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The new boss kept his office spartan and impersonal, the walls stripped of photos, the desk conveying no hint of his life beyond the red-brick walls of City Hall.
It was 1993, a bleak, recession-bit year, and Robert Rizzo arrived in Bell trailing the vague whiff of scandal. His last city administrator job, in the high desert city of Hesperia, had ended badly, with accusations that he'd steered city improvement funds toward salaries.
But the Bell officials who hired him did not dig deeply into his past. They needed someone fast, and Rizzo, then 39, came cheap. His starting salary was $78,000, which was $7,000 less than his predecessor had made.
FULL COVERAGE: High salaries stir outrage in Bell
"He was willing to work for the least amount of money," said then-Councilman Rolf Janssen. "That was what attracted me and several other council members."
Now Rizzo and seven other Bell leaders past and present are charged with looting more than $5.5 million from one of the county's poorest municipalities. It is a hydra-headed scandal that has spawned seven federal, state and county investigations and transformed a forgotten suburb into a synonym for rogue governance. It has resonated as a morality tale in which Rizzo is cast as a greed-crazed, cigar-chomping puppet master who cheated his way to an $800,000 salary and a 10-acre horse ranch.
How Rizzo evolved from an obscure civil servant into what a prosecutor called an "unelected and unaccountable czar" may never emerge in granular focus. But the broad contours are clear. Ambition and opportunity aligned in a place that allowed him to be both ever-present and invisible.
The normal checks and balances, from a robust local press to engaged civic groups, had largely vanished before or during Rizzo's long reign as city administrator. And the grim climate in which he arrived made him seem, for a time, like the man Bell needed.
Had he retired six or seven years ago, he might have been remembered as a reclusive technocrat who saved the city from financial ruin and made it purr. People talked about how pretty the parks were, how efficiently trash was removed, how swiftly gang graffiti was painted over.
Just last year, a police captain named Anthony Miranda ordered T-shirts for Neighborhood Watch participants imprinted with a prideful description of the 21/2-square-mile city: La perla del sureste.
The pearl of the southeast.
"We believed it," he said. "Compared to our neighbors, Bell was the place to be."
In the immense geographic chasm between downtown Los Angeles and Orange County, Bell is one of those places the tour books skip entirely -- the freeway-culture equivalent of flyover country, a smudge of urban gray.
Rizzo's touches are everywhere: a big skateboard park, a miniature golf course, pristine playing fields. In a place both cramped and crime-wary, the parks are stringently fenced, squeezed between tenements or beside busy streets. At an open-air gym along Gage Avenue, people breathe the exhaust of passing traffic as they pant atop stationary bikes.
Like other cities in southeastern L.A. County, Bell flourished as a white middle-class enclave during the Cold War manufacturing boom. There was a local newspaper, the Industrial Post, and a host of active social service groups: Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, Masonic and Moose lodges.
The decay of the region's industrial spine in the 1970s and '80s -- the closure of tire, auto and steel plants -- left thousands without the well-paying jobs that built the area. This coincided with a massive influx of Latinos, many of them undocumented.
The service groups withered. Voter participation became "abysmal," said John Bramble, who was city administrator in 1990, a year when 669 votes -- in a city of 34,000 -- could win a City Council seat. Only five or six people showed up for neighborhood meetings. Bramble said he would meet with a handful of World War II-generation seniors at a burger place to talk about city business, but age and illness thinned their numbers.
"Things started to deteriorate," Bramble said.
By 1993, Bell's fortunes were at a low ebb. The California Bell Club -- once the state's largest poker parlor and the source of $2 million in annual revenue for the city -- had closed. At City Hall, council members could feel the springs under their patched leather seats.
The Industrial Post, in existence since 1924, went under. Jay Price, the beloved 78-year-old mayor, an institutional fixture who had joined the council in the 1950s, died of heart failure. And Bramble announced that he was leaving for a job in Colorado.
Interviews with potential replacements began immediately, though the city didn't have the money for an exhaustive search.
Bramble recalled that interest in the city administrator's position was scant.
"I don't think people were willing to take a job where you were constantly cutting. That was the story of my last three years in Bell," he said. "My guess is they were happy to have anybody."
Rizzo quickly developed a reputation as a micromanager who meant to save the cash-strapped city by pinching every penny. He laid off workers and contracted out services. He gave an expensive-to-maintain bridge to the neighboring city of Vernon. He installed cheaper, brighter streetlights.
At the Police Department, squad cars racked up 200,000 miles instead of being replaced after 100,000. New cars received drab gray door emblems instead of multi-colored ones.
Janssen, the former councilman, said Rizzo put the city on stable financial footing and took a keen interest in its image. He made sure plenty of hot dogs were available at city events and insisted that every child, not just the stars, receive a trophy in the soccer and baseball leagues.
He lived near the ocean in Huntington Beach, 30 miles from the city he ran, and seemed to shrink from personal attention, reluctant to mix even as president of the Chamber of Commerce. In the fraternity of local city managers, he was rarely seen.
Diminutive and rotund, Rizzo was self-conscious about his appearance. Behind his back, people called him the Penguin, a reference to the "Batman" villain. He liked to mention his bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and said that everything he'd achieved was the result of dogged effort.
Under Rizzo, people began saying the city looked better than it had in years. Marial Sanders, a real estate agent and property manager in Bell, said prospective homebuyers sometimes told her they were torn between Bell and nearby Downey, a much bigger city. "I thought, 'Wow, Bell has come so far, we're being compared to Downey.' "
Only rarely did Rizzo draw attention to himself, as on one election night at City Hall. People who were there recall that he had too much to drink. Peter Werrlein, a former mayor who had served prison time for holding a hidden interest in the poker club, said he confronted him.
"You're drunker than a hoot owl," Werrlein recalled telling Rizzo. "You're going home."
When Rizzo tried to argue, Werrlein said, he got the city administrator's attention by striking him across the face with a half-open hand. "I whacked him and said, 'Let's go.' I think he knew I'd reached the end of my patience."
To some, the plainness of Rizzo's office spoke to his willingness to make sacrifices along with the city.
When Police Chief Michael Trevis asked why he didn't hang photos, however, he said he got a different explanation. "When you put things up, you're telling people you're comfortable," Trevis recalled Rizzo saying. "I want people to know I can leave at a moment's notice."
In his stark office, the sole reflection of his personality was a little television on which he followed the stock market. "It was always on," Trevis said. "That's Bob. We were not used to that, but we were broke, we were busted, and it took a numbers guy."
Once, he said, Rizzo invited him to look at budgetary pie charts. They showed that although the Police Department swallowed more than half the city budget, it generated less than 10% of the revenue.
"He said, 'You guys are costing me this and you're only bringing in that? You're not holding your own,' " Trevis said. He said Rizzo encouraged officers to write more tickets and impound cars, and he monitored which cops were "earning their way." He said Rizzo justified the tactic with a veiled threat: "Hey, if we don't do this, we might not have a Police Department.' "
Trevis said he believed revenue-oriented policing was unethical, and he waged "passive resistance" against it. He said the climate of constant layoffs lent camouflage to Rizzo's steady accumulation of power.
"It started to be anyone who disagreed with him, they were not around much longer," Trevis said. "Bob is of the belief that people are either assets or liabilities, and if you are a liability, he will find a way to jettison you."
Trevis said Rizzo found grounds to get rid of him in 2002: He had violated his contract by taking outside security work without permission. "He found out and he twisted me," Trevis said. "As one of the guys told me, 'When we saw he could get to you, he could get to any of us.' "
Bell Police Sgt. Art Jimenez, a 12-year veteran of the department, described Trevis as "the last chief to say no to Rizzo."
The chief's ouster was followed by a deeper power shift in 2003, as council veterans Janssen and George Bass -- pillars of the old guard -- left office. In their place came two of Rizzo's future co-defendants, George Mirabal, who ran a mortuary, and Oscar Hernandez, owner of a corner grocery.
Whether by chance or design, Rizzo found himself with an increasingly free hand. More than anyone, it was Hernandez who came to symbolize the new, more manipulable City Council. A former farmworker, he had emigrated from Mexico in his teens. With only an elementary school education, he could barely read the papers that passed across his desk at City Hall. And yet he became Rizzo's go-to man, prosecutors say, putting his signature to complex documents and to papers that obscured the city administrator's increasingly hefty salary.
Though Rizzo's office remained threadbare, his private lifestyle was acquiring a majesty undreamed of in the working-class city he ran. His salary jumped from $250,000 in 2002 to $300,000 in 2004, the year he bought a lavish horse ranch in Washington state. Few in Bell knew it, but he had become a breeder of thoroughbreds.
Then, on a sleepy day after Thanksgiving in 2005, a little-noticed election was held. The single question on the ballot: whether to turn Bell from a general law city into a charter city. By some accounts, it was a change Rizzo had aggressively pushed.
Passing with just 336 yes votes, the measure lifted salary caps on council members, who went on to approve further dramatic pay raises for Rizzo and for themselves.
His salary jumped to $442,000 that year. It kept climbing until, by last summer, Rizzo was making nearly $800,000, with a benefits package that brought his annual compensation to $1.5 million. He had brought in an assistant, Angela Spaccia, who was paid nearly $400,000 a year, and a police chief, Randy Adams, who collected $457,000.
Council members, for their part, were making nearly $100,000 a year in part-time positions that in most small cities paid a few hundred dollars a month.
Meanwhile, police were impounding cars at a furious clip, looking for broken taillights and missed turn signals as a pretext to pull drivers over. In a city where an estimated half of the residents are illegal immigrants, unlicensed drivers were easy to find. Bell charged them $300 to get their cars back. Fearing deportation, they were unlikely to complain.
"That was the reason we were able to do it for so long. And when they did complain, there was no one to complain to," Jimenez said. "There were single officers impounding eight cars a day. It was out of control. If they weren't impounding cars, they felt like they weren't working."
Earlier this year, before the scandal broke, Rizzo crashed into a neighbor's mailbox while attempting to pull into his own driveway, and police found him with a blood-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a first-offender alcohol-awareness program.
Now, he and his assistant, along with six current or former council members -- Hernandez, Mirabal, Teresa Jacobo, Luis Artiga, George Cole and Victor Bello -- are charged with bilking the city out of millions of dollars.
Rizzo declined to be interviewed for this story. His lawyer, James Spertus, said the corruption charges are unfounded and that his client did much good for the city while earning comparatively little for years.
"He took over a city that was deeply in the red," he said. "Rizzo made five-figure salaries until the late 1990s. It was way below the median for his position."
Trevis, the former chief, now speaks nostalgically about the city he remembers. There were big-city problems such as gangs and graffiti, but he regarded Bell as a "little Mayberry," a tight-knit and friendly place.
Most of those swept up in the scandal are people he's known for years. He recalled how he'd steer hungry people to the church on Gage Avenue where Artiga, its pastor, had a reputation for feeding them. How Hernandez gave groceries on credit to people who couldn't pay. How Mirabal, the funeral director, buried people at deep discounts so their families wouldn't have to hold car washes to raise the money.
Trevis thinks he knows what went wrong in Bell. It was the same thing, he said, that sometimes happens to happy families that come into a big inheritance.
"They got poisoned with money," he said.
In Bell, purging the remnants of the Rizzo era has become an obsession, one that can assume strange, even ritualistic forms. Bell's merchants have rebelled against the Chamber of Commerce, where Rizzo was a longtime member of the board. The organization came to be seen as an extension of his power.
On a recent night, hundreds of merchants crowded into a banquet hall to inaugurate an alternative, the Bell Business Assn. They took turns detailing the abuses they had suffered at the hands of City Hall: arbitrary fees, long waits for permits and the ever-present threat of code enforcement to deter potential complaints.
The association's first president, tire shop owner Jose Vazquez, compared Rizzo's management of the city to the Mafia: "This is like 'The Sopranos.' "
In a place where so many feel betrayed, a renewed commitment to fair dealing seemed the need of the moment, and so the association's first directors were asked to step forward. Up came the men and women who run the tire and bail bond shops, the boxing gym, the meat market and the restaurants. They crowded the stage and raised their right hands, solemnly promising to perform their duties honestly.
At one point, Anthony Miranda, the acting police chief, took the stage and announced that the Police Department had made more changes in the last three months than in the previous six years.
"When we come out of this, we're not going to be gold or silver -- we're gonna be titanium as a community!" Miranda said. "Untouchable!"
Cheers greeted his speech. The reception was chillier for interim City Administrator Pedro Carrillo, who has moved his furniture into Rizzo's old office, hung the bare walls with pretty satellite pictures of the city and promised openness and accountability.
The people of Bell, he told the crowd, would rise together or fall together. The remark elicited boos. From a different speaker, it might have rung out as inspirational, a call to solidarity. But many in the audience didn't trust Carrillo. He had worked at City Hall under Rizzo, after all, and reminded too many people of his ghost.


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How to Use
1. Locate Lake Champlain, the Hudson River, and Albany on Maps 1 and 2. Why do you think the leaders of the British Army thought it was so important to control the Lake Champlain-Hudson River corridor?
2. The rivers could not support the large ships needed to transport troops, only smaller supply boats. Troops marched along the rough roads that followed these waterways. Use the scale provided on Map 2 to see how far Burgoyne's soldiers traveled on foot to get to Saratoga from St. John's, Canada. According to the map, how long did it take them to reach Saratoga?
3. This area was sparsely settled at the time of the American Revolution. How might an army have maintained its supplies, including food, ammunition, clothing, and forage for the animals?
* The maps on this screen have a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a larger version of Map 1 and Map 2, but be aware that each file may take as much as 60 seconds to load with a 28.8K modem.

subset: commoncrawl


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What is mixed media art... Well here is the definition of that; in visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed. In other words it's a lot of different things that normally you wouldn't throw together on the same piece of art. I'm SO loving that. For example if you take a canvas and apply inks, paints, and collage style art. It's such an awesome way to express yourself without boundaries!! This layout was done on 12x12 sheet of acrylic. I have never worked with an entire sheet of acrylic before and I made such a crazy mess and can't wait to do it again!! As a whole here is a quick description:
I call this layout "Spirit". Brooklyn's spirit just shines through this photograph and practically leaps out of it. I just love this photo. Here is what I used to create this page:
12x12 Sheet of Acrylic
Assorted Color of Tim Holtz Alchohol Inks (Pinks, Blues, Greens)
Silver Metallic Tim Holtz alcohol ink
Assorted Colors of Tim Holtz Ink Reinkers (Blues, Purples)
Blue Mesh Material
Black Acrylic Paint
Sewing Machine
Wire Mesh
Black Pink Paislee Pixie Stix Sparkles
To get this affect on my acrylic sheet I splattered drops of my non metallic alcohol inks. Then I used my can of air to spread all the inks all over the areas of the sheet I wanted it. The nice thing about alcohol inks is they dry quickly. After that I took my Ranger blending tool and dropped some silver metallic alcohol ink on that. Then I daubed it all over my page (I actually used this on my photo as well before I placed it on my page). I smeared a little hear and there as well.
After I inked I layed down my blue mesh and used a large dry brush to smear and coat it with black acrylic ink. Some of my mesh is raised and some lays flat. The two together make an awesome textured look. The two following pictures show what the mesh looks like up close. I also added a bit more silver alcohol ink to the top of my mesh next to the photo.
Next I played with some yellow flowers I got at a local craft store. I soaked them in reinker ink and cover them in black sparkles. This was a bit messy but they look so cool. It took a little while for these puppies to dry but when they did I placed them sporadically on my pages. The butterfly mesh was actually left over from a diecut I used on another layout. Why waste right.?
That is pretty much it for my mixed media layout. I did do some stitching to the top with my sewing machine for added flare.


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Want to introduce your early reader to the cosmic horrors of H.P. Lovecraft? Thanks to R.J. Ivankovic (DrFaustusAu)'s interpretation of Lovecraft's "The Tomb" in the style of Dr. Seuss, it's never too early for children to learn about insanity, hedonism, forbidden knowledge, and an overwhelming obsession with death.
We've already seen the always wonderful DrFaustusAu apply his Seussian touch to Lovecraft's "The Call of Cthulhu." He's also tried one other pass at Lovecraft's earliest adult story, but he recently started a new version of "The Tomb" with a fresh character design. So far, he's about a third of the way through what will eventually be a 60-page story. You can read the very beginning below, but the rest of his pages are up at deviantART. Just be warned: it might send your young readers in search of madness-inducing mausoleums.
The Tomb [DrFaustusAU via Neatorama]


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MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College tennis program and head coach Steve Barsby are excited to host a pair of summer youth camps this June, the first coming June 4-8 with the second coming June 18-22.
Boys and girls ages 6-18 will go for the full-day camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the camp cost at $180.
The camp sessions are designed for all levels of play. The programs consist of comprehensive instruction, physical conditioning and match play. Each camper participant will receive at least three hours of small group instruction per day.
For more information or to register, visit www.GCSportsCamps.com or call (478) 445-6341.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at www.twitter.com/BobcatSports and www.facebook.com/gcbobcats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information.


text: Join Scamper for Story Time at Capstone Church every Thursday at 10am near the playscape downstairs! We will sing some songs, read a book and do a craft every week. Bring your kids (up to age 5), get to know the other parents & watch your kids grow & play!


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The Ravens won the Super Bowl after the 2012 season, but that didn't guarantee an extended stay for any players on the defensive side of the ball.
Baltimore returns just two starters — linebacker Terrell Suggs and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata — from that team and they've been working to replenish the talent supply. Their first four picks in the 2013 draft were defensive players, but they gave up the most fourth quarter points in team history. They added four more in the first four rounds of this year's draft, leaving coach John Harbaugh to set a high bar for the unit to reach on the field this season.
"The expectation for our defense is to be top-five, at the worst," Harbaugh said, via ESPN.com. "It has always been that way and always will be."
This year's Ravens defense is much shorter on experience than the one that won the Super Bowl, but the hope is that the infusion of youth over the last two years has upped the speed and athleticism enough to bring the team back to previous heights. It's a big bet and one that will further solidify the reputations of Harbaugh, defensive coordinator Dean Pees and General Manager Ozzie Newsome if it pays off.


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Italy forecasts growth of 0.8 percent this year
MILAN (AP) — Italian Premier Matteo Renzi's government has approved a budget framework that puts economic growth at 0.8 percent this year.
The government is working on a raft of structural and fiscal reforms aimed at boosting Italy's economy out of stagnation. The three-year budget approved Tuesday will be submitted to the European Commission later this month, and the growth estimate compares with the International Monetary Fund's 0.6 percent forecast.
The Cabinet is set next week to enact new measures announced previously, including a payroll tax cut that aims to give low wage earners an additional 80 euros ($110) a month. Renzi said the 6.7 billion euros ($9.25 billion) needed this year to cover the payroll tax cut will come from tighter government spending and new tax revenues.
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The Hidden
Home Page
Things crawl in the deepest places under the earth. Barter's Pass will get a full taste of what lies beneath its very feet. This is my second attempt at running a 4E game, better yet it is my return to hand-writing my own campaign in earnest. This biweekly game will follow the trials and tribulations of a small band of adventurers who have happened to be in the wrong place at the right time.
Chapter 5 : The Rise
Next Session – TBD
Recent Updates
- Added 13 October 2010 – Ixtab Entry 14
- Added 27 October 2010 – Tegalad Entry 39, Jack Entry 39
- Added 28 October 2010 – Tegalad Entry 40
- Added 29 October 2010 – Jack Entry 40


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As an increasing number of parents are seeking fun and unique clothes and accessories for their little one, trendy clothes are gaining more popularity. It's no more just about basics like diapers and clothes- fashion for babies has taken on a new life of its own. From high fashion toddler jeans to newborn designer layette products, there are several things to keep your baby updated with the latest fashion.
When you choose clothes for your newborn, the selection is almost endless. With several patterns, colors, and styles to select from, it may appear to be an overwhelming task for a new parent to assemble a new wardrobe for their newborn. However, with little bit of experience, you can get over this. Most infant clothing is designed keeping the individual needs in mind. For example, most of the baby clothing stores provide a complete range of practical clothes that are designed particularly for premature babies. Irrespective of the kind of outfit you are looking for your baby, you can find it all at e-roupas de bebê.
And now, for those looking for the popular trends for their newborns, here's a listing of the latest baby clothing fashion.
Infant Body Suits: Parents mostly prefer baby body suits since they can be used easily. These outfits are usually long tees held together through snap buttons that make it easy to change the clothes.
Baby Gowns: The name itself makes it evident that this is a single piece of material with an opening down with elastic to give warmth to your little one's feet when he or she is asleep. This kind of clothing may sound to be meant for the girl babies, but there are designs that make them gender neutral. Such clothes are a rage among the new parents since there are no zippers or snaps to come in the way of changing diapers.
Vintage Rock Tees: This is one of the more popular trends for babies. Classic rock bands such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin are mostly seen on baby tees. Such fun styles of t-shirts are adorable for babies and newborns alike. These also make great shower gifts for girl babies and boy babies.
Clothing Sets: Clothing sets like this are meant especially for the fashion conscious parents, who are more concerned about the looks of their babies. All sets come in matching styles for both boys and girls. There are several options, which include a combination of baby footies, shirts, pants, and suits.
One Piece: Based on the kind of one piece that a parent is looking for, there are several options like sleepers, footsies and sleep n' plays. They make use of snap buttons similar to body suits and are a single piece of material and so the name. Few of these onepiece styles come with footies detached or attached, but is sold along with the product.
Staying aware of the latest baby clothing trends can make your shopping experience easier. A visit to a popular baby boutique website like eroupasdebebe.com can give you a lot of options to consider for your baby.


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Unitarians reach out
Posted by advocate100 in Public Events, UUJF Issues on June 16, 2016
In Orlando, a Unitarian church quickly
responds to a need—-
Three miles from Pulse nightclub, UU congregation hosts grief counselors, blood drive, and gun reform groups. JOSHUA EATON | 6/14/2016 See: https://www.uuworld.org/articles/orlando-uu-response
When the Rev. Kathryn Schmitz woke up early Sunday morning to check the news, she couldn't believe what she was reading. Schmitz is minister of First Unitarian Church of Orlando, Florida— just three miles from Pulse, a gay nightclub where 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened re early Sunday morning, killing 49 people and wounding 53.
"It had a sense of being impossible, like these things happen somewhere far away," Schmitz told UU World. "It doesn't happen in the hospitality capital of the world."
Schmitz quickly swung into action. She contacted Rachel Christensen, her intern minister—who was leading that morning's worship service—to discuss how to best address the tragedy during the service, and she sent out Facebook messages asking people to come.
"Come to church today," Schmitz recalls writing. "We need to be together."
For the congregation, Schmitz says, the attack felt personal. Many members knew people who were at Pulse during the shooting, though none who were killed. The congregation also has a longstanding relationship with Orlando's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Minister emerita the Rev. Dr. Marni Harmony is lesbian, and the church has been active in supporting marriage equality and hosting LGBT support groups. After the Supreme Court decision last summer that legalized same-sex marriage across the country, it celebrated by marrying fourteen same-sex couples free of charge
In a stroke of serendipity, the church had already scheduled a blood drive for that morning. The bloodmobile was quickly overwhelmed by community members wanting to donate, Schmitz said, and the church had to direct people to other donation centers.
Several members of the drag group the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence attended Sunday's service, according to Schmitz, after a congregant who's in the group invited them. About halfway through the service, Schmitz got a call from a local LGBT resource center, The Center, asking if the church had space to host some of its more than 600 volunteer grief counselors.Schmitz is quick to say that she usually doesn't answer her cell phone during services, even when she isn't leading them. But she knew that she wanted her church to be available and responsive to others in this time of crisis.
Now, the church is hosting grief counselors from The Center in its education building. It's also opened its fellowship hall and library to community organizers from LGBT advocacy and gun reform groups who need a local space to work. On Monday, Schmitz said, the church hosted the Rev. Dr. Betty Deas Clark of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, the historically black church where Dylann Roof shot and killed nine worshipers last summer, who was in town working with the gun reform group the Brady Campaign.
Members of First Unitarian Church made up about half of the volunteers who helped set up for the vigil for shooting victims in downtown Orlando Monday evening, and Schmitz led the candle lighting at the vigil, which 7,500 people attended.
On Sunday afternoon, Unitarian Universalist Association President Peter Morales said he was "horried and distraught (http://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/orlando-mass-shooting-uua-president- oers-prayers-victims-community) " by news of the mass shooting. He expressed sympathy for all victims of the attack, and added, "Unfortunately, this is the kind of violence that is predictable when hatred and fear are aroused by demagogues and when rearms are easily available."
The motive for the brutal assault is still under investigation. On Sunday, authorities announced that Mateen called 911 during the massacre to make a pledge of loyalty to the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and that the FBI had investigated him twice for links to terrorism. That picture grew more complicated on Monday, as reports emerged (http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2016/06/14/possible- motives-emerge-orlando-shooting/wKtNh3kFunR9S5vXjHj8IM/story.html) that Mateen may have frequented Pulse himself and may have used a gay dating app.
Meanwhile, 27 victims remain hospitalized, according to the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/us/orlando-shooting.html) . Doctors at Orlando Regional Medical Center said on Monday that they expect the death toll from Sunday's shooting to rise (http://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2016/06/14/85878818/) as six of the victims remain in critical condition.
As news continues to pour in and the investigation unfolds, the Orlando community is trying to make sense of the tragedy and take steps toward healing. As that happens, First Unitarian church is committed to offering a safe, open space for people to come together, Schmitz said. It's a need she saw in her church on Sunday morning, watching people embrace as they absorbed the news.
"People were just distraught," Schmitz said, "just clinging to something."
First Unitarian Church of Orlando is asking Unitarian Universalists to make their donations to Equality Florida's Pulse Victims Fund (https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund) and The Center's Pulse Tragedy Community Fund (https://www.gofundme.com/29bubytq) . For more information on how you can help, see the church's Orlando United website (http://www.orlandouu.org/orlando-united/) .
(Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal Constitution
Joshua Eaton (https://www.uuworld.org/authors/1931) Joshua Eaton (http://www.joshuaeaton.net/) is an independent journalist who covers security, human rights, and religion. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, Al Jazeera America, and other publications.
Letter to 1u Community 2016 06 19 Letter is a summary statement from Rev. Schmitz
A EDITED Letter to Our 1u Community 2016 06 19 copy 3
The above link is to a letter that Rev. Kathy Schmitz sent to members of her church, the First Unitarian Church of Orlando on Friday, June 17, 2016 to explain the events of the last week as it relates to our members.
The Unitarian church in Orlando is close to the Pulse neighborhood. The minister was alerted Sunday morning. Rev. Kathy Schmitz and members have been involved all week.
You may want to check here for information:
First Unitarian Church of Orlando website and facebook:
http://www.orlandouu.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/orlandouu
The following are some ways Florida Unitarian Universalist communities , UUA associations, and organization friends are involved in recognizing the tragedy this week as reported to UU Justice Florida, a justice network of UU congregations. Actions appropriate to the membership and communities are being considered. Many of our congregations are involved in interfaith events.
This will be edited and changed as information is shared from the Florida UU communities. Any errors or omissions will be corrected and added.
Shared by LJ of First Unitarian Church of Orlando
Thursday, June 16, 9:00-9:30 am, Rev. Kathy was a guest on a special live edition of Intersection. The special live broadcast on our local NPR station, 90.7 WMFE, will go out to NPR stations across Florida. All shows are recorded and available.
WMFE public radio in Orlando: http://www.wmfe.org/programs: Rev. Kathy Schmitz, minister of the First Unitarian Church of Orlando was on two programs this week: Friends Talking Faith (The Three Wise Guys) and Intersection.
Shared by Rev. Kathy Schmitz to 1U members:
There are abundant opportunities to attend vigils this week. I trust you are finding the ones you need to attend. I thought I would share this one because it is in our neighborhood and a chance to connect. I have accepted the invitation to join in prayer with other religious leaders. Peace,Rev. Kathy
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Thien Nguyen
Date: Thu, Jun 16, 2016 at 12:59 AM
Subject: Candle light Vigil w/ Prayer at Mills/50 for June 12th Victims
Good Morning Reverend Kathy and Rachel,
I am reaching out to you as the Vice President of the Vietnamese Association of Central Florida. We are all sadden by the tragic event that happened this past Sunday at Pulse Night Club.
We are holding a candle light vigil with prayers event on Friday, 6/17/16 at 7:00PM at the Mills/50 location to honor the victims and families of this tragedy. We would like to invite you and your church to come join us in this event. We will have local Orlando Vietnamese religious leaders from Buddhist Temples, Churches, and more to join us for a special prayer and remembrance ceremony.
Reverend, it would be an honor for us if you could join the other religious leaders in the prayer. Everyone is welcome in this event. We are reaching out to as many individual and communities as we possibly can, because through this tough time, we need to unite as one.
Event information: Location: 1216 E Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 (in the lawn of the shopping plaza where there is a Yellow Flag with three Red stripes across from CVS)Times: 7:00pm- 8:30pm Event weblink to share: https://www.facebook.com/events/1756635044580756
Copied from the UUA Southern Region e-mail sent to members on June 16, 2016-Link to entire Southern Region update available at end of this posting.
Standing With Faith in Love
Rev. Kenn HurtoThe terrible assault and murders at the Pulse club in Orlando on June 12th reveal the worst of human nature. We Unitarian Universalists share the shock and dismay, the anger and the grief of so many. Personally, my faith in human decency and the transforming power of love is shaken, yet I will remain steadfast in it. I know love will prevail over such hatred and evil.
I am proud of our fellow Unitarian Universalists at the First Unitarian Church and the University Unitarian Universalist Society in Orlando who have brought love to bear in the aftermath of last weekend. Likewise, Unitarian Universalists broadly are offering their help. They are ministers, all!
Below are some of the local groups with which our people are partnering, ways you might be helpful, and an interview with the Reverend Kathy Schmitz.
Lend a hand where you can. Speak love to power. Stand ever on the side of love.
With gratitude, Rev. Kenn Hurto
UUA Southern Regional Newsletter Special Edition June 16, 2016 soon to be posted at www.uuasouthernregion.org/
Shared June 15, 2016 by Rev. Kathy Schmitz to members and friends
We are receiving incredible support from around the world. This an example.
———- Forwarded message ———-
Rev. Kathy Schmitz, First Unitarian Church of Orlando
Dear Kathy,
On behalf of UU communities in Australia and New Zealand, we stand with your congregation in support of love and also in condemnation of acts of hate and terror. We admire the ongoing work of the First Unitarian Church of Orlando, particularly in the wake of the terrible events at the Pulse nightclub that targeted the LGBTQ community. While we are half a world away geographically, we are as one in the quest for living, working and loving together as human beings regardless of race, colour, creed or sexuality. We can see that the frequently quoted 'Rejoice in our differences but never forget our common humanity' has been, and continues to be applied in a real practical way by your Church. You are indeed doers of the word and not hearers only
Warm regards and best wishes
Peter Abrehart – President, Australia New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association (ANZUUA)
Shared by Rev. Janet Onnie of the UU Fellowship of Marion County:
On Monday evening, June 13, 2016, over 30 UU Fellowship of Marion County (UUFMC) members participated in a vigil sponsored by The Rainbow Family and Friends of The Villages. Rev. Janet Onnie was one of the three main speakers. The text of her statement is below and can also be found at http://www.uufmc.org. Photos of the attendees at the 700strong event can be found on the UUFMC Facebook page.
On Wednesday, June 15, 2016, 15 UUFMCers, including five of the children, attended a vigil sponsored by Ocala Pride and TransOcala. Rev. Onnie joined with representatives from the Muslim community and the MCC (Metropolitan Community Church) to offer a opening blessing for the space on the Ocala Town Square. The UUFMC Director of Religious Education, Marjorie Ginder (who is bilingual), followed with a expression of support in the Spanish language.
See Rev. Onnie's statement below:
Pulse Nighclub shooting statement
Copied from Social Justice Network of NE Florida facebook page
Manuel Andrade, Buckman Bridge UU member reported on Social Justice Network of NE Florida facebook on June 15, 2016
Dear friends, I received a call from Melissa Ross today. She is the host of First Coast Connect on NPR 89.9. I was invited to speak on her show tomorrow sometime after 9:00 AM. I will be on with Cindy Watson the executive director of JASMYN . We will be speaking about the impact of the recent murders in Orlando here in Jacksonville. I welcome your support.
Shared June 14, 2016 by the UU Church of Tarpon Springs minister
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Tarpon Springs, Florida, has a trauma response unit.
Church volunteers are organizing a community vigil in response to the Orlando attacks. This vigil is scheduled for Wednesday night, June 15th, at the Church on the Bayou in Tarpon Springs. This event will begin at 6:00 pm. All people are invited.
The Unitarian Universalists are helping with the blood drive that is being organized in Florida. Blood donations have been requested to help the people who were wounded in Orlando. Rev. Bob Murphy has additional information about the blood drive and about other trauma response activities. email@example.com
Shared by Rev. Kathryn Schmitz:
From: Rev. Kathryn Schmitz
Date: Tue, Jun 14, 2016 at 11:28 AM
Subject: Re: Your congregation's response to Orlando, your community and other congregations
I think the best thing to do is send people to the two Go Fund Me sites being overseen by Equality Florida and The Center.
Both of these are quality organizations doing incredible work to support the community at this time.
Equality Florida is
the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Through education, grassroots organizing, coalition building, and lobbying, we are changing Florida so that no one suffers harassment or discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Center's Mission & Values
To promote and empower the GLBT Community and its allies through information, education, advocacy and support.
We look to transform our community by inspiring and connecting people and organizations, promoting acceptance and inclusion, empowering them to achieve their potential
Alternatively, people could be encouraged to reach out to and support their local LGBT resources, which are undoubtedly understanding at this time. They could say they are doing in honor of Orlando.
Sometimes, when we are concerned that marginalized communities will get ignored in a crisis, we UUs do our own fund raising and organizing, In this case, I believe attention is where it needs to be and there is no need to duplicate efforts at this time.
Thank you so much for your care and concern. Rev. Kathy
Shared on June 14, 2016 from JC, a member of First Unitarian Church of Orlando
Sunday was difficult for everyone in the Orlando area. As a member of First Unitarian of Orlando, we were able to be with other members of the congregation on Sunday to cry and start to heal. Everyone in Orlando is shaken but so full of compassion for the victims and for each other. There happened to be a previously scheduled blood drive at church but by the time my husband and I arrived it was already full and they were turning people away. The lines to give blood have been enormous throughout the greater Orlando area. One man at Monday's vigil mentioned he waited in line 8 hours to give blood.
Monday afternoon an email went out to the church members requesting volunteers for the evening vigil at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The vigil was amazing. There was love, tears and fellowship at the vigil. People were grieving but there was no fear, only feelings of strength and determination to thrive and grow in love. A poignant moment was when the Pulse staff arrived on stage to resounding applause and support. Rev. Kathy Schmitz of First Unitarian was chosen and did a wonderful job when she gave the prayer at the lighting of the candles. No one will forget the church bells tolling slowly for each of the victims.
I noticed some members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and asked for a photo with them. They looked shaken and sad as were so many people there. I knew about the Sisters from a talk given last year at First U by one of their members. From their website: The Sisters devote ourselves to community service, ministry and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment. I've attached that and other photos.
My take-away from the past few days:
- There is more goodness and love than hate
- There is no justification for assault rifles in the USA.
- I will recommit to making a positive difference
- I am thankful for the UU congregation
Shared by Manatee UU Fellowship on June 14, 2016
From: email@example.com
To: email@example.com
Subject: News Release
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2016 16:31:44 +0000
Faith, Violence and the LBGTQ Community
An Open Conversation in a Safe Place Offered at Noon on Sunday
After all the candles have been lit and all the prayers have been said, there's still a need to talk with others and listen to the deeper questions. That's why the Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 322 15th Street W, will sponsor an open conversation in a safe place to discuss Faith, Violence and the LBGTQ Community.
The Rev. Dee Graham, consulting minister, and Valerie Fisher, professional counselor and director of PRISM youth group, will moderate the participatory discussion following the 10:30am Sunday service.
"After the shock of the moment wanes, people need somewhere to express all the emotions that flood in. This violence makes a particular challenge for those who are having their first experiences with LBGTQ people, perhaps even just learning about members of their own family," said Rev. Dee Graham in a press release. "We want to provide the support and understanding for these conversations to begin."
Shared June 13, 2016 by Joyce and David of UU Jacksonville
Last Sunday evening in Jacksonville there was a citywide vigil in Memorial Park sponsored by the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality to show support and love for victims of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. There was also a call to renew and redouble efforts to secure passage of an expanded Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance adding sexual orientation and gender identity to its protected classes.
UU Congregation of Jacksonville (UUCJ) is a JCE Coalition partner and I am on its Steering Committee. UUCJ Minister, Philip Baber was invited to speak at Sunday's vigil and I have shared his remarks on the UU Justice Florida FaceBook page.
Shared June 13, 2016 by KM, UU Venice member
UUs in Venice participated in the vigil held at the Suncoast Cathedral in Venice and at Five Points Park in Sarasota. This was the notice that our congregation sent out on Monday morning:
SunCoast Cathedral MCC, 3276 East Venice Ave., Venice, FL will be holding a Candlelight Prayer Vigil tonight (Monday, June 13) at 7:30pm to remember and pray for the victims of the Orlando shooting and their families. We invite you to join us in solidarity with Orlando. Sharon Van Butsel for Rev. Gina Durbin
Also tonight at 8 PM in downtown Sarasota at Five Points Park, there will be a candlelight vigil for the shooting victims of the PULSE nightclub in Orlando. The vigil is being organized by the Harvey Milk Festival. Check their Facebook page to confirm.
Shared June 14, 2016 by Ileen C of UU Fellowship of Centre County
The UU Fellowship of Centre County in State College PA is holding a vigil at 6 pm tonight Standing on the Side of Love for Orlando. The interim minister is Rev. Gabi Parks.
Shared on June 15, 2016 from JL at Vero Beach UU
Dear Members and Friends of the UUFVB Community,
All of us are heart-sick over the senseless deaths and injuries that occurred Saturday night at the gay dance club in Orlando, when a hateful individual took more than 50 lives and wounded many more. This is a time for all Americans to once again come together, give voice to their sorrow and grief, and work to ensure that such violence is rebuked.
To this end, two events have been quickly planned here in Vere Beach for this Wednesday, June 15.
First at 6:30 pm an Interfaith Prayer Service will be held at the Community Church of Vero Beach. Clergy from many local congregations will participate, and the local Islamic community has agreed to participate with a speaker and reader. Please attend if your schedule permits. (Unfortunately, I, along with several other local clergy will be out of town due to previous commitments.)
Then at 8pm the same Wednesday night (June 15), there will be a Candlelight Vigil in Riverside Park, sponsored by Compassion Vero and others. As soon as the plans for the Candlelight Vigil are finalized, we will post the information on the UUFVB Facebook page.
In the meantime, please hold all the many persons affected by this senseless violence in your thoughts and prayers.
Rev. Scott Alexander
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach
1590 27th Avenue Vero Beach, FL 32960
About the Interfaith Service at Vero Beach:Participants included, St. Helens Catholic Church, Temple Bet h El, Islamic Center of Treasure Coast, Kashi Ashram, Our Savior Lutheran, St. Augustine of Canterbury, Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, Community Church, First Presbyterian, Indian River Islamic Center . This will be an hour of singing , praying, sharing and caring. Accolades to the courageous faith communities who are stepping out into uncharted territory to care for one another while seeking to find a common thread instead of joining in a banter of hatred. .
Sebastian -near Vero Beach
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday Where: Riverview Park, 600 U.S. 1, Sebastian
About: Honor those lost in Orlando at candlelight vigil and moment of respect and closure.
Sebastian's Sikh community attended #orlandoshooting vigil. All 49 victims of #orlandoshooting read aloud at Riverview Park vigil.
About 150 in Riverview Park in #sebastian for #orlandoshooting vigil
— Amid sobs and hugs there were prayers and even some laughter as about 200 people came to Sebastian's Riverview Park to remember and honor the 49 killed in an Orlando nightclub over the weekend."It's not about embracing a movement," said Pastor Mike Lyle of Crossroads Fellowship, "a religion or about reacting to anything." Instead, the vigil for the victims and survivors of the terror attack at Pulse, a gay nightclub, was meant as a way for the community to "respond the way God would want us to respond," he said.
Lyle encouraged those who gathered to honor those affected by the attack and to pray for the impacted families who are now grieving, and for those who were injured and are healing."Pray for wisdom of God for the leaders of this nation," Pastor Lyle said.
Shared June 14, 2016 by the minister of Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville
– June 12 – a lit candle accompanied an extended prayer during the service with responsive element where congregation repeated back words similar to the prayer of St. Francis – "may I be an instrument of peace" etc.
– June 12 – Email from minister to congregation including extended meditation from Rev. Keith Kron
– June 12 – Minister Rev. Dr. Maureen Killoran and two lay leaders were interviewed for public radio. This played Sunday evening and Monday morning
– June 12 – several posts on our Facebook page, including the UUA's graphic. Minister also shared the gofundme on her personal facebook page.
– June 13 – Minister and at least a dozen congregants attended the city-wide vigil.
– June 14 – Minister sent blog to congregation calling us to hold ourselves accountable to our values – support the Muslim community, look at what is needed to be truly welcoming to LGBTQ people at this time.
– June 14 – Minister conducted several pastoral counseling sessions, some by email, some in her office.
Rev. Dr. Maureen Killoran, AIM, PTS, Developmental Minister,Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, Florida
Links to all original Organization/Association communications:
UUA article edited for Thursday for Orlando Unitarian Universalists reach o…nightclub massacre | UU World Magazine copy
Southern Region June Pulse 1-4 pages June 2016
Church of Larger Fellowship message June 14, 2016 copy
News Alert- NC NAACP Holding a …Memorial Vigil and Prayer Against Hate copyInterfaith Council Newsletter–Special Edition June 14, 2016
Interfaith Climate Group
Posted by advocate100 in Environmental, Public Events on May 26, 2016
For UU Gainesville's list of events: http://uufg.org/events/upcoming-events.htmlInterfaith Climate GroupGainesville June 2016
Posted by advocate100 in Environmental, Public Events on May 6, 2016
Hands across the Land is coming to your Beach or City
May 21 at noon
See website: http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/hands-across-the-land/
Hands Across the Sand / Land, founded in 2010, has grown into an international movement. People came together to join hands, forming symbolic barriers against spilled oil and to stand against the impacts of other forms of extreme energy.
The world's climate is changing due to the use of dirty fuels. Lets come together in solidarity and say NO to dirty fuels and YES to clean energy.
Find an event that is already happening in your location. If you do not see an event you can attend, host one yourself. Fill out the form on the website soon as there are two steps and a waiting period to have it approved. Its easy and the organizers provide all you need to make it successful! If you missed this year, be ready for next year!! UU congregations: Find the sponsor and plan together for the event.
Sites as of May 15, 2016 Go to Hands Across the Sand website for directions and info
New Smyrna Beach
Cocoa Beach, Lori Wilson Beach
Daytona Beach, Hartford Beach Approach
Englewood, Englewood Beach Park, Manasota Key
Fernandina Beach, Main Beach Fernandina Beach Florida
Lauderdale, Ft. Lauderdale Beach*
Indian Rocks Beach, Pinellas County 18th Ave Park, Indian Rocks Beach
Jacksonville Beach, Fl 32250, Jacksonville Beach End Of Beach Blvd*
Lake Worth, Lake Worth Fl
Lauderdale By The Sea, Lauderdale By The Sea, North Of Pier Surfrider Broward Chapter Offshore Seismic Testing / Lauderdale by the Sea
Miami Beach, On The Sand – 501 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach | Fl 33139
Ochopee, 11 Mile Road, Entrance To Raccoon Point Oil Field, Big Cypress National Preserve
Pensacola Beach, Casino Beach, 41 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, Florida 32526
Riviera Beach, Singer Island Beach
Santa Rosa Beach, Ed Walline Public Beach Access, Offshore Drilling
Santa Rosa Beach, Ed Walline Public Beach Access
Tallahassee, Florida Capitol- Waller Park (dolphin Statue)
Tarpon Springs, Fred Howard Park*
Treasure Island, Bilmar Beach Resort
Vero Beach, Tracking Station Park, Vero Beach
*Unitarian Universalist congregations reporting involvement as of May 5, 2016
UU Church of Tarpon Springs announces:
At the May 21st event, the Tarpon Springs UU "Hands Across the Sands" event will begin an involvement in a Florida Unitarian Universalist initiative to support the building of resilient communities. The UU Tarpon Springs Climate Leader, Gerald Goen will be announced, and involvement with Jan Booher's grant initiative will begin. Information about hurricane preparedness, sea level rise, fracking, and year-round and long term neighborhood preparedness will be offered at the Tarpon Springs event.
Learn about the Tarpon Springs initiative: http://www.uutarpon.org/uu_calendar.html
Earth Day Events in Florida
Posted by advocate100 in Environmental, Public Events, UUJF Issues on April 20, 2016
April 23, 2016
In Boca Raton
Florida Earth Festival 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
University Woodlands Park, 2601 St. Andrews Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33434
Florida Earth Festival's 3rd Annual Earth Day Fair, April 23rd. We're doing it again! Get ready for Green products, Urban gardening, Electric cars, Crafts, Biodegradable supplies, Workshops and more.
Website: http://www.floridaearthfestival.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FloridaEarthFestival
UU Fellowship of Boca Raton: http://www.uufbr.org/
In Gainesville
A month of Earth Day events at UU Fellowship of Gainesville
From World Water Day to Earth Day (March 22 to April 22), Unitarian Universalists and other people of faith and conscience take action to build resistance to climate change and add our moral voices to the movement for climate justice. Organized by Commit2Respond, the Unitarian Universalist climate justice coalition, individuals, families, groups, and congregations engage to learn together, and take action to shift to a low carbon future, advance the human rights of frontline communities, and grow the climate justice movement. You may learn more at http://www.uua.org/environment/climate/climate-justice-month
PACHAMAMA SYMPOSIUM ~ Sunday, April 24, 2-5pm Free and open to the Public
Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream: A Pachamama Symposium. Climate change, social justice, leadership, action, inspiration. This is a transformative social justice workshop that explores the challenges and possibilities of this moment in time and the role people can play in creating a new future. Free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Reserve your spot by email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Spiritual Dimensions of Climate Action
"The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity." ~Al Gore
This five-part series begins Sunday, April 3 and has three objectives:
- To explore ethical questions connected to climate change, and to address them within the context of the spiritual teachings of the world's religions.
- To practically apply spiritual teachings in our everyday personal lives which will benefit the environment and future generations.
- To carry out an action project.
- Sunday, April 3, 9:00-10:15 am, Common Room
Watch the video "Home" together, or if you prefer you may watch it at home instead, at http://www.youtube.com/homeproject#p/a/f/0/jqxENMKaeCU
- Sunday, April 10, 9:00-10:15 am, Common Room
Impacts of Climate Change. We will discuss the film "Home."
III. Sunday, April 17, 9:00-10:15 am, Common Room
Spiritual and Ethical Dimensions – the Individual. Spirituality as opposed to materialism. Impact of individual actions.
- Sunday, April 24, 9:00-10:15 am, Common Room
The Role of Society. Aspects of justice. Poverty and climate change. Decide on individual or group
community service project.
- Sunday, May 1, 9:00-10:15 am, Common Room
A Challenge to All of Us. The role of religious communities. What is progress? Reports on action projects.
In Orlando
Central Florida Earth Day 10 am – 6 p.m.
Lake Eola Park, 512 E. Washington St. Orlando, FL
SPEAKERS + presentations + ENVIRONMENTAL & HUMANE EDUCATION + Earth Kids Zone + ARTIST CORNER + Artist Corner + LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT 250+ Eco-friendly vendors
Website for activities and presentations: http://www.CFEARTHDAY.ORG
First Unitarian Church of Orlando table at Festival at www.orlandouu.org/
University UU Fellowship of Orlando at http://www.universityuus.org/
April 17th – Chris Castro "Orlando's Journey To Be One Of The Most Sustainable Cities in America" Over the next two decades, the City of Orlando is aiming to be one of the greenest and most sustainable cities in the country, with a strong focus on growing the economy, environmental protection, and enhancing quality of life for all residents. Chris Castro, Senior Advisor and Sustainability Program Manager for Mayor Dyer and the City of Orlando 'Green Works' initiative, speaks.
In Jacksonville
EARTH DAY and Ecology Fair on April 23, 2016 at Jacksonville Landing 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Fun-filled day for the whole family. FREE local festival to learn about conservation, reducing energy and water use, preventing pollution and how to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
Earth Day and Ecology Fair website: https://www.earthdayjax.com/
UU Church of Jacksonville at http://www.uucj.org
Buckman Bridge of Orange Park at http://www.bbuuc.org/
In Tampa
Appreciating the Earth April Sundays:
Why I am a Humanist,Why I am a Religious Naturalist,Green day every day-Overcoming Inertia, Just be in Awe
Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa –uutampa.org/
EcoFest on April 23, 2016 at Lowry Park at 7525 N. Boulevard, Tampa 10 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
April 16, 2016
at UU Fellowship of Charlotte County at 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1532 Forrest Nelson Blvd, Port Charlotte
Why do we need an Earth Day?
The movement encourages education and invigorates individuals to take action to protect our planet. Earth Day is the largest civic event in the world, incorporating more than a billion people per year. Locally, celebrate with us at our annual Earth Day celebration with family-friendly games, environmental activities and lunch!
Who: For the young and young-at-heart who care about protecting our environment!
Fee: This is a free community event open to KCB members and non-members.
See http://www.uufcc.org/ regarding UU Fellowship of Charlotte County
It is also a great time to pledge your support to protect Charlotte County's environment by Adopting-A-Road, or registering your family and friends for our annual Great American Cleanup, and Coastal Cleanup.
Affiliated with Keep Charlotte Beautiful Keep America Beautiful Affiliate
Dialogue: Racism
Posted by advocate100 in Public Events, UUJF Issues on April 20, 2016
Saturday, April 2nd (10 AM to 5 PM) and Sunday, April 3rd (1 PM to 5 PM).
at UU Fellowship of Boca Raton (UUFBR)
2601 St. Andrews Boulevard, Boca Raton, FL
Presented by the CENTER FOR THE HEALING OF RACISM Internalize Oneness of Houston, Texas.
Presenters: Cherry Steinwender, executive director, and Lucy McLaughlin
The two day workshop will include an overview of racism's history and how it is perpetuated, how people may inadvertently participate in racism, the role of stereotypes (internalized and institutionalized), and cultural racism. The co-presenters will assist participants to determine ways to act on the workshop experience.
To learn more about this opportunity and UUFBR's Healing Justice Group, call 561-482-2001 (administrator) or visit the UUFBR website at http://www.uufbr.org/ or to access the flier in the newsletter, page 7, use: http://www.uufbr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/UNICORN-03-2016-E.pdf. To learn more about the CENTER FOR THE HEALING OF RACISM and the presenters. go to http://www.centerhealingracism.org/. Registration is limited to 50 participants, $20.00 is requested to cover lunch on Saturday and refreshments.
Farmworkers, Climate Change and Agriculture
Posted by advocate100 in Public Events on March 26, 2016
Panel Discussion
Thursday, March 31, 2016, 6-8 p.m.
At First Unitarian Church of Orlando
1901 East Robinson St.
Orlando, FL 32803
Farmworkers Association of Florida & YAYA-Justice for Farmworkers
RSVP on Facebook
Awaken the Dream Symposium
Posted by advocate100 in Public Events on March 2, 2016
And, Changing the Dream Symposium
April 2, 2016 10-4, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Venice, Donation requested.
Registration info can be found at: http://bit.ly/Venice_Symposium
Previous Pachamama events:
Saturday, March 5, 2016, 1 pm-5 pm
First Unitarian Church of Orlando, 1901 East Robinson St.
Co-Sponsored by Light Partners and First Unitarian
To register and learn more about 1U and/or this Pachamama symposium:
http://www.orlandouu.org/ in Latest News
and/or https://www.pachamama.org/workshop/3033/awaken-the-dreamer
Where on Earth are we going? And what can we do about it?
Climate Solutions for a Sustainable World
Posted by advocate100 in Public Events on February 20, 2016
How We Can Make a Difference
Citizens' Climate Lobby/Citizens' Climate Education
The Patel College of Global Sustainability at USF
are co-sponsoring a one-day conference
Saturday, February 27, 2016 Registration at at 9:00 a.m.
The Patel College for Global Sustainability at University of South Florida (USF) at 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa
U.S. Representative David Jolly (FL-13)
Dr. Timothy Dixon- Keynote Speaker
Dr. John Van Leer
Graduate Students of the Patel College of Global Sustainability
Donald Addu and Jay Butera of the Citizens' Cimate Lobby
For more information about speakers, event schedule and registration:
Copy the link below into the address line (URL) of your browser:
Challenging Islamophobia
Posted by advocate100 in Public Events on January 26, 2016
Presentation & Discussion on Islamophobia:From State-Sponsored Policies to Speech and Physical Attacks
Sunday, January 31, 2016
UU Church of Fort Meyers, 13411 Shire Lane Miller Sanctuary
Presentation: Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Breakout sessions: 1:45-3:00 p.m
Speakers, Alan Levine and Donna Nevel, will discuss the intersections among different forms & manifestations of anti-Muslim discrimination & related issues of civil/human rights. Breakout sessions will discuss organizing as partners and allies in the movement to challenge Islamophobia.
Organizing information: Go to Jewish Voice for Peace
For more information, link here to UU Church of Fort Myers
Space limited. Contact Prita for a space at this workshop.
Winging It in SW Florida:
Posted by advocate100 in Environmental, Public Events on January 15, 2016
2016 Holton Eco-Preserve Bill Brewer Family Gardens Conference Series
Gardening with Natives for
Birds, Bees, Bats, and Butterflies
Saturday, January 23, 2016 between 9:00 a.m. – 2 p.m.
UU Church of Fort Myers
13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers 33912
Featured Speakers: Charles Sobczak and Rachel Singletary, Joy Hazell
Exhibitors and break-out activities relating to Florida-Friendly Landscaping
Pre-register at http://familygardens.eventbrite.com
$15.00 per person-$20 per family (3 or more members)
Inquiries to Peg at firstname.lastname@example.com
Offered in collaboration with University of Florida IFAS Extension.
The Holton Eco Preserve Bill Brewer Family Gardens is a Community Service Project of the UU Church of Fort Myers
More information here: Holton Eco-Preserve
More information about Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers: www.uucfm.org/</
View a flier for this event: http://uugardens.org/images/conferenceflyer.jpg


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Oper Frankfurt is Best Opera Company at Ínternational Opera Awards in London
Among those responsible for bringing these new awards, "The Operas", to life were John Allison, editor of the renowned "Opera" magazine and British businessman Harry Hyman, Managing Director of the worldwide Nexus Group. Hyman is also a knowledgeable and passionate opera fan: "Opera hides its light all too often under a bushel, so we hope our awards will help bring the genre to a wider audience." Hyman also works hard helping to support young talented artitsts and encouraging people and companies to sponsor the arts in general. In November John Allison announced in Opera Magazine that he would welcome nominations for the awards. They received more than 1.500 replies from music specialists and opera lovers from 41 countries. Short lists were drawn up in 23 categories by a jury chaired by John Allison. Members of the jury included journalists Hugh Canning, Rupert Christiansen and Andrew Clements, soprano (and Bayreuth Brünnhilde) Dame Anne Evans, intendants Peter Alward (Salzburg Easter Festival), David Gockley (San Francisco Opera), Joan Matabosch (the Liceu in Barcelona) and Guus Mostart (Reisopera Enschede) and the Director of Opera Europa, Nicholas Payne. They were joined in the final round by Kathryn Harries, Director of the National Opera Studio in London, and the writer Barry Millington.
Other categories in "The Operas" (as the organisers wish it to be known in the future) included "Conductor" (won by Antonio Pappano, Music Director of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London), "Orchestra" (winner: Metropolitan Opera New York), "Chorus" (Cape Town Opera), "Director" (Dmitri Tcherniakov), "New Production" (Rimsky-Korsakov's The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh at De Nederlandse Opera Amsterdam, directed by Dmitri Tchernikaov), "World Premiere" (George Benjamin's Written on Skin), "Newcomer" (conductor Daniele Rustioni), "Festival" (Salzburg), "CD of a complete opera" (Alessandro / Decca), "DVD" (Il trittico / Opus Arte), "Re-Discovery" (Charpentier's David et Jonathas / Les Arts Florissants), and "Accessibility" (Metropolitan Opera New York). A new and unusual category was "Philanthropist / Sponsor", which was won by businessman Sir Peter Moores whose generosity over many years has included making possible a great number of recordings, including operas in English, produced by the Opera Rara label. The "Liftetime Achievement Award") went to Sir George Christie, who ran the Glyndebourne Festival from 1956 - 1999.
Opera Intendant Bernd Loebe was in London for the ceremony: "the outcomes of these kinds of surveys are sometimes perceived with mixed feelings. One is of course very happy to win or come close to winning but if one does not come off well one is inclined to not take them too seriously. But the first scenario is without doubt the more pleasant! I on behalf of our GMD Sebastian Weigle and everybody working at Oper Frankfurt would like to express our thanks for being named Best Opera Company at the first ever 'International Opera Awards'. Our happiness mixed with a little pride that Oper Frankfurt obviously seems to have a good reputation abroad and can hold its own with other great opera houses around the world. My colleagues and I hope this might be a good omen in a time when once again, sadly, the financial viability of the arts in general, and opera in particular is being questioned. The joy this prize brings is mixed with the hope that, despite decisions about further cuts that might be forced upon us, the relevance of our work in society is not lost."
Winners of other categories and artists who have worked in Frankfurt before, and/or will be in the future, included Nina Stemme ("Female Singer"), Jonas Kaufmann ("Male Singer" and "Readers' Award") and Christian Gerhaher ("CD Opera Recital" Sony). The young British soprano Sophie Bevan, a "Rising Star" in who will be making her debut at Oper Frankfurt in 2013/14, won the "Best Up and Coming Young Singer" category. Other winners also known for their work in Frankfurt were Antony McDonald ("Set Designer"), Buki Shiff ("Costume Designer") and Paule Constable ("Lighting Designer").
Press release by Oper Frankfurt, April 2013
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Moose Lake sidewalk replacement grant denied
April 27 Bike Rodeo a success
The Infrastructure Grant, that would have funded repairing or building sidewalks near the Moose Lake school, was denied, the Active Living Coalition and Safe Routes to School group was told at the meeting on Wednesday, May 1.
"We will look for more grants," Meghann Condit, coordinator for Safe Routes to School, told those that attended the meeting.
Bike Rodeo
The April 27 Bike Rodeo held at Riverside Arena was a success, Condit reported. There were 66 young participants, and 45 parents. The 28 volunteers kept the rodeo functioning smoothly.
Helmets were given to 80 percent of the participants without one, and participants that had helmets were given a blinker for the backs of their bicycles or tricycles.
The bikes were checked to make sure they were in good operating condition, and simple maintenance was provided.
The participants practiced good riding techniques and traffic rules on the skills course. They also had a snack before they left.
Condit said that she was advised by the former police chief, Dale Heaton, to hold the rodeo every other year.
The city was thanked for the use of the arena. Guyal Nelson, the arena manager, organized set-up and clean-up by the crew from the Challenge Incarceration Program.
Other business
The Moose Lake school is one of the four schools in Carlton County that has expressed interest in using a fleet of bicycles that will be purchased with proceeds from a grant. The bikes will be available to all Carlton County schools.
A meeting for the phy ed teachers from the interested schools will be held on May 14.
Promoting walking and biking to school was discussed. Two hundred pedometers are available for the students that walk or bike to school. Contests could be organized between the Moose Lake school and other schools.
Walk or Bike to School Day was to be held on May 8.
The next meeting was set for June 5 at 5 p.m. in Room 115 at the Moose Lake school.


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Two Mansfield ISD student-athletes will be heading to the state golf tournament to compete with some of the best high school golfers in Texas.
Jackson Powers from Legacy High School and Aysis Azarcon from Timberview High School earned scores that qualified them for the next level of competition.
Powers came in first place at regionals. He will compete in the boys UIL Golf State Tournament May 14-15 at the White Wing Golf Club in Georgetown.
Azarcon finished second place at regionals and will play in the girls tournament May 21-22 at the same location.
More information about the state golf tournament is available here.
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This is the wife of my grandfather's uncle.
Her name is Ulrika Flinta.
Her name is Ulrika Flinta.
She was born Januray 1, 1834 and died October 11, 1925.
This photo was taken on her birthday when she was 8o years old, 1914.
Her husband was Carl Johan Niklasson and when be became a soldier his name was Flinta.
They had three children. Alma Elisabeth, born 1869 and Karl Albert, born 1872, they both emigrated to Amerika. Alma Elisabeth in 1889 and Karl Albert in 1893.
...Is there anyone who may have seen or know anything about them ...?
They were all born in the parish Marbäck, Älvsborgs county, except Ulrika, she was born in Böne parish.
The third sibling, Klas Oskar, born 1876 was living in Stockholm, Sweden. He and his wife Karolina Hult is on the photo below.


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Rugby Club Hands Out Fall AwardsSOCORRO, N.M. December 9, 2011 – The New Mexico Tech men's rugby club gathered Friday, December 2 for a rousing intrasquad touch match and team awards dinner. The Pygmies took the opportunity to review their fall 2011 season and recognize the valuable on-field contributions of certain members. In a rebuilding season revolving around the development of many first-year players the Pygmies managed a season record of 8-9.
In a team ballot Friday, Brock Romero was named the team's most valuable backline player and Jerod Aragon the key forward. Enrique Koerdell tallied a double, receiving his teammates' accolades as the outstanding attacking and defending player. The Rising Star award for best rookie player went to CV Harris, a Magdalena native.
The Pygmies opened their autumn 2011 campaign in heroic fashion by winning the collegiate championship of the Santa Fe Tens Tournament over the Labor Day weekend.
The following weekend the Pygmies hosted NMSU and the University of New Mexico Lobos in a round robin featuring full 15-man sides. Official scores were not kept, but ominously Tech brought up the rear in terms of scoring.
On September 17 the Santa Fe Rugby Club Santos exacted revenge for a rare loss to the Pygmies during the spring 2011 season, handily defeating the Pygmies 53-12. Tech traveled to Flagstaff, Ariz., where their three-year domination of the collegiate division of the Northern Arizona Tens Tournament came to an end.
Following midterms, Tech dove into a grueling three-week stretch of 15-man rugby, beginning with the 40th annual High Desert Classic tournament in Albuquerque on October 15 and 16. The Pygmies romped over two relatively weak sides before falling in the semifinals to their old rivals NMSU.
The Pygmies played host October 21 to New Mexico Tech's alumni rugby team, the Pygmy Ancestors, on the Friday evening of Tech's annual 49er celebration. This year's classic was a vast departure from the close Ancestor victory of 2010 or the Pygmy wins the previous two years as the old boys romped, 73-14.
Tech suffered a 45-7 shellacking at the hands of New Mexico State in Las Cruces to end the fall campaign.
Inconsistency unfortunately became the norm as the Pygmies were challenged all season by injuries to key players and conflicting commitments relating to school, work, and family. Looking forward to the spring 2012 season, much will depend on the progress of the younger players as they develop the confidence that experience provides.
By Dave Wheelock/Tech Rugby Director


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Affordable. Slim, lightweight build with a large screen. Latest Android software. Embedded stylus. Good battery life. Removable battery and expandable storage.
Heavy UI layer and bloatware. Low-res display for the size. Poor high-end game performance.
Bottom Line
The LG Stylo 2 is an affordable phablet for Boost Mobile with a slim, lightweight build, the latest Android software, and an embedded stylus.
The $179.99 (full retail price) LG Stylo 2 is an affordable phablet for Boost Mobile users. It's surprisingly slim and light considering its 5.7-inch screen, and it makes good use of an embedded stylus with a number of specialized built-in apps. In addition, the phone offers solid battery
Similar Products
Design, Display, and Features
The Stylo 2 measures 6.1 by 3.1 by 0.3 inches (HWD) and weighs 5.1 ounces, making it nearly a full ounce lighter than the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (6.0 by 3.0 by 0.3 inches; 6.0 ounces). It's not an easy phone to use one-handed, but it won't weigh your pocket down.
Made entirely of gray polycarbonate, the Stylo 2 won't turn any heads. There's a metallic-looking plastic border along the sides, and a micro USB charging port and 3.5mm audio jack on the bottom. The included soft-tipped stylus tucks in securely to the top right corner and is easy to pull out. The phone recognizes when the stylus has been
The back of the phone is home to a power button and volume controls below the camera sensor and single LED flash. There's also a
On the
Network Performance and Connectivity
The Stylo 2 operates on Boost Mobile, which is one of Sprint's low-cost carrier arms. The phone supports CDMA (800/1900Mhz), HSDPA (850/1700(AWS)/1900/2100Mhz), and LTE (25/26/41) bands. General network performance in our midtown Manhattan test area was average, with highs of 6.22Mbps down and 3.71Mbps up.
Call quality is decent. Calls made from quiet areas have a clear, natural tone, and earpiece volume is loud enough to hear in most circumstances. Calls made from noisier places tend to sound more robotic, and distort a bit when there are loud background noises, like car horns.
Processor, Battery, and Camera
The Stylo 2 is powered by a midrange Snapdragon 410 processor clocked at 1.2GHz. Benchmark scores are average, at 26,822 on AnTuTu, which tests overall system performance. There's 2GB of RAM under the hood, so you won't encounter major slowdowns, and you should be able to handle most apps and multitasking without hitting the RAM usage limit.
That said, the Stylo 2 fares poorly for gaming. GTA: San Andreas has such a low frame rate it's practically stop motion. Asphalt 8 is playable, but the controls aren't very responsive. Less graphics-intensive games run better, but this is certainly not a phone for gamers.
Battery life is stronger. Despite the large, bright 5.7-inch display, the Stylo 2 clocked a solid 6 hours and 6 minutes of runtime when streaming full-screen video at maximum brightness over LTE. Using the phone all day shouldn't be a problem for most users. The battery is also removable, so you can swap it out if you have a spare.
The 13-megapixel rear-facing camera on the Stylo 2 is a standard budget shooter. It performs well enough, but it's nothing special. If you give it time to focus (or manually focus yourself), shots in well-lit settings are clear enough, but not particularly crisp. Color reproduction is largely accurate. But imperfect shooting conditions, such as low light, will cause noise. The camera also records decent 1080p video at 30fps. The 5-megapixel front-facing camera is solid, capturing quality images with accurate color reproduction.
Rare for a midrange phone, the Stylo 2 comes running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. That said, you'd hardly know it given LG's heavy UI layer. Everything from apps icons to the settings menu and notification shade
On the plus side, LG includes a nifty set of features that set the Stylo 2 apart from other budget phones. As mentioned earlier, there is automatic pen detection when you remove the stylus, which launches a Pop menu in the left corner of your screen. The menu includes Pop Memo, which lets you take notes; Capture+, to write on the screen; Pop Scanner, which lets you edit pictures you've taken; and Quick Memo+, to scribble fast notes. There's also room for one additional app of your choice—I pinned Gmail. Dual Window is another useful feature that allows you to use two apps simultaneously in a split-screen configuration. And Reader Mode reduces the screen's blue light to make it easier on your eyes.
Unfortunately, there's also a fair amount of bloatware from both Boost and LG. LG adds a Management apps folder to the home screen with Battery Saver, Memory, Battery Usage, Storage & USB, and LG Backup apps. Some of these, like Battery Saver (which turns off mobile data and Wi-Fi and tamps down screen brightness), are already
The LG Stylo 2 certainly isn't a replacement for the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, but it isn't meant to be. It's an affordable phablet with some useful stylus-optimized features for Boost Mobile users, and in that regard, it largely succeeds. If you're willing to sacrifice the stylus and go for something a bit smaller, the 5-inch Moto G dials down the bloatware considerably. And if you can spend more to go unlocked, the Google Nexus 6P offers carrier freedom along with a more powerful, bloat-free experience with a gorgeous Quad HD display.


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Which Ray Bradbury title merits a 21st century film? [Poll]
Over his half-century career, Ray Bradbury had a host of stories and novels produced for the big screen. He also had numerous properties in development at Hollywood studios — many of them put there not that long ago, relatively speaking.
Including "The Illustrated Man" (in development at Warner Bros. with Zack Snyder and Frank Darabont) and "The Martian Chronicles" (in development at Paramount with producer John Davis), no fewer than four Bradbury pieces currently sit in the feature-film pipeline waiting for a push from the right producer or executive. Which piece of material would you most like to see make a return (or first) engagement on the big screen? Mull, then vote in our poll below.
Author Ray Bradbury dies at 91
Hero Complex: Ray Bradbury a 'sci-fi' writer?
PHOTOS: Ray Bradbury's influence on TV and film
Ray Bradbury was a huge influence on the film world too
— Steven Zeitchik
Photo: A scene from the 1980 Rock Hudson miniseries "The Martian Chronicles." Credit: NBC.


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Programs offered by the Allied Health Department
Allied Health Department
The Allied Health Department at Davenport University prepares individuals to meet the increasing demands of the healthcare industry by combining all three of the university's core strengths: health, technology, and business. Students learn from industry experts in the three Allied Health disciplines: Health Services Administration, Medical Case Management, and Medical Assisting.
All of these programs require a practicum.
For more information on each of these programs , please click on the specific program link.
For more information please refer to the Davenport University Undergraduate Catalog and the College of Health Professions Handbook.
Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen Policy:
All students in the Davenport University College of Health Professions (the "COHP") are required to submit to criminal background check and drug screening (collectively, the "Testing") at the time of declaring a major in the COHP. The results of the Testing (the "Results"), which shall remain confidential, shall be used by the COHP to approve or disapprove of a Student for enrollment or continued enrollment in the COHP, and/or eligibility for training programs, clinical or practicum. The Testing shall be completed by registering for the appropriate course and completing the entire testing process in the course. Each student is responsible for acknowledging and explaining positive Result(s) after completing the process. A student will be dismissed from the COHP if he or she refuses to consent to the Testing. The cost of the Testing is the part of the course fee and is the responsibility of the student.
All College of Health Professions students will be asked to complete a criminal background check and drug screening (CBC/DS) at the time a major in a health program is declared. This process should be completed in the first semester of attendance and is included in the course HLTH101 Introduction to Health Careers and in HLTH101S Introduction to Health Careers Seminar. Criminal background checks and drug testing completed elsewhere are not acceptable.
Prospective students that have been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors will not be able to participate as a student at most practicum sites, will not be able to complete most certification and licensing exams, and will find that gainful employment in most health care settings will not be possible.
Please contact the faculty and staff listed below with any questions or concerns. We welcome your feedback and input into our programs!
Faculty and Staff
Department Chair and Interim Associate Dean Health Information Management/Allied Health - Linda Sorensen, MPA, RHIA, CHPS
Campus Associate Department Chair/Program Director: Kimberly Corsi, MSA, LRCP, CCS
Associate Department Chair, HIM/Allied Graduate: Jeanne Freeman PhD, RHIA
Associate Department Chair : Marybeth Pieri-Smith, MBA, RHIA, CCSP, CPC, CMA
Faculty: Yvette Pawlowski, M.ed, RHIA, CHDS
Lansing/Great Bay Lakes Region
Associate Department Chair: Rebecca Ventura, RN, MSN, RMA
Campus Associate Department Chair: Kimberly Corsi, MSA, LRCP, CCS
Associate Dean: Kelly McCarron, Ed.D,OTR/L
Teaching and Learning Coordinators:
Carly Davidson email@example.com
Dawn Strauss-Berta firstname.lastname@example.com
For Practicum Manager Information, click here!


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Tweet by TaylorMadeTour
New Balls Please.#5WITCH: https://t.co/IOy2QhdQIQ pic.twitter.com/KZ1pZcfluw— TaylorMadeGolfEurope (@TaylorMadeTour) July 2, 2018
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bin Laden Interview with Robert Fisk (1996)
In his last recorded interview, Usama bin Ladin tells Robert Fisk why he so despises America.
Osama bin Laden is a tall, slim man, and when he walks towards me surrounded by his Arab mujahideen guerillas in the mountains of Afghanistan, he towers over his companions. Huge insects fly through the night air, settling like burrs on his Saudi robes and on the clothes of his men.
Bin Laden's narrow eyes and long beard were familiar amid the battlefields of Afghanistan where he and his guerillas fought the Soviet invasion army of the '80s. His appearance is little changed, the beard a trifle greyer, perhaps, but the fierceness unquenched. Then he fought the Russians. Now, determined to overthrow the monarchy in Saudi Arabia and oust the Americans from that kingdom, he is describing the bombings that slaughtered 24 Americans in Riyadh [in 1995] and Khobar-Dhahran [in 1996] as a symbol of Saudi anger, the presence of US forces as an "insult" to the Saudi people.
For bin Laden, the betrayal of the Saudi people began 24 years before his birth, when Abdul Aziz al-Saud proclaimed his kingdom in 1932.
"The regime started under the flag of applying Islamic law, and under this banner all the people of Saudi Arabia came to help the Saudi family take power," he says as the night wind moves through the darkened trees, ruffling the robes of the Arab Afghan fighters around us. "Abdul Aziz did not apply Islamic law; the country was set up for his family. Then, after the discovery of petroleum, the Saudi regime found another support - the money to make people rich and give them the services and life they wanted and to make them satisfied." He is picking his teeth with a piece of miswak wood, a habit that accompanies many of his conversations.
History - or his version of it - is the basis of almost all his remarks. And the pivotal date is 1990, the year Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.
"When the American troops entered Saudi Arabia, the land of the two holy places [Mecca and Medina], there was a strong protest from the ulema [religious authorities] and from students of the sharia law all over the country against the interference of American troops. This big mistake by the Saudi regime of inviting the American troops revealed their deception. They had given their support to nations that were fighting against Muslims. They helped the Yemeni communists against the southern Yemeni Muslims and helping [Yasser] Arafat's regime fight Hamas [who opposed the peace process in the Middle East]. After it insulted and jailed the ulema 18 months ago, the Saudi regime lost its legitimacy ...
"The Saudi people have remembered now what the ulema told them and they realise America is the main reason for their problems. The ordinary man knows that his country is the largest oil producer in the world, yet at the same time he is suffering from taxes and bad services. Now the people understand the speeches of the ulemas in the mosques - that our country has become an American colony. They act decisively with every action to kick the Americans out of Saudi Arabia. What happened in Riyadh and Khobar [when 24 Americans were killed in two bombings] is clear evidence of the huge anger of Saudi people against America. The Saudis now know their real enemy is America."
IT was a construction company that made bin Laden's family into millionaires, but it was its convoys of earth-moving trucks, bulldozers and quarrying equipment that took him to war. The Afghan conflict against the Russians moulded bin Laden, taught him the meaning of his religion, made him think.
Anyone who wants to understand the man whom Bill Clinton dubbed "America's Public Enemy No1" should study this moment in his life. The West regarded him as a hero. In those days the young Arabs whom he brought to Afghanistan to fight the Soviet occupation army were treated as heroes; in Britain, The Times used to call them "freedom fighters". Few noticed, or bothered to study, the theological implications of the West's support for the mujahideen.
One of the reasons Leonid Brezhnev was persuaded to send his troops into Afghanistan was the reports that large areas of the country had fallen under the sway of Muslim fundamentalists. Schoolteachers, installed by the communist regime in Kabul, were being assassinated. Even when the mujahideen were shooting at civil airliners with British-made Blowpipe missiles, they were not called "terrorists".
Bin Laden saw his comrades die in their hundreds, while he survived Russian kidnap attempts. Eventually, he was sickened by the factional fighting among the Afghans that followed the departure of the Russians and he moved to Sudan, using his wealth to finance road construction projects north of Khartoum. It was while he was here, in the years after the Afghan war, that reports came from Egypt and Algeria of Arabs returning home in Afghan clothes, many of them deeply religious, contemptuous of the corruption of secular governments, doctrinal to the point of self-righteousness.
When I first met bin Laden, in 1993, he was building a highway to connect the village of Almatig to Khartoum for the first time, shaking hands with the grateful villagers, worshipped by the local sheikh. Bin Laden shook hands with each man, watched by the young Arab fighters and clearly enjoying the adoration.
There is something of the evangelist about bin Laden; not the friendly apostle but the fire-breathing preacher, a hermit of such conviction that argument is out of the question. For the Americans, his epic certainties constitute his greatest danger. Bin Laden is not a man who does deals.
He embarked on another construction; a new motorway between Khartoum and Port Sudan. By now, Egyptian newspapers were claiming that bin Laden was helping to organise an Islamist resistance to President Hosni Mubarak's rule from "training camps" in Sudan. "The rubbish of the media and the embassies," bin Laden retorted. He kept a home in Khartoum, only a small apartment in his native Jeddah. His four wives lived with him in Sudan. Three of them were later to follow him back to Afghanistan, along with his two sons.
He had watched his beloved Afghanistan torn apart by greedy men who had forgotten their religion. Now he saw corruption in Egypt, in all the Arab nations that had adopted a facade of Western life; above all, in Saudi Arabia. Under pressure from the Americans, the Sudanese told bin Laden to leave and so he returned to the land where he had been a hero. Some say he travelled back to Afghanistan via Saudi Arabia; certainly, he has many sympathisers there, including some members of the royal family. In those initial months back in Afghanistan, he must have decided that if he could defeat the Russians he could also defeat America.
Saudi Arabia, he concluded, had become "an American colony". Ordinary Saudis realised the imprisoned ulemas were right: US troops had stayed on in the kingdom, despite their promise to leave. "The Saudis now know their real enemy is America." Did not the Europeans resist German occupation in World War II? bin Laden suddenly asked. I told him this parallel was morally wrong, that no European would accept the argument because the Nazis killed millions of Europeans; the Americans had never murdered a single Saudi.
"We as Muslims have a strong feeling that binds us together," he replied. "We feel for our brothers in Palestine and Lebanon. The explosion at Khobar did not come as a direct result of American occupation but as a result of American behaviour against Muslims ... When 60 Jews are killed inside Palestine [in suicide bombings earlier this year] all the world gathers within seven days to criticise this action, while the deaths of 600,000 Iraqi children [after UN sanctions were placed on Iraq] did not receive the same reaction. Killing those Iraqi children is a crusade against Islam. We, as Muslims, do not like the Iraqi regime but we think that the Iraqi people and their children are our brothers and we care about their future."
Ultimately, all Muslims will unite in the fight against America, says bin Laden. "I believe that sooner or later the Americans will leave Saudi Arabia and that the war declared by America against the Saudi people means war against all Muslims everywhere. Resistance against America will spread in many, many places in Muslim countries. Our trusted leaders, the ulema, have given us a fatwa that we must drive out the Americans. The solution to this crisis is the withdrawal of American troops ... their military presence is an insult for the Saudi people."
Yet did not the Americans support the mujahideens' war against the Soviets? "We were never at any time friends of the Americans. We knew that the Americans support the Jews in Palestine and that they are our enemies. Most of the weapons that came to Afghanistan were paid for by the Saudis on the orders of the Americans because Turki al-Faisal [the head of Saudi external intelligence] and the CIA were working together."
So what kind of Arabian Islamic state does he wish to see? Would thieves and murderers still have their heads cut off, for example, in a sharia-governed state? Bin Laden's answer is unsatisfactory. All Muslims would love to live under true sharia, he said. A guilty man would only be happy if he was justly punished.
Dissident bin Laden may be. But moderate, never.
The Independent
Based on the last recorded interview given by bin Laden, in 1996
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OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors signed free agent center Jermaine O'Neal to a $2 million, one-year contract Tuesday.
O'Neal, a six-time NBA All-Star, had reached agreement on a contract two weeks ago.
Golden State is likely to use the 34-year-old O'Neal as a backup to Andrew Bogut. Festus Ezeli is working back from right knee surgery and is not expected to be ready to return for months.
O'Neal played in 55 games with four starts last season for the Phoenix Suns, averaging 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 18.7 minutes. The 6-foot-11 center is entering his 18th season in the NBA.