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Establishing an organizational spokesperson is one of the first steps in creating an effective PR strategy. The right representative can positively shape an organization's image and reputation by providing a face to the company, humanizing the brand and demonstrating the depth and strength of leadership. But despite being a somewhat obvious need, the decision should not be taken lightly. For most brands, there is not a "one size fits all" model and choosing the ideal spokesperson(s) means first taking a thorough examination of your organization's needs.
How often is your organization seeking media opportunities or addressing the press? If often, choose one or a few individuals whose schedule permits a short interview turnaround.
What is your media strategy? An organization's public relations plan can have multiple objectives. Are you seeking to build a reputation as a thought leader? Could your brand benefit from seeming more approachable or in touch with its target audience? Is your primary goal to address controversial topics or tie into spot news? Is your outreach focused on a particular region of your footprint?
Each of these examples involves very different media conversations. Since the content and tone differs with each message, an organization balancing multiple media strategies might benefit the most from having several spokespeople that are ultimately coordinated and chosen by a central communications manager.
Are your spokespeople adequately prepared? Regardless of media goals or the number of spokespeople utilized, the most important step is ensuring these representatives are properly trained on how to deliver key messages. Even when pressed by the media, a spokesperson must remain calm with anticipated responses to controversial questions. While successful spokespeople are more conversational and do not sound rehearsed, they also outline and organize their points beforehand to ensure they incorporate their key messages.
Excellent spokespeople also use techniques like bridging and flagging to help order and highlight points in the conversation. When a reporter asks an unexpected question or one that does not allow the spokesperson to seamlessly integrate messaging, bridging allows the representative to address the question and then move to what he or she wants to discuss. For example, "That's an interesting question; let me remind you, though…" Flagging allows the spokesperson to emphasize a particularly important point and grab the reporter's attention. One such lead in for flagging is, "The three most important things you need to take away from this are…"
Despite the length of an interview, most sources are only given one to four sentences in an article, so a topnotch spokesperson is trained to answer in sound bites that are crisply worded, grammatically correct and can stand on their own.
Learning from a big brand's media relations is another way to sharpen a media spokesperson's skills. Despite issues with NBA Commissioner David Stern over the years, perhaps no single owner – other than George Steinbrenner – has attracted more attention to his organization than Mark Cuban. During his reign as owner of the Dallas Mavericks, he has lifted a once dreadful NBA franchise into a perennial winner, ultimately attracting greater talents and fans by being outspoken and "real."
Arianna Huffington, chair, president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, is another example of a proactive organizational spokesperson. As founder of The Huffington Post, Arianna certainly understands how the media works, but also recognizes the unique niche her publication occupies. By being accessible, vocal, approachable and outspoken on a variety of topics, she reflects her brand's strongest qualities.
But not every company makes the perfect spokesperson choice the first time around. While Facebook may have been attempting to replicate the success of the single spokesperson like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg has continuously struggled with likeability and reputation management, especially after the 2010 movie "The Social Network" that chronicled the founding of Facebook. Although Zuckerberg still largely handles new product announcements, others in the organization, like COO Sheryl Sandberg, have upped their media presence, perhaps to balance personalities and expand the identity of Facebook's leadership.
Former British Petroleum CEO Tony Hayward is another example of a spokesperson that missed the mark in his company's time of crisis. As mentioned in an earlier PeRceptions post, "Roughing the Passer, How Leaders Should Handle the Hard Questions," Hayward gained an infamous reputation after his unsympathetic responses following the company's oil spill in the Gulf Coast. While company mistakes can be particularly stressful, a damaging response can quickly go viral and detrimentally hurt the brand and spokesperson's reputation.
Bottom line: as quickly as a good spokesperson can positively improve brand image, an ill-prepared, ill-chosen spokesperson can detrimentally impact your reputation overnight.
Photo credit: Bartlomiej Stroinski
This entry was originally published on PRDaily.com.
Contests have long been one of the most effective ways to garner attention and affinity on social media, and some big news from Facebook means the rules for contests have changed—even if you didn't know about them in the first place.
Facebook unveiled a new promotions policy last week, making it easier for businesses to host contests on their Facebook pages. Previously, if you wanted to run any sort of contest that included giveaways or prizes on your organization's page, you were required to host them using an app on a separate tab. The Ready, Pet… Caption contest currently running on one of our client's pages is a good example.
The new policy significantly loosens the previous restrictions, now allowing businesses to collect entries for contests by having users like or comment on posts. Organizations can also utilize likes on specific posts as a voting mechanism. The one restriction is you're not allowed to have users tag themselves in photos in which they don't actually appear.
Exactly why Facebook has updated the policy is unclear, although many experts agree it will increase the use of promoted posts and, in turn, revenue for the social media giant. Plus, the old rules were broken on a regular basis by small businesses that simply didn't know any better and large businesses that bet on the fact that Mark Zuckerberg's team couldn't enforce the policy with any regularity.
Regardless, this new policy opens up a whole range of marketing possibilities for social media-savvy organizations. Want to give away a prize to the 1,000th person to like your page? Do it. Got a fun "caption this" idea for a timely subject like twerking? Post it immediately and increase your entries by promoting it and offering a prize for the best comment.
Of course, hosting contests on customizable apps is still a viable option. Moving forward, businesses will have to decide how to run Facebook promos based on the strengths of each type of contest. To help you decide, here's a quick breakdown of the advantages offers by in-page versus app-hosted Facebook contests:
Contests On Your Page:
Contests On An App:
Photo credit: Thos Ballantyne
As Warren Buffet quipped, "it can take 20 years to build a reputation and only five minutes to ruin it."
Of course, everyone wants a good reputation. But how do you get one – and more importantly, keep it? Companies often enlist the help of a public relations firm for a crisis plan or issue management. Others know they need to be ready for a "problem," but don't believe it's "that much of a concern right now." When companies talk about building their brands, they usually mean "good news marketing," launching products/programs and supporting sales.
But equally important is galvanizing your brand against disaster before a crisis hits home. It's easy to get complacent. No one wakes up saying, "today will be the day that the stuff hits the fan." When that day arrives, however, the strength of a company's reputation is its best protection.
The closest thing to reputation protection that appears on a balance sheet is termed goodwill. Having a reservoir of goodwill can make all the difference and sustain a company through bad times.
Investopedia defines Goodwill as an intangible asset on the balance sheet that typically reflects the value of a strong brand name, good customer relations, good employee relations and any patents or proprietary technology.
While the term intangible asset sounds nebulous, public relations is used every day to tell concrete stories that provide credibility and entitle a positive reputation. Step by step, reputation is built on goodwill that emanates from reliable products, excellent service and sound business practices across the board – not from fluff.
Public relations strategies and tactics should be major elements in any plan to build positive relationships with the stakeholders who determine your organization's success. While there are multiple key audiences including stockholders, boards of directors, regulators, legislators and other influencers, it's worth mentioning several ideas for fostering quality reputations among three all-important groups.
(1) Employees: Employees can be your biggest fans or your loudest detractors. If they don't believe the talk, they won't do the walk. Too often, internal communications are tagged on as an afterthought. Put employees front and center, involve them in your communications plans and company initiatives and make them your best ambassadors.
(2) Media: It's amazing how many company leaders have never met the reporters in person who write about their companies. Knowing the media is the best way to build credibility in the good times and get a fair shake when things go wrong. It's easy to do. Have a proactive media outreach program. Tell your good news stories; be an industry thought leader. Don't have your first interaction with a reporter be in the middle of a crisis.
(3) Clients: Organizations need to fall in love with their clients; it's that simple. Talk to them; listen to them; give them little presents; keep your promises; be good to them. And they will love you back. That translates into everything from easy-to-understand product information and engaging social media programs to cordial customer service and valuable website tools.
Coke survived a potentially large scale ban on Coca-Cola drinks in Europe in 1999 because it had longstanding trust with loyal consumers and stockholders alike and was able to trade on its goodwill.
Toyota worked diligently to regain its reputation following the "gas pedal" crisis; Chances for recovery were strong based on its long-term excellent reputation. Arguably, BP had a steeper road that it's still climbing – without the same stockpile of goodwill upon which to draw.
Top leadership needs to pay attention – and provide resources – to inculcate the values, culture and programs for an organization to build and nurture its reputation. Indeed, it may be a CEO's most important contribution.
Child abuse is not a pleasant topic. When we hear about the sexual, physical or emotional abuse of a child it's easy to shake our heads, count our blessings and move on to a new thought, TV channel or conversation. But did you know that the state of Georgia receives 207 reports of child abuse and neglect each day or that thirty-three percent of these victims are age three and younger? These statistics are staggering, aren't they?
What's worse, many abused children have been so frequently exposed to violent and unhealthy environments they have a difficult time grasping concepts like love, hope and opportunity. Abused children are plagued with severe anxiety, depression, emotional instability, behavioral problems and hopelessness.
When compared with the general population, Childwelfare.gov reports children that have been abused are 59 percent more likely to be incarcerated as a child and 28 percent more likely to be incarcerated as an adult. They also are 30 percent more likely to commit a violent crime and have a much higher likelihood of abusing their own children later in life.
For the past three years, Cookerly Public Relations has provided public relations and financial support to Murphy-Harpst, a wonderful non-profit organization delivering care to Georgia's most severely abused and neglected children.
Professionals at Murphy-Harpst provide around-the-clock-care, education and specialized therapy to break the cycle of abuse. Children at Murphy-Harpst are treated with dignity and respect by specialized psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and advisors that refuse to give in or give up. And the best part: Murphy-Harpst produces proven results.
Roughly 82 percent of Murphy-Harpst graduates will go on to lead normal lives. There are countless success stories that are all attributed to the continuum of therapeutic programs and care. And while there is no question that personalized therapy and 24-hour care is costly, it is the only proven method of ensuring abused and neglected children develop a sense of self-worth. At Cookerly, we see this as a small price to pay for the strength, hope and success these children are able to gain.
Our president, Carol Cookerly, serves on the Murphy-Harpst board of directors and her enthusiasm for this organization has caught fire. We are committed to spreading the word about Murphy-Harpst to garner greater recognition and financial support. If this blog post has inspired you to help the abused and neglected kids of Georgia, please consider donating by clicking here.
Find out more about Murphy-Harpst here: http://www.murphyharpst.org/how/index.php
"Like" Murphy-Harpst's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/MurphyHarpst
Or just spread the word. Thanks!
Building, and then growing a company is not easy. It takes energetic and effective managers and employees, a detailed plan, strong fiscal management and usually, a little luck. Additionally, you want your company viewed in the best possible light by your customers (current and potential) and the community at large (both in town and on the World Wide Web). More and more companies are embracing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as not only the right thing to do, but a necessary part of business.
In the simplest terms, CSR means not only holding your company up against the highest standards, but also regularly engaging in actions or events- usually at a cost to your bottom line- that furthers social good or a cause. Participating in a fundraising drive for a local charity, allowing employees to volunteer (on company time), providing services free of charge, and straight monetary donations are all examples of CSR activities.
But what is the return on investment for these kinds of activities? After all, you're presumably in the business to make money. There are numerous benefits that come from volunteer and pro-bono work: it gets your name out into the community; you'll get to network with folks that you may not otherwise meet; it allows you to explore new work and perhaps, take a new, creative approach towards tackling a task; and last but not least, it will make you feel good about yourself and your company.
So, how do you leverage these efforts to make them a good return on your investments? While we strongly advocate doing volunteer or pro-bono work for "the right" reasons (i.e. helping out your neighbors and/or those in need), we are firm believers that not only is it okay to benefit from this work, it makes good business sense to do so. Just make sure you broadcast your efforts tastefully.
Social Media
Community Reports
Your Own Employees
Make sure your own employees are well aware (and versed) in the CSR efforts of your organization. Many companies have employee-driven committees that determine the direction of the community support efforts of the year. Having engaged employees is crucial to a successful CSR campaign as they act as ambassadors for your company while they are out in the community.
Finding ways to promote your business's charitable work requires a bit of effort. However, it will benefit you tremendously. Participating in CSR activities will position you as a valued and respected member of the community; one that strives to improve the livelihood and well-being of its residents. This will undoubtedly benefit you, your employees and ultimately, your business.
When it comes to search engine rankings, most companies pay big bucks to boost the online visibility of their business or product. Made first page of Google? That's great…as long as the news or reviews are positive.
But what happens if the first mention of your business is a scathing review from the local newspaper? Or negative customer comments posted via blogs or online complaint forums?
According to a Cornell University study, 56 percent of Google users click on the first result shown after a search. Only 13 percent visit the second result shown and it decreases from there. Unsatisfactory reviews can quickly take a bite out of business, so it's important the top online listings highlight your company in a positive light. Fortunately, there are strategies to push down negative results. Consider it the reverse SEO method.
Here are some tips to improve and manage your online reputation.
Get social: One of the best ways to sink negative content is to blast out the positive. Start a blog on your company's website and update it regularly to increase search ranking. Blogging can help control the message and put a favorable spin on negative news. At the same time, create an active and engaging Facebook page and Twitter feed and share positive news to increase audience reach. Respond quickly and pleasantly to anyone who comments on the various social channels. That could ultimately help you win over critics and build a rapport with your audience.
Think video: Videos often surface higher in the search engine results, so develop a series of positive clips that can be posted on your website, blog, YouTube and social channels.
Don't be so negative: If you find your business being disparaged, the best approach is to respond publicly and in an accommodating manner. Don't lash out against the criticism; use the opportunity to minimize problems and resolve issues. By showing accountability and attempting to solve the problem, you're giving potential (and existing) customers more reason to trust you.
Write optimized releases: Draft and distribute press releases highlighting your business or products, as well as any upcoming event or promotion. "Optimize" the content with relevant keywords and submit to press release sites. With proper optimization, it'll be easier for the target audience to find your news through search engine results and separate it from the online clutter.
Hire a pro: Just like companies pay professionals to handle search engine optimization for promotional purposes, you can also hire experts well-versed in reverse SEO strategies to make sure negative pages don't impact your business. They can also identify potentially illegal links and work to remove them. In a worst case scenario, you can always request removal of the content through legal action. Make sure your demand is valid, as there could be repercussions if you file an unjustified claim against a content owner. Seek the advice of a qualified attorney before taking such action.
The Internet has fundamentally changed the way that buyers and sellers interact in the marketplace. Reviews – both good and bad – spread faster and reach more people than ever before. Whatever your business is, a good reputation is crucial so it's important to find ways to reduce any online damage.
While there are numerous examples of companies handling issues and crises poorly (read some of our blog posts about them here, here and here), we also like to recognize those companies that respond swiftly and appropriately to a potential PR catastrophe. Recently there have been two such instances, one involving Royal Caribbean and the other Papa John's.
Early on Memorial Day, a fire broke out on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas as it sailed near the Bahamas. Although the fire did not cause extensive damage or disable the ship, the incident could have been another in a growing list of bad press events for the cruise industry. Instead, a passenger email to the AP shortly after the fire had nothing but praise for the ship's crew.
Mark Ormesher, on what was his first cruise, described the Grandeur of the Seas crew as keeping passengers calm and well-informed, distributing water bottles and even holding infants so their parents could use the restroom. But the company's response went beyond managing the initial emergency situation competently. Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein flew to Freeport in the Bahamas, where the ship was diverted, and personally apologized to passengers. The company also arranged charter flights for passengers back to Baltimore, where the voyage originated, and arranged alternate transportation for those who did not wish to fly. Updates were constant on the cruise line's Twitter feed and Facebook page.
Closer to home, Papa John's was also recently the subject of a potential PR scandal, for a racially-charged voicemail one of its delivery drivers inadvertently left for an African American customer to whom he had just delivered a pizza. Speaking to a coworker, the driver ridiculed the size of the tip the customer gave him (although it was more than 20 percent) while using the n-word several times.
Papa John's response was swift and decisive: the driver and his coworker were both fired, and the company acknowledged and apologized for the incident on its Facebook page and Twitter. Papa John's CEO John Schnatter also called the customer personally to apologize.
There are perhaps two lessons to be learned from these incidents and how they were handled. The first is that a swift and confident response goes a long way toward mitigating any potential fallout from a bad situation. It's equally important to note that in both cases the company CEO was personally involved in the response – demonstrating that each company's commitment to customer service extends all the way to the top.
Second, and perhaps more important, these incidents illustrate what we – and every competent PR practitioner – tell our clients all the time: it is not a matter of if you'll be faced with a crisis, but when.
Both of these cases show that a crisis can occur any time, without warning, during the course of normal every day operations. Both could have turned into PR nightmares, doing lasting damage to the respective brands. Certainly, Royal Caribbean and Papa John's may both take a black eye, but a black eye heals. Their swift response also helps ensure that competitors – who are always looking for an opening – will have a harder time exploiting these crises to gain a competitive advantage.
Now the question for you is, will you be ready when your company is faced with a crisis? And will your response help minimize the damage – or will it result in something much worse than a black eye?
I admit it: I am one of those girls with a Pinterest wedding board – and I am not engaged. I love Pinterest, and I am not alone.
Pinterest has, on average, thirty million monthly visitors. According to Nielsen's 2012 social media report, Pinterest's number of monthly PC users grew by 1,047 percent between 2011 and 2012. The number of monthly mobile app and mobile web users add an additional five and 14 million, respectively, and the virtual collage website is showing no signs of slowing down.
The concept of Pinterest is simple: see something you like and pin it to one of your boards. Through these "boards," Pinterest gives people the chance to show their personality, interests and who they aspire to be. For example, I am a terrible cook, but if you looked at my Pinterest board, you might think I am a gourmet chef.
As my colleague Mamie discussed in her blog post last fall on the growing importance of graphics, businesses are also jumping on the taffeta-draped and bedazzled bandwagon. According to socialfresh.com, more than 250 brands are now on Pinterest, and the number continues to grow. Restaurants, hotels, beauty brands and retailers are finding a perfect fit in the aspiration-based social network, but even the unlikeliest of organizations are benefiting. For brands whose fans are already on Pinterest, the website has now made it easier to target – and inspire – potential consumers.
With the release of Analytics for Pinterest earlier this year, brands can now easily and accurately view traffic data and discover how many visitors are viewing their website by way of Pinterest. The free, web-based tool allows brands to track the number of pinners and pins sharing material from their website, as well as the number of repinners and repins those pins received. Businesses can also track total impressions, reach and referral traffic.
Armed with this data, businesses are better equipped to use Pinterest. While it is important for brands on the site to build boards with their products in the hope that people will pin them and click through to their website, there are better ways to catch a pinner's eye and engage the Pinterest community:
Sell the Whole Package.
Paint maker Benjamin Moore (more than 23,000 followers) has 58 pin boards. Only nine of these boards consist of their paint products. The other 49 are what inspires them to make the paint colors.
Benjamin Moore's pins include painted or stained objects, such as doors and furniture or entire colorful rooms in all areas of the home. There is a board dedicated to interior designer Candace Olsen that features video tutorials, Olsen's designs and her favorite colors.
When people choose to pin their photos, they dive a little deeper into Benjamin Moore's brand and personality. The paint maker is subtly showing potential customers their brand, without shoving it in their faces, while also helping consumers to envision the brand in their lives.
By using Pinterest as a marketing tool, Benjamin Moore is helping potential customers envision the brand's colors in their homes or office. Imperial Yellow in the can is just yellow, but in a photo of a child's bedroom, it suddenly promises a future filled with soft baby blankets and wind-up toys.
Make Your Brand Approachable
Humor can give a brand an endearing trait and show people that the organization doesn't take itself too seriously. Because one funny board usually leads to another, humorous boards can drive users to the brand's Pinterest page.
For example, Major League Baseball's Pinterest board has reached more than 29,000 followers by focusing on some of the fun, quirky aspects of the game. With boards themed "Out of Left Field," "Mascots are People too" and "Majestic Mustaches," the league pins less than serious photos of crazy fans, mascots doing silly things and players' ridiculous mustaches.
Far from a "typical" pinner, Major League Baseball strikes a chord with its Pinterest followers. The boards give fans an exclusive look into the elite world of baseball, to find that those involved are not much different from themselves.
Challenge Your Followers
Everyone wins with Pinterest contests. The pinner gets the chance to beef up their followers, create new themed boards and perhaps even win a prize, and the business drives more of their target audience to their Pinterest page and – ultimately – website, which increases SEO. And best of all? It's free. Win. Win.
One successful campaign was the Ann Taylor Dream Wedding Wardrobe contest. The call to action was simple: create a dream wedding board. The boards were then judged on creativity and the use of Ann Taylor imagery, and the winner won a wedding dress and two bridesmaid dresses. The contest was such a success that Ann Taylor ran a second contest this past Valentine's Day.
From paint makers to sports franchises, brand owners on Pinterest are discovering new and exciting ways to reach target audiences. It is important to remember: Pinterest is not a one-size-fits-all social media tool. Every organization will have to gauge their audience's Pinterest use and see what attracts them to certain boards, but by taking advantage of analytics tools, intuition and great imagery, businesses can engage fans and convert aspirational pinners to customers.
Image credit: Flickr member Si1very
A version of this article originally appeared on PR Breakfast Club on August 15, 2012.
Digital marketing expert Mitch Joel wrote an interesting blog post last year called "The Art of Fake Familiarity." In it, Joel criticized a public relations pitch he recently received that used information from his blog and Twitter feed in an attempt to garner a feeling of familiarity and get his attention. Instead, the pitch came off as creepy and dishonest, finally ending with this cringe-inducing line: "I also saw on Twitter that you were at the Google offices in Mountain View recently. I have never been, but I hope to get the chance to go at some point."
This faux-familiarity, in which a PR pro references specific details about the targeted reporter or blogger, is increasingly common. I actually attended a PR webinar recently that recommended a similar albeit more balanced approach.
This sort of pitch is a reaction against the impersonal, generic emails that get blasted to huge lists of journalists who desperately struggle to keep them at bay and in their spam boxes. I've actually got an old email address from my days as a freelance editor that is now nothing more than a barren inbox of crappy press releases (currently sitting at 15,000 unread messages). It got so overwhelming that the only way to escape was to open up a new email account and update the dozen or so PR people I trusted with my new contact info.
So what's wrong with trying to bring a little familiarity to your pitch? Nothing, if you're actually familiar with the reporter. That gets to the heart of the problem with the fake familiar pitch: it's a way to cheat the important process of actually getting to know the people you're pitching and the type of stories they're looking for.
You can't take short cuts when it comes to media outreach. Here are a few of the techniques my agency consistently emphasizes to deliver excellent media placements:
Image credit: Flickr member iriskh
The past several months have been trying for the $2 billion-a-year compounding pharmacy industry. First, it was a multi-state meningitis outbreak caused by contaminated steroid injections from the New England Compounding Center (NECC). The outbreak, due to unsanitary conditions at NECC, has sickened 730 people, killing more than 50 – and six months later, people continue to fall ill. Investigators examined foreign materials from unopened vials and found fungal matter, which caused the meningitis.
More recently, several additional compounding pharmacies have announced product recalls for a wide range of medications due to similar contamination issues. While the number of people sickened by the tainted medications is still being determined, federal regulators and state pharmacy boards are scrambling for stricter compounding pharmacy rules.
Last year, Congressman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced legislation to strengthen compounding pharmacy guidelines, and plans to reintroduce the bill this congressional session. U.S. senators also have announced plans for tougher regulations, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has requested increased oversight to protect patients. Many individual states are proposing their own new laws to prevent similar outbreaks.
For decades the industry has largely evaded the kind of stringent oversight established drug makers face, according to the Boston Globe. The report also stated, "Federal regulators have long been flummoxed by the growth of the compounding pharmacy industry, which is made up of thousands of small outfits that specially mix medicines for patients, along with an expanding class of industrial-scale manufacturers that ship products to health care providers nationally."
With the industry staring down the barrel of sweeping regulatory changes, compounders are at a crossroads and facing a daunting public relations challenge. Many pharmacies might face guilt by association, and public pressure is being magnified by surprise inspections, increased media scrutiny and more. All the while, compounding pharmacies are receiving a crash course in crisis and issues management.
The bottom line is: if compounding pharmacies have not formulated a crisis communications plan to handle product recalls or immediate problems, they had better "get after it." Developing and regularly updating a comprehensive crisis plan is imperative – no matter the industry.
Additionally, issues involving increased oversight and scrutiny should serve as a wake-up call for carefully reviewing company guidelines for a product recall. While there are too many examples of poorly managed product recalls to recount here, a story by Peter Vanden Bos of Inc.com about how to survive a product recall is worth the read.
Compounders should also take this opportunity to develop strategic external communication pieces, such as fact sheets, presentations, videos, etc., to differentiate themselves from the companies in question. Collateral/marketing pieces should be tailored to specific target audiences (investors, customers, lawmakers and more) and highlight best practices, use of technology and safety measures. Also, leveraging these materials during individual meetings with legislators, regulators and other opinion leaders is critical, as they are being bombarded with negative press about the industry.
In closing, the near-term PR outlook for the compounders remains dire, but there are several strategies and tactics these companies can implement to avoid becoming another NECC. The overall industry faces an uphill battle for many years; however, if compounders can play a role in crafting beneficial and meaningful regulations that protect patients, it would go a long way in repairing its image.
Image credit: Flickr user Lidor


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Rebecca S. Sippel, MD Print Friendly PageFaculty, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Dr. Sippel is certified by the American Board of Surgery. She is an active member of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and serves as the Endocrine Surgery Fellowship Director. She specializes in endocrine surgery and surgical treatment of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands. Dr. Sippel is an expert in parathyroid surgery and offers the latest in minimally invasive approaches for the treatment of hyperparathyroidism (minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, minimally invasive radioguided parathyroidectomy).
Dr. Sippel is also dedicated to the treatment of both benign and malignant diseases of the thyroid such as thyroid cancer, Graves disease, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules and goiter and works closely with our endocrinologists in our multidisciplinary thyroid clinic to offer patients surgical treatment options for their thyroid conditions. She has a special interest in the treatment of primary and recurrent thyroid cancer and also has expertise in the minimally invasive treatment of adrenal disease (laparoscopic adrenalectomy) treating both functional (pheochromocytoma, aldosteronoma, Cushing's syndrome) and non-functional lesions of the adrenal gland (adrenal adenoma, adrenal carcinoma).
UW Health Clinics
Hospital Affiliation(s)
UW School of Medicine and Public Health
|General Surgery
Professional Certifications and Education
|Board Certification
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center Endocrine Surgery Research Lab, 2001-2003
Endocrine Surgery, University of California - San Francisco, CA, 2006-2007
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI
|Medical School
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 1999
|Medical interpreters are available to help patients communicate with hospital and clinic staff. For more information, please contact interpreter services at (608) 262-9000.
Our doctors provide a wide range of services. The following list represents some, but not all, of the procedures offered by this physician.
- Cervical Lymph Node Dissection
- Endocrine Surgery - Specialists
- Fine Needle Aspiration
- Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy
- Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy
- Thymectomy
- Thyroidectomy
Programs & Conditions
- Adrenal Adenoma
- Adrenocortical Cancer
- Conn's Syndrome
- Cushing's Syndrome
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia
- Pheochromocytoma
- Substernal Goiter
- Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid Nodule
Dr. Sippel conducts translational research at the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research program investigates the development and treatment of endocrine tumors, with a special interest in thyroid cancer. She also conducts clinical research working on improving the care and outcomes of patients with endocrine tumors.
PubMed Articles
Essig G Jr Porter K Schneider DF Arpaia D Lindsey SC Busonero G Fineberg D Fruci B Boelaert K Smit J Meijer J Duntas LH Sharma N Costante G Filetti S Sippel RS Biondi B Md Topliss DJ Pacini F Maciel RM Walz P Kloos RT .
MULTIFOCALITY IN SPORADIC MEDULLARY THYROID CARCINOMA: AN INTERNATIONAL MULTICENTER STUDY. Thyroid. 2016 Sep 7;
[PubMed ID: 27604949]
Oltmann SC Alhefdhi AY Rajaei MH Schneider DF Sippel RS Chen H .
Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Medications Significantly Increase the Risk of Postoperative Hematoma: Review of over 4500 Thyroid and Parathyroid Procedures. Ann Surg Oncol. 2016 Sep;23(9):2874-82
[PubMed ID: 27138383]
Randle RW Balentine CJ Pitt SC Schneider DF Sippel RS .
Selective Versus Non-selective α-Blockade Prior to Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Pheochromocytoma. Ann Surg Oncol. 2016 Aug 25;
[PubMed ID: 27561909]
Yu XM Jaskula-Sztul R Georgen MR Aburjania Z Somnay YR Leverson G Sippel RS Lloyd RV Johnson BP Chen H .
Notch1 Signaling Regulates the Aggressiveness of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Inhibits SERPINE1 Expression. Clin Cancer Res. 2016 Jul 15;22(14):3582-92
[PubMed ID: 26847059]
Randle RW Balentine CJ Wendt E Schneider DF Chen H Sippel RS .
Should vitamin D deficiency be corrected before parathyroidectomy? J Surg Res. 2016 Jul;204(1):94-100
[PubMed ID: 27451873]
Lou I Schneider DF Sippel RS Chen H Elfenbein DM .
The changing pattern of diagnosing primary hyperparathyroidism in young patients. Am J Surg. 2016 Jun 14;
[PubMed ID: 27392754]
Elfenbein DM Katz M Schneider DF Chen H Sippel RS .
Thyroidectomy for Graves' disease in children: Indications and complications. J Pediatr Surg. 2016 Apr 2;
[PubMed ID: 27113266]
Brekke A Elfenbein DM Madkhali T Schaefer SC Shumway C Chen H Schneider DF Sippel RS Balentine C .
When patients call their surgeon's office: an opportunity to improve the quality of surgical care and prevent readmissions. Am J Surg. 2016 Mar;211(3):599-604
[PubMed ID: 26762830]
Tobin K Ayers RR Rajaei M Sippel RS Balentine CJ Elfenbein D Chen H Schneider DF .
Use of the gamma probe to identify multigland disease in primary hyperparathyroidism. Int J Endocr Oncol. 2016 Feb;3(1):13-19
[PubMed ID: 27127604]
Elfenbein DM Schaefer S Shumway C Chen H Sippel RS Schneider DF .
Prospective Intervention of a Novel Levothyroxine Dosing Protocol Based on Body Mass Index after Thyroidectomy. J Am Coll Surg. 2016 Jan;222(1):83-8
[PubMed ID: 26584573]
Balentine CJ Sippel RS .
Outpatient Thyroidectomy: Is it Safe? Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2016 Jan;25(1):61-75
[PubMed ID: 26610774]
Lou I Schneider DF Leverson G Foley D Sippel R Chen H .
Parathyroidectomy is underused in patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism after renal transplantation. Surgery. 2016 Jan;159(1):172-9
[PubMed ID: 26603850]
Oltmann SC Madkhali TM Sippel RS Chen H Schneider DF .
Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guidelines and parathyroidectomy for renal hyperparathyroidism. J Surg Res. 2015 Nov;199(1):115-20
[PubMed ID: 25982045]
Nankee L Chen H Schneider DF Sippel RS Elfenbein DM .
Substernal goiter: when is a sternotomy required? J Surg Res. 2015 Nov;199(1):121-5
[PubMed ID: 25976851]
Lou I Foley D Odorico SK Leverson G Schneider DF Sippel R Chen H .
How Well Does Renal Transplantation Cure Hyperparathyroidism? Ann Surg. 2015 Oct;262(4):653-9
[PubMed ID: 26366545]
Xu J Bergren R Schneider D Chen H Sippel RS .
Thyroglobulin antibody resolution after total thyroidectomy for cancer. J Surg Res. 2015 Oct;198(2):366-70
[PubMed ID: 25930167]
Ayers RR Tobin K Sippel RS Balentine C Elfenbein D Chen H Schneider DF .
Does levothyroxine administration impact parathyroid localization? J Surg Res. 2015 Oct;198(2):360-5
[PubMed ID: 25917998]
Lou I Schneider DF Leverson GE Sippel RS Chen H .
Do additional imaging studies change operative management in patients undergoing adrenalectomy? Surgery. 2015 Oct;158(4):1003-9; discussion 1009-11
[PubMed ID: 26233809]
Ritter K Elfenbein D Schneider DF Chen H Sippel RS .
Hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy: incidence and resolution. J Surg Res. 2015 Aug;197(2):348-53
[PubMed ID: 25982044]
Elfenbein DM Sippel RS McDonald R Watson T Scarborough JE Migaly J .
Faculty evaluations of resident medical knowledge: can they be used to predict American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination performance? Am J Surg. 2015 Jun;209(6):1095-101
[PubMed ID: 25686512]

subset: commoncrawl


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Lion Roars luxury Hotels and Lodges
The Lion Roars Group is proud to offer a distinctive portfolio of luxury boutique accommodation in beach, town, country and game reserve destinations, located in remarkable settings in Southern Africa.
Cape Town Accommodation- Sea Point, City Bowl
Our accommodation in Cape Town includes The Hyde Hotel in Sea Point, and the superbly-located The Three Boutique Hotel in Gardens in the City Bowl. Both of our Cape Town properties are within ten minutes' drive of all of the city's main attractions, and within walking distance of a great selection of restaurants, coffee shops and bars.
Winelands Accommodation - Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Wellington
Our Cape Winelands experience offers 4-star accommodation on a choice of three historic Cape Dutch wine farms in three popular Winelands destinations: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Wellington. Hawksmoor House , situated at the apex of the Paarl and Stellenbosch Wine Routes, offers Stellenbosch Wine Route accommodation in an 18th-century Manor House on a working wine farm. Rickety Bridge Wine Estate , situated just outside Franschhoek, offers accommodation in a 250-year old manor house on a Franschhoek Wine Estate, with tasting room and restaurant on-site. Val du Charron Wine & Olive Estate offers 4- and 5-star accommodation on a historic working wine farm in Wellington, with full spa, tasting room and restaurant on site. All our Winelands properties are within an hour's drive of Cape Town.
Garden Route Accommodation - Mossel Bay, Plettenberg Bay and Storms River
Our Garden Route accommodation includes beach experiences, golf experiences and country retreat experiences. Enjoy your beach holiday accommodation in Mossel Bay, Plettenberg Bay or Cape St Francis. African Oceans and Bay Lodge in Mossel Bay, and The Robberg Beach Lodge in Plettenberg Bay all offer a variety of beach accommodation right at the beach. Redbourne Country Lodge in Plettenberg Bay, overlooks the Plettenberg Bay Golf course and offers great golf packages. For a country retreat in the Garden Route, Tsitsikamma Village Inn , tucked away in the Tsitsikamma Forest at Storms River Village, offers rooms arranged around a typical Village Green.
Route 62 Accommodation - Robertson and Oudtshoorn
Orange Grove Farm offers luxury bed & breakfast and self-catering cottages set on a working wine and olive farm situated in the heart of Robertson valley, less than two hours from Cape Town. Buffelsdrift Game Lodge offers Oudtshoorn tented camp accommodation on Route 62, along with a Route 62 Safari and close-up elephant experience.
Port Elizabeth Accommodation
Both of our Port Elizabeth town lodges, Singa Lodge in Summerstrand and Ibhayi Lodge in Walmer, offer guesthouse - bed and breakfast and conference facilities set in leafy gardens, with access to all of the friendly city's beaches, restaurants, bistros and businesses.
Greater Addo and Eastern Cape Safari Accommodation
Our Safari Collection in the award winning malaria free Eastern Cape Amakhala Game Reserve offers all-inclusive accommodation and wedding facilities including honeymoon suites in a wide range of intimate, boutique safari lodges and guesthouses. The Game Reserve and safari trips offer exciting wild life viewing and are only 70 kilometres from Port Elizabeth.The Amakhala Game Reserve offers 3-, 4- and 5-star accommodation in a variety of accommodation options, ranging from tented camps to thatched private chalets and country houses.
Northern Cape Experience
The Northern Cape region offers locals and visitors to South Africa an experience of a land steeped in many diverse cultures and frontier and missionary history. It has countless challenges for the adrenaline junkies, hikers, hunters and 4×4 adventurers. It has impressive parks with endless game and some of the most unique flora in the world.
Transfrontier Parks Destinations
Transfrontier Parks Destinations manages and markets community-owned tourism facilities in Southern Africa. !Xaus Lodge in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge in the Moloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area, and Machampane Wilderness Camp in the Mozambique sector of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park all offer unique wilderness experiences in remarkable destinations.
Lion Roars Tours
We are also proud to offer a set of unique Lion Roars Tours. Our tour itineraries include Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route, Route 62, Northern Cape and Greater Addo and Eastern Cape Safari accommodation all under one roof. Travel with Lion Roars from Cape Town city bowl, through the Winelands, Garden Route and Route 62, to your Addo and Eastern Cape safari, and let us make you feel like royalty as you enjoy our signature hospitality at each of our lodges along the way.
Whether you're visiting one of our unique destinations or taking advantage of our tours, we have a warm welcome waiting for you. Each lodge in our portfolio is a place where we ourselves love to be. We're proud to share them with you.


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Nad Stránemi 4511
CZ-760 05 Zlín
Tel: +420 57 603 5110 Fax: +420 57 6035141
Website: web.utb.cz
To find organisations with similar interests, click on a keyword below:
Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries : Energy Efficient Technologies : Engineering : Photovoltaics : Polymer, Plastics and Rubber Industries : Research and Technological Development : Solar Thermal : Sustainable Materials
Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Institute of Physics & Material Engineering is part of the Faculty of technology, which is focused mainly on commodity plastics, rubber and composite materials technology, production and applied research. It is a typical university based research team, which is involved both in the teaching process of MSc, BSc and PhD study programmes, as well as in applied research projects (local industry, international cooperation). Team expertise is oriented mainly in the area of general materials science and technology. The Institute is capable of an integral view on a broad range of problems to be solved both from the technical/scientific points of view as well as from the economic and environmental impact effects points of view.
The institutes main industrial partners are from the chemical and plastic industry, electronic, automotive, defense and aerospace industries (e.g. Unipetrol, Chemopetrol, Kaucuk, Robert Bosch, Siemens Automotive, CEZ, Gumotex, Fatra, Barum Continental, Struers, Precheza, Solartec, Synthesia, CZ Uh. Brod etc.).
EC and Czech projects related to the topic include:
ENER-Plast: Instruments for reducing the Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions of the polymer industry and supply chain


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Country contacts
Tu Jarvis, Professor and Special Assistant to the Dean,
Jim Hill, Associate Dean International Programs and
Mark Bell, Director, International Learning Center
Agricultural Counselor
The International Programs Office hosts an Agricultural Counselor from the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture. Andres Morande works out of IPO to strengthen collaboration between Chile and California in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management. A number of collaborations have been strengthened and others have been initiated through this program - including work in Plant Material Exchange, Viticulture and Enology, Mechanization, Epidemiology and Water.
Other collaborations
UC Davis has provided technical assistance, education, training and materials to support Chile. The focus has been primarily on helping build more robust and effective extension systems. Examples of former and/or on-going collaboration include:
- Biotechnology - Eduardo Blumwald
- Economics - Lovell (Tu) Jarvis
- Extension - Mark Bell, Jim Hill, Randall (Cass) Mutters
- Food Science - Diane Barrett
- Nutrition - Cesar Frega
- Pest management & crop protection - Albert Fischer
- PIPRA and Genetics & Biotechnology - Alan Bennett .
- Viticulture - Andy Walker
Capacity Building and Research Projects
- Staple crops and Extension. The bulk of rice in Chile is grown by small poor farmers. UC Davis is working with Chilean colleagues on Rice (Contact Randall Mutters) and is presently engaged in helping Chile develop extension models to better reach small scale farmers. Contacts. Jim Hill and Mark Bell
Training courses
- Chile: Extension design. A 3 day course conducted at UC Davis to identify the key elements of a functional extension system. The course with 3 participants from INDAP Chile was supported by the Chilean Government. Lead instructors: Mark Bell and Jim Hill
- Chile: Extension systems. A one-day in-country workshop - hosted by INDAP for more than 400 participants (with an additional 200 on-line). Lead instructors: Mark Bell and Jim
Hill and Randall (Cass) Mutters
- Chile, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Grenada. Produce handling and marketing. A two week course conducted in California, Washington and Texas. The course with 13 participants was supported by the USDA Cochran program. Lead instructor: Corky Lovin
UC-Chile collaboration
For more on other UC activities, visit the UC-Chile collaboration web site


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environmental management Companies in Botswana
Current filtering criteriaYou can remove a filter by clicking on the x
GCS Pty Ltd
Office in Gaborone, BOTSWANA
GCS is an environmental, water and consulting company based in South Africa. GCS has provided professional and cost effective consulting services in the fields of water, environmental, engineering and earth sciences. GCS is an independent consultancy staffed by a team of highly trained professionals with considerable experience and expertise in the fields of water, ...
Mainpoint Botswana
based in BOTSWANA
Mainpoint (Pty) Ltd is a Training Institution and a Consulting Firm that has emerged in Botswana to offer timely and relevant training and consulting services to different organizations (public & private sectors, international bodies) in Botswana and internationally in various disciplines in the field of environment and earth sciences.As a training institution, Mainpoint ...
Clarke Energy
Office in KwaZulu-Natal, BOTSWANA
Clarke Energy is a multinational specialist in the engineering, installation and maintenance of gas-fuelled power plants. Our facilities deliver fuel efficiency and help reduce carbon emissions. Applications include combined heat and power (CHP) with natural gas, biogas, landfill gas and coal gas. We are a the largest authorised distributor and service provider for GE's ...
Water Resources Consultants (Pty) Ltd.
based in Gaborone, BOTSWANA
Water Resources, Engineering & Environmental Consultants in Southern Africa - Water Resources Consultants (WRC) is a multi-disciplinary consulting company specialising in the development and management of water resources, environment and water supply infrastructure. WRC was incorporated in Botswana in 1987 and has since provided services in Botswana and the rest of the ...
Gast International
Office in BOTSWANA
Gast provides a complete spectrum of services from design and supply to installation in both the civil and construction industries. The Group's philosophy is based on the principle of single point responsibility. Having successfully completed more than 9150 projects during the last millennium, Gast boast accreditation from United Nations and World Bank, giving credit to ...


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Technology News Releases
As of 31st March 2016 IT-Director.com stopped the news release service, these pages are now scheduled for deletion.
Our Latest News Releases
DataCore Achieves the Fastest Response Time and Best Price-Performance - Among Top 10 SPC-1 Leaders on '100 GHz' Server
Parallel I/O Technology Drives More than 1.5M SPC-1 IOPS at a 100 Microsecond Response Time While Simultaneously Running Enterprise-class Database Workloads; Delivers SPC-1 Price-Performance of 9 Cents or 6 pence per SPC-1 IOPS
Date: 29th March 2016 | Published By: DataCore Software
Businesses at risk of alienating 'selfie-generation' because of outdated...
BlueJeans research reveals a video void with businesses missing out on employee engagement
Date: 22nd March 2016 | Published By: RealWire
Fera, the UK Agri-Food Supply Chain Research and Analysis Organisation - plants DataCore at the heart of their data centres.
Data Centre struggling to control Petabytes of Data achieves Unified Management; High Availability; Reduced Total Cost of Ownership and the Flexibility of Hardware Independence.
Date: 22nd March 2016 | Published By: DataCore Software
Intelecom announces speaker line-up at its contact centre industry event
Get Connected 2016 - Conference for contact centre managers being held on 27th April 2016, Royal Over-Seas League,London
Intelecom announces speakers at conference for contact centre professionals being held on 27th April 2016, Royal Over-Seas League, St James, London
Date: 22nd March 2016 | Published By: PR Artistry
Inoapps Wins Prestigious Oracle Excellence Award for SaaS
London, City 21st March 2016: Inoapps (www.inoapps.com) has won the prestigious Oracle Excellence Award for Specialized UK Partner of the Year in SaaS...
Date: 21st March 2016 | Published By: RealWire
Teleopti publishes ebook for contact centre managers on cloud-based workforce management benefits - Teleopti relaunches ebook; What's keeping you from workforce management in the Cloud?
Teleopti announces relaunch of ebook: "What's keeping you from workforce management in the Cloud?".
Date: 17th March 2016 | Published By: PR Artistry
NewVoiceMedia brings powerful insights to the Engage2Excel sales team
Engage2Excel will now use NewVoiceMedia's technology with seamless Salesforce integration, to support its outbound sales team.
Date: 17th March 2016 | Published By: NewVoiceMedia
16,081 Vulnerabilities Recorded in Close to 2,500 Applications in 2015
Flexera Software publishes annual Vulnerability Review from Secunia Research, presenting global vulnerability data for products in use in corporate environments
Date: 16th March 2016 | Published By: RealWire
Schools must invest in integrated technology to reduce teacher workload, says Advanced - Cloud-based MIS solutions and wearable devices can eliminate data duplication
Schools must realise the potential of cloud solutions and other disruptive technologies to tackle the escalating issue of teacher workload.
Date: 15th March 2016 | Published By: Advanced Computer Software Group
DataCore at CeBIT 2016: - Virtualisation, Security & Storage Forum Hall 2, Stand A38:
Previews DataCore Parallel Server Plans and Publishes New Performance Results
Date: 14th March 2016 | Published By: DataCore Software
Record Sales at Checkprint driven by Tech-enabled Products and Services
Checkprint, has announced record revenues of 4.75m for 2015, with growth being fuelled by technology based products.
Date: 10th March 2016 | Published By: Checkprint
Ilex International Enhances Sign&go Mobility Center to Authenticate and Protect Mobile Data
With the rise of mobile devices in the workplace, protecting mobile access and data is crucial.
Date: 10th March 2016 | Published By: Ilex International
US Brands Missing Out By Not Letting Mobile App Content Appear In Google Searches, Finds New Study
Searchmetrics research suggests only 20% of iOS apps and 30% of Android Apps are able to support Google app indexing
Date: 9th March 2016 | Published By: RealWire
Zylpha Launches New Version of Its MOJ Portal Integration
Zylpha (www.zylpha.com) the UK's leading legal systems innovator has launched a new version of its widely acclaimed MoJ (Ministry of Justice) Portal integration
Date: 9th March 2016 | Published By: RealWire
Will The Internet Of Things Enable Your Kettle To Steal Your Car?
Barry Mattacott, marketing director at security specialist Wick Hill Group, looks at the security risks of linking more and more smart devices to our networks.
Date: 9th March 2016 | Published By: RealWire
IDC: Smart MFPs are 'redefining workflow'
New whitepaper sponsored by OKI Europe says latest multifunctional devices extend the remit of printers from paper-based processes to a 'customisable digital...
Date: 8th March 2016 | Published By: RealWire
Labor First wins CRM Service Elite Award with customer contact technology from NewVoiceMedia
NewVoiceMedia helps Labor First improve its customer service efficiency tenfold
Date: 8th March 2016 | Published By: NewVoiceMedia
Advanced 365 partners with Modern Systems to create VME legacy migration powerhouse
Advanced 365 (Advanced) today officially announces a partnership with fellow legacy application migration and modernisation specialists, Modern Systems.
Date: 7th March 2016 | Published By: Advanced Computer Software
Keysource To Showcase Leading Solutions At Security & Policing Event
Keysource, the leading provider of highly secure data centre and mission critical environment solutions, will be attending the Home Office's Security & Policing event in Farnborough from the 8th to 10th March 2016.
Date: 3rd March 2016 | Published By: Weston Partnership
Exponential-e exposes lack of understanding surrounding SDN
Survey highlights lack of understanding of new networking controls
Date: 3rd March 2016 | Published By: RealWire


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Topic: Infertility
Broadcast: Tuesday, March 2, 2011 7:30 p.m. on 21Alive
Dr. Christopher Stroud of Northeast OB/GYN will discuss infertility including what is infertility, common causes of infertility and treatment options.
What are your thoughts CLICK HERE to leave us a "QUESTION OF THE DAY" comment.
© Copyright 2016, A Quincy Media broadcasting station. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Pregnancy and Facebook: What's Your Status?Rebekah Kuschmider
In the social media age, it's oh-so-common to announce a pregnancy on Facebook. And why not? It's so easy and gets the word out fast to a lot of people. It's not a good way to tell, say, your mom, but for all those college buddies and former coworkers, it does the trick. When I got past the crucial 12-week mark and knew it looked like smooth sailing ahead, I posted a shot of a sonogram as a way to share my big news.
But that's pretty much where my pregnancy related Facebooking ends.
Two years ago, when second-baby-fever hit me hard, my husband and I could not consider a second child for a number of personal reasons. That was also the time when many friends started announcing second pregnancies. Each announcement was like a kick in the solar plexus for me, though I did my best to remember to be happy for my happy friends. But I couldn't deny the sting when I read status updates and tweets from women chatting on about symptoms and names and nursery decor. It was their right to share their thoughts and questions about pregnancy on social media but, to me, it was a wistful reminder of the baby I wasn't having.
Right now, I know I have friends, women I care about, who are struggling with fertility issues. There are others who are not in a place financially or in their relationships to pursue pregnancy. And while I know they are happy on my behalf, I also know they won't enjoy reading updates about my every doctor appointment and food craving.
Let's put it this way: if I won the lottery, would I update Facebook every time I paid off my mortgage or bought a pair of $1000 Louboutains? Or would I keep a low profile because most of my friends probably DIDN'T just win the lottery and are working 9-5 to pay the bills?
That's how I feel about pregnancy and social media. I'm not going to hide my good fortune but I'm also not going to dwell on it or load up tickers that autopost the size of my fetus by comparing it to fruit. (Related: I've been trying to figure out a better system for describing fetal size than fruit and I'm coming up blank. Anyone? Ideas?) I have a complete life and can address any number of topics online. That was true before pregnancy and it remains true now. For the sake of my friends who might prefer to hear about my opinions on the latest episode of Up All Night rather than the status of my roids – which, if we're being honest, is everybody I know – I try to remember to keep the prego-talk to a minimum.
How do you feel about talking pregnancy on social media? Keep it to a minimum or chat it up?
Photo credit: photo stock


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Customer Reviews
This is amazing!
- I have gone through bottles and bottles of this stuff! The glycolic acid works wonders for acne prone skin and it is still very gentle for delicate and dry skin types :)
Glow Tonic (250ml)
- Exfoliating magic - awesome product and awesome that the website has this larger-sized bottle, (and at free shipping too :-) "Pixi" rocks!
- This is one of the best skincare products I've ever tried. I noticed a difference almost immediately. My skin is clearer, any skin problems go away significantly quicker. It's almost magical.
Perfect Product
Beautiful product.
Smells great
Not harsh on the skin
Doesnt leave skin oily even if you have oily skin
Overall 10/10
- I love this toner, it has made such an improvement in my skin! I am glowing and it is sensitive enough to use daily am and pm!
Must Have
I happened to see this product in Target and decided to give it a try. I had never found a toner that did much so rarely made it a part of my skin care routine. Overnight the blotchiness was not as noticeable and my adult acne began clearing up. My skin is clear and glowing. I can go out with little or no foundation.
My teenage daughter has been having problems with hormonal breakouts. The glow tonic is keeping her skin in check. It is not drying, even for her sensitive skin.
- I have been struggling for acne for years and this tonic has changed my skin completely. Gives me hope for the future.
Beautiful smell
- I really like the smell, it is difficult to review a product when it is so much hype around it. I do think my skins feels better after using it but I am still finishing my previous toner (I alternate between the 2) so I think it my skin needs to become used to the new one.
I have struggled all my life with my skin, and until this product I had never seen any dramatic results. I thought I was doomed to acne and scarring and oiliness, but in only one week of use the glow tonic cleared all of that up.
There are days I leave the house now in nothing but sunscreen. It's that good.
Staple Product!
- This is a great product to use as a toner, I use it twice daily after cleansing and it doesn't cause any sensitivity/redness/dryness of my sensitive skin. It makes my skin soft and helps combat acne, it's a staple in my beauty routine!
How To
Glow tonic with ginseng & fructose. Helps tone, firm and tighten the skin. Removes dead skin cells for healthier looking skin. Alcohol free. Use after cleanser on cotton pad. Key ingredients: aloe vera, ginseng and glycolic acid-5%. Suitable for all skin types.Create your own "Glow-To Kit" with Flawless Beauty Primer
There may be differences in colour of product that you receive versus image shown. This product has no artificial colour added and the ingredient which gives the product the colour is a natural ingredient, there are occasionally slight variations in shade from batch to batch. It is no cause for concern and the variant in shade does not affect the efficacy of the product.
Additional Information
|Color Description
|How to
|New Icon
|Has a video
Directions for use: Saturate a cotton pad with the tonic and sweep across face, neck and décolletage (avoiding eye area). Can be used AM and PM after cleansing.
Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Glycolic Acid, Ammonium Glycolate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol (and) Fructose (and) Glucose (and) Sucrose (and) Urea (and) Dextrin (and) Alanine (and) Glutamic Acid (and) Aspartic Acid (and) Hexyl Nicotinate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Biotin, Polysorbate 20, Fragrance.
Ingredients are subject to change. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
Made in the USA. 250 ml / 8.5 fl.oz


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From 2008-03-19 to 2008-03-22
Venue: Jaipur, India
Summary:It is commonly recognized that increasing human interferences with the water cycle, as well as climate variability and change, pose risks to groundwater resources. This conference will look into ways to protect and sustain groundwater resources. It will also present the more recent technological and scientific developments associated with the behavior of groundwater dynamics under changing local, regional and global scenarios. Issues related to groundwater quality, quantity, management and planning shall also be looked into. The conference will be an opportunity to bring together scholars, scientists, experts and researchers confronting end users from different user sectors, managers, decision makers and stakeholders from universities, institutes, agencies and authorities all over the world to discuss and develop a general framework for optimizing groundwater management and control for sustainable development.
Organizers: University of Rajasthan, Jaipur and Association of Geo-environmentalistsContact Name: Professor A.K. SinhaE-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com: http://www.unesco.org/water/ihp/pdf/gwc2008_jaipur.pdf


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10 Day Melbourne to Alice Springs Explorer
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(Code : EX1130) Buy Gift Voucher | Book Now
Road trip from Melbourne to Alice Springs and find new adventures as you cross the state borders. Hit up the coast along the Great Ocean Road and camp overnight in the Grampians National Park. Visit the Opal Capital of the world in Coober Pedy before arriving in Alice Springs and watching the sunset over Uluru. Set off on a hike at Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) before the tour ends in the Alice Springs.
Melbourne CBD, Victoria | More Melbourne CBD Attractions | More Melbourne CBD Tours
NOTE: Unless otherwise specified, the rates listed are for the 2016 - 2017 season. The 2016 - 2017 season rates are valid from the 1st April 2016 - 31st March 2017. The 2017 - 2018 season rates commence on the 1st April 2017.
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Ribcaged Entertainment (prevously Spreading Infection) is a dedicated team focused on providing the public with fun playable games. We strive to perfect every aspect of every detail, and hope to one day be at the forefront of quality game development.
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Cruise Lines
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Celebrity Onboard Dining
Morning may bring breakfast for two on your private veranda, with just-baked pastries and seasonal berries. In the afternoon you can savor the views along with delicate finger sandwiches at our Elegant Tea. And on special nights, our Gourmet Bites include mini-beef Wellingtons and crisp tempura hand-carried and served by waiters throughout the ship.
Our award-winning cuisine reflects our dedication to fresh, exquisitely prepared gourmet cuisine. Under the guidance of Master Chef Michel Roux, our culinary delights are made from scratch and seasoned with fresh herbs.
Main Restaurants
When evening falls and candlelight glows, you will dine on the gourmet cuisine of world-renowned Master Chef Michel Roux. Our dramatic two-story main restaurant presents soaring ocean views, soft music and exquisite settings of china, white linen and crystal -- with attentive, yet unobtrusive service from our European-trained staff.
Specialty Dining
You'll find a dining experience like no other at sea in one of our innovative new specialty restaurants on our newest class of ships. Each has a distinctively elegant atmosphere, hearkening back to an age of truly gracious living and featuring tableside service and the French culinary art of flambé. Your ship may offer the intimacy of a dine-in wine cellar and the open atmosphere of a demonstration kitchen. Or you may have chance to experience The Olympic, a stunning reproduction of the dining rooms that graced the magnificent ocean liners of the early 20th century.
Casual Dining
For more casual dining, visit a poolside grill or café, or choose fresh gourmet pizza and complimentary 24-hour in-room service. And throughout your cruise, you'll find a dazzling array of specialties in themed buffets, displaying the artistry and culinary talents of our chefs.
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Agents find 5.5 kilos of cocaine inside picture frame
Gabriel Ayala-Quinones arrested after bust
Published 7:27 AM EDT Sep 20, 2013
Drug agents in Marion County said it wasn't just art being delivered to an Ocala apartment.
Investigators set up a sting to seize a loaded painting frame full of cocaine.
Detectives said it was delivered to Gabriel Ayala-Quinones at the Green Gables Apartments on Southwest 10th Street on Wednesday.
Agents said they pulled 5 and a half kilograms of cocaine from the frame.
Ayala-Quinones was arrested.
Agents said they also seized more than $10,000 from the apartment and drugs stuffed in the freezer.
Related: Florida mug shots
Copyright 2013 by WESH.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Five weeks after flooding that damaged parts of the state, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., toured one of the areas still struggling to recover.
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Today, the winery owns a total of 200 acres and is bottling its own wines in the heart of the Orvieto Classico, and a small amount of the excellent single vineyard Orvieto: Poggio Calvelli. The remaining property is planted to Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. La Carraia is the leading estate in the new emerging production of excellent red wines from the Orvieto zone.
At the same time, every new bottling has its own subtle and fresh personality; this edition is slightly less sweet than the last. The 9 grapes tie together perfectly, creating a smooth, layered white wine that can hold its own or stand up to just about any food pairing you dare to serve it with. It is extraordinarily food-friendly, from light salads to the hottest fusion-style cuisine.
Regarding the question we're most often asked: "Were you trying to do this or did your leftovers happen to work well together?" We'll let the success of Evolution speak for itself.
Sokol Blosser strives to create wines of world class quality that are produced sustainably, mindful of the environment and your health, and that express the distinctive flavors of their hillside vineyards. Sokol Blosser wines reflect who they are – their values and their sense of place. We hope you enjoy them.
Pairs well with white and red meats roasted or grilled, big game, meat casseroles and stews, complex sauces, foie gras and legumes or blue and cured cheeses.
Ideal with lamb or pork chops. Suited to most red meats and exceptionally good as a wine to enjoy all on its own!
Good to drink with anyone at anytime. Ideally suited to fresh oysters, asparagus dishes or summer salads.
Perfect for drinking immediately, this Sauvignon Blanc will be at its best over the next two years.
Saint Clair Estate Wines is owned by Neal and Judy Ibbotson, pioneers of viticulture in Marlborough since 1978. Grapes were originally supplied to local wine companies; however, a desire to extend the quality achieved in the vineyard through to the finished wine led to the establishment of Saint Clair Estate Wines.
Saint Clair Estate Wine's success is founded on the 27 years of extensive pioneering viticulture, ongoing as a critical part of the highest quality winemaking practices. Neal and Judy's passion for their Marlborough vineyards and award-winning range of wines is continuing to build their growing reputation in New Zealand and in the 35 markets around the world to which they export.
The company's mission is to create world-class wines that exceed their customers' every expectation. To achieve this, Neal Ibbotson's viticultural expertise and Marlborough's unique climate and soils are combined with the proven experience of one of New Zealand's leading winemaking teams, led by Saint Clair's chief winemaker, Matt Thomson.
Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a wonderful partner with smoked meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, and seafood (especially sushi!). Keep one in the fridge at all times.
Wines under her Crios label display ripe fruit flavors, excellent balance and concentration, and are meant to be enjoyed in their vibrant youth. These wines are produced under Dominio del Plata's code of sustainable agriculture.
Like Susana's own crios (a boy and a girl), they are extremely lovable and fun to be around. The label features a series of three connected and overlapping hands, an image inspired by a Mayan artifact. The artifact illustrates the interconnectedness of every generation, and the irony that we will be both the parent and the offspring at different times in our lives.
This is a perfect wine for sipping on lazy summer after- noons, and is equally prepared to stand up to a creamy pasta dish, spicy Thai soup, or a simple dinner of fruit, cheese, and a fresh baked sourdough loaf.


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Candlewood Suites Aurora-Naperville
Candlewood Suites Aurora-Naperville
Enjoy Hotel's Aurora, Illinois Location Near Chicago
The distinguished Candlewood Suites® Hotel Aurora - Naperville is just 45 miles west of downtown Chicago and 45 minutes from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Chicago Midway (MDW) Airports. Adjacent to the high-tech corridor and I-88, this hotel's all-suite Aurora accommodations promise Illinois visitors a comfortable home base for extended business trips and leisurely vacations.
With area companies, including Toyota, Hyundai, Kraft, Nestle and Nissan, within minutes of Aurora, this Illinois hotel's corporate guests enjoy easy access to meetings and business engagements. The hotel's proximity to Naperville, IL puts guests near JP Morgan Chase, Oberweis Dairy and Wendy's Corporate, too.
Shoppers visiting Aurora, Illinois love this hotel's location two miles from Chicago Premium Outlets. Top attractions like Raging Waves Waterpark and Orchard Valley Golf Course are also near the hotel's location.
Near Naperville, IL and the Chicago area, this hotel's accommodations not only promise convenient access throughout northeast Illinois, but also helpful perks like a 24-hour Fitness Center and Business Center, a 24-hour Candlewood Cupboard convenience store and free, hotel-wide Wi-Fi access. This hotel is 100% non-smoking and pet-friendly. We invite you to embrace the Midwest and stay with the best at the Candlewood Suites® Hotel Aurora - Naperville!
Quick Info
- Check In: 3:00 PM
- Check Out: 12:00 PM
- Minimum Check-In Age: 21
- Late Check Out Available
- Parking: Free
- Print Fact Sheet
- Chat With Us
- On-site Guest Self-Laundry Facilities
- Housekeeping Full Service
- Standard Wireless Internet service is free for all members
- On-site Fitness Center Available
It's hard to leave your best buddy at home when you're traveling for extended periods, so we provide a pet friendly experience. Restrictions and fees apply.
Whether you are booking suites for a family reunion or suites for your company's training needs, Candlewood Suites hotels can accommodate your group.
Workout whenever you want: Candlewood Gym always has an open door and lots of aerobic and cardio equipment to make it easier to stick to your exercise routine, no sweat.
The IHG Green Engage system is an online tool that gives our hotels the means to measure their day-to-day environmental impact.
Getting Here
Guest Reviews
Overall Experience
September 23, 2016
Clean and Comfortable
September 20, 2016
This place was as expected for a mid-level hotel. It was clean and comfortable. The amenities were great.
Beautiful Hotel
BySmalltown Grandma
August 31, 2016
We were impressed with the rooms, above our expectations. the complete kitchen with cute little bottle of dish detergent which I used to get a wine stain out of my white jeans. the coffee was very good, and we liked the cupboard to buy a candy bar to et before going to bed. Candlewood suites is a good choice.
Great experience loved the location
August 30, 2016
This hotel was clean, easy to check in and efficient for all lifestyles. The rooms have modern conveniences and kitchens which makes any type of travel easier. The bed was comfortable and was impressed with the location.


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STROUP?REUNION?PLANNED:?The 75th annual Stroup reunion will be held Aug. 25 at the VFW Post 9571, 11397 Ellsworth Road, Ellsworth. Dinner is at 1 p.m. Those attending are to bring a covered dish, beverage and table service. Bring an item for the white elephant Chinese auction.
REUNION CELEBRATES WOMEN'S RIGHTS: Former members of Warren 9 to 5 Working Women have been organizing a reunion of former members to celebrate Women's Equality Day and 92 years of voting rights at 3 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Garden Room, Scope Center, 220 W. Market St., Warren. There will be a program on women's suffrage and a documentary slide presentation about Warren 9 to 5 in the 1990s. Guest speaker is Brittany Gray of Greenwood Chevrolet. The event will include a poetry reading , speeches about women's suffrage and music. Galaxy Ink art will be displayed. For information, call 330-395-6913 or 330-898-0853
ALUMNI BANQUET SET: Mecca or Maplewood High School graduates or anyone that has ever attended Mecca or Maplewood School is invited to the alumni banquet Sept. 8 at Maplewood High School cafeteria. Doors open at 6 p.m. for fellowship with dinner at 6:30 p.m. The cost of the meal is $15.50 per person. Money for reservations can be sent to Bernice McPherson, 2759 Greenville Road, Cortland, OH 44410. Reservations are needed by Aug. 29. Make checks payable to Mecca Alumni Association. For more information, call Wanda List Sawyer at 330-889-2990 or Bob List at 330-889-2829.
CLASS REUNION SET: The Warren Western Reserve Class of 1977 will hold it 35-year class reunion on Oct. 13 at the St. Demetrios pavilion, 3223 Atlantic St., Warren. Cost is $25 if paid by Sept. 15. After Sept. 15 the cost is $30. No walk-ins will be accepted.
The committee is looking for the following classmates. Contact Susan Dukes Johnson at 330-392-3275 or email at s77johnson@ gmail.com with information on any of these classmates.
Anastasia Agne
Jeffrey Alexander
Klaus Anderson
Brian Barbutes
Richard Barry
Kathryn Benden Miller
Jamah Briggs
John Cash
Carole Chidester
Pok Sun Choe Blackwell
Terri Christopher
Randall Coleman
Michael Currie
Walter Dell
Dennis Dial
Jackie Douglas Rupe
Deborah Ewanish
John Farr
James Forkin
Michael Glabincea
Peter Gilbert
Aldrick Gore
Billie Green
Starr Haynes Aluko
David Hill
Janet Horvath
Ronald Horvath
Samuel Huffsteler
James Hunter
Karen Hurd Perich
Sally Ingram
Uwe Jaekel
Larry Jordan
Wanda Kale
Todd Klinedinst
Mitchell Kuptz
John Kwiecinski
Donald Kyer
Mark Lackner
Ronald Lester
Michael Liley
Karen Lockovich
Tami Marsh Dittmer
Patricia Martin Haviland
Mark Martof
Edward Martorana
Tammy McClintock
Lloyd Miller
Mark Miller
Pamela Minick
Gregory Molnar
Tami Moore
Mark Naylor
Peggy Neff
Marylynne Owens
Carol Peno
David Robinson
Joni Rowles
Diana Safos
Ed Sardich
John Sember
Ronald Simmons
William Slusher
Crystal Solida
Betty Stargell
Frank Starnes
Tina Suckow Gulliford
William Ward
Lloyd Ware
Mary Weiss
Beverli Westfall
Cheridan Westmoreland
Hal Wigley
Kevin Williams
Calvin Yale


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Shaolin Warriors Martial Arts Show at Carpenter Performing Arts Center
* Additional fees apply. No coupon or promo codes necessary to enjoy the displayed discount price.
The last date listed for Shaolin Warriors was Saturday October 13, 2007 / 8:00pm.
Currently at Carpenter Performing Arts Center, CSULB
Kid Favorites Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny Brought to Life
- Full Price:
- $25
- Our Price:
- $12.50
Whimsical animal puppetry, imaginative scenery and original music are among the highlights of this… More
Venue Details
Reviews & Ratings
Featured review from Mala B.
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Good entertainment. Some amazing feats by the performers. Makes one wonder is it really mind over matter? The two youngest performers stole the show.
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Great show and experience!
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Amazing! The performers had tremendous skill and physical prowess and the show was most enjoyable. We recommend this show to anyone.
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The best
Enter the world of ancient warriors who have perfected the art of hand-to-hand and weapons combat through hours of daily training for more than 1,000 years. In a display of faith, discipline, respect and strength that is without peer, the stunning movement and deadly martial arts prowess reveal men of action ready to defend and men of peace ready to console.


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Port Richmond's girls took another step upward Saturday by finishing second at the PSAL city indoor championship at the Armory Track and Field Center in Manhattan.
With strong performances across the board, and wins from sophomore Yazmin Wilson-Jones in the 600 meters and junior Katiana Hill in the triple jump, the Raiders scored 51.25 points, .25 better than third-place Medgar Evers.
Cardozo, paced by ace Alexis Pannise, won its sixth consecutive city PSAL title with 74 points.
Susan Wagner was fifth with 38 points. McKee/S.I. Tech was seventh with 21 and Curtis tied for 13th with 12.
It was an all-around great day for Island individuals, with Jessica Szela winning the pole vault and setting an Island indoor record in the 1,500-meter walk.
Port Richmond was in the hunt for the team titls all day, surviving some minor mishaps with many clutch contributions.
Wilson-Jones, a talented sophomore, has been knocking on the door all year and really arrived Saturday.
She followed the favorite, Brittney Adams of DeWitt Clinton through a 60-second quarter-mile. On the backstretch, she moved, Adams failed to respond, and Wilson-Jones held off fast-closing Jhanee Sterrett of Boys and Girls to win in 1 minute, 35.87 seconds.
"We've been working out a lot on the last lap," said Wilson-Jones. "I just wanted to run strong today."
Teammate Hill had a disappointing day in the long jump, failing to qualify, and was spinning her wheels in third place after the trials of the triple jump.
It all came together on her fifth attempt as she leaped 36 feet, 9 inches to take the lead by .25 inches. That measure held up for the win and earned her the Outstanding Field Athlete award.
"I wanted the Island record," said Hill, who is less than five inches off Tracy Minott's 37-1.25 mark.
The pole vault resulted in an unexpected win for MSIT sophomore Szela.
A one-foot increase after the opening height resulted in many of the favorites falling by the wayside. Szela kept cool, cleared every height on her first attempt, and when she cleared 7-6, the gold medal was hers.
She later came back to take fourth in the 1,500 walk, clocking an Island record 7:29.71.
"I focused on the girls ahead of me ," she said, adding, "I had an amazing day."
Susan Wagner's Christina Melian, the Island's top distance runner, won no gold medals, but set two personal bests despite running with shin splints.
Melian finished second to Pannise of Cardozo, one of the nation's best, in the 3,000 in 10:14.50, then came back to run 4:46.42 in the 1,500, finishing behind Pannise's teammate, Sabrina Southerland.
"I went out too slowly in the 1,500," said Melian. "I let (Southerland) get too much of a gap."
SW soph Elaine Minew utilized some new techniques and improved her best in the shot put by nearly three feet, placing second with a 33-0.
"I was just looking to make it to the finals," said Minew, smiling. "I'm excited."
A month ago, Curtis junior Corinne Birchard was barely under 3:10 for 1,000 meters. At the SI PSAL meet, she dropped her time nearly seven seconds, and Saturday, clipped another five seconds off that mark, clocking 2:57.32.
Pannise ran 2:53.01, but Birchard was undetrerred.
"My birthday was Friday," Birchard said. "This was a good present — I wanted to get under 3:00, and I wanted to qualify for the state meet."
Her teammate, Brigitte Pewu, ran 8.82 for fourth in the 55 hurdles, a time matched by a handful of Islanders.
Tottenville scored 8 points, with Emily Woo taking fourth in the high jump (5-0), and soph Angelique DeMeo running fifth in the 1,500 and 3,000.
Meanwhile, Port Richmond was getting big contributions from Amanda DeLaCruz, who was third in the 1,500 and 3,000, Shi-Anne Humes (300), Alison Doway (600), and the 4x400 and 4x800 teams.
"I think we had a great day," said PR coach Marissa Olivieri. "We were extremely competitive today."
NYC PSAL Championships
Armory Track and Field Center
All race distances in meters
55: Chinenyenw Ani (C) 7.98.
300: 5. Shi-Anne Humes (PR) 41.07 (41.36-trial).
600: Yazmin Wilson-Jones (PR) 1:35.87; 5. Alison Doway (PR) 1:39.94.
1,000: 2. Corinne Birchard (C) 2:57.32; 4. Meredith Hansalik (MSIT) 3:09.73; 6. Kassandra Somers (PR) 3:16.85; Brianna Fellner (T) 3:17.94.
1,500: 2. Christina Melian (SW) 4:46.42; 3. Amanda DeLaCruz (PR) 4:50.01; 5. Angelique DeMeo (T) 4:58.93; Jaclyn Panepinto (PR) 5:10.22.
3,000: 2. Melian (SW) 10:14.50; 3. DeLaCruz (PR) 10:41.69; 5. DeMeo (T) 10:43.76; Panepinto (PR) 10:57.08; Anna Piersiak (C) 11:51.21; Catherine Varriano (SW) 11:56.38; Denean Dixon (C) 12:10.19.
55-HURDLES: 4. Brigitte Pewu (C) 8.82 (8.89-trial); 6. Breanna Brukalo (MSIT) 9.35 (8.95-trial); Emily Woo (T) 9.71; Kaitlin Russo (T) 9.73; Victoria Barry (SW) 10.43.
1,500-WALK: 4. Jessica Szela (MSIT) 7:29.71 (Island record, old record 7:45.03-Cindy Barrett (Curtis); Rebecca Lio (T) 7:58.38; Meirrel Hosny (T) 8:23.99.
HIGH JUMP: 4. Emily Woo (T) 5-0; Kristy Carlin (MSIT) 4-8.
POLE VAULT: 1. Szela (MSIT) 7-6; 3. tie Emily Crowl (SW) 7-0; 5. Catherine Nasella (SW) 7-0; 6. Tie Jeannette Ridgeway (PR) , Kayla Fred (SW) 6-0; Maria Scalici (SW) 6-0; Maria Belyayeva (MSIT) 6-0; Lucia Cappello (T) 6-0.
LONG JUMP: Brukalo (MSIT) 15-7; Katiana Hill (PR) 15-3; Pewu © 14-4.
TRIPLE JUMP: 1. Hill (PR) 36-9.
SHOT PUT: 2. Elaine Minew (SW) 33-0; Bidemi Bamisile (PR) 29-11; Zaquaysia Floyd (PR) 27-4.5.
4x200-RELAY: Port Richmond (Casie Clark, Hill, Florina Jajaga, Doway) 1:49.88; Curtis (Ani, Brittany Sheridan, J'Renda Rivera, Pewu) 1:50.16.
4x400-RELAY: 3. Port Richmond (Doway 1:00.5, Humes 1:00.1, Jajaga 1:02.4, Wilson-Jones 58.5) 4:01.69; Port Richmond B (Clark, Somers, Adrianna Vaught, Christina Burgos) 4:28.10.
4x800-RELAY: 2. Port Richmond (Wilson-Jones 2:22.3, DeLaCruz 2:26.6, Somers 2:25.8, Burgos 2:26.8) 9:36.73; 5. MSIT (Brukalo, Brianna Gallo, Hansalik, Kristy Carlin) 10:03.38; MSIT B (Funmilola Idowu, Nicole Maliborska, Jenny Yakirm, Marai Belyayeva) 10:19.25; Curtis (Birchard, Brianna Elliott, Yvonne Noruwa, Dixon) 10:24.34; Port Richmond B (Panepinto, Ashley Stewart, Janelle Morgan, Vaught) 10:38.19.
NYC PSAL Champions
55: Monique Green (Campus Magnet) 7.17.
300: Kadecia Baird (Medgar Evers) 38.57.
600: Yazmin Wilson-Jones (Port Richmond) 1:35.87.
1,000: Alexis Panisse (Cardozo) 2:53.01.
1,500: Sabrina Southerland (Cardozo) 4:42.78.
3,000: Alexis Pannise (Cardozo) 10:03.32.
55-HURDLES: Akayla Anderson (Cardozo) 8.08.
1,500-WALK: Ji Won Kang (Townsend Harris) 7:06.88.
HIGH JUMP: Treasure Glymph (Truman) 5-2.
POLE VAULT: Jessica Szela (McKee/S.I. Tech) 7-6.
LONG JUMP: Jonelle Campbell (Taft) 16-10.
TRIPLE JUMP: Katiana Hill (Port Richmond) 36-9.
SHOT PUT: Desiree Gordon (DeWitt Clinton) 34-7.75.
4x200-RELAY: Medgar Evers 1:41.66.
4x400-RELAY: Medgar Evers 3:58.66.
4x800-RELAY: Cardozo 9:36.57.
TEAM: Cardozo 74 points
OUTSTANDING TRACK ATHLETE: Alexis Pannise (Cardozo)
OUTSTANDING FIELD ATHLETE: Katiana Hill (Port Richmond)


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. ---- Nick Hardwick took off downfield, ready toknock some heads. The Chargers center got up to speed and beganreading the defense, knowing full well that fullback Mike Tolbertwas coming on fast and needed some help to get quality productionout of a screen pass.
Hardwick bulldozed his man and Tolbert rumbled for an 11-yard gain.
Seeing Hardwick running free and blocking strong was a surprising sight, considering he'd been out 15 weeks with an ankle injury that required surgery to repair.
Hardwick suffered a pair of setbacks in his return, which wasslated for early December. But the sixth-year pro didn't miss abeat in a 42-17 road win over the Tennessee Titans.
"I felt like I could go full throttle," Hardwick said. "I had a practice this week where everything went great and I knew I was ready to go. There wasn't anything in the back of my mind slowing me down. I wasn't worried about the ankle. I didn't even think about it."
After the game Hardwick pondered the long, hard road to recovery and what it meant to finally return to action.
"It's really gratifying after going through all that," Hardwick said. "The team was hot tonight and everyone was incredibly focused. It was nice to be a part of it again."
The Chargers were happy to have him back, especially after Scott Mruczkowski, Hardwick's replacement, was put on injured reservewith an ankle injury. Hardwick functioned well in all facets, inrun blocking, pass protection and picking up blitzes.
The center has tremendous mental responsibilities, and Hardwick was ready for it. He remained active in meetings and game plans for contests he knew he wouldn't be a part of. He broke down the defense from the sideline on every play, which helped him return to form so quickly. While he didn't commit to playing next week now that the Chargers have locked up the AFC's No. 2 seed, Hardwick's return was certainly triumphant.
"I was thrilled for him more than anything," quarterback Philip Rivers said.
"He's been out since the opener, and there's no one who cares any more or wants to play any more than Nick does. For a guy to be out 15 weeks, but be so committed to staying in it mentally is amazing. He was sharp and into the game plan. I was thrilled to have him back in there. Nick said he felt great and he played great from what I could tell.
"He cranks the tempo and really gets the team going when he's in there. It was great to see it back out there."
Homecoming, of sorts
Rivers was on the hunt for game tickets all week long. He worked every possible avenue to secure ducats, and ended up with roughly 70 for Friday's game against Tennessee.
Amazingly enough, he used them all. Rivers and his wife, Tiffany, are from Decatur, Ala., roughly 90 minutes from Nashville. The families used the game as an excuse for a reunion, driving up in droves to see Rivers play in person.
"I had just about every family member on both my side and my wife's side at this game," Rivers said. "It was a lot of fun. It felt in some ways like I was in my own backyard. As the lead grew, you could hear the Chargers fans. It was really great to play in front of so many family members."
Milestone alert
Several Chargers players set individual milestones Friday.
Rivers exceeded 4,000 passing yards for the second straight season and set his career best with Friday's performance, giving him 4,155 yards with another game remaining.
Tight end Antonio Gates also established a career high inreceiving yards. He did so with a 36-yard touchdown catch in thesecond quarter. Gates finished with three receptions for 74 yards,leaving him with 1,145 on the season.
Gates' touchdown catch was the 58th of his career, moving him into a tie for second place with Gary Garrison on the franchise's list for career receiving touchdowns.
Vincent Jackson also set a career best in receiving with hisfirst catch of the day. He had five catches for 70 yards, and nowsits at 1,167 for the season.
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson scored his 137th and 138thrushing touchdown, setting an NFL record for most rushing scores ina single decade. The previous record was set by Emmitt Smith, whoscored 136 rushing TDs in the 1990s.
Pregame tussle
The Chargers have been involved in a few heated pregame exchanges with the opposition. There was another one on Friday, but it didn't involve any players.
A Chargers' horse mascot came out with a Shawne Merriman jerseyon and was attacked by the Titans raccoon and a cheerleader in askimpy Santa outfit. They rode up in a sleigh and jumped on theCharger representative at midfield. The crowd cheered thesubmission as the horse limped off the field.
There was an actual dustup in the second half, when Kassim Osgood shoved a Titans' player in the back. He was assessed a15-yard penalty, but nothing came from the subsequent scuffle.
LT of all trades
In addition to his duties as a running back and receiver, Tomlinson play some quarterback too. He threw his first pass of the season in the first quarter, but he overthrew Gates in the back of the end zone. As it stands, Tomlinson has seven touchdowns in 12 pass attempts.
He also ran a play from the "wild frog" formation, where he took a direct snap and ran for a 3-yard gain.
Go to sportsblogs.nctimes.com for more Chargers news and notes.


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A man was transported by Life Flight after an accident involving an erratic driver north of Tiffin Monday evening.
The accident on SR 53, south of CR 38, was reported at 8:15 p.m.
Trooper Matt Manly of the Fremont post of State Highway Patrol said several witnesses saw a vehicle, which was northbound on SR 53, driving erratically, passing several vehicles.
Article Photos
A State Highway Patrol trooper said evidence showed a vehicle was out of control and made contact with this Geo Tracker. The Geo Tracker was forced off the road and hit a a pole.
He said the evidence showed the vehicle passed vehicles, was out of control and made contact with a Geo Tracker that also was northbound on SR 53. The Geo Tracker was forced off the roadway and slammed into a pole due to the other driver's erratic driving, he said.
Manly said the driver of the Geo Tracker was taken to Mercy Tiffin Hospital and then was taken by Life Flight to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center.
"We don't know the extent of his injuries right now," he said.
Manly said it sounded like the at-fault drive fled the scene.
Sgt. Larry Mackling of Seneca County Sheriff's Office said deputies located the man who fled and his vehicle at his residence and detained him until State Highway Patrol could get there.
A tow truck was requested, Manly said.
The crash was under investigation Monday night, and the identities of those involved were not available.
A Seneca County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said personnel from Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department, the sheriff's office, State Highway Patrol and Tiffin EMS responded to the crash. An American Electric Power crew also was at the scene.


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Tory Belleci, one of the stars of the Discovery Channel show "Mythbusters," describes trying to stay calm in Los Angeles International Airport after a gunman opened fire.
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