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My boys viewed their mid-1980s births
in the old Midway Hospital on University
between Porky's and Ax-Man
as an embarrassment, a slight
their Saint Paul mom had designed to punish them
by withholding the polished corridors
of HCMC in their own hometown...
I was a young Philadelphian, freshly divorced, and looking for a new city in which to start my new life. I was tired of rat-filled alleys and dirty heaps of black snow that lined the streets like piles of coal. At a library, I happened upon a travel magazine. And on those glossy, full-color pages, I spotted a picture of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.
Winter Carnival 1887: A Ghost Story
For almost as long as there has been a Saint Paul, my family has been a part of the city. My father, Carl Reimringer, was born here in 1914, and baptized in Assumption Church, where his father was baptized and his grandfather was married. Though I'd never lived here, when my wife and I moved to Saint Paul shortly after my father's death in 2001, I fell head over heels in love with the city, feeling that I'd returned to a home I hadn't realized had been missing from my life.
Winter Wonderland and the Hunt for Treasure
The scramble begins. The quickest gets the matching gloves. Snowsuit on . . . wool socks on . . . boots on . . . I just need a hat and gloves. A lone glove lies on the wood floor in the entryway. Where's its mate? Hats, scarves, and mismatched gloves fly out of the wicker basket. "Ah ha!" It sits at the bottom calling to its twin. I'm ready, we're set, let's go! We pile into the minivan, shovels in the back. The best part about searching for the Winter Carnival medallion isn't the digging. No, at age eight I prefer to lie in the snow or sit and watch the people shoveling around us.
Clues to lost royal complex unearthed by LRT excavation crew
Workers performing advance utility relocation work in preparation for light rail construction in Lowertown have stumbled across what local authorities believe may be a long lost royal complex that is likely the final resting place of Boreas the Brrrave. It is not unusual for the refuse of bygone eras to turn up during large scale excavations such as that which has been taking place in Lowertown this past summer. Similar work on the Hiawatha Line in Minneapolis uncovered scores of bottles, household items and more than a few horseshoes. The quality, variety, and sheer volume of items discovered beneath 4th street have, however, prompted calls for a halt to further work on the project - if only temporarily.
New Girl in Town
Each year, a small group of immigrants makes its way into Saint Paul from a foreign and misunderstood land. They may come for love, jobs, the promise of more house for the money. Willing to face great adversity, they pack their belongings and take a giant leap of faith across the mighty Mississippi. These brave souls move their lives from Minneapolis to Saint Paul. I am one of them; this is my story.
Some Cheers for Winter
My sister phones. "Storm!" she says, disgusted. "They're calling this a storm. No wind, maybe an inch of snow. It's winter, for Pete's sake, we're supposed to have snow. Get a grip!" My sister is not one of your hardy outdoors types, but we're Iron Rangers, and even though between us we've spent six decades in Saint Paul, we retain the Ranger's right to scorn urban wimpiness. It's the TV weather people who have set her off. "They are trying to brainwash us into weather wimps."
The St. Paul Hotel in the late 1970s
Notes on the Winter Carnival Medallion Hunt
Just about the time our Vikings' season is over, all of the grass is covered by snow. The mornings of scraping the ice off your windshield have become repetitive. It's getting to the coldest time of the year. Thanks to the great City of Saint Paul, there's a week of celebration in the snow. Parents and their families come out of their homes. It's like a Minnesota version of a hibernation break. After months of being indoors, the Saint Paul Winter Carnival and the great treasure hunt are finally here!


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Internet of Things Lab
Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 9:00 AM - Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 5:00 PM (CDT)
The Internet of Things (IoT) Lab is a weekend-long event for designers, developers, makers and strategists to explore the extensive range of opportunities around connected devices. Forget the internet-connected fridge – the IoT Lab will help attendees ideate and create prototypes of tech-enabled products and services that provide functionality that people really need.
Fri., Sept. 27, 7:00-9:00pm
Meet the IoT Lab team and fellow participants at Manifest Digital (35 East Wacker, Suite 1000).
Sat., Sept. 28, 9:00am - 7:30pm
Ideation, planning and product development work sessions.
Sun., Sept. 29, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Work sessions, product finalization and presentation of prototypes.
What to bring:
Bring your laptop or tablet and any equipment and resources you'd like to bring along to work with to design, develop and prototype your ideas, feel free! Teams will present their final product or service concept in the way that shows it best – including video, rapid prototypes, wireframes.
About the IoT Lab: A hands-on masterclass and workshop
After a meet-and-greet in a bar on the Friday evening to get to know your fellow teammates, the two days of intensive problem-solving and prototyping start with coffee and inspiration on the Saturday morning. The IoT Lab team will go over the schedule, representatives from Claro Partners will share their IoT planning tool, and then the teams will dive into brainstorming, designing and prototyping new IoT product and service concepts. Teams will finish the weekend with a well-defined service, product prototype and business model. Find out more information at http://www.claropartners.com/iot-lab-chicago/
The IoT Lab is is facilitated by Claro Partners, organized by WebVisions and kindly hosted at the studio of Manifest Digital.
WebVisions explores the future of the Web and mobile design, digital media, user experience and technology. We expose designers, programmers and strategists to the new ideas and trends that are revolutionizing business and the world, and we're changing the world, one byte at a time.
Find out more at WebVisionsEvent.com
Join millions of people on Eventbrite.
In order to purchase these tickets in installments, you'll need an Eventbrite account. Log in or sign up for a free account to continue.

subset: commoncrawl


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text only
The Code of Student Conduct
Participating as a Witness
Participating as a Victim
Disciplinary Measures
Pursuing Charges
The Student Conduct Hearing
University Disciplinary Committee
USA Home
The University Disciplinary Committee
The UDC is composed of:
The Judicial Affairs Officer or designee. This person will supervise any hearings and insure that proper procedures are followed. However, he/she does not have a vote in determining if a violation has occurred nor in imposing disciplinary measures except in cases where the UDC is deadlocked.
One faculty member (or staff member if the faculty member is unable to attend).
Student members. No more then 15 students shall be appointed.The SGA Supreme Court Chief Justice and the Associate Justices shall automatically be asked to serve on the UDC; a willingness to serve and any required training are, however, prerequisites to serving. Other students wishing to serve of the UDC and who go through the required training may serve on the UDC.
In any given hearing, one faculty member, no fewer than two students and no more than seven students shall preside. Any member of the UDC who acknowledges or reasonably appears to have a conflicting interest as deemed by the Judicial Affairs Officer shall be removed from any given hearing.
The UDC represents the University community. They are interested in protecting the University, protecting individual members of the University, and protecting the rights of all the parties involved. You may call any UDC member if you have any questions or concerns; your call will be kept confidential. Most members of the UDC are willing to serve as an advisor for any of the parties involved in a hearing and one will be assigned if you so request.
Jessica Bryant
Genevieve Dardeau
Nicole Flynn
Tara Krass
Will Lewis
Roy Ryder
Dante Schembari
Mike Varga
Tom Williams
Megan Womble
University of South Alabama
- Mobile Alabama 36688-0002 / 1 (251) 460-6101
May 4, 2007 8:30 AM
southal.edu ">Contact Us
Date last changed: March 18, 2005 1:04 PM


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Pastoral takes pride in carrying an array of various types of cheese to serve your gourmet needs. Whether it's pillowy goat cheese, salty Manchego cheese or crumbly Cabot cheese wrapped in cloth, our carefully chosen selections showcase the bounty of artisans who produce hand-crafted types of cheese from around the world. Rustic and traditional French and Italian cheeses may garner the most love, and rightly so, but here at Pastoral we also believe in a sourcing a wide variety of sustainably produced local cheeses from right here in the USA.
St. Felicien$8.99
Out of stockThis little ceramic crock of unctuous soft-ripened cow's milk cheese packs a lot of flavor! Rich, creamy, tart and yeasty, St. Felicien is perfect spread on a baguette or toasted under a broiler. Buy two—one as a gift and one to savor selfishly! 150 g each Learn More
Sar Vecchio$8.99**Festival Feature!** With more than 25 awards to its name, SarVecchio is the most decorated Parmesan cheese in America. Earning a gold medal in its category at the 2005 and 2007 American Cheese Society competition, this cheese has a history of excellence, yet it was born out of chance. When Kraft closed one of their Wisconsin cheesemaking facilities, the workers bought it back and created SarVecchio out of dedication to their craft. The nutty, caramel flavor and crystalline texture develop as the cheese ages for at least 20 months. Learn More


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Canon-Compatible Cartridge 12-Pack with Chip
$35 $4 s&hSHOP NOW
Posted 5 days 23 hr ago
CompandSave offers this PGI-250XL / CLI-251XL Canon-Compatible Inkjet Cartridge 12-Pack with Chip for $54.60. Coupon code "CRAZY250XL" cuts them to $34.60. Shipping adds $3.99. These cartridges fit several types of Canon inkjet printers; use the compatibility chart on the product page to check specific models. Deal ends December 29.


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Humidity 52%
Winds 13.8mph
KTVQ.com Sponsored Search
Humidity 52%
Winds 13.8mph
Aug 1, 2012 6:32 PM by David Sherman - MTN News
The new Keep My Montana Home program aims to help homeowners in the state facing foreclosure with counseling and loan services.
Several months ago, five national banks, including Bank of America, Citibank, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo and GMAC, agreed to a $25 billion package of benefits for homeowners and payments to states. The settlement came after an investigation found those banks signed foreclosure documents without the presence of a notary.
The settlement provides benefits to borrowers whose loans are owned by the settling banks, as well as to many borrowers whose loans they service. It also provides modest payments to those who were foreclosed upon from 2008 to 2011.
If you are facing foreclosure or struggling to make house payments, and you have a mortgage serviced by the banks involved in this agreement, you may qualify for help.
Montana's share, estimated at about $20 million, means qualifying Montana borrowers can get help including principal reductions, deficiency waivers, and short sales.
The state already received a direct payment of around $5.8 million, most of which will support services like foreclosure counseling and legal advice. Program partners include NeighborWorks Montana and the Montana Legal Services Association.
Montana homeowners who are not in default, but "underwater" on their home loans will be eligible for over $4.5 million in available funds specifically for refinancing these underwater loans. "Underwater" means a person owes more on their mortgage than their home is currently worth.
Montana borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure by one of the five settling banks between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2011, are eligible for direct cash payments from a pool of $2 million.
The Keep My Montana Home program was established to provide a variety of benefits for struggling homeowners, including lowering the principal of a home loan. Others may qualify to re-finance their mortgage at a lower interest rate to bring down their monthly payment.
To learn more about the program, call 1-800-481-6896 or contact Duncan Adams at 406-444-2556. You can also email firstname.lastname@example.com or visit Keep My Montana Home.
5 hours ago


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Other projects made by bythemoonlight:
Offer some kudos...
Join the conversation...
Ask a question...
Add your comment...
|Here are some details about my project:
|Cute, Funky
What was your source for this crocheting project?
Online Photo or Website
Name of website or photo Crocodile Stitch Shawl
Beautiful! What type of yarn did you use for the peacock colorway?
I used a merino wool sock yarn for the peacock.
These are beautiful, bythemoonlight! I didn't think of using a variegated yarn but you have inspired me. I LOVE the crocodile stitch and will be posting my neck wrap and wrist warmers soon. Thank you for the inspiration!
Thank You! I wasn't sure how it would look with the variegated yarn, but I'm happy with the results :)
OH MY GAWD! I'm salivating! absolutely beautiful!
Oh, I love this! Now I have to make one! :)
Is there a pattern?


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Posted: 9:09 am Monday, March 25th, 2013
RT Eric Winston wants to play in Miami, but Dolphins aren't biting
By Post Staff
[...] are still in need of offensive line help. Right tackle Eric Winston wants to play in Miami, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus, but there still isn't a deal in place. More: Check out The Phinsider for all your Dolphins [...]
[...] Free agent OL Eric Winston would like to play for the Dolphins. (Ben Volin) [...]
[...] it in free agency before the draft, though. Right tackle Eric Winston is still available and is apparently interested in signing with the team. If they signed Winston, it would allow the Dolphins to shift Jonathan [...]
thank you.


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Pfeffer Regatta
May 2-4, 2014
Share the Experience
The Sea Scouts are proud to feature a three-day racing event May 2-4, 2014. We have several races scheduled. We will be racing rain or shine so be ready for anything (BSA weather regulations do apply to this event). The Middle Tennessee Sea Scouts will be presenting each racing team with a commemorative t-shirt. Perpetual trophies will be presented, one for council and another for out of council first place finish and Plaques through second place.
$45 per person ($55 per person after April 17) for racing teams includes: 5 meals (Three on Saturday, Two on Sunday), T-Shirt, and trophies. Spectator Only: $35 per person ($45 per person after April 17) for 5 meals (Three on Saturday, Two on Sunday)
Click here to download a registration form to be submitted to the Council Service Center. Early Bird Registration deadline is April 17, 2014 with all registrations due April 25, 2014.
Lodging options:
High Adventure Building at Boxwell Scout Reservation has capacity 32 Male & 32 Female Four rooms on each side 8 per room. The High Adventure Building is first come first serve reservations. There is no charge to tent camp in Stahlman Activity Field (must provide own tent)
**Those arriving on Friday Dinner will be provided
Click here to download Pfeffer Regatta Itinerary


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Parks Canada
Home > National Parks of Canada > Forillon National Park > What's New > Forillon, the Family Destination Par Excellence!
On May 1, 2013, the Tourism Intelligence Network (Transat Chair in Tourism, ESG-UQAM) identified ten trends in family travel. In the United States alone, this powerful market accounts for 100 million trips per year. In light of this analysis, Forillon National Park stands out as an ideal destination for families.
But wait – there's more! A family stay at Forillon also means…
And there are so many other experiences to be had at Forillon National Park, the playground for filling up on fresh air, laughter and unforgettable family experiences!


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Well many of us cringe when they hear about Internet Explorer but the real fact is that it performs better when memory comes into the question. Nirmal has done an extensive test on browsers to come up the fact that Firefox uses up the most memory among browsers.
I have been using IE7 along with Firefox for a long time. The reason I started using both the browsers was because I started up a new account for Google AdSense which could not be accessed within the same browser.
I had used the beta version of IE7 before for quite some time and I can tell you all the beta versions were crap. The browser either crashed or did something it was not supposed to.
The final version of IE7 is much more stable and performs much better than most of the other browsers. Well what more we are now going to get nextG of Internet Explorer Browser which is now officially called Internet Explorer 8.
The official announcement went out that they were going to call the new browser Internet Explorer 8. I was surprised for a moment as to why they were deliberating about it what would they call it? Well here are some of the names they thought appropriate enough for the new browser
IE 1000 (think binary)
IE Eight!
IE for Web 2.0 (Service Pack 2)
IE Desktop Online Web Browser Live Professional Ultimate Edition for the Internet (the marketing team really pushed for this one ;-)
Ie2.079 (we might still use this for the Math Major Edition)
How hard it is to come up with a name. They have had IE5, IE5.5, IE6 and now IE7. The best bet is that it has to be IE8 not some weird name, it's a browser after all not some web2.0 service they are launching.
There are not other major announcements about the features that they will integrate into IE8 but gauging from the names they were trying out I think there may be more integration with social networking sites and web2.0 services. IE8 may eventually do what Flock did to Firefox.
I put my 2 cents on integration with Digg, Stumble Upon, Live Spaces, Windows Live and other social networking services and definitely with Microsoft Office coming forth into IE8.
Talking about performance I still think that if Firefox does not pull up its socks in the next release I may ditch it for IE, it has worked better in memory consumption, no crashes at all (I can't believe it), picks up https certificate errors. Banking has not given me any trouble yet and shopping has been pleasant without any hacks.
Well I attribute one of the reasons to this being the automatic security updates I have chosen. It updates all the vulnerabilities in the browser regularly. If you are using IE then I recommend you should turn on the automatic update service.


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Insert these postcards into your customers' orders to let them know you appreciate their business. The template has two card designs, which are 4.5" x 5.5" and work with Avery 3263, 3380, 5689, 8383, and 8387. Find matching templates in the Bar Border design set by clicking the See Also link above.
Avery (U.S.)
Microsoft Partner


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The other day I had written down several things I needed to do while I was in town. Since I was in a hurry, I scribbled the things down on a scrap piece of paper.
We are taught in God's word that faith is necessary to be pleasing to God. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb 11:6).
I have to make a confession. I love what has been called "the pageantry of college football." I manage to go to a couple of games of my favorite team every year.
I'm attending a wedding today. It will be a rather odd thing for me, because I will have no responsibilities in the wedding. For obvious reasons, I perform most of the wedding ceremonies I attend.
"How's your heart spiritually?" This question is even more serious than questions about our physical heart. For if the physical heart fails, the spiritual heart better be ready.
Many of you know that I like to pray while I am walking. Since I live way out in the country, I can walk with very little contact with traffic.
"We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves." (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 - ESV).
Today, I have three things to share with you: this week's message, a personal invitation and a "thank you" for your support.
I have a confession to make, and it concerns a news report I heard recently. As I was driving home I heard on the news that a pastor of one of the largest churches in American is being accused of a horrible crime.
God's word directs us on how to be pleasing to Him and how to live for Him. His plan for man's salvation of faith, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, is a simple plan.
A couple of months ago I kicked the bathtub. No, I wasn't mad. I was clumsy.
I am excited about the parables of Jesus. I have noticed multiple lessons in most parables Jesus used. The story of the sheep and the goats, as recorded in Matthew Ch. 25, is no exception. Jesus says there will be a day when all the nations will stand before Him and He will divide them into two groups. The group that pleased the Lord will be invited into the Lord's kingdom and the group that displeased the Lord will be cast out and will endure everlasting punishment. Now, of course, that is an over simplification of a profound spiritual ...
A newly organized ministry in Long County, A New Beginning, is creating a sense of excitement in the community.
The other day my wife came running to me from outside the house and wanted me to hear some birds in the trees talking to one another – that is, in bird talk.
What an embarrassing moment it was. I took my test to the professor and said, "Dr. B, I'm sorry, but I can't read the note you wrote me. What does it say?"
DeleteLast week, we began studying about the choice each person has to make if they want to go to heaven. The thoughts are continued this week.
In today's society, we have been inclined to live a life of limits that are beneath God's calling.
There is a TV show called "The Walking Dead" that is popular among many. It is about people who die from a virus but come back to life changed individuals - but not for the good of humanity.
They are having snow up north.
Most religious people believe that God loves everyone and wants all to be saved. Yet some fail to understand that he created man to have his own will so he can determine what to do or not do.
It certainly will not be church as usual.
In our recent election between the Democrats and Republicans, the Republicans seized control over the Senate by winning an additional seven seats.
I have a new computer. It is a laptop and literally is the size of the leather binder I carry in my book satchel. It is only a pound or so in weight.


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In Ecuador or Peru the air and water are sometimes a bit warmer and the waves are a bit higher. When that happens, it means the area has been hit by a ?Kelvin wave,? which means an El Nino is on the way.
?Kelvin waves are warm bumps in the Pacific Ocean,? says JPL oceanographer Bill Patzert. They form around Indonesia and travel east toward the Americas.?
El Ni?os and Kelvin waves are both triggered by winds in the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes the trade winds slow down for a few days or weeks -- researchers aren?t sure why -- and warm water slides back across the Pacific toward the Americas. ?"That?s a Kelvin wave,? says Patzert.
El Ni?o begins when trade winds slow down for many months. Then, says Patzert, strong Kelvin waves cross the Pacific ?like a conveyor belt,? depositing warm water near South America where the ocean is normally cold. This new warm pool of water alters weather all over our planet. Rains that would normally hit the western Pacific shift toward the Americas, while places like Australia, Indonesia, and India become dry.
?El Ni?o can do a lot of damage? says Patzert, ?but it?s not all bad.? The last El Ni?o in 1997 suppressed Atlantic hurricanes, lowered winter heating bills in New England, and allowed surfers to use the suddenly warm beaches in California. There was extra sledding in the Sierra Nevada when it snowed in June.
However, Coastal villagers in South America fled the rains in 1997 that washed away their homes and brought record numbers of mosquitoes. Meanwhile, normally wet places like Australia and Indonesian were hit by terrible droughts and wildfires.
Farmers can profit from changing weather patterns by cultivating ?El Ni?o crops.? Rice and beans can be planted in areas normally too dry to support them. But this is only possible if growers know when an El Ni?o is coming.
Scientists have developed computer models that do a good job forecasting El Ni?o's effects, but only after an El Ni?o has begun. ?The hard part is predicting when El Ni?o will begin,? says David Adamec, a climate researcher at NASA.
The interval between El Ni?os varies from 3 to 7 years and researchers don?t know why. Because the last one began in 1997, the next could begin as early as this year or as late as 2004.
After the El Ni?o of 1982-83 took forecasters by surprise, the United States, Japan, and France strung 70 buoys across the equatorial Pacific to monitor water temperature to a depth of 500 meters, as well as winds, air temperature, and relative humidity. They are designed to be an early warning system for El Ni?o.
El Nino warnings also come from the US-French TOPEX/Poseidon satellite. It can measure the height of the ocean?s surface with radar. Warm water expands, so Kelvin waves appear as traveling bumps in the satellite?s sea surface elevation maps.
Both TAO and TOPEX/Poseidon have tracked the latest Kelvin wave since it formed near Indonesia in Dec. 2001. ?The wave crossed the Pacific in January and reached South America in February,? says Patzert. ?It looks a lot like one that crossed the Pacific in early 1997 -- just before the last El Ni?o.? But he says, ?Kelvin waves appear in the Pacific every winter; they don?t all mean El Ni?o is coming.?
Adamec says, ?It?s too soon to say. The real test will be what happens this spring.?
For more information,click here.
El Ni?o, the periodic warming of Pacific Ocean waters that affects the weather worldwide, started about 6,000 years ago, according to a study of ancient fish bones.
Fish bones discarded about 6,000 years ago by ancient peoples in Peru show that ocean catfish lived in water that averaged six to seven degrees warmer than it is now and that there was little variation in the water temperature.
C. Fred T. Andrus of the University of Georgia says that if El Ni?o was occurring at the modern rate, one every two to seven years, then the bones from the fish would have reflected the temperature variation. ?We don?t see that,? he says. ?Our data strengthen the argument that El Ni?o, as we know it, began relatively recently - since about 6,000 years ago.?
NOTE: This news story, previously published on our old site, will have any links removed.


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The 10 Breakthrough Products of 2013
Whether developed in a garage or in the lab of a multinational corporation, these are the year's most innovative and transformative products, and the winners of Popular Mechanics' 2013 Breakthrough Awards. (See also the 10 Breakthrough Innovators Who Changed the World in 2013.)
By Logan Ward
Xbox One ($499)
Some products are evolutionary, others are revolutionary. The Xbox One is both. The most notable improvement is the new Kinect sensor, which is integral to the operation of the console. It can see in total darkness, track the fine movements of your hands and muscles, and even sense your heartbeat. Gamers may have taken issue with the Xbox One's price ($500) and paywall restrictions (some features require a $50 per year subscription), but technologically it's a huge upgrade from its predecessor. The platform is so advanced that developers have barely begun to grasp all its possibilities.


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School Meal Programs:
More Systematic Development of Specifications Could Improve the Safety of Foods Purchased through USDA's Commodity Program
GAO-11-376: Published: May 3, 2011. Publicly Released: May 3, 2011.
Audio interview by GAO staff with Lisa Shames, Director, Natural Resources and Environment
Additional Materials:
- Highlights Page:
- Full Report:
- Accessible Text:
(202) 512-2649
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
Through its commodity program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides commodity foods at no cost to schools taking part in the national school meals programs. Commodities include raw ground beef, cheese, poultry, and fresh produce. Like federal food safety agencies, the commodity program has taken steps designed to reduce microbial contamination that can result in severe illness. GAO was asked to review (1) the extent to which the program's purchasing specifications related to microbial contamination differ from federal regulations, (2) the extent to which specifications for raw ground beef differ from those imposed by some other large purchasers, and (3) examples of schools' practices to help ensure that food is not contaminated. GAO compared the program's purchasing specifications to federal regulations for food sold commercially, gathered information from seven large purchasers of ground beef, and interviewed officials in 18 school districts in five states, selected in part because of their purchasing practices.
For 7 of the approximately 180 commodity foods offered to schools, USDA's commodity program has established purchasing specifications with respect to microbial contamination that are more stringent than the federal regulations for the same foods in the commercial marketplace. For example, the commodity program will not purchase ground beef that tests positive for Salmonella bacteria, while federal regulations for commercially available ground beef tolerate the presence of a certain amount of Salmonella. Program officials told GAO that more-stringent specifications are needed for certain foods they purchase because they go to populations, such as very young children, at a higher risk for serious complications from foodborne illnesses. However, the program has not developed more-stringent specifications for some pathogens and foods that have been associated with foodborne illness, such as raw, whole chickens cut into eight pieces that the program provides to schools. Program officials told GAO they selected products for more-stringent specifications based on their views of the safety risk associated with different types of food; developed these specifications through informal consultation with a variety of groups; and did not document the process they used. The commodity program's purchasing specifications related to microbial contamination for raw ground beef at various processing stages are generally similar to those of some other large purchasers. The specifications used by both the commodity program and these large purchasers are more stringent than federal regulations. USDA's commodity program has several purchasing specifications related to microbial contamination for raw ground beef production, process oversight, and testing. For example, the program requires beef suppliers to take actions to reduce the level of pathogens at least twice while beef carcasses are processed. Some large purchasers of raw ground beef have purchasing specifications similar to the commodity program, although they differ in certain details. For example, of the seven large purchasers that GAO interviewed, five said they require their beef suppliers to take between two and seven actions to reduce pathogen levels on beef carcasses. While all school districts must follow certain food safety practices to participate in federally funded school meal programs, school districts that GAO interviewed have also implemented a number of additional food safety practices. Federal regulations require school districts to develop written food safety plans and to obtain food safety inspections of their schools, among other things. In addition, some of the school districts GAO interviewed have established purchasing specifications related to microbial contamination or food safety for food they purchase in the commercial marketplace, among other things. Nevertheless, few of the district officials GAO interviewed were aware that the commodity program's purchasing specifications for seven products are more stringent than federal regulatory requirements. Officials from half of the districts GAO interviewed said that greater knowledge of these differences would affect their future purchasing decisions by enabling them to make more informed choices. GAO recommends, among other things, that USDA strengthen its oversight of food purchased by its commodity program, by establishing a more systematic and transparent process to determine whether additional specifications should be developed related to microbial contamination. USDA generally agreed with GAO's recommendations and provided technical comments.
Recommendations for Executive Action
Status: Open
Comments: Waiting for evidence of action from the United States Department of Agriculture on this recommendation
Recommendation: To strengthen USDA's oversight of the safety of food purchased by its commodity program and served in federal school meal programs, the Secretary of Agriculture should instruct the commodity program to develop a systematic and transparent process to determine whether foods offered by the program require more-stringent specifications related to microbial contamination, including steps to: identify pathogens, strains of pathogens, or other foods that merit more-stringent specifications; document the scientific basis used to develop the specifications; and review the specifications on a periodic basis.
Agency Affected: Department of Agriculture
Status: Open
Comments: Waiting for evidence of action from the United States Department of Agriculture on this recommendation
Recommendation: To strengthen USDA's oversight of the safety of food purchased by its commodity program and served in federal school meal programs, the Secretary of Agriculture should instruct the commodity program to share information with school districts in a more explicit form regarding the foods covered by more-stringent purchasing specifications related to microbial contamination to enable districts to make more informed choices.
Agency Affected: Department of Agriculture
Status: Closed - Implemented
Comments: In response to our recommendation, USDA issued a policy memorandum in August 2011 providing additional guidance to states and school districts on this issue. The memorandum specifically stated that the food safety inspection requirement applies to all schools, even those that do not prepare food on site, and that state agencies must include all schools in their annual reports submitted to USDA.
Recommendation: To strengthen USDA's oversight of the safety of food purchased by its commodity program and served in federal school meal programs, the Secretary of Agriculture should instruct the commodity program to issue more specific guidance to states and school districts regarding the applicability of the regulatory requirement for food safety inspections to schools that do not prepare food.
Agency Affected: Department of Agriculture
Explore the full database of GAO's Open Recommendations »
Dec 18, 2014
Federal Food Safety Oversight:Additional Actions Needed to Improve Planning and CollaborationGAO-15-180: Published: Dec 18, 2014. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 2014.
Nov 6, 2014
Food Safety:FDA and USDA Should Strengthen Pesticide Residue Monitoring Programs and Further Disclose Monitoring LimitationsGAO-15-38: Published: Oct 7, 2014. Publicly Released: Nov 6, 2014.
Oct 29, 2014
USDA Contracting:Further Actions Needed to Strengthen Oversight of Contracts for Professional ServicesGAO-14-819: Published: Sep 29, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 2014.
Oct 20, 2014
Food Safety:USDA Needs to Strengthen Its Approach to Protecting Human Health from Pathogens in Poultry ProductsGAO-14-744: Published: Sep 30, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 20, 2014.
Sep 8, 2014
Crop Insurance:Considerations in Reducing Federal Premium SubsidiesGAO-14-700: Published: Aug 8, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 8, 2014.
Aug 7, 2014
School Meal Programs:Implications of Adjusting Income Eligibility Thresholds and Reimbursement Rates by Geographic DifferencesGAO-14-557: Published: Jul 8, 2014. Publicly Released: Aug 7, 2014.
Jul 29, 2014
USDA Farm Programs:Farmers Have Been Eligible for Multiple Programs and Further Efforts Could Help Prevent Duplicative PaymentsGAO-14-428: Published: Jul 8, 2014. Publicly Released: Jul 29, 2014.
Apr 30, 2014
U.S. Department of Agriculture:Workforce Decisions Could Benefit from Better Linkage to Missions and Use of Leading PracticesGAO-14-288: Published: Mar 31, 2014. Publicly Released: Apr 30, 2014.
Mar 26, 2014
International Food Aid:Better Agency Collaboration Needed to Assess and Improve Emergency Food Aid Procurement SystemGAO-14-22: Published: Mar 26, 2014. Publicly Released: Mar 26, 2014.
Mar 5, 2014
International Food Aid:Prepositioning Speeds Delivery of Emergency Aid, but Additional Monitoring of Time Frames and Costs Is NeededGAO-14-277: Published: Mar 5, 2014. Publicly Released: Mar 5, 2014.
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text:
William Cushing
William Cushing (March 1, 1732 – September 13, 1810) was an early Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, from its inception to his death. He was the longest-serving of the Court's original members, sitting on the bench for 21 years. Had he accepted George Washington's appointment, he would have become the third Chief Justice of the United States. Born in Scituate Massachusetts to a family that had settled in adjacent Hingham in 1638, Cushing graduated from Harvard College in 1751 and became a member of the bar in Boston in 1755. Cushing's family was among the earliest settlers of Hingham. Although his family had a history of attorneyship, he seemed to have had a hard time at the beginning of his career. During that time, as well, his father, John Cushing, served on the Massachusetts Superior Court of Judicature for about 24 years. When his father resigned in 1771, Cushing took his position on the Court. However, when the American Revolution started, he had to choose between the rebels and Great Britain; unlike the rest of the court, he chose the rebels. In 1783, Cushing presided over a criminal action that virtually abolished slavery in Massachusetts, citing the 1780  ( Wikipedia article )
Personal facts
- Date of birth
- 1732-03-01
- Place of birth
- Scituate
|Harvard University
|Harvard College
- Date of death
- 1810-09-13
- Place of death
- Scituate


text: Lisa L. Barnes, PhD, is an associate professor in the departments of Neurological Sciences and Behavioral Sciences at Rush University Medical Center and a cognitive neuropsychologist in the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center. She received her Ph.D. in biopsychology from the University of Michigan and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Davis, in cognitive neuroscience. Her research interests include health disparities of chronic diseases of aging, and psychosocial risk factors for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Barnes is principal investigator of the Minority Aging Research Study (R01 AG022018), the core leader for the clinical core of the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Core Center (P30AG10161), and the principal investigator of the newly funded Rush Center of Excellence on Disparities in HIV and Aging (P20MD006886). She is co-Investigator on a number of other investigator-initiated studies that focus on health disparities in older adults. She has published extensively on studies of race and health disparities in cognitive aging and is nationally recognized for her contributions to understanding racial differences in risk factors for cognitive decline. She has served as an invited speaker for the NIH, the Alzheimer's Association, the American College of Epidemiology and many other colleges and universities across the United States. She is also recognized locally for her work in the African-American community and has received numerous awards from community organizations. She is committed to increasing minority participation in research and frequently conducts educational seminars within minority communities both locally and nationally to increase awareness of age-related health issues.


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JAMESTOWN, N.Y. - Oct. 4 - The Erie Community College volleyball team saw its five-match win streak snapped Thursday night, falling in five sets to Jamestown CC. JCC, which received votes in this week's NJCAA poll, won 25-16, 23-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-12 in the Region III contest.
Sophomore Katie Russi (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier) led the Kats with 23 kills while classmate Rylie Bean (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier) added 22 digs. Freshman Emilie Piechocki (Alexander, N.Y./Alexander) recorded eight blocks.
The Kats, now 15-7, will play No. 7 Niagara County CC Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. in Sanborn, N.Y.
For emergency closings and announcements, call 716-851-1111. © 2010 Erie Community College. All rights reserved.


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|Quantum Provider Owner's Club Careers Quantum Clinician International About Us Contact Us
|Power Bases:
|Quantum Q6 Edge
|Quantum 6000Z
|Quantum 610
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|Quantum Rival
Best in Class Performance and Value. Get the Edge.
With features like standard 4-pole motors, Mid-Wheel 6® drive design and ATX Suspension, the Q6 Edge® is engineered to meet the performance needs of the most active user. The Q6 Edge accepts a complete range of seating and electronics options to deliver exceptional rehab capability at an excellent value.
The information contained herein is correct at the time of publication; we reserve the right to alter specifications without prior notice.
*Speed & range vary with user weight, terrain type, battery charge, battery condition and tire pressure.


text: In the wake of the recent Tiger Woods scandal, this weekend CNN did a feature segment on how to catch a cheater. One of the tools they recommended was the BrickHouse Security Stealth iBot which records and retrieves all the keystrokes and actions on someone's computer. Check out the full video below.


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USPTO Implements Micro-Entity Discount Effective March 2013
|Written by Gene Quinn
Patent Attorney & Founder of IPWatchdog, Inc.
Principal Lecturer, PLI Patent Bar Review Course Posted: December 19, 2012 @ 2:52 pm
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is revising the rules of practice in patent cases to implement the micro entity provision of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA). See Changes To Implement Micro Entity Status for Paying Patent Fees 77 FR 75019 (December 19, 2012). Certain patent fees set or adjusted under the fee setting authority in the AIA will be reduced by seventy-five percent for micro entities. The USPTO is revising the rules of practice to set out the procedures pertaining to claiming micro entity status, paying patent fees as a micro entity, notification of loss of micro entity status, and correction of payments of patent fees paid erroneously in the micro entity amount.
In a separate rulemaking, the Office is in the process of proposing to set or adjust patent fees under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, including setting fees for micro entities with a seventy-five percent reduction. The Office has sought to address the concerns of its stakeholders as expressed in the public comment, and plans to seek additional public comment on the micro entity provisions after the Office and the public have gained experience with the micro entity procedures in operation. The Office will pursue further improvements to the micro entity procedures in light of the public comment and its experience with the micro entity procedures.
These new rules become effective March 19, 2013.
Summary of Major Provisions
The Office is adding a provision to the rules of practice pertaining to micro entity status. The provision sets out the requirements to qualify as a micro entity tracking the statutory requirements for a micro entity set forth in section 10 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act.
The provision also sets out procedures relating to micro entity status that largely track the regulatory requirements and procedures in 37 CFR 1.27 for small entity status. These new procedures pertain to claiming micro entity status, paying patent fees as a micro entity, notifying the Office of loss of micro entity status, and correcting payments of patent fees paid erroneously in the micro entity amount. The procedures for claiming micro entity status require the filing of a certification of entitlement to micro entity status.
The Office is developing forms (paper and electronic) for use by members of the public to provide a certification of micro entity status. The procedures for paying fees as a micro entity provide that a micro entity certification need only be filed once in an application or patent, but that a fee may be paid in the micro entity amount only if the applicant or patentee is still entitled to micro entity status on the date the fee is paid. The procedures pertaining to notifying the Office of loss of micro entity status and correcting payments of patent fees paid erroneously in the micro entity amount track the corresponding small entity provisions for notifying the Office of loss of small entity status and correcting payments of patent fees paid erroneously in the small entity amount.
Establishing Micro-Entity Status
To establish micro entity status under the applicant must certify that:
- The applicant qualifies as a small entity as defined in § 1.27;
- Neither the applicant nor the inventor nor a joint inventor has been named as the inventor or a joint inventor on more than four previously filed patent applications, other than applications filed in another country, provisional applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(b), or international applications for which the basic national fee under 35 U.S.C. 41(a) was not paid;
- Neither the applicant nor the inventor nor a joint inventor, in the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the applicable fee is being paid, had a gross income exceeding three times the median household income for that preceding calendar year, as most recently reported by the Bureau of the Census; and
- Neither the applicant nor the inventor nor a joint inventor has assigned, granted, or conveyed, nor is under an obligation by contract or law to assign, grant, or convey, a license or other ownership interest in the application concerned to an entity that, in the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the applicable fee is being paid, had a gross income exceeding three times the median household income for that preceding calendar year, as most recently reported by the Bureau of the Census.
The above four conditions come from 37 CFR 1.29, but are traced back directly to the AIA and are embodied in 35 U.S.C. 123(a). The requirement that gross income not exceed three times the median household income is specifically in the law enacted by Congress and signed by President Obama. It is not a creation of the USPTO.
The USPTO will indicate the income level that is three times the median household income for the calendar year most recently reported by the Bureau of the Census on its Internet Web site, with its Independent Inventor resource information, and on the Office's certification of micro entity status (gross income basis) form (Form PTO/SB/15A). The Office will also make available resources to micro entities to help navigate the new micro entity procedures.
For those who may be thinking about asserting micro-entity status where it is not justified, think again. Yes, the AIA did remove the provisions from patent law that require there to be a lack of deceptive intent to fix certain problems. Prior to the AIA many mistakes could be rectified if there was no deceptive intent. The AIA made mistakes fixable even when there was deceptive intent. Notwithstanding, pursuant to Rule 1.29(j), any attempt to fraudulently establish status as a micro entity, or pay fees as a micro entity, shall be considered as a fraud practiced or attempted on the Office.
In responding to a comment asking for more information about what constitutes fraud and how the USPTO would handle close cases, presumably where the applicant qualified for small entity status and was "tempted" to go further and seek lower fees as a micro-entity where it was not justified. See comment 24 in the Federal Register Notice. To this the USPTO responded:
Applicants questioning how to resolve close situations or what penalties may result from a fraudulent certification should consider that: (1) The Federal Circuit has noted that an applicant would be ''foolish'' to claim small entity status if there is the slightest doubt about an applicant's entitlement to claim small entity (DH Tech., 154 F.3d at 1343); (2) depending on future developments in the case law, it is possible that a patent could be held unenforceable as a consequence of a fraud or inequitable conduct relating to a micro entity or small entity certification (this was clearly possible for small entity certifications prior to the Federal Circuit's decision in Therasense, Inc. v. Becton, Dickinson and Co., 649 F.3d 1276 (Fed. Cir. 2011).
The USPTO noted that the Federal Circuit has not yet decided the question of whether a false declaration of small entity status could constitute inequitable conduct under the Therasense standard. Still, it would be quite a risk to erroneously claim micro-entity status. Of course, if micro-entity status were claimed in good faith and there was a mistake or circumstances changed, that would not be fraud. See Rule 1.29(k).
For more please see the Federal Register Notice — Changes To Implement Micro Entity Status for Paying Patent Fees 77 FR 75019 (December 19, 2012).- - - - - - - - - -
For information on this and related topics please see these archives:
Posted in: Gene Quinn, Inventors Information, IP News, IPWatchdog.com Articles, Patents, USPTO
About the Author
Gene Quinn is a Patent Attorney and the founder of the popular blog IPWatchdog.com, which has for three of the last four years (i.e., 2010, 2012 and 2103) been recognized as the top intellectual property blog by the American Bar Association. He is also a principal lecturer in the PLI Patent Bar Review Course. As an electrical engineer with a computer engineering focus his specialty is electronic and computer devices, Internet applications, software and business methods.


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Reviewer: S. Jack Wei, MD
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: June 8, 2004
Presenter: James Bonner
Presenter's Affiliation: Erbitux Head and Neck Study Group
Type of Session: Scientific
Materials and Methods
Author's Conclusions
Clinical/Scientific Implications
Oncolink's ASCO Coverage made possible by an unrestricted Educational Grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology.
Sep 16, 2013 - Dental caries, crowns, and endodontic treatments are inversely associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Dec 22, 2014
Mar 1, 2011


text: Addition gamesBookmark the permalink. Release date: Dec 31st, 2008 Price: 0.99 Version: 2.0 Seller: Polvo Innovation Limited Buy Now STP SCORE: Not yet reviewed Description Related Games Godzilla – Smash3 Monument Valley Threes! The Room Two Papa Sangre II Device 6 Lead the Brave Where's My Water? 2 Amateur Surgeon 3 Rymdkapsel


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For ticket inquiries please call the Box Office: (828) 257-4530.
March 19 & 20, 2013 • 8:00 p.m.
Internationally acclaimed for its mix of humor, invention, and drama, Pilobolus is a hugely popular dance company that combines athleticism and grace with a profound sense of unity. Utilizing a dance vocabulary that is all its own, Pilobolus has wowed audiences with performances around the globe, and on television, including Late Night with Conan O'Brien, early in the morning on Sesame Street, and in primetime as a feature on CBS's 60 Minutes. For its daring and unparalleled work in the cultural arts, Pilobolus has won the Berlin Critic's Prize, the Scotsman Award, the Brandeis Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and the Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award for lifetime achievement in choreography.
Pre-Show Event: During both evenings of the Pilobolus performances, the theatre conducts its 5th annual raffle to benefit the Youth Education Scholarship (Y.E.S.) Fund. The theatre's Y.E.S. Fund provides children the opportunity to experience the arts by attending Matinee Series performances. At the annual raffle, patrons can purchase raffle tickets for only $5 for a chance to win prize packages from regional businesses and artists such as art and craft gallery items, restaurant gift certificates, homemade goods, tickets for area performing arts venues and attractions, retail and services, and more. Winners are announced at the end of each evening. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase throughout the evening. All raffle ticket proceeds benefit local students.
FREE to 15 UNC-Asheville Students!
Registration is open to
students able to participate in the whole class. Students who are unable
to attend the full class are welcome to observe.
For Community Members: Fifteen (15) places will be available on a first come, first served basis to community members by calling Rae Geoffrey at 828-210-9837.
UNCA students: Claim your spots by emailing Connie Schrader at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Presented in Partnership with
Dance Series Sponsors
Tina & John McGuire
Ronna & Rob Resnick
Performance SponsorsTom & Linda Goodwin
Steve & Rena Hoffman
Nancy Houha & William Hilson
Jerry & Bill McAninch


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Hurricane Andrew Stories
2012 marks 20 years since Hurricane Andrew and the birth of what is now Neighbors 4 Neighbors. Everyone who lived in South Florida in 1992 experienced the devastation Hurricane Andrew caused. But they also witnessed the kindness between neighbors after the storm. Read some of the stories below...
"As a young man growing-up in a tradition filled Jewish family my grandparents taught me that no matter what financial situation you are in or you achieve to remember that there is always someone less fortunate than you and to always provide a helping hand.
These words have guided me my whole life and afforded me many opportunities to create and or get involved in charitable endeavors. In 1989, I founded with a couple of friends, the Hebrew Free Loan Association of South Florida, Inc., a 501c3 Non-Profit charity providing short-term interest free loans to those in financial need throughout the tri-county area. I have volunteered my time and energy in the growth and management of the HFLA and proud to have been able to recycle over 2 million charitable dollars over the past 23 years.
However, my most cherished charitable moment was when Hurricane Andrew, my namesake, devastated part of Miami-Dade County, in particular Gould's, Florida. I felt the need to get involved and to somehow lend a helping hand to those families devastated by the storm and to let them know that people cared. So, with the help of family, friends and fellow members of Temple Sinai of North Dade, I raised $14,000.00 and contacted Nelly Rubio at Channel 6 and offered to donate a Thanksgiving style meal with all of the fixings and to bring clowns, hip-hop performers, face painting and balloons and music for the children. I hired Catering by Nancy of North Miami who cooked with a lot of love BBQ Chicken, Turkey, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, plus stuffing, salad, cookies and drinks.
We based our mobile kitchen out of the partially damaged Mays Middle School Auditorium and with volunteers from Temple Sinai, family and friends we began a full day of cooking and meeting and feeding the community around us. We served about 1200 meals in the auditorium which was filled with laughter, tears, prayers and a strong feeling of family and hope. We also packaged meals "to go" which were distributed throughout the community to families who were still reestablishing their homes and lives.
After this event, I was honored along with other local volunteers at Channel 6 with Community Service Plaques for our commitment to those in need. I feel grateful and blessed to have had this opportunity and to have shared it with a group of truly wonderful, caring and loving volunteers. To be able to not only provide nourishment, but a sense of community to those so traumatized by this storm was a feeling of accomplishment and of pride in lending a helping hand to others in their time of need that I will never forget."
-Andrew, Miami, FL
"I was 10 years old when Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida. I can't remember any significant storms before that and I wasn't really sure what to expect out of this one, but I don't think anything could have prepared me for the destruction and devastation that was about to come.
I remember going to Home Depot to buy cases of water and sheets of plywood which I had to help bolt onto all of the windows. Our home was in Palmetto Bay which was in the direct path of the storm. We finally packed up whatever necessities we could and left for my aunt and uncle's house in Kendall. Everything was fine when we got there, but after a few hours the rain and wind started. We all squeezed into a windowless room in the middle of the house, while my father and uncle took turns making sure all the windows and doors were still secured. It was a terrifying occurrence and I can't remember how long we were in there, but at some point I ended up falling asleep. The hurricane had finally passed and we had to make the journey back home. The roads were covered in debris and fallen trees. Homes and businesses were demolished. I even remember passing a U-Haul and seeing one of their trucks which had been thrown onto the roof from the wind. It was one of the most incredible things I had ever seen. The city I had been living in all of my life was completely unrecognizable to me.
We finally made it back home and saw the damage. Our house was completely destroyed. Walls had been penetrated by flying debris and parts of the roof had been torn off from the wind. Once we got inside, we saw the water damage from all the rain coming in. I had an aquarium filled with fish and corals which was totally destroyed. We tried to salvage whatever we could, but there wasn't much left.
The National Guard commandeered the house next door to me since it was unoccupied. They brought food and water over and their presence helped secure the area against looters. Hurricane Andrew was one of the most destructive forces I've ever experienced, but for a brief time it seemed to bring a community together. It's funny how it takes disaster like that for people realize their true humanity."
-David, Miami, FL
"I was 8 years old when Hurricane Andrew hit. I had lived my whole life at Lot #35 in Cove trailer park at the corner of US1 and SW 344th Street (Palm Drive) in Florida City. My dad had lived in Florida his whole life and didn't think anything of Andrew. Luckily, my mom's friend Alice convinced us to stay at her house on 16th Street, a block east of Redland Road.
We didn't pack much. I remember taking my teddy bear and my "kitty" blanket with me. My mom was the neighborhood "crazy cat lady" and I kept bugging her to bring at least the kittens with us. She let me bring one, a fluffy tabby we had named Trouble who was about 6 months old. We left our dog Sammy in our trailer. I don't know why. I think she was too old to travel.
We headed over to Alice's house late in the afternoon on August 23. It was just like any other time we had went to visit, only they had me go to bed in the guest room in the early evening. Sometime in the middle of the night, one of the adults woke me up. The winds had started and I heard a horrible banging noises from outside along with the howl of the wind. They brought me into the living room with everyone else. The power had already gone out. We were chatting, trying to keep upbeat even though the noises grew louder.
I'm not sure how long after I came into the living room, but out of nowhere the sliding glass door in the kitchen exploded even though it was boarded up. They rushed me into a hallway on the north end of the house. The had me against the wall and all the adults sat around me. I was completely freaked out. The wind had broken the glass door, but apparently some of the wood was still up. The wind started breaking through the wood and I could feel the wind blowing harder in the house. The little hatch thing that allowed access into the ceiling started to come loose and make horrible noises.
The eye finally came. The men went out to cover up the sliding glass door and all of us moved into Alice's daughter's room on the south side of the house. Someone carried me over the broken glass. At first, they put me in the bathtub. While there, I realized I had left my teddy bear in the hall. Someone got it for me even though the wind had started again. My mom sat on the toilet and tried to cheer me up and keep my mind off the storm. At some point, she didn't like how the window over the tub was looking so she brought me into the bedroom and put me in the closet. Maria (Alice's daughter) had started tearing pages out of her magazines to makes fans because it had gotten so hot. Then the window above the bathtub blew out. My mom had saved me from getting sliced by falling glass. We talked as best we could over the wind. Sometimes the adults would talk quietly so I couldn't hear them. Often I would hear loud bangs above the wind.
Eventually, it started to get quiet outside. The still had me sit in the closet for a while, even after the adults went outside to check. My dad and Maria headed off to check on our house. My mom finally took me out side to look at what had happened around Alice's house. Maria's car was on top of a tree! Our car had all the door windows blown out. The house across the street had half of the roof missing. It looked like a monster had been pounding on the garage door. It was very hard for me to understand what I was seeing.
My dad and Maria came back a little later. I already knew, but they confirmed our trailer was destroyed. Strangely enough, half the trailer was still standing, but it was not livable. It was the part that always leaked, too. They also brought me one of the other kittens. They said the rest were still hiding under the trailer, but this one had come to them when they called. We named her Andrew, even though we later found out she was a girl. They made numerous trips back to the trailer and actually managed to salvage a lot of our stuff. I didn't find out until I was in high school, but our dog Sammy did survive the storm in the trailer. My dad ended up having to put her down because she was so injured. My mom still doesn't know about this.
Before the storm hit, my mom bought a lot of meat from the store. She filled our deep freeze with it and a bunch of ice. She then sealed it with duct tape. They brought the freezer to Alice's and we had a massive neighborhood cookout. Alice also had the only working phone in the neighborhood, so I met a lot of the people in the neighborhood who came by to call their family.
I think we stayed in the area for a little over a week. In that time, I saw so many interesting things. We played in a hole left by an uprooted tree. It was like exploring a cave to us kids. Royal Palm (on the corner of Campbell and Krome) had a food cart set up in front of their building. I remember the top floor of a building in downtown Homestead had lost its top floor so it looked like a random toilet was on the roof. I remember Maria bringing me ice cold milk. I remember they hooked a TV up to a generator so I could watch Darkwing Duck. I also remember we had rented a bunch of Nintendo games from Blockbuster and we got to keep them.
When they finally took me to see our trailer, I was amazed to see a lot of it still standing. The "roller room" addition was still there, just leaning. One wall (the west wall) was still standing and the a/c was still in the wall, but all the buttons and switches were missing. A tree had fell on my swing set. Despite the wind, a lot of stuff was exactly where we'd left it. They were just wet. All my school supplied for the upcoming school year were still sitting on the dishwasher. I was really mad about that. Even my sister's carousels and snow globes were intact. There was a lot of stuff that was salvageable, but we had no where to keep it.
My mom, sister, and I moved to La Belle, where my dad is from. My dad had to stay in Homestead because he worked for the county. We moved back in January 1993 and I was amazed by how devastated the area was. Even into 2003, you could still see A LOT of buildings left abandoned and area just...empty. This was especially bad in Naranja, along bus route 35.
Cove trailer park sat as an empty lot until around 2004. The first built a Cracker Barrel, followed by a Walgreens. It's still a little strange for me to go to those places."
- Danielle, Florida City, FL
"We had just arrived back to our home on North Waterway Drive in Miami from visiting family in Massachusetts. We started hearing weather reports about Hurricane Andrew. Our children, then 12 and 8, were nervous and my husband and I reassured them that we had emergency supplies, water and food. My husband and I come from the south shore of Mass. and we've seen our share of hurricanes and nor'easters. Since we lived on a canal, we were concerned about flooding.
We have a dear friend and charter boat captain who lives in Key West. His father was a light house keeper and Captain Dave knows the waters. He had an open invitation to stay with us if a hurricane came close by. Through the years, he had never taken us up on our invitation. Well….he showed up at our door on the morning of August 23rd with his duffel bag and some food, water and ice. He sat us down and explained that this was going to be a "hell of a blow" and we better get the hurricane shutters up!
While the guys put the shutters up, I prepared food and stored clean water in every container I could find because Capt. Dave told me there would be no water after this storm. I dragged in big buckets of water and placed them in the bathrooms for flushing. I plugged in our princess phone knowing that we would probably lose power, but that the phone might still work. The kids and I cleared out the walk-in closet in our master bedroom. We put blankets, flashlights, water, toys and snacks up on the shelves. My husband had just finished working on a commercial for a construction company and he had several hard hats in the trunk of the car. Yup-you guessed it. They went into the closet, too. Thinking our closet would be crowded, Capt. Dave opted to stay in the walk-in closet in the kitchen.
Bryan Norcross, then with channel 6, became our "eyes and ears" and we listened to him when he told us it was time to get in the closet, even as he was holed up in "the bunker" with others at the station. His was a calm and reassuring voice through the long hours of the night and into the early morning.
The storm came on fast and furious! These were sounds we had never heard before, and it took all we had to remain calm for the kids. They were very brave and their only question was "how much longer is it going to last? " It truly sounded like a freight train was barreling down on us. The trees were snapping and cracking so loud that it sounded like explosions. The shutters were being battered by tree limbs and flying debris. The pressure dropped so low that I felt like howling. We all chewed gum furiously to try to keep our ears open. During a lull in the storm, I called out to Capt. Dave and he came and joined us in our closet.
We slept on and off and early in the morning we poked our heads out of the closet. The adults in that closet were kids when Hurricane Diane hit New England. It was a category 3 and a devastating storm. However, nothing could prepare us for what we were seeing now.
Our street was littered with fallen trees, electrical wires, awnings, car parts, lawn furniture, and debris. The canal was choked with litter and fallen trees. Our pool was pitch-black and I shuttered to think what we might find in there. Our roof was torn off in places and leaking water all over the floors. Sure enough, there was no water and no power. But our phone worked! We were able to assure our families that we were okay.
Almost immediately after the storm passed, neighbors began checking on neighbors. We arranged a neighborhood barbeque. Folks brought out what food they could spare and we cooked and shared our food and experiences of the storm. (It's sad to say that nothing brings out the goodness of neighbors like a disaster.) Friends from around South Florida started showing up with ice and food and other supplies. We shared with the neighbors and they shared with us.
In the next few days, we watched all manner of wild life making their way down the canal and back to their habitats. We had exotic monkeys from Monkey Jungle and all manner of birds from Parrot Jungle passing through. My husband rescued a nutria from our swimming pool.
I wanted to check up on my friends who owned The Blarney Stone Tavern in Homestead. My band played there almost every weekend and I was very worried when I was unable to get in touch with them. My daughter insisted on going with me. Oh, what devastation we saw on our way. My daughter and I cried all the way through Homestead. We finally winded our way through streets that I didn't even recognize any more and arrived at The Blarney Stone. Only sections of the building were spared. Ziggy and Tad showed us where a tooth pick had imbedded itself in the thick glass of their trophy case. The trophy case was intact and all of the trophies were undisturbed. Not three feet away, the bar was a shambles. The National Guard used the back section of their place as a relief site. There were motorcycles with side-cars, 18-wheelers, and cars from all over the U.S. bringing down supplies. The sign at the door to the relief center read: Take what you need, not what you want.
It took the kids and I months to get used to the wind again. Our kids, now young adults, take hurricane warnings very seriously. They still remember the safety precautions that helped us survive Hurricane Andrew. I will never forget Captain Dave's warning to put up the hurricane shutters!!! I will also be forever grateful to our friends and neighbors who came together to get through a terrible experience."
- Lynne, Palmetto Bay, FL
"We live in Leisure City, Fla, and were hunkered down in an interior bedroom while all the devastation was taking place, except for the kitchen , and the room we were in , the roof of the remainder of our house was gone , exposing the trusses . Leaving us, and our 6 Dogs pretty shaken up!"
– Demetrio, Leisure City, FL
"August 23, 1992 started out as a beautiful day on the beach of our mini family vacation. Jackie our 18 month old woke up all excited for a fun filled day building sandcastles and playing in the waves of Riviera Beach. I had been so busy preparing for our little trip that I hadn't been paying any attention to the news or of the impending weather. While Jackie and I were making breakfast, my husband Steve turned on the morning news. That newscast would be the beginning of what changed our lives forever. Hurricane Andrew, an extremely powerful storm was heading straight for us and we were not prepared at all.
As we drove south towards home, we couldn't help but notice the heavy traffic heading north. People were leaving while we were heading right into danger. I knew we had no hurricane shutters and only had some scraps of plywood to protect our windows. I had a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach and I knew Jackie could sense it too.
As everyone knows, Hurricane Andrew struck in the early morning hours of August 24th. The eye of the storms path had moved further south and was expected to pass directly over us. The storm hit with a vengeance and had us moving from our hallway, to the garage, and finally our master bedroom closet when it was at its worse. We had lost the plywood on the windows and the wind was incredibly strong in the room. The only protection between us and the storm in the closet was a bi-fold door. I ripped clothes from hangers to form a little cocoon to protect us. I sat down and held Jackie to me. I rocked her back and forth as I watched my husband on his knees in front of us holding the bi-fold door closed with his finger tips.
When the sun came up and the winds died down, what we saw was devastating to say the least. Our first home was in shambles. Broken glass covered the floors and treasured photos and mementos were destroyed. We could see the devastation through the broken windows. We were terrified that some of our neighbors had not survived. As we stood outside and surveyed the damage, a group of firefighters walked through our backyard. It was an amazing site to see and I recognized who was leading the group. It was a neighbor of ours and she had brought her team to our neighborhood to check for survivors and help those they could. They were on foot carrying all their gear because they couldn't drive through the neighborhood because of all the devastation.
That day and the days to come showed me a different side of humanity I had never seen before. So many people banding together to help those of us in need. People from Dade & Broward County and as far as Jacksonville loaded up U-Haul trucks with items they had collected from co-workers, family and friends and drove them down to pass out to strangers they had never met. The sense of communities coming together was so unexpected and it changed people's lives. Volunteers from all over began to clear the streets of debris and even opened their homes to people with nowhere else to go. Neighbors helped neighbors clean up and secure their homes & Neighborhood crime watch teams began to emerge to patrol the neighborhoods. Although many of our lives were changed because of Hurricane Andrew's fury, they were also changed by the kindness and unconditional giving of strangers, neighbors, families and friends."
- Ruth, Miramar, FL
Here's an excerpt from a letter written by a woman to her friend after the storm on August 28, 1992.
"I'm on a BWIA West Indies Airways flight home to Miami from Grenada via Barbados. I guess it was only a matter of time that a hurricane would hit Miami. I live in the Kendall area and from all accounts our neighborhood south to Homestead was the most severely hit.
Before I left for Tortola on Thursday, the 20th of August, we had made arrangements to evacuate our passengers in Flying Cloud and Polynesia to Tortola and St. Kitts respectively. Fortunately, the hurricane moved away from the Northern Leewards. I was a little apprehensive about flying that day but both Miami to San Juan and San Juan to Beef Island were great flights.
The next 3 days were busy unloading cargo in the British Virgin Islands and Sint Maarten. Then, on Saturday evening we once again heard about Andrew. Sunday was very tense. We, of course, have access to some sophisticated weather information and as the mates tracked the storm on the chart, my heart began to sink.
I got up at 3:00 a.m. on Monday and virtually stayed up as we sailed down to Dominica from St. Barth's. We were able to pick up "The Voice of America". The eye of the storm was passing south of the city-that's where I live.
Last year I tried to get the condo association or the maintenance company to take a set of keys for my condo since I travel a lot. They didn't want to take the responsibility. So I gave the keys to Donna, my best friend, who lives in Coral Gables. We had an agreement that she'd remove the plants and patio furniture in case of a hurricane.
Well, Donna was on the Fantome last week. The ship has been in the Bahamas this summer. She got stuck in Nassau so all my patio furnishings including a ceiling fan remained on the porch.
When we got to Dominica, I asked a crew member who is from there where I could watch CNN. Fortunately, he was able to direct me to a Union Canteen. There I watched in disbelief. My area was hard-hit.
There was a phone nearby where I could use a phone card. I was able to get through to Fort Lauderdale and speak to my mom. Everyone in my family is okay. She tried to call Miami and get word on my place. When I called her later, she said no calls were getting down to that area. I went back to the ship and slept for 2 hours. I was just exhausted.
At Bequia on Tuesday, I went ashore and spoke to my mom. She had been able to reach a man on the second floor of my building. He said all the windows and doors had been blown out of the building. You can imagine. I left the phone and walked down the road in shock. I stopped at a market to buy some more phone cards. I burst out into tears and the island ladies were so sweet trying to console me. My mom had told me to have a drink – so I did – my nerves were shot. I forgot to tell you we spoke to the captain of Captain Burke's Yacht earlier that morning via the single side band radio. Occasionally, I date the Chief Engineer there and he had left a radio message for me to call him. I did with one of the phone cards. He volunteered to drive out to my place and look around. He has a mobile phone so I gave him my mom's number to keep her informed. I spoke to him the next morning from Palm Island. He said that my neighbors' windows were out but it looked like mine survived! The girl with the key was still in the Bahamas but that's what he saw looking up to the 4th floor. The next day Donna returned and got in for a check. I haven't spoken to her, but she called my Mom and said that my place is okay. What an emotional roller coaster this has been and as we close in on Miami I am preparing for the worst. I picked up a Miami Herald in Barbados.
2nd September, 1992
As you can see, this letter has been delayed.
Patrick picked me up at the airport and took me directly home. The further south we drove, the worse it got. My condo complex has lots of missing roof tiles, windows and downed trees. It was like a miracle when we walked into I-406. Donna had even managed to pick up around the porch.
However, there was no electricity. Patrick was prepared. He brought two flashlights and extra batteries. He also got me a case (6) of gallon bottles of water.
On the west side of my condo there are no windows – just the front door. On that side is the parking lot and 4 tennis courts. I had to laugh when we drove in. Some kids were playing tennis. Around them were fallen trees and the poles which held the tennis court lights. I guess they had cleared the courts in the few days since the hurricane. Since then the courts have been closed.
On the east side I have 3 sets of sliding glass doors and one 4-window awning type structure. I look out over a "green belt" and to another building. Trees used to line the green belt. Now they all lay on the ground waiting for a chain saw to turn them into logs which will become mulch.
Then we took a walk. The Good Lord was looking after me – so many broken windows and downed roof shingles. As I said, at that time I had no electricity. When we were outside I spoke to some neighbors who informed me of a condo meeting scheduled at 7:00 p.m. at the Club House. It was information – all about insurance and plans by the association.
About 10:00 p.m. the electricity came on. I still have to boil my water. Our curfew was 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., then 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Now it's 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
The National Guard and military are everywhere. Helicopters continuously fly overhead. The traffic is awful. Two thirds of our street lights are down! The only silver lining is people are helping one another. I've never met lots of my neighbors. We're happy to be alive! I'm happy to have my home. The man next to me lost every window and consequently his furniture.
There are so many stories! I ride the transit system to work and everyone is willing to tell you their experience with Andrew..."
- Nancy, Miami, FL


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Cycle and Soak Hidden Tuscany Plus!
Itinerary Summary
Come and bicycle through Tuscany's history as we visit small medieval towns and Etruscan sites, and then relax at resorts and thermal spa hotels. Bicycle this remote region from north to south between vineyards and low olive-clad hills along the Etruscan coast.
***If this sounds great but you don't have time for the full 10 days, check out our Cycle and Soak Hidden Tuscany tour, which features the first 7 days of this itinerary.***View Day-by-Day ItineraryHide Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Casciana Terme, near Pisa
Highlights: Spa town of Casciana Terme
Arrive today in Casciana Terme not far from Pisa. Casciana Terme is one of Tuscany's many thermal spa towns. The Romans knew of the hot springs here and the Pisans built a minor spa here as early as 1311. It wasn't until the 17th century when the Tuscan aristocracy moved from the cities to the countryside in large numbers, however, that the present spa developed. Our hotel is close to the spa and we're happy to help you make reservations. We fit bicycles this afternoon and you'll have time to go out for a test ride if you wish.
Distance: Test Ride. Meals: D
Lodging: Hotel Margherita
Day 2: Bicycle a loop ride into upper Maremma region
Highlights: Traditional Tuscan landscape, Medici fortress in Lari, hill towns of Tuscany
Our loop ride today takes us to several of the villages around Casciana Terme. This is classic Tuscany in the Pisan hills with small hilltop villages, olive trees, vineyards and cypress trees punctuating the landscape on the horizon. For centuries this area was a border region among the historic rival cities of Pisa, Florence and Volterra. By 1509, though, Florence consolidated its control over the area. Our ride takes us through Lari with its sizeable 16th century Medici fortress. The villages in the area flourished under the Medici family as farm towns and for summer residents of the aristocracy from Pisa and Florence.
Distance: 40-43 km (25-27 miles), depending on your choice of loop rides. Meals: B
Lodging: Hotel Margherita
Day 3: Bicycle from Casciana Terme
Highlights: Spectacular views
Today we leave the rich farm villages of the Pisan hills and head south to ride along a scenic ridge. Small roads and sweeping views across to the sea lead us to the small town of Pomaia, famous today for the largest Buddhist study center in Europe. Meditate as needed to prepare for the short 5 km (3 miles) uphill where we'll reach our highest point - the perched village of Castellina Marittima. A flat ridge and coasting descent brings us to our hotel.
Distance: 43 km (27 miles). Meals: B, D
Lodging: Antico Borgo San Martino.
Day 4: Bicycle through the northern Maremma region
Highlights: Wine village of Bolgheri, Maremma region of Italy, outdoor pools
We have another scenic ride in store today as we bicycle through the Maremma region of Italy, famous for its "cowboys" and small, medieval towns. The first part of our ride is along the coastal plain; this entire section underwent agricultural reclamation from the late 19th century through Mussolini's rule in the early-mid 20th century. Swamps were drained and roads and other infrastructure were built, and the region is now rich in olive oil and wine production. We pedal through the tiny fortress town of Bolgheri, famous for its red wines, including "Sassicaia". Talk with the locals if you can find one; according to one spry 89-year-old we met in the town square, there are only twenty-six residents left! Another gentle forested climb brings us to world-class gelato before a gliding downhill which customers have called, "the best ride in the world" and ends in a tiny stone village, worth a peek before continuing on. Our hotel pool is perfect for soothing tired muscles after four days of cycling.
Distance: 73 km (45 miles). Meals: B, D
Lodging: Hotel Calidario
Day 5: Loop ride to Populonia and the beach
Highlights: Etruscan sites, beaches, Medieval architecture
We've planned a casual bike ride today to give you a sampling of history and geography from the Etruscan time through the Renaissance. We head first to the ancient Etruscan port of Populonia, the most important Etruscan port town. We'll have a guided visit of the tombs and the "industrial" area, learning about the Etruscans' practice of metallurgy, where they mined tin and iron from local deposits and processed them into valuable commodities for trade throughout the Mediterranean. After our visit, you can ride to the village for the view, enjoy some beach time, have lunch by the sea, return to the pool or head off for some more mileage.
Distance: 24 km (15 miles). Meals: B
Lodging: Hotel Calidario
Day 6: Bicycle to our agriturismo
Highlights: Cycling remote country roads, wine tasting, staying at an agriturismo
Today's ride takes us into the interior as we follow several river valleys before heading south to the small hilltop towns of Gavorrano, Ravi and Caldana. We're headed to our agriturismo, a working farm that produces olives and wine while providing superb lodging and gourmet cuisine. A dip in the pool before a wine tasting overlooking the view is a perfect end to the day before dinner together.
Distance: 65 km (40 miles). Meals: B, D
Lodging: Agriturismo Montebelli
Day 7: Rest Day or Loop Ride
Highlights: Etruscan site of Vetulonia, fishing village of Castiglione della Pescaia
Today is a day to relax, bike to the beach or visit some more Etruscan sites. You can enjoy the grounds of the agriturismo, relax by the pool and take it easy. Those wanting to explore can take a ride to the coast to enjoy lunch in the nearby historic fishing village of Castiglione della Pescaia. Anybody wanting a shorter ride can bicycle to the hilltop Etruscan ruins of Vetulonia, once an important Etruscan center that dominated the surrounding area. Regroup this evening at our country hotel where we'll enjoy a home cooked meal together.
Distance: 0-63 km (0-39 miles). Meals: B, D
Lodging: Agriturismo Montebelli
Day 8: Bicycle to Magliano in Toscana
Highlights: Hilltop village of Magliano di Toscana
We cross the flat plains and wetlands today to head into the first line of olive-clad hills paralleling the coast. We'll skirt the city of Grosseto, provincial capital, as we enjoy a gentle climb amid olive trees and typical Mediterranean vegetation with gorgeous view on the coast, the islands and the hilltop villages that dot the countryside. Our destination is Magliano in Toscana, with its imposing town walls and narrow medieval streets. Our accommodations for the next two days are located just outside the village, set amidst peaceful olive groves. You'll enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside while you relax poolside.
Distance: 79 km (49 miles). Meals: B, D
Lodging: Borgo Magliano
Day 9: Loop ride to Capalbio and the Giardino dei Tarocchi
Highlights: The prototypical hilltop village of Capalbio and the one-of-a-kind Giardino dei Tarocchi
Our ride today takes us to yet another hilltop village, Capalbio. But this village may have set the standard for hilltop villages throughout Italy. Enjoy getting lost in the intricate alley ways of this tiny village. You won't be lost for long, but you will understand the defensive purpose of building villages that feel like a maze. We finish our ride with a visit, at your option, to the Giardino dei Tarocchi, one of the most amazing outdoor sculpture gardens in the world. Opened by the French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle in 1998, it is something between an Antonio Gaudí or Salvatore Dali exhibit and a Cristo installation. You'll have the choice of bicycling or shuttling back to our lodging.
Distance: 60-80km (37-50 miles) if you pedal both ways. Meals: B, D
Lodging: Borgo Magliano
Day 10: Shuttle to the train in Grosseto
Our ride ends today as we provide a shuttle to the train station in Grosseto. Enjoy your travels and thanks for joining us to explore the coast of Tuscany!
Meals: B
HighlightsThermal pools, Roman natural hot springs, Etruscan ruins, Fabulous Tuscan food grounded in olive oil, tomatoes, basil and rosemary, Ridge rides looking out across vineyards, cypress trees, olives, and the Tyrrhenian Sea, four 2-night stays
IncludesUse of a quality 27-30 speed bicycle; 10 days, 9 nights, 7 dinners with wine, 9 breakfasts; Day 1 shuttle from Pisa airport to the tour start; entrance and guided visit to Populonia; spa entry Days 1 - 7, accommodation on Days 8 & 9 pool, no spa; shuttle to the train station in Grosseto. plus "The Usual""The Usual" (Included with every ExperiencePlus! tour)
- Superb tour leaders who are fun, bilingual and avid cyclists.
- Help with flights, trains and pre/post tour hotels.
- Comfortable lodging in 3-4 star hotels.
- All breakfasts and at least half of your dinners.
- Use of a high quality 27-30 speed bike.
- Full van support to carry luggage – and tired cyclists, too!
- Special events like wine tastings, cultural visits and chocolatiers.
- All tips and gratuities at tour hotels and group meals.
- Unique routes, marked with our famous chalk dust arrows.
- Daily mileage options.
- Detailed route map and free use of our traveling resource library.
What's not included:
- Transportation to and from the bicycling tour including airfare, or train travel
- Helmets - we ask that you bring your own to ensure the best fit
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Tour Leader gratuity
See the complete list of what's include with every ExperiencePlus! tour.
Begin/EndCasciana Terme (near Pisa); Magliano in Toscana
Arrive/DepartIn and out of Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA) or into Pisa & out of Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
Total Distance339-434 km (209-268 miles)
Daily Distance42-54 km (26-33 miles)
Rating201-301 Some climbing almost every day with mileage options on many days; some ridge top and river valley rides. Longer mileage on the last three days.
TermsTerms & Conditions
Dates Price Single Supplement Notes May 3-12, 2015 $4625 $650 Book it Sep 6-15, 2015 $4625 $650 Book it Sep 27-Oct 6, 2015 $4625 $650 2 More to Guarantee the Departure Book it
* We are happy to match solo travelers who would like to share a room with someone of the same gender. If no match exists, due to hotel pricing, we will charge 50% of the single supplement rate. This fee will be collected at the time of the final payment. If a roommate assignment is available this fee will be refunded at the conclusion of the tour.
Discover a Whole New Tuscany
We have a secret to share there is an area of Tuscany where the bicycling is fantastic and the terrain more gentle.
Italy Trip Planner
Read up on country customs, transportation information, culinary specialites, and more!
Per la Cena or What's for Dinner?
Bea Tassinari coordinates meals for our tours in Italy and shares her secrets for ordering a great meal.
Ragu Pasta Sauce
A hallmark of Italian pasta sauces, Ragu, is sure to transform your pasta
The Artist, the Philosopher & the Warrior
ExperiencePlus! traveler Bill Giovinazzo reviews the latest book from Paul Strathren.
Three of the Many Faces of Italy
Bicycle Tours through Tuscany, the Po Valley and Puglia.
Walls, Wine and More
Our two newest tours in Italy promise fascinating medieval walled cities, famous local wines, and scenic rides you won't forget.
We Are ExperiencePlus! Meet your Tour Leaders
We'd like to introduce you to your tour leaders. We believe we have the best bicycle tour leaders out there, click through to see a slideshow about them.
Authentic Italian Food
Lonely Planet writes about expectations on meals in Italy: it may be different than you make at home, but you will be impressed nevertheless!
Italian Recipes from Paola
University of Oregon's Alumni Magazine highlights three of Paola's recipes
Pasta for Dinner
A simple and tasty pasta for an Italian-themed meal as you plan your trip to ride bikes in Italy.
Traditional Italian Food Fallacies
An article from The Travel Belles blog covering interesting aspects of Italian culture and food traditions
- Discover a Whole New Tuscany
I told the people I cycled with on the Puglia trip the week after I left Tuscany that they would have LOVED the soak at the end of every day. The thermal spas were one of the coolest things EVER! And the riding on the Tuscany trip is soooo lovely!!Nikki J., Portland, OR
A great mix of cycling, cultural experiences and great food! Wonderful hotels/resorts. LOVED being in most of them for 2 nights instead of moving every day.Margaret V. Boulder, CO
The entire trip was amazing!Bill M., Denver, CO
A great tour with a great set of leaders.Peter K., Williston, VT
A great trip in every way.Reg F., Colorado Springs, CO
Excellent adventure great tour leaders wonderful experience (as usual).Joan K., Palatine, IL
Probably the best tour of Tuscany I have taken. The daily distances were perfect, excellent roads, hill top towns and I really liked the two day stays and the loop rides out of the towns.Sonny L., Boulder, CO
Ciao Monic e Mara Elena, Il tour era incredibile, meraviglioso, bellissimo e tanti altri aggettivi tutti positivi. Mi piace Hotel Balestro a Firenze. Grazie mille del suggerimento!John or Gianni, S., Boulder, CO
The chalk arrows are brilliant, we enjoyed staying at the agriturisimo and riding into the coastal resort towns. Appreciated the variety of experiences.Nancy & Richard L., Columbia, MO
Thanks so much to you all!! I'd never use a different tour company.Pamela M., Eugene, OR
My favorite experience: Martelli macaroni factory tour Agriturismo. Getting to see the olives go from the trees to our table to be enjoyed as olive oil at dinner.Jane Z.,
Wonderful biking through roads with olive trees, vineyards and sunflowers; access to beaches and pools in hot weather! Enjoyed side visit to pasta factory, bike company in Grosseto and ruins.Burt S., Baltimore, MD
The agriturismo was so awesome and you get the feel of real farm life. Thank you all for making it such an enchanting trip. We will never forget May on the Tuscan Coast!Adele D., Fort Collins, CO


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CBS 2 - Search Results
Waddling for Mechanicsville
MECHANICSVILLE, IA (CBS2/FOX28) When the Cedar Rapids Fire Department needs new equipment, its normally paid for by the city. But smaller cities in Eastern Iowa dont always have the resources to write those kinds of checks. Not too far from downtown Cedar Rapids, where the Fire Houses are professionally staffed, are places like Mechanicsville, Iowa.
"You have to do the same training, said Mechanicsville Fire Chief Lonni Koch. The volunteers have to do the same amount of training as the paid professionals."
Where taxes and city budgets fall short, funding for volunteer fire and ambulance groups falls to the people.
"After an event, most people will send a donation, like, "Gee, I didn't realize how much help you were, said Koch.
And today, it falls to the ducks.
"It started with my dad and a couple other fellas at the bar making a bar room bet, said Nancy Bose, whose father started the Daffy Derby tradition 30 years ago in Avoca, Nebraska.
The bet: who had the fastest duck. What started small now triples the villages population for one day every year.
"It just keeps us on the map, said Bose.
So when Mechanicsville needed a fundraiser, they brought the ducks to Iowa.
Folks rent their amphibious friend for the day and try to coax them across the finish line.
"They have a tendency to turn around and go between your legs. It's hilarious, said Koch.
First place in the Daffy Derby gets a prize, but Mechanicsvilles Volunteer Firefighters walk away a few thousand dollars richer. It may not be much, but when a fire breaks out in a rural part of the city of 1,000, the four-wheel drive pickup truck they hope to upgrade with todays profit could make all the difference. And it would be thanks to the very people the firefighters try to keep safe.
This is the sixth year that Mechanicsville has been holding the Daffy Derby. Organizers say the goal is to bring in anywhere between $3,000 and $5,000, between entrance fees and souvenir sales.