnold Schwarzenegger sex scandals; removing women from pictures in ultra-Orthodox publications; lessons from Lara Logan; prom season, and more! With Mara Yacobi, Allison Josephs, and Judith Matloff. Click here to watch the complete episode 12 of The Salon.
Episode 11. Author Kay Hymowitz discusses her controversial new book, "Manning Up," with philanthropist Barbara Dobkin and the Sisterhood's Elissa Strauss. Also: why men dominate magazine bylines; is congress endangering women's health, and the Mike Huckabee/Natalie Portman debate. Click here to watch the complete episode 11 of The Salon.
Episode 10. Remembering Debbie Friedman; coping with the Gabrielle Giffords shooting; the latest battle in the Mommy Wars; why having a Jewish Miss America matters, or doesn't; and more! Featuring JOFA founder Blu Greenberg, author Lizzie Skurnick ("Shelf Discovery"), and TheGloss.com editor in chief Lilit Marcus. Click here to watch the complete episode 10 of The Salon.
Episode 09. Fighting the gender pay gap at Jewish organizations, Natalie Portman's controversial role in "Black Swan," Jewish women step into the boxing ring, and does a new modesty handbook go too far? Featuring author Rachel Shukert, Jewish boxing aficionado Binnie Klein, and Shifra Bronznick of Advancing Women Professionals and the Jewish Community. Click here to watch the complete episode 09 of The Salon.
Episode 08. Jewish women discuss Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Tea Party, the controversy over same-sex marriage announcements in Jewish publications, $#*& our moms say, with guests: Jezebel.com reporter Irin Carmon, Moment Magazine editor & publisher Nadine Epstein, and JTS professor Dr. Carol Ingall. Click here to watch the complete episode 08 of The Salon.
Episode 07. Jewish women discuss High Holiday traditions, Chelsea Clinton's wedding, Paul Rudd as bat mitzvah DJ, and controversies over women as lay leaders of Orthodox congregations. With guests Meredith Jacobs, Adena Berkowitz, and Galeet Dardashti. Click here to watch the complete episode 07 of The Salon.
Episode 06. Top Chef's Gail Simmons gives her take on Elena Kagan's supreme court nomination, how to talk about Israel, the French inquiry into banning the burqa, and more! Also featuring guests comedian Cory Kahaney and The Gloss.com editor-in-chief Lilit Marcus. Click here to watch the complete episode 06 of The Salon.
Episode 05. The woman at the center of the controversy over ordaining female Orthodox rabbis, Rabba Sara Hurwitz, joins the conversation, along with author Judith Shulevitz ("The Sabbath World") and Foundation of Jewish Culture President & CEO Elise Bernhardt. Topics include: the RCA's resolution on Orthodox women leaders, Bar & Bat mitzvah wars, the contemporary relevance of the Sabbath, and do full-figured but not fully-clothed women belong on a prime time television commercial? Click here to watch the complete episode 05 of The Salon.
Episode 04. Tovah Feldshuh joins our panel to talk about Passover traditions, whether the word "feminism" is losing its appeal, Kathryn Bigelow winning an Oscar, and more! Also featuring Lilith magazine's Editor in Chief, Susan Weidman Schneider, and Julie Klausner, author of I Don't Care About Your Band. Click here to watch the complete episode 04 of The Salon.
Episode 03. The panel takes on Orthodox female rabbis, modesty as fashion trend, an atheist-feminist prayerbook, and more! Featuring JOFA's Robin Bodner, award-winning novelist Dara Horn, and the always funny Ophira Eisenberg! You don't want to miss this episode of The Salon! Click here to watch the complete episode 03 of The Salon.
Episode 02. Hadassah president Nancy Falchuk, comedian Judy Gold and filmmaker Lacey Schwartz join Jane and Rachel to discuss the return of Sarah Palin, recent controversies over breast cancer prevention, Israeli supermodels, and dolls made just for Jewish girls. Click here to watch the complete episode 02 of The Salon.
Episode 01. On this first episode of The Salon, Host Jane Eisner leads a panel of distinguished guests in the first-ever Jewish women's issues discussion on television! Guests include American Jewish World Service president Ruth Messinger, Mediaite.com editor Rachel Sklar, journalist Lynn Harris, and AskMoses.com editor Bronya Shaffer. Click here to watch the complete episode 01 of The Salon.


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Youngins Stay Gettin It In With HS Teachers: Teacher Charged With Having s3x With 3 Students In Portland HS! (Condom Wrapper Found In Classroom Closet)
4 News reports A TBI crime lab specialist testifies she found female and male DNA on a condom wrapper found in a Portland High School classroom closet last year.
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Rate Me – Girls Chat
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Antitrust Case Filings
Antitrust Case Filings
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—The Denver Broncos have selected speedy cornerback Kayvon Webster from the University of South Florida in the third round of the NFL draft.
Webster, a surprise selection with the 90th overall pick, collected 190 tackles in his four seasons in college with 8 1-2 tackles for loss and three interceptions.
Broncos Executive Vice President John Elway said Webster "has excellent cover skills and speed, which you need in this league."
Earlier Friday, the Broncos selected Wisconsin running back Montee Ball in the second round and then went back to focusing on defense. They chose defensive tackle Sylvester Williams of North Carolina with their first-round draft choice.


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REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- Editor's house: Rugby gem needs to be revised
Address: 1900 Edgewood Lane
Neighborhood: Rugby, in Charlottesville
Asking: $519,000
Assessment: $558,300
Year Built: 1931
Size: 1,967 fin Sq. ft. / 610 unfin. Sq. ft.
Land: 0.23 acres
Agent: Tommy Brannock, Real Estate III, (434) 981-1486
Curb Appeal: 5 out of 10
One day shy of her 100th birthday, Charlotte Kohler, long-time editor of the Virginia Quarterly Review, died last September, leaving behind no immediate survivors and a quaint house on Edgewood Lane in the care of her goddaughter. Although located in a posh neighborhood within walking distance of UVA, the house has seen better days (like in the 1950s) and is in need of a renovation. But like any well-to-do lady, the house's bone structure is good.
The spacious dining room has built-in bookshelves, and the long living room opens up to an overgrown flagstone patio and garden with a brick outdoor hearth. I'd call a demo crew to tear down the whitewashed log cabin next to the house, but with a little work, the garden could be a private retreat, perfect for indoor/outdoor parties.
The house has a master bed and bath wing added when stairs became unwieldy for Dr. Kohler, but like all the others in the house, this bathroom needs be to be redone. So does the basement, which still sports an old Kelvinator icebox and signs on the cabinets that say "John" in four languages. At first I thought these were children's names, but no: the childless and quirky Dr. Kohler had "Johannes" and "Giovanni" pointing to the basement's WC.
Full of nooks and crannies, this house feels ripe for exploring. In the two upstairs bedrooms— painted pink and baby blue— low ceilings match the roof's eaves. Several windows have window seats with storage underneath; one has a narrow desk with drawers.
The pink bedroom has a small rectangular room attached— the maid's quarters?— that could turn into a charming study. A small den to the rear of the foyer provides a quiet hideaway.
Genteel and charming, stuffed to the gills with old magazines that picture green grass and cherry-cheeked children, this house still bears the character of its former owner who was born at the turn of the last century and attended Vassar before waltzing off to Europe with dreams of becoming a great American writer.
With only a few pages to show on her return home, Kohler enrolled in graduate school at UVA, and in 1936 became the first woman elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After earning her PhD, she did a teaching stint in North Carolina (Staunton's Mary Baldwin College wouldn't have her because she drank and smoked) before she was invited, in 1942, to work at the Virginia Quarterly Review.
Although originally hired because of her "war-proof" status as a woman, Kohler went on to a successful 33-year career at the prestigious literary magazine, becoming one of the first to discover such talents as Nadine Gordimer and Adrienne Rich. After her retirement in 1975, Kohler reportedly became a quiet recluse, declining interviews and invitations.
The house's heyday was celebrated in gentler times, and it shows. It doesn't seem to have been updated in 50 years, which has some advantages (antique enamel sink and cabinets in the kitchen) as well as some drawbacks (antique appliances).
The wide pine flooring needs a good waxing, and new owners may decide to repaint the pastel bedrooms or tear down the flower-and-fowl printed wallpaper. At $519,000, the house is priced under its assessment; similar-sized places in the area are above $700,000.
Admittedly, the house needs some work to bring it into the 21st century. But all of this shouldn't make up the $200,000 difference between this house and other renovated properties in the area. Buyers willing to get their hands dirty should take a look.
Each week, a brave local seller invites the Hook to provide an impartial, warts-and-all look at their real estate listing. E-mail yours today!
6 comments
This is a nicely written article about a house that is ridiculously overpriced. The other houses of similar size and lot size should be at $500K and this one should be at $350, considering it hasn't been updated in a half century. Come on, now. Perspective. This column is turning into a weekly version of the bubble blog. There's years worth of inventory in this area, and a half million dollar fixer-upper contributes to the problem. Tommy Brannock missed the memo this week, re: tanking economy and sales down dramatically from last year, and from the previous year, etc., and didn't pass it on to the sellers.
UVA likes buying up local property, sometimes even under a pseudonym. Why doesn't T J's U cough up the dough and turn this into the editor's quarters? I don't know this for a fact, but I'll bet the salary that the current editor (who is garnering nat'l attention for the quarterly, and the school) isn't large enough to afford a home in the city.
It would be more apt to say the comments section of this column is turning into a weekly version of the Bubble Blog's comments section: all kinds of unsupported opinions.
I write "On the Block" every other week, and I think I speak for both of the current writers when I say it is difficult enough to even find a place to tour, much less find a place that an online armchair economist like yourself will feel is fairly priced.
Mark Davison
I meant to address the above comment to "James," not "Tommy." My mistake.
Mark, appreciate your column (and Kristina's.) Think you have to expect comments. There are editorial comments all over The Hook. It's what people do.
As a devoted reader, there's information in this column that I always would like to see:
1. The MLS #
2. Dollar figure per square foot
3. Numbers of days or months on the market
4. Number of listings within a half mile radius of the property
5. Number of listings available at this price point in Charlottesville and Albemarle
6. A rating that is the OPINION of the WRITER besides curb appeal number, for instance "kitchen = 3 out of 10 since it hasn't been updated in 25 years," "Living room is 5 out of 10" since it has 20 year old floral wallpaper and original carpeting."
These last two ratings are examples, they don't have anything to do with this house.
BTW, I read the bubble blog, and I often find the comments there informative. I rely on that blog, and this column, for information that doesn't come from the local "real estate machine." Thank you for your time and efort.
Thanks for reading the column, for your suggestions, and your kind words. It is nice to hear. Before I started writing for the Hook (six months ago), "On the Block" was the first thing I would turn to in the paper (it still is, the week Kristina writes).
I think of your suggestions, while all would be nice to have, only #1 is feasible- I will speak to our editor about including it. The rest would not work because of space concerns or the time/hassle involved in getting that info.
I do have some alternatives for your other suggestions. Unfortunately there is no Zillow-type one-stop shop site that can put all info at your fingertips. Zillow is adding C-ville house by house but doesn't have it all yet. The local Curbplaces.com has some info, but Jim Duncan's new search tool on RealCentralVa.com is the best thing going locally.
For #2, the numbers are there for anyone to do the math. #3 used to be tough to get, but DOM is now available on realcentralva.com. #4, MyCAAR has something within 5 miles. #5, use realcentralva.com. #6, my personal feeling is we do this through our words. If we start quantifying everything it's not much of a writer's column. It would be too subjective anyway. I think "has old appliances and floral wallpaper/needs updating" accomplishes the same thing as "3 out of 10."
The curb appeal is one I struggle with; "curb appeal" generally means how it looks from the curb but for this column I use it as an overall rating of the house inside and out. Can't think of a better way.
I dislike using the assessment as well, which often has little to do with what a house will sell for. But again, there's no better option, except a comparative market analysis by a good buyer's agent (pulling $/sf data, looking at sold comps, listed comps, accounting for local trends, nearby foreclosures, etc). It should take at least a few hours, unfortunately not all agents have the mathematic chops or willingness to do this. My buyer's agent Jim Duncan did great CMAs on all the houses I tried to buy (and the one I eventually bought).
Thanks again for reading and commenting. Don't get me wrong- I welcome comments. I just dislike unfounded opinions whose best evidence is "this house is overvalued because I say so." The Web is full of such armchair economists, but their emergence in local blogs is a recent-and annoying-phenomenon.