text:
Some of you may have heard of the announcement by
Secretary Spellings earlier this month about new flexibility with implementation
of the No Child Left
Behind Act
(NCLB) and school/district
accountability. We welcome this announcement as
We are encouraged by continually improving test scores
and the progress schools have made in beginning to close the minority
achievement gap. As we work to successfully implement NCLB in
As we work through the changes in our assessment
system in
On April 20, I met with Deputy Secretary of Education
Designee Ray Simon and other USDE staff in
1. Concern. There are several aspects of change regarding subgroup size which are needed in order to ensure the state's accountability system is more reliable and valid.
1.1 Consider overall changes in school subgroup size.
Ø Participation: 50 students enrolled on first day of testing OR a minimum subgroup size of 15 percent of enrollment across the tested grades, whichever is greater, AND
Ø Performance: 50 valid test scores OR a minimum subgroup size of 15 percent of the valid test scores across the tested grades, whichever is greater.
1.2 Consider changes in district subgroup number
Ø Participation: 50 students enrolled on first day of testing OR a minimum subgroup size of 15 percent of the enrollment across the tested grades, whichever is greater, AND
Ø Performance: 50 valid test scores OR a minimum subgroup size of 15 percent of the valid test scores across the tested grades, whichever is greater.
1.3 Consider use of a confidence interval
Beginning with the
2004-05 school year,
NOTE: We had considered but not discussed with USDE two alternative proposals. Deputy-designee Simon stated that if we choose to take advantage of the proposed 2 percent flexibility in 2006 or beyond, only one set of subgroup numbers would be acceptable rather than multiple sets.
2. Concern. Consider a means of recognizing a district as not having made AYP only when one or more of its schools OR one or more of its underlying grade spans have not made AYP. Illinois proposes to change how districts are identified as not making AYP so that no district will be determined to not meet AYP unless one or more of its schools OR one or more of its underlying grade spans have not made AYP in the same subject area.
Concern. Consider changing the definition of a full academic
NOTE: If/when enacted, the
Concern. Use a test with a different readability level.
Concern. Using same
subgroup in determination of AYP.
Mr. Simon said that
I look forward to seeing many of you at the IASA Annual Conference this week.
Best regards,
Randy Dunn
Also in this week's message:
State Board of Education action items from April meeting
Follow-up on social emotional learning surveys
Invitation to comment on rules
Professional Development Needs Assessment Survey
Video tool kit for Refugee and Bilingual Program students
Preventing diseases associated with animals in public settings
State TBE/TPI and Federal Title III consolidated application workshops
21st Century Community Learning Centers Program
Mediacom Communications offers scholarships to high school students
U.S. Department of Education seeks nominations for American Stars of Teaching
Positions available at ISBE
Weekly newsclips
State Board of Education action items from April meeting
The State Board of Education authorized solicitation of public comment on the proposed rulemaking for:
Transportation Reimbursement (23
Next steps
With the Board's authorization, staff will submit the proposed amendments to the Administrative Code Division for publication in the Illinois Register to elicit public comment. Additional means such as the Superintendent's message and the agency's website will also be used to inform interested parties of the opportunity to comment on this rulemaking.
The State Board of Education authorized solicitation of public comment on the proposed rulemaking for:
Purchasing Program (44
Next steps
With the Board's authorization, staff will submit these proposed rules to the Administrative Code Division for publication in the Illinois Register to elicit public comment. Additional means such as the Superintendent's message and the agency's website will also be used to inform interested parties of the opportunity to comment on this rulemaking.
Adopted recommended changes in the 2005 Board calendar as follows:
· Plenary Sessions shall begin at on the Thursday of our two-day meetings.
· June 15-16, 2005 meeting will now be held in Springfield, due to the unavailability of hotels in downtown Chicago, and the possibility of the General Assembly being in session.
· August 1, 2005 there will be a one-day plenary business meeting via phone conference/video conference.
· The Annual Work Conference dates have been changed to August 16-19, 2005 and the work conference will be held at the Pere Marquette State Lodge in Grafton, Illinois.
· The October Board meeting will be held in Danville, Illinois.
The State Board of Education approved the following programs, authorizing the institutions to conduct the programs and to recommend candidates for certification by entitlement until the time of the institution's next accreditation review.
l Chicago State University – School Social Worker
l Loyola University Chicago – Technology Specialist
l McKendree College – Principal/General Administrative
l Rockford College – Learning Behavior Specialist I
Further the State Board of Education authorized the Superintendent to inform the institutions of the State Board's decisions.
Next Steps
Each of the institutions will be notified regarding the State Board's decision. The State Teacher Certification Board will also be notified and the State Board's Directory of Approved Institutions and Programs will be updated to identify the new programs.
Motions (Waivers):
l The request from Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 (WM100-3401-2) asking to waive daily physical education for students in grades 9 through 11 is to be forwarded to the General Assembly with a recommendation for legislative disapproval.
l The request from South Beloit Community Unit School District 320 (WM100-3447-2) asking to waive daily physical education for students in grades 11 and 12 is to be forwarded to the General Assembly with a recommendation for legislative disapproval.
l The request from Somonauk Community Unit School District 432 (WM100-3370) asking to waive instructional time requirements is to be forwarded to the General Assembly with a recommendation for legislative disapproval.
l The request from South Beloit Community Unit School District 320 (WM100-3447-4) asking to waive instructional time requirements is to be forwarded to the General Assembly with a recommendation for legislative disapproval.
l The request from Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 (WM100-3390) asking to waive time limitations for substitute teachers is to be forwarded to the General Assembly with a recommendation for legislative disapproval.
l The request from Cook County School District 130 (WM100-3454) asking to waive time limitations for substitute teachers is to be forwarded to the General Assembly with a recommendation for legislative disapproval.
l The request from Freeport School District 145 (WM100-3506-1) asking to waive time limitations for substitute teachers is to be forwarded to the General Assembly with a recommendation for legislative disapproval.
l The requests from Gavin School District 37 (WM100-3517-1 and WM100-3517-2) asking to waive daily physical education and classes in art and music for students in grades K through 8 is to be forwarded to the General Assembly with a recommendation for one-year approval only.
l The remaining 75 requests summarized in the waiver report are to be forwarded without comment.
l The Board approved the Spring 2005 Waiver Report, along with the recommendations for disapproval and one-year approval, and authorized its submission to the General Assembly before May 1.
Next Steps
Staff will submit the Spring 2005 Waiver Report as presented to the General Assembly before May 1.
The Illinois State Board of Education approved the 2005 School District Financial Profile designations based on school districts' 2004 annual financial data.
Next Steps
Continue to review any issues that may still exist with school districts and take all appropriate steps to adjust and improve the way data is gathered and used and the score is calculated.
School District Financial Profiles released
The State Board of Education approved the 2005 School District Financial Profiles at their meeting Thursday, April 21. The School District's Total Profile Score, or Designation, is based on the Annual Financial Reports (AFRs) from fiscal year 2004.
A School District's Designation is achieved by scoring five indicators: Fund Balance to Revenue Ratio (FBRR), Expenditure to Revenue Ratio (EXRV), Days Cash on Hand (DCOH), Percent of Short-term Borrowing Available (STB) and Percent of Long-term Debt Remaining (LTD). Each indicator is calculated from information supplied from the AFRs and earns a numerical score based upon the range of the indicator. The indicators are each weighted to arrive at the Total Profile Score; FBRR and EXRV are weighted at 35 percent and DCOH, STB, and LTD at 10 percent. The Total Profile Score is on a four-point scale that places school districts in one of four designation levels: Financial Recognition, Financial Review, Financial Early Warning, and Financial Watch.
The Financial Watch List represents those school districts which face the most severe financial problems and includes 79 school districts. The next designation level, Financial Early Warning, includes 111 school districts. Financial Review contains 249 school districts this year, and Financial Recognition has 449, an increase of 93 from last year.
Historical View of the School District Financial Profile
2003 Designations (2002 Data)
2004 Designations (2003 Data)
2005 Designations (2004 Data)
Financial Recognition
Financial Review
Financial Early Warning
Financial Watch
Analysis of the School District's AFRs shows that while districts are raising their Profile scores, many are doing so while incurring more short- and long-term debt. Significant reductions in spending are also credited for improving the financial health of school districts.
Detailed information, including how the indicators are calculated and the comments districts have supplied for their Profile Scores can be found at http://www.isbe.net/sfms/P/profile.htm. If you have questions, please contact Lou Ferratier firstname.lastname@example.com or Ken Wargo firstname.lastname@example.com via email or by calling 217-785-8779.
Follow-up on social emotional learning surveys
The Illinois State Board and the Mental Health Partnership need information from as many educators as possible to help in planning future activities. The first of two Social Emotional Learning surveys are now online in IWAS. The first survey will remain online until May 11, 2005. The second survey will appear at the beginning of May and will remain online until May 31, 2005.
Participation in these surveys is completely voluntary. However, you must have an IWAS account to access the surveys. If you do not have one, the process is simple and described in detail below. We ask that you provide this information to your district teachers and staff so that those interested in filling out the surveys can open an IWAS account.
How to Get an IWAS Account and Access the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Practices Survey
Teachers and other staff members can create their own accounts by using the steps below. IWAS can be accessed on school computers or a home computer. The account is secure.
1. Access ISBE's homepage at http://www.isbe.net.
2. From the left-hand menu, click IWAS.
3. On the right-hand side of the IWAS login page, click Sign Up Now.
4. Enter the required information (8 items) and click Continue.
5. On the Congratulations page, click Continue.
6. On the Other Systems page, scroll to Surveys and click the Sign Up Now button for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Practices - Survey 1.
7. On the My Profile page, enter your school's Region County District Type (RCDT) code and click the Submit button (your RCDT is required in your profile to complete the survey. If you do not know your RCDT, please contact your administrator).
8. On the Confirmation page, click the System Listing button.
9. On the My Systems page, click the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Practices - Survey 1 link.
10. Complete the survey.
If you have any questions about the content of the survey, please contact Glenn Steinhausen at firstname.lastname@example.com, Richard Carlson at firstname.lastname@example.com or call 217-557-7323. If you need technical assistance regarding IWAS or setting up an IWAS account, please contact the help desk at 217-558-3600.
Thank you in advance for participating in these surveys.
Invitation to comment on rules
At its March meeting, the State Board of Education released two related sets of proposed rules for public comment. These items have been posted on the agency's web site at www.isbe.net/rules; choose "Proposed Rules and Amendments". Please submit any comments or suggestions you may have to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Repeal of Part 1100 (Procurement by the State Board of Education)
New Part 1105 (Procurement by the State Board of Education)
This rulemaking results from the comprehensive review of the agency's rules. When the Procurement Code was adopted in 1998, the State Board of Education was directed by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to adopt administrative rules implementing the new Code. JCAR's Executive Director outlined two options for ISBE: (i) adopt rules naming the Chief Procurement Officer for the Board, or naming the CMS CPO as ISBE's Chief Procurement Officer, and then cross-reference CMS rules in their entirety; or (ii) develop totally separate rules. ISBE chose to develop totally separate rules, although these rules do not substantively differ from the procurement rules adopted by CMS. As a result, ISBE staff and Board time must be spent adopting amendments to ISBE's procurement rules to reflect changes in law to the Procurement Code. In addition, the General Counsel believes that the incorporation of CMS' rules is more consistent with the Procurement Code's structure and intent.
Therefore, existing Part 1100 is being repealed at this time and replaced with a new, much shorter Part that relies upon the rules of the Department of Central Management Services
Deadline for Public Comment: May 31, 2005
Professional Development Needs Assessment Survey
In conjunction with preparing an application for a federal special education grant for State Personnel Development, the Illinois State Board of Education is seeking your input on the professional development needs of school personnel and parents in the state. The grant is designed to support "projects that assist state education agencies in reforming and improving their systems for personnel preparation and professional development in early intervention, educational and transition services in order to improve results for children with disabilities." ISBE is interested in focusing the grant application on establishing a regionalized system of professional development that will ultimately help school districts better meet certain NCLB and IDEIA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act) requirements, particularly those related to student performance.
In order to prioritize the areas in which professional development will be provided, we are asking that school administrative, instructional and related services personnel and parents complete a needs assessment survey. The survey may be accessed at http://webprod1.isbe.net/SpecEdProfNeedsSurvey and will be available from April 18 through April 30, 2005. It will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Questions about the survey may be directed to Kathryn Cox at firstname.lastname@example.com or 217-782-5589.
Video tool kit for Refugee and Bilingual Program students
Two videos that premiered last fall at the "Challenges and Opportunities in Educating Refugee Children" conference are now available as part of a video tool kit. The videos, "Welcoming New Learners: A Professional Development Tool" and "In Our Country: Educating Newcomers in American Schools," were developed by the Illinois Refugee Children School Impact Grant (RCSIG) program (comprised of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Chicago Public Schools). The productions are based upon conversations with newcomer refugee children and parents, refugees who have been in the United States for a while and their teachers (including some teachers who themselves had been refugees).
These videos attracted much positive response from conference participants representing educators and refugee social service agency staff from Illinois and 16 other states. Both videos are part of a tool kit that includes:
· A VHS tape of "Welcoming New Learners: A Professional Development Tool" in English (with closed caption option) and in Spanish; originally developed for teachers, other school staff and social service agency staff that serve refugee children and their parents.
· A DVD with "In Our Country: Educating Newcomers in America" in English (with closed caption option) and also in Arabic, Maay Maay, Somali, Spanish and Swahili. Also included on the DVD is "Welcoming New Learners: A Professional Development Tool" in English (with closed caption option) and in Spanish.
· A Guide to Using the Videos, a 45-page study guide.
While created for use with refugee students and their parents, these videos also have value in assisting non-refugee immigrants to understand life in American schools. The professional development video provides valuable background about the lives of newcomers and relates life experiences to pedagogic concepts of educational and social integration of new students into school life.
For further information about the Illinois RCSIG Video Tool Kit, contact Sherry Johnson, RCSIG coordinator, Illinois State Board of Education at 312-814-3850 or email firstname.lastname@example.com. The videos and study guide are also available at http://www.isbe.net/bilingual/htmls.refugee_services.htm.
Preventing diseases associated with animals in public settings
The Illinois State Public Health Department has issued the following information for schools.
Schools frequently offer opportunities for students and staff to learn about and come in contact with animals through field trips to petting zoos or farms or animal exhibits that visit schools or animals residing in schools. A recent outbreak of an intestinal, bacterial infection due to Escherichia coli O157:H7 is probably linked to petting zoos in Florida. This outbreak illustrates one of the risks associated with public contact with animals.
In an effort to reduce such risks, the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued the annual Compendium of Measures To Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings, 2005, it is attached.
The compendium considers the various human health risks due to animal contact, including intestinal disease infections, injuries, rabies exposures and other infections, including those caused by bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic agents. The report outlines recommendations for managing public and animal contact, guidelines for visiting animals and having resident animals in schools. It also contains recommendations for animal care and management. The single most important disease prevention recommendation from the report is to wash hands after exposure to animals.
Schools are encouraged to review the information in the report and use the guidelines to minimize risks due to animal contact in the school or during school functions. IDPH understands the benefits of human-animal contact and hopes this information is beneficial while educating students about animals.
State TBE/TPI and Federal Title III consolidated application workshops
The Illinois State Board of Education Division of English Language Learning (DELL) is offering a series of five free workshops to facilitate submission of the State Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)/ Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) and Federal Title III Consolidated Application for FY06. Please be aware that there are several changes to the FY06 electronic document.
The five workshops include three in the Chicago area, one in Springfield and one in southern Illinois in Carterville. All registrations must be made through the Illinois Resource Center and must be mailed in. DO NOT FAX OR SEND REGISTRATIONS TO ISBE. To download information and registration form please go to http://www.thecenterweb.org/irc/pdf/consol-wksp.pdf
For questions about the workshops or the application please call DELL at 312-814-3850. The sessions are scheduled as follows:
l Palatine - Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Harper College, Wojcik Conference Center Auditorium
1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine, Illinois 60067, 847-348-5100
Maps: http://www.harpercollege.edu/contact/index.shtml
l Springfield - Friday, April 29, 2005 - 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lincoln Land Community College, Workforce Development Resource Center Classrooms 2-3
5250 Shepherd Road, Springfield, Illinois 62794, 217-786-2200
Maps: http://www.llcc.cc.il.us/masterplan/
l Elgin - Tuesday, May 3, 2005 - 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Elgin Community College, Segal Auditorium
1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, Illinois 60123, 847-697-1000
Maps: http://www.elgin.edu/facilitiesindex.asp
l Lake County - Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
College of Lake County, High Schools Technology Campus facility
19351 W. Washington, Grayslake, Illinois 60030, 847-543-2430
Directions: http://www.clcillinois.edu/maps/direct.asp#Grayslake
Maps: http://www.clcillinois.edu/maps/pdf/graycamp.pdf
l Carterville - Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
John A. Logan Community College, Workforce Development Building, Room H127
700 Logan College Road, Carterville, Illinois 618-985-2828
Maps: http://www.jalc.edu/Online_Student_Handbook/Maps/
Illinois Learn and Serve America grants awarded
Forty-five Illinois school districts and regional programs have been awarded K-12 School-Based Learn and Serve America (LSA) two-year grants to support incorporation of service-learning into their local schools and regional special education, vocational education, and alternative education programs.
The State Board's Learn and Serve America program is designed to enhance student academic learning, social-emotional development, civic responsibility and leadership, and student volunteer service to their communities by encouraging the use of service-learning as a teaching methodology in all Illinois K-12 elementary and secondary schools. This approach combines meaningful student service to the community with inquiry-based learning, aligned with Illinois academic and social-emotional learning standards.
The recipients of the grants include: Chicago Public Schools 299, Elgin U-46, Sangamon County ROE 51, Community Unit School District 300, Thornton 205, South Cook ISC 4, Berwyn South 100, Newark 18, Sesser-Valier 196, South Holland 150, Knox County ROE 33, West 40 ICS 2, Charleston 1, Iroquois-Kankakee County ROE 32, Park Forest-Chicago Heights 163, North Suburban Special Education District, Waukegan 60, Homewood 153, Oak Grove 68, Sterling 5, Community High School District 94, West Northfield 31, Adams/Pike ROE 1, Cornell 426, Alden-Hebron 19, Rural Champaign County Special Education, Wabash 348, South Holland 151, Lewistown 97, Atwood-Hammond 39, Special Education District of Lake County, Sparta 140, Norris City-Omaha-Enfield 3, Carmi-White Country 5, Jersey 100, Tazewell County ROE 53, Iroquois West 10, Mannheim 83, Plainfield 202, Vermillion Vocational Education Delivery System, Des Plaines 62, DeKalb County ROE 16, North Shore 112, New Trier 203, and Bushnell-Prairie 170.
The grants are provided through funding from the federal Corporation for National and Community Service, under Title B of the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-82). Illinois' appropriation for 2005 is approximately $800,000.
Chronic Illness and postsecondary education conference planned
DePaul University and the Lupus Foundation of Illinois present the First Annual Symposium on Chronic Illness and Postsecondary Education. The event will feature Maureen Pratt, author of Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Illness. explore what students with chronic illness need to be successful in college and beyond and what the faculty and staff who work with them need to know.
When: Tuesday, May 17, 2005, 2 to 5 p.m.
Where: DePaul University Lincoln Park, Student Center, Room 120
To register for this free event go to https://secure.campagne-online.com/registrant/startup.aspx?eventid=2543 or email Lynn Royster at email@example.com; in the subject line please put Symposium and include in the text of the message your name, address and telephone number.
The Illinois State Board of Education, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, has announced Advanced Placement Incentive Program Grant (APIP) awards. These grants are the result of a competitive bid process initiated as a result of Illinois receiving funds from the federal government. This title grant, part of No Child Left Behind Section 1705 Part G, was created to promote Advanced Placement and pre-Advanced Placement programs for low income students. For this reason, only schools and districts with 40 percent or more students on free and reduced lunch were eligible to apply.
Funds from this grant will be used to train teachers and administrators in AP philosophy and methodology and encourage teaming between high school and middle school teachers. Additionally funds can be used to promote these courses to parents and students, support for students' academic achievement and on supplies and materials for coursework. Ultimately funded programs will encourage teaming of teachers, but also result in more students taking AP courses and achieving better scores on the AP tests as a result of better preparation. Additional grant funds from ISBE will be utilized to send staff from these programs to summer and other institutes conducted by the College Board, allow selected staff to attend national meetings, support mentoring of new AP teachers by experienced AP teachers.
The coming months will see the seventeen successful applicants develop teams of teachers to expand AP courses and support services, train new teachers and create vertical teams between high school and middle schools for the purpose of creating course articulation and planning. ISBE looks forward to working closely with these newly award programs and helping to promote AP to the wider community. For more information contact Lou Berkman at 312/814-3853.
The programs and amounts of the awards are as follows:
Moline Unit School District 40 - John Deere Middle School $10,000
Benton Cons High School District 103 - Benton Cons High School $10,000
Rockford School District 205 $15,000
Granite City Community Unit School District 9 - Coolidge Middle School $10,000
South Holland School District 150 - McKinley Jr. High School $10,000
Community High School District 218 - Dwight D Eisenhower High School $10,000
J S Morton H S District 201 - J Sterling Morton East High School $10,000
Crete Monee Community Unit School District 201U - Crete-Monee Middle School $10,000
City of Chicago School District 299 - North Lawndale Charter HS $10,000
City Of Chicago School District 299 - Farragut Career Academy High School $10,000
City Of Chicago School District 299 - Kelvyn Park High School $10,000
City Of Chicago School District 299 - Lane Technical High School $10,000
School District U46 - Elgin High School $15,000
City Of Chicago School District 299 - Chicago Vocational Career Academy HS $10,000
Sparta CUSD 140 - Lincoln Middle School $10,000
Champaign Community Unit School District 4 - Franklin Middle School $10,000
Alton Community Unit School District 11 $10,000
21st Century Community Learning Centers Program
Illinois State Board of Education does not currently plan to release an FY 2006 Request for Proposal (RFP) for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program grant. Available funds will provide continued support of the current 21st Century programs. Future announcements regarding available funds for this grant program will be posted on the Illinois State Board of Education's 21st Century website at www.isbe.net/21cclc.
Questions regarding this announcement should be directed to Carol McCue, Federal Grants and Programs Division, at 217 - 782-4832.
This week, the format of the Special Education website at www.isbe.net/spec_ed will change to a style that is similar to the pages of other divisions on the Illinois State Board of Education website. The format is designed to make it easier for you to locate special education resources.
While the address of the Special Education homepage will remain the same, the addresses to other special education pages and documents will change making it necessary for you to update any items that you currently have bookmarked.
Please contact the Division of Special Education Services at 217-782-5589 if you have any questions.
Mediacom Communications offers scholarships to high school students
Mediacom Communications is offering $50,000 in scholarships to senior high school students in five states where it conducts business – Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin – through its World Class Scholarship Program. The deadline for application is April 30, 2005.
Mediacom Communications will award up to 50 scholarships of $1,000 each to graduating high school students attending accredited post-secondary institutions (e.g., a four-year university, a two-year community college, a technical institution or other institutions that provide further training and education beyond high school) in the fall of 2005.
Applications for the Mediacom Communications World Class Scholarship Program may be obtained on the Internet at www.mediacomworldclass.com or by sending an inquiry to World Class Scholarship Program, Mediacom Communications, 2195 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50312. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2005.
U.S. Department
of Education seeks nominations for American Stars of
The U.S. Department of Education is seeking nominations for its second annual American Stars of Teaching project, which recognizes outstanding teachers who are using innovative strategies to raise student achievement, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced today.
Teachers across all grade levels and disciplines will be honored this fall as 2005 American Stars in Teaching. One teacher, or team of teachers from a school, will be recognized in every state and the District of Columbia. Parents, students, colleagues, school administrators or others can nominate a teacher who they believe has the qualities to be an American Star of Teaching.
U.S. Department of Education officials will again visit the schools of American Star teachers to congratulate them on their success. The American Stars of Teaching project is part of the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, which offers teacher and principal roundtables, teacher workshops and conferences, regular e-mail updates, and a free online professional development tool. Nomination forms for American Stars of Teaching and information on the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative are available at www.ed.gov/teacherinitiative.
Positions available at ISBE
The Illinois State Board of Education external vacancy list can be viewed at http://www.isbe.net/hr/pdf/positions.pdf.
Weekly newsclips
Highlights of last week's education newsclips can be found at http://www.isbe.net/news/2005/newsclips/050422.htm.


text:
Teenager accused of taking safeMarch 26,2013Teenager accused of taking safe
BENNINGTON An Arlington teenager was charged with a felony count of burglary of an occupied home on Monday after police said they believed he had taken a fire safe from a home sometime between Sept. 4 and Nov. 2.
Benjamin Culler, 19, of Arlington, pleaded innocent to the charge in Bennington criminal court on Monday. He was released without bail.
In an affidavit, Trooper Lewis Hatch, of the Vermont State Police, said he had been dispatched to a home in Arlington on Nov. 2. The woman living at the home said a small fire safe, containing personal papers, had been stolen.
She said she suspected Culler, a friend of her son, because there was no sign of forced entry and Culler knew where to find a key to the house.
Hatch said Culler and his father came to the Vermont State Police barracks in Shaftsbury on Dec. 16 but Culler said he was not responsible for the burglary. However, the woman later contacted Hatch and said she found a cellular phone in her vehicle which belonged to a friend of Cullers. According to the woman, there were messages on the cell phone about the burglary.
Hatch said he spoke to Cullers friend on Jan. 14. The friend said he knew the woman and in November saw that Culler had a picture of her from when she was younger. He said Culler then admitted he had taken the safe.
Culler was cited on Feb. 16 for the burglary, Hatch said.MORE IN This Just InPolice: Chase
men also stole
CHELSEA Police say two men involved in a... Full StoryMANAMA, Bahrain Drawing the U.S. Full StoryDANVILLE Police said a Concord man was jailed for violating an abuse prevention order. Full Story
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text:
Illinois State Board of Education
November 22,2002
Further Information: 217/782-4648
State Board of Education Approves Five-Year Technology Plan
The State Board of Education has approved a five-year education technology plan that commits to readying students to thrive in the "Digital Age" by building on past successes and strengthening the commitment to effective use of technology for all students.
The draft plan was submitted for public comment in August and modified at today's meeting based on the comments received during the comment period. "Digital-Age Learning" builds upon the first state technology plan adopted in 1995. That plan outlined many of the strategies used to help Illinois from 49th in the nation to first in the nation in the use of digital technology in K – 12 education.
The purpose of the 2002 – 2007 Illinois State Technology Plan is to set a course for the convergence of technology literacy, higher-order thinking, 21st Century skills, and academic standards for Illinois students.
The plan outlines the progress of the state since the 1995 plan and specifies the goals and strategies to guide the state in building on that progress over the next five years. Strategies fall within four primary spending categories: hardware, software, infrastructure and personnel development. Using the strategies to reach every student and every teacher in the state over the next five years will take an investment of a little over one billion dollars, the report estimates. However, the annual business plan and available budget to carry out the 5-year plan will have to be sensitive to the economic conditions and priorities of the state.
"These policy drivers are intended as a framework that will guide decisions and actions during the next five years and allow for course corrections as they are needed," the report states. "Implementation of the drivers will include a review of the State Board technology policy identification of additional standards and benchmarks, decision on funding practices, and development of a fully crafted plan for eliminating the digital divide and ensuring that all students benefit from technology."


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The Assembled Parties and Starcatcher: Good Broadway plays deserve Columbus runs
The Columbus Dispatch - May 30, 2013 01:45 PM
On Broadway, musicals may dominate but for serious theategoers, the play's still the thing.
While the most popular musicals can run for years or even decades, even the most acclaimed plays usually only run for months, perhaps a season at the most.
Yet, several recent Broadway plays deserve to be seen widely, from The Assembled Parties to Peter and the Starcatcher.
Theater lovers who plan to visit New York usually have to act soon, since these days the run of a Broadway play is more like the life of a firefly in a garden. Blink and you might miss it.
That means that most central Ohio residents most likely will have to wait for area theaters to win the rights to stage the new plays and mount them with local actors, directors and designers.
The good news: That's very likely to occur with the plays mentioned above – as well as with Christopher Durang's hilarious and moving Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (which I reviewed in a Theater Talk blog last month during my annual New York theater trip and which I'll be writing more about for my June 9 Sunday Arts column about the overall Broadway season and that night's Tony awards).
Jessica Hecht as Julie, left to right, Jeremy Shamos as Jeff and Judith Light as Faye in the Broadway production of The Assembled Parties. Credit: Joan Marcus
The Assembled Parties – Richard Greenberg's wistful family drama, in a limited Manhattan Theatre Club run through July 7 at New York's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, explores the devastating consequences of secrets and lies over two generations.
But you wouldn't guess that from the deceptive first act.
Set in 1980 in an impossibly large and tastefully appointed Manhattan apartment where an assimilated Jewish family gathers with relatives and a new young friend to celebrate Christmas – yes, that gentile holiday – over dinner, the first act mostly comes across as a witty and charming comedy-drama.
The central issue seems to be vaguely about relationships, or perhaps how cultural assimilation or class shapes modern America. I wasn't really sure when I saw a performance last month during my annual Dispatch theater trip to New York, but I mostly didn't care.
Instead, I was mostly captivated by Greenberg's intelligent dialogue and the charming performances – especially by Jessica Hecht as the sunny hostess Julie, a former movie star; Judith Light as the sister-in-law unafraid to speak up and speak out; and Jeremy Shamos (as the wide-eyed college classmate of the family's mostly absent son. It is through Shamos' character that we really enter the play, feeling his feelings above all as he is charmed and warmed by Julie and idealistically wowed by the family's style, affluence and hospitality.
By the intermission, though, I was seriously wondering what this play was really about – and also beginning to wonder whether I cared.
The second act, set in 2000 in the same 14-room apartment (but now somewhat shabbier) on Manhattan's Upper West side, provides the delayed payoff.
And what dramatic power it has – but it wouldn't be fair to give away almost any of this play's secrets and considerable payoffs.
Suffice to say that the play makes you think about what really matters in life and what illusions your own family might be carrying around like an unnecessary weight from the distant past.
Greenberg writes such elliptical drama, laced with humor and chatter and later with pathos and unspoken regret, that not until nearly the end of the two-act play does its cumulative emotional power build and finally overwhelm.
That makes this work very difficult to stage and cast, although otherwise The Assembled Parties is exactly the type of modern Jewish-themed play that seems destined for a central Ohio premiere at the Jewish Community Center's Gallery Players.
Greenberg, best known for his Tony-winning baseball coming-out drama Take Me Out, is an inventive and restless playwright who experiments with many different types of plays from contemporary relationship dramas (Three Days of Rain, a Pulitzer finalist) to screwball comedy (Eastern Standard) to quirky alternative-history drama (The Violet Hour) to iconic reinterpretations of classics (Breakfast at Tiffany's, which received mixed reviews in its shortened spring Broadway run despite acclaim for Otterbein University grad Cory Michael Smith as Holly Golightly's boyfriend-narrator).
Not all of Greenberg's experiments work, and I found Take Me Out and Eastern Standard more satisfying and complete throughout, but The Assembled Parties finally redeems itself.
Kevin Del Aguila, left to right, and Rick Holes in the off-Broadway production of Peter and the Starcatcher. Credit: Jenny Anderson
Peter and the Starcatcher – For sheer theatricality and self-referential wit, this canny and uplifting prequel to Peter Pan can't be beat.
Creatively adapted by Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, The Addams Family) from Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's novel, the brisk one-act races through shipwrecks, fights, chases, songs, spectacle, slapstick, word play and exuberant adventure.
Like The 39 Steps, Shipwrecked (which CATCO will stage next season) and Around the World in 80 Days, which will receive its world premiere in June at Newark's Weathervane Playhouse, Peter falls into the giddy minimalist mode of imaginative and clever "story theater."
It's one of my favorite styles of play-crafting because it shows off what theater can do best: enlist the audience's imagination in telling a good story.
After opening to mostly rave reviews off-Broadway in 2011 and moving in 2012 to Broadway, Starcatcher was nominated for nine Tony awards including best play and won five – including best sound, costumes, scenery and lighting design. The production, which closed in January on Broadway after a respectable 300-plus performances, recently transferred back to an off-Broadway run at New World Stages, where it benefits from the greater intimacy of a smaller stage.
By the end of this adventurous comedy-fantasy, you'll find out how Peter Pan became Peter Pan, how the Lost Boys got lost, how Captain Hook got hooked and what makes Neverland so magical, anyway.
The Assembled Parties continues through July 7 at New York's Samuel J. Firedman Theatre, 261 W. 47 th St. For tickets, call Telecharge at 800-447-7400 212-239-6200 or visit www.Telecharge.com
Peter and the Starcatcher continues in an open run at New York's new World Stages, 340 W. 50 th St. For tickets, call Telecharge.


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LO is 4 weeks old. Was 3 weeks 4 days premature. Has gained well and is totally breastfed by my daughter. I give him 2 3 oz bottles of her milk during the night.
The problem is, he will NOT sleep anywhere but in our arms. I can understand how nice this is for him, but I feel he's not getting good sleep and we sure need a rest.
He will nurse a number of times, some for comfort, and fall asleep on her breast or chest. When either she or I try to move him into his bed, he wakes and cries to the point of screaming.
Even if we didn't attempt to move him, what he's getting in our arms or on her breast is catnaps. He's not getting a good 1-3 hour nap at any point during the day. I think this is part of why he is crying so much. He's really exhausted. As are we!
Do any of you have any ideas how to get him to sleep in his bed? Or at least somewhere other than someone's arms? We have tried the car seat, the swinging cradle, and the bassinet. We have swaddled him.
Very occasionally, he will actually sleep in his bed. And it seems so much more of a restful sleep for him. But it has happened rarely.
Thanks for any input or ideas.


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Parking Expansion DTF
Parking Expansion DTF
Parking Expansion Disappearing Task Force
- May 17, 2000
- 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Notes
Attending: Wendy Freeman, Michel George, Steve Huntsberry, Mark Lacina, Sherry Parsons, Darren Shaffer, Bill Zaugg, John Carmichael
1. Progress report
Wendy reported that she had presented the DTF's recommendation for adding parking spaces (Option 7) to the Senior Staff, Board of Trustees, Management Breakfast group, SASS Directors, and the Campus Land Use Committee. The presentations have been well received. At the Board of Trustees meeting, the president praised the DTF's work. Wendy thanked Andy Wear for creating a good graphic of Option 7.
Darren Shaffer has produced poster board displays summarizing the DTF's work. Displays are up in the CAB and Library. A third display is planned for the Lab I. A news report on the DTF appeared in the CPJ last week. An opinion piece is expected to appear this week.
2. Parking Management
Susie Seip, Parking Supervisor, was scheduled to attend the meeting to discuss parking management options, but was unable to attend due to a medical emergency.
3. Fees
Bill said that he continued to believe that a fee increase of approximately 44% (an increase from $7/month to $9/month for annual passes) would probably be adequate. The DTF would need more certain information about costs to precisely calculate the necessary fee increase. The group identified several questions to answer:
- What is the cost of construction for Option 7? (Last estimate: $400,000)
- What is the cost of resurfacing and other deferred maintenance that would be done concurrently with Option 7?
- What is the parking management plan and what is its cost?
John described the process for raising parking fees. The president has the authority to raise fees after a public meeting is held to collect comments on the proposed fee schedule. If the DTF plans to recommend a fee increase for the next academic year, it will need to act soon, before faculty and students leave for the summer. Bill noted two reasons for raising fees sooner rather than later: a) raising fees soon would build up a surplus, which would reduce the cost of borrowing for parking lot reconfiguration; b) the DTF has been talking about raising fees since October, so people are prepared for a fee increase. Michel noted advantages to waiting until next year for a fee increase. Discussion of a fee increase is likely to be highly charged, so the DTF should be certain of its figures and be prepared for extensive community discussion. A proposed fee increase may strike an especially raw nerve for those exempt employees who recently learned that they would be receiving a one percent salary increase.
Several members of the DTF suggested possible changes to the fee structure. Sherry suggested that carpool parking be made permanently free. Darren suggested that the parking booth give a discount based on the number of passengers. Darren suggested increasing quarterly passes more sharply than annual passes as a way of generating revenue. Michel suggested increasing daily visitor passes most sharply. Bill said that there were disadvantages to raising visitor parking fees. Wendy suggested that the DTF consult with conference services, the CRC, the Longhouse, and other areas of the college likely to be interested in visitor fees.
Given the time pressure on fee decisions, the group decided that Wendy, Bill and John should brief Art Costantino on the fee discussion as soon as he returns to campus (May 22).
- Return to the Parking Expansion DTF Home Page.
- This page last updated on May 30, 2000.


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- Minato, Kakashi
- kakshi, DArui
- Itachi, sasuke
- Shikamaru, Darui
- Minato, Shukaku
- Shukaku, Itachi
Nagato and Itachi
itachi and minato because nagato is powerful but known for his mind and kakashi is close but I think minato may be smarter
Itachi n Minato.......
Shikaku and Shikamaru
Originally Posted by Uzumaki Vaan
ramen guy and ramen girl
lol,not by a long shot,, but you never know, they might just bring them up later as some secret tactical group
as many have said, Minato and Itachi would make the best team.
also, Kakashi and Jiraiya (whose intelligence is GREATLY underestimated), or Kakashi and Hiruzen would be very intelligent teams, with tons of versatility.
itachi and minato
SASUKE and Minato..
well that was a landslide vote for itachi n minato,,,,i still think kabuto is right up there
sage of 6 paths and madara
Hashirama and madara
tobi and minato
minato and itachi
Originally Posted by Shalev
Orochimaru And Itachi.
their minds are full of forbidden jutsus, just waiting to be used.
I agree!!!
How about Orochimaru and kabuto as he is now, would be a fine combo i believe.
Muu and Onoki would also be pretty nasty with their dust release, dont know in the intelligence section but im betting they are not so dumb
Itachi and minato
I think it's either; Itachi and Minato or Shikamaru/Shikaku and Itachi.
It also depends if they're fighting or not. If they are then Minato and Itachi, if they're not then Shikaku/Shikamaru and Itachi.
Originally Posted by Uzumaki Vaan
ramen guy and ramen girl
Looks like we are ready for the chief contest.
Originally Posted by ghetto gladiator
if you were to make a two man team from all the ninjas based on intelligence,which two would make your team,,, one rule... shikamaru and itachi cannot be on the same team...........
i think shikamaru and kabuto would be really dangerous on the intelligence level
Shikamaru and his dad
Minato and Itachi
Shikamaru and Shikaku
Madara and Tobi
I'd say Itachi and Minato but there is no particularly wrong or right answer.
what about sasuke and naruto.
Forum Rules


text: ARTS @ Oswego Posterboard Posterboard Month Week Day Agenda Categories Film Literary Music Special Event Theatre & Dance Visual Arts September 2013 – April 2014 Sep 8 Sun Focus on Faculty: Violin & Piano Duo @ Sheldon Hall Ballroom September 8, 2013 @ 3:00 pm Howard Spindler, Pianist and Jon Shallit, Violinist Howard Spindler, pianist, of the Eastman School of Music and Jon Shallit, violinist, of the SUNY Oswego Music [...] Sep 13 Fri Melody of China @ Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall September 13, 2013 @ 7:30 pm Melody of China World music at its best, "Melody of China" blends traditional instruments and classical training with a contemporary outlook. East meets West [...] Sep 21 Sat SAPB Concert: Walk the Moon w/ Magic Man @ SUNY Oswego South Lawn September 21, 2013 @ 7:30 pm SAPB Concert: Walk the Moon w/ Magic Man The Cincinnati indie band Walk the Moon headlines a free show on campus, presented by SAPB (Student [...] Oct 6 Sun Serdce from Belarus: Skype Concert @ 104 Lanigan Hall October 6, 2013 @ 3:00 pm Serdce In this lecture/demonstration, Serdce, a contemporary fusion group, discusses contemporary music in the former Soviet Union country of Belarus and its place in a [...] Oct 9 Wed Ke-nekt' Concert: Jazz Guitarist Peter Bernstein @ Sheldon Hall Ballroom October 9, 2013 @ 7:30 pm Peter Bernstein Hosted by Rick Balestra Pre-Concert talk begins at 7 PM Known for his clean, warm tone and lyrical melodic lines, Bernstein is one [...] Oct 13 Sun Focus on Faculty: Oswego Jazz Project w/ Special Guest Trombonist Keith Jackson @ Sheldon Hall Ballroom October 13, 2013 @ 3:00 pm Oswego Jazz Project features Rob Auler on keyboard and piano, Trevor Jorgensen on winds, Max McKee on basses, and Eric Schmitz on drums and percussion. [...] Oct 20 Sun Syracuse Vocal Ensemble: Classical Meets Bluegrass @ Sheldon Hall Ballroom October 20, 2013 @ 3:00 pm Syracuse Vocal EnsembleClassical Meets Bluegrass Syracuse Vocal Ensemble, one of New York's finest choral organizations, joins forces with sparkling bluegrass instrumental talents for a genre-blending [...] Oct 26 Sat Music Department Parent's Day Concert @ Hewitt Union Ballroom October 26, 2013 @ 12:00 pm Please join the music department in celebrating the student music making in our large music ensembles. An hour long program featuring pieces by Oswego [...] Nov 3 Sun College Choir and State Singers Fall Concert @ St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, 50 E. Mohawk St. November 3, 2013 @ 3:00 pm The concert starts with Renaissance a cappella music sung by double choirs. Native American lullaby, Venezuelan dance music, French chanson, Spiritual song and more will [...] Nov 8 Fri WNYO Urban Music Showcase @ Hewitt Union Ballroom November 8, 2013 @ 7:00 pm SoHo Kings Doors open at 6:30 PM WNYO Urban Music Showcase showcases the talents of indie-urban artists. Featuring Hip-Hop/Pop/Electro duo SoHo Kings, Hip-Hop rapper Aarick [...] Nov 9 Sat Alex de Grassi: A Story of Floating Weeds @ Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall November 9, 2013 @ 7:30 pm Windham Hill recording artist Alex de Grassi was commissioned by the New York Guitar Festival to create an original score for Yasujro Ozu's classic [...] Nov 10 Sun Focus on Faculty: Vocal Array @ Sheldon Hall Ballroom November 10, 2013 @ 3:00 pm Join sopranos Mihoko Tsutsumi and Nancy James, tenors Todd Graber and Robert Allen and accompanist Rebecca Horning in an afternoon of vocal music-making that [...] Nov 15 Fri Bora Yoon @ Sheldon Hall Ballroom November 15, 2013 @ 7:30 pm Bora Yoon Hosted by Trevor Jorgensen Pre-Concert talk begins at 7 PM http://youtu.be/vJtoy-Mb6YA Bora Yoon is an avant-garde contemporary composer, musician and performance artist who [...] Nov 23 Sat Indie Series Concert: Royal Bangs @ Sheldon Hall Ballroom November 23, 2013 @ 7:00 pm Indie Series Program INDIE SERIES CONCERT: Royal Bangs With Nick Cocks & Cemeteries Doors open at 7 PM. The headliner Royal Bangs is an indie [...] Nov 24 Sun Focus on Faculty: Robert Auler, Pianist @ Sheldon Hall Ballroom November 24, 2013 @ 3:00 pm Robert Auler, Pianist Rob juxtaposes Beethoven's vaunted Les Adieux with accessible, modern works, proving that "all music was new once!" He also offers commentary to [...] Dec 3 Tue Christmas Concert @ Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall December 3, 2013 @ 7:30 pm Celebrate the season with the joyous sound of holiday music. The Festival Chorus will open with Bach's Magnificat and State Singers and College Choir will [...] Dec 4 Wed Fall Orchestra Concert @ Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall December 4, 2013 @ 7:30 pm Fall Orchestra Concert SUNY Oswego College and Community Orchestra performs Haydn's Symphony No. 101 "The Clock", Copland's Outdoor Overture, Sibelius' Finlandia, and Mendelssohn's Die [...] Dec 5 Thu Fall Concert: Jazz Ensembles w/ Trumpeter Brian Shaw @ Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall December 5, 2013 @ 7:30 pm Trumpeter Brian Shaw Oswego State Jazz Ensemble and Latin Jazz Ensemble present their fall concert with special guest trumpeter Brian Shaw. Dec 6 Fri Fall, Folk Songs, Fortress, and Featured Artist @ Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall December 6, 2013 @ 7:30 pm Fall, Folk Songs, Fortress, and Featured Artist The SUNY Oswego Wind Ensemble presents its fall concert performing the works of Malcolm Arnold, Frank Ticheli, [...] Jan 30 Thu Vocal Effect Concert: The Roaring 20s @ Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall January 30, 2014 @ 8:00 pm SUNY Oswego's show choir presents The Roaring 20s – no, not songs from the Gatsby era but those done by contemporary artists when they were [...] Feb 19 Wed Celebrating Samuel Barber, featuring Julia Broxholm @ Sheldon Hall Ballroom February 19, 2014 @ 7:30 pm Samuel Barber featuring Julia Broxholm Hosted by Todd Graber Pre-Concert talk begins at 7 PM Samuel Barber was an American composer of orchestral, opera, and [...] Feb 21 Fri Oswego Opera Theatre: Rigoletto – The Oswego Story @ Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall February 21, 2014 @ 7:30 pm Oswego Opera Theatre Presents Rigoletto – The Oswego Story Reimagining Giuseppe Verdi's first true masterpiece, Rigoletto, the Oswego Story plots the well-connected owner of [...] Feb 23 Sun Oswego Opera Theatre: Rigoletto – The Oswego Story @ Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall February 23, 2014 @ 2:00 pm Oswego Opera Theatre Presents Rigoletto – The Oswego Story Reimagining Giuseppe Verdi's first true masterpiece, Rigoletto, the Oswego Story plots the well-connected owner of [...] Mar 5 Wed Elinor Frey, Cellist @ Sheldon Hall Ballroom March 5, 2014 @ 7:30 pm Elinor Frey, Cellist Hosted by Robert Auler Pre-Concert talk begins at 7 PM Fascinated with the cello's origins and the creative process of new music, [...] Mar 7 Fri Annual Collage Scholarship Concert @ Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall March 7, 2014 @ 7:30 pm The Annual Collage Scholarship Concert features the music department's large ensembles, faculty and selected student solos in an exciting evening of music making. Numerous [...] Mar 9 Sun Focus on Faculty: A Musical Journey @ Sheldon Hall Ballroom March 9, 2014 @ 3:00 pm Clarinetist Trevor Jorgensen, Trumpeter Terry Caviness, Pianist Robert Auler An historical musical journey exploring exhilarating composers and their innovative solo wind literature– Debussy, Neilsen, Purcell, [...] Mar 11 Tue MUSICAL WORKSHOP, RECEPTION & CONCERT w/ Dr. Alphonso Sanders @ Room 132, Campus Center Auditorium & Hewitt Union Ballroom March 11, 2014 all-day 12 Noon • MUSICAL WORKSHOP w/ Dr. Alphonso Sanders – Room 132, Campus Center Auditorium 6:15 PM • SOCIAL RECEPTION – Hewitt Union Ballroom [...] Mar 26 Wed 6th International Day Celebration: Feelin IRIE @ Campus Center Arena March 26, 2014 @ 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm 6th International Day Celebration: Feelin IRIE Campus Center Arena Wednesday, March 26 • 3:30-6:30 PM "Feelin IRIE" is about making you feel good. Feelin [...] Mar 26 Wed ETHEL with Kaki King @ Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall March 26, 2014 @ 7:30 pm ETHEL with Kaki King ETHEL & Kaki King: Great Round Burn ETHEL with Kaki King present "…And Other Stories" Hard-driving guitar goddess Kaki King joins [...] Apr 3 Thu CONCERT: The United States Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors @ Hewitt Union Ballroom April 3, 2014 @ 7:30 pm CONCERT: The United States Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors Hewitt Union Ballroom From Boston to Baghdad, Tampa to Tokyo, The United States Army Field Band [...] Subscribe to filtered calendar Add to Google


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Malevolent and Malignant Threats
This essay comes from the book ENERGY: Overdevelopment and the Delusion of Endless Growth Published by the Foundation for Deep Ecology in collaboration with Watershed Media and Post Carbon Institute.
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Malevolent and Malignant Threats — R. James Woolsey
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"I found Catholic Answers Live, and was engaged immediately. 'Hooked' is the right word. I was astounded at the things I had mis-learned. God bless you and I hope you never go off the air."
"Ah, sister, thou hast got the start of us, but we will follow thee as quickly as we may."


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Week 12 Tale Of The Tape: Miami Dolphins At New York Jets
Ryan Tannehill has the kind of arm that should allow him to string impressive performances together, but he is not consistent.
Week 12 Tale Of The Tape: Minnesota Vikings At Atlanta Falcons
Teddy Bridgewater is not the most gifted quarterback, and he lacks the arm strength to throw the deep outs or stretch the secondary.
Week 12 Tale Of The Tape: San Diego Chargers At Jacksonville Jaguars
Philip Rivers has had one of the most difficult assignments of his career this year, and if you look at San Diego's win-loss record, you could come to the conclusion that he has not done the job.
Week 12 Tale Of The Tape: New Orleans Saints At Houston Texans
Drew Brees is still an accurate passer who can string big plays together. He had the Saints playing aggressively and effectively in October, but throwing for more than 310 yards per game is not enough when the defense can't stop anything.
Week 12 Tale Of The Tape: Chicago Bears At Green Bay Packers
Jay Cutler has turned things around this season as he is taking what the defense is giving and not forcing the ball into coverage.
Week 12 Tale Of The Tape: Carolina Panthers At Dallas Cowboys
Cam Newton is not one of the NFL's classic drop-back passers who can pick apart any defense with his accuracy. However, don't make the mistake of selling him short.


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Digital divideOctober 05,2012
Within hours of Wednesdays edition hitting the streets, two national journalism bloggers and one First Amendment blogger had contacted The Times Argus looking for additional information about the digital note-passing that had been done by elected officials in Montpelier.
Meanwhile, letters to the editor arrived praising the newspaper for taking the officials to task. One city councilor, however, wrote a snarky letter that chided the newspaper for publishing the content of the emails and text messages exchanged during the Sept. 26 City Council meeting. He argued that the content, of which he was an author, was not worthy of the embarrassment that it caused; he characterized the newspapers action as a tactic to sell papers.
Too bad. Thats what watchdogs do. And the issue certainly got the attention of other public officials across Vermont, as well as First Amendment advocates not just here but among others concerned with how shadow governments sometimes form in our fast-moving digital age. The fact that some of the very members of the Montpelier City Council who had been caught in the Freedom of Information Act request acknowledged that maybe there ought to be a policy in place against texting and emailing during public meetings suggests the issue has merit right here, right now.
Likewise, for Secretary of State Jim Condos, a proponent of government transparency and an advocate for educating public officials about the states open meeting laws, to suggest that Montpeliers elected officials had acted with certain disregard for the public process also serves as an indictment that the behavior needs to be put away before meetings are gaveled into order.
Civic leaders take an oath to serve constituents to the best of their ability. It would be ridiculous to argue that passing notes and having digital discussions is what voters had in mind when they expected meaningful debate on issues of community importance. Voters cast votes for officials who will take their elected roles seriously, will strive for tangible, exhaustive debate, and wont stoop to mockery and middle school shenanigans to pass the time.
There have been several instances in communities across central Vermont over the last year when the rules of public service have been ignored, bent or modified to suit officials who felt they needed a form of political cover. There have been questions about misuse of executive sessions, conflicts of interest, unwarned meetings, as well as questions about the publics access to closed investigations or negotiations. All of them have been reported in the media.
Ironically, there are public officials in those cases who agree that government transparency is essential for civics to work well in our communities. Yet many of those same individuals, when tweaked on acting outside the principles of the open meetings law, were quick to shoot the messenger, claim that agendas had been driven, and even threaten to further deny access unless the media backed off.
Being an elected official, much like being a journalist, takes courage. It means constantly being judged in the publics eye. And, yes, expectations are very high to produce results. Discussions and decisions among elected officials cant be made away from the opinions of the public. Anything less is cowardice and manipulation, and does actually show a lack of regard for the process that we all strive to preserve and protect. It is simple judgment.
If standing up for the rights of voters and demanding that our public officials act responsibly and properly when serving us is considered a method by which we sell more newspapers, we would say, indeed. That is why we do what we do: Keep the process honest and aboveboard. It is news.
If public officials dont want to be called out or given a public lecture on civics, then they should start acting the role.MORE IN EditorialsProtesters converged on a bank in Montpelier early this week to show their solidarity with the... Full StoryPhil Scott will take office next month after winning with a margin of 51.11 percent to 43. Full StoryIdeologues and partisans work from the outcome backward. Full Story
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To report an emergency in progress, call 911.
Digital Map Submittal Standards
The Plan Check team performs civil site improvement plan review of private development projects, which generally consist of major and minor land subdivisions, commercial and industrial projects, and major utility encroachments. Plan review includes most components of civil infrastructure, such as grading and drainage, roads and bridges, sewer and utility systems, and erosion control and Best Management Practices. Review is conducted to ensure conformance with conditions of the development's discretionary permit and environmental review, Placer County Land Development Manual, Placer County General Specifications, Placer County Design Plates, Placer County Stormwater Management Manual (see Placer County Public Works web page), State and Federal construction standards/requirements, and general engineering practices.
Both the General Specifications and the Engineering Design Plates are also available on CD and/or hardcopy at nominal cost through the Engineering and Surveying Division.
On September 28th 2010, the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved an annual inflationary adjustment for the Plan Check and Inspection Fee Spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel format). Annual adjustments are based on the Construction Cost Index (CCI) as posted in the Engineering News Record. The current Plan Check and Inspection Fee Schedule is also available.
The Submittal Checklist is used for pre-audits of civil improvement plans to ensure a complete submittal. It is available in both Adobe PDF and Microsoft Word formats.
The First Submittal Detailed Checklist is used by staff when completing their first review of the improvement plans.
A pre-submittal audit to begin the Plan Check process can be arranged by calling Rich Kai at the Engineering and Surveying Division, (530) 745-7548, or the Engineering main phone (530)745-7523.
Below is general information to be considered and included when applicable during the preparation of improvement plans:


text: For a stable, comfortable ride all day long, choose Mozo nursing shoes. Working to elevate the nursing experience, Mozo shoes are made from durable, quality materials that keep you on task and light on your feet. As a nurse, staying on top of everything is essential to providing the best possible healthcare for your patients! Available in a range of colors, sizes and styles, we're confident Scrubs and Beyond has the footwear that's right for you; shop today!


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On Tap for Today: Ways to make Monday a little better
There must be a remedy for a Monday in November.
Oh wait, there is. »Read Full Blog Post
Ward's House of Prime in Delafield starting regular hours next week
Ward's House of Prime in Delafield, which launched a soft open this week with an abbreviated menu, moves to the full menu and regular hours (aside from the holiday) next week.
The restaurant, at 515 Wells St., is closed this Friday for a private party and will remain closed over the weekend, then will open regular hours on Monday. It will be open 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Christmas Eve, and will be closed on Christmas Day, however. »Read Full Blog Post
UPAF to give Milwaukee Symphony a $250,000 challenge grant
The United Performing Arts Fund will give the financially troubled Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra a one-time $250,000 challenge grant, provided the MSO raises an equivalent amount via new individual donors.
UPAF announced the challenge grant in a statement released Thursday, adding that this grant will not affect current or future allocations to UPAF's 14 other member groups. »Read Full Article(4)
'American Hustle' dances brilliantly to a fast and loose beat
The first three words in my notes while watching "American Hustle" were "hair," "spray tan" and "cleavage."
The next word was "GoodFellas." »Read Full Article(7)
Coen brothers tune in '60s folk scene in 'Inside Llewyn Davis'
Like all Coen brothers films, "Inside Llewyn Davis" is about a complicated person trapped in a world of interest to the filmmaking brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, or close to their hearts.
This time, it's the painstakingly crafted New York City folk music scene of the 1960s, so vividly sepia that it tricks your mind into thinking it's in black and white — and to which the Coens apply a bittersweet comic zip. »Read Full Article
On Tap this Weekend: The best holiday parties edition
Here are Heather and Brandon's top picks for what's going on this weekend in Milwaukee. For Dec. 19-22. »Read Full Blog Post
Off the Wall Theatre steams into parody country for 'Creature'
Witty, gender-bending double entendres. Glittering songs. A dazzling range of cultural references, cavalierly imploding distinctions between high and low.
That's what Dale Gutzman had planned, anyway, when originally announcing a Cole Porter revue as his Off the Wall Theatre holiday show — and before losing three women from his cast as well as his music director. »Read Full Article(1)
Treat your visitors to these true Milwaukee experiences
If the holidays bring visitors your way, you might need some ideas to alleviate cabin fever — especially when your in-laws are sharing your home for the week.
Impress your out-of-town friends and family with a true Milwaukee experience, or learn a little more about your city by checking off some of these items from your Milwaukee bucket list. »Read Full Article(2)
Adam Carr investigates Thomas Sully
For this week's episode of Art City Radio, I asked Adam Carr to investigate the "Thomas Sully: Painted Performance" exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum. He just wasn't "feeling it" and wasn't connecting with the images of East Coast elite on view. He wondered if he was failing the art or if it was failing him.
Art City contributor Stacey Williams-Ng, who reviewed the exhibit for the Journal Sentinel, had much the same reaction. »Read Full Article(1)
MSO kicks off 'Messiah' run with riveting performance
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra embarked on its holiday tradition of "Messiah" performances Wednesday evening, with a riveting, musically astute rendering of the Handel masterpiece.
Guest conductor Christopher Seaman led the performance standing at the harpsichord, providing continuo lines and conducting the orchestra, four vocal soloists and 65 members of the MSO chorus. »Read Full Article(2)
Jazz Estate plans to send the Chicken off in style
If people were still allowed to smoke there, the Jazz Estate would be the picture-perfect postcard of a classic jazz club.
Cool, dim, romantic lighting. Tight, cozy quarters. The eager buzz of chatting patrons. There's character here. Class. »Read Full Article
Film finds heart of Disney legend
The Disney studio is forever trolling its bottomless reservoir of nostalgia and myth for movie ideas. Having already made films inspired by its theme-park attractions, it has now created one based on the making of another Disney film.
That would be "Saving Mr. Banks," about Walt Disney's struggle to bring "Mary Poppins" to the screen. »Read Full Article
Piet's concert pick of the week: Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
9 p.m. Saturday, the Miramar Theatre, 2844 N. Oakland Ave. $7 at the door and ticketfly.com. »Read Full Article
Parody album offers famous songs with twist for Christmas
Getting sick and tired of hearing the same Christmas songs at this stage of the holiday season? A new album, "Ground Control to Santa Claus," is arriving just in time to offer something different, but also familiar.
It's the work of 49-year-old Joel Kopischke. A consultant for grocery co-ops, he's best known in the local arts scene for his theater work, but Kopischke also has become Milwaukee's own, Christmas-specific version of "Weird Al" Yankovic. »Read Full Article
Audition notices for area productions
CW18 (WVTV-TV). One male, 21 or older, is needed as an on-air station host. This is a part-time paid position. Hosting experience is not required, but preferable. Send a digital head shot and résumé to: firstname.lastname@example.com. If you have a demo reel, no longer than 5 minutes, send with your résumé. If you are selected, you will be contacted to schedule an audition. No phone calls, please.
LAKELAND PLAYERS. Men and women ages 18 and older are needed for "Sweet Charity." Auditions will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 5 and 7 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Walworth County PAC, 15 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn. Prepare a song to sing and wear appropriate shoes for a short dance movement. Information: (262) 728-5578. »Read Full Article
On Tap Today: Story Slam at Turner Hall, 'Bad Santa' and Bing
Ex Fabula, the Milwaukee storytelling series, holds court at Turner Hall Ballroom tonight with an Ex Fabula Spectacular with the theme "Bad Company." Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Ho-ho...uh-huh. Billy Bob Thornton plays a nasty St. Nick planning to be more naughty than nice in "Bad Santa," the surprisingly sweet black holiday comedy showing at Marcus Theatres' Majestic, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge and South Shore cinemas. »Read Full Blog Post


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Tony's fans want him to come out and say, I'm going to win Dover this weekend. We want that! He hates Dover. He doesn't do well at Dover.
We want that swagger. That Tony Stewart that's all class! I know that I sound like a Mom because I am one.


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Last week, this columnist focused on the natural beauty of the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Croix, and its surrounding waters. Today I am remembering another side of that island, a side which I suppose is largely rooted in the slave trade history of this small island.
St. Croix is still dotted with sugar mills, stone structures that are shaped like small nuclear power reactors, and which were used by the original Danish colonists in their sugar farming plantations.
The darker aspect of that, of course, is that the sugar plantations were powered by slave labor, human beings brought over on the triangle trade from West Africa.
By 1917, when the U.S. purchased St. Croix from Denmark with an eye to a strategic naval location, the slave trade had been long abolished. But the shadow remains, just as it does in some parts of the continental U.S.
As mentioned in last week's column, farming of food and cash crops is not as easy as one might think, given the lush green vegetation that covers much of the island. Saline atmosphere and lack of fresh water, along with excessive humidity, present their own kind of challenge.
So … unemployment is high.
Dropout rate is high. Addictions are high.
A major employer, a large oil refinery, just recently left the island, taking with it jobs not in the hundreds, but in the thousands.
These problems, resulting in a harsh and growing dividing line between very rich and very poor {hillside mansions of amazing proportions look down upon hovels and streets on which one would not likely walk alone, even in daylight.
Certainly these are not problems unique to St. Croix. But it's kind of a maxim that, when we go to a place like St. Croix, St. Thomas, Cancun, Belize, etc., we ought to understand that, underlying the tropical and vacation oriented paradise, there is almost always a substrata of poverty.
This was a direct engagement on our part, since the primary purpose of Clovis Community School senior trips is to combine fun with a mission trip.
There's no easy solution to this reality. It is at least important to remember that, in the case of the U.S. Virgin Islands, this cannot be passed off as "not our problem" for nationalistic reasons; even though 1,000 miles off the mainland, they are still a part of us.
Clyde Davis is a Presbyterian pastor and teacher at Clovis Christian High School. He can be contacted at:


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Many of the countries in the Europe, Mediterranean, and Asia (EMA) region are undergoing rapid economic and social changes while striving to play a larger part in the global economy. Challenges to this growth include outdated technology, unstable monetary systems, and the growing pains associated with adapting to free- market economies. Volunteers in the EMA region have worked to support growth and stability by assisting with strengthening English language teaching, offering practical business skills, generating environmental awareness, and improving health education. More than 50,128 Volunteers have served in the region since 1961. At the end of fiscal year (FY) 2007, EMA expects to have 2,088 Volunteers and trainees working in 19 countries.
The safety and security of the Volunteers and staff are the top priority in the EMA region. Training is an important component to ensuring that Volunteers are aware of safety and security policies and procedures. The region recognizes that safety is best assured when Volunteers are integrated into their local communities, respected and protected as extended family members, and viewed as contributors to development. Each country monitors safety and security according to agency guidelines. In 2006, the region's programs in East Timor and Bangladesh were suspended for safety and security reasons, and subsequently closed.
Volunteers play many roles and work in a variety of settings, working with governments, local organizations, and communities to provide needed technical expertise and to promote cross-cultural understanding in programmatic areas identified as critical in each host country.
All Peace Corps countries in the EMA region have identified education as a priority. Volunteers are part of national and local efforts to strengthen primary, secondary, and university education capacity through classroom instruction, professional development for teachers, and by promoting resource and community development. Volunteers help students develop their English language competence as well as critical thinking skills. Through team-teaching and teacher training courses and workshops, Volunteers help new and experienced instructors learn new teaching methodologies and provide ongoing support that boosts teachers' confidence and fluency to provide more interactive, learner-centered instruction.
Volunteers and host teachers work collaboratively to develop curricula and materials for special education, environmental awareness, American studies, and other content-based courses. They facilitate lessons and extra-curricular activities that focus on life skills, decision-making, healthy choices, and developing personal and professional skills. They work alongside people of diverse ages, ethnicities, and socio-economic status to explore individual and community needs. These needs include learning how to use computers or acquiring employment skills, organizing sports teams, upgrading local facilities, writing résumés, or preparing for international competitions. Volunteers are often catalysts for getting youth, teachers, and community members involved in service learning as they reach out to people in orphanages, hospitals, minority villages, and centers for the displaced, homeless, and those with special needs.
During the last 10 years, business projects have evolved from those focused on promoting small business startups and consulting to projects that work broadly with business issues—with entrepreneurs, governmental and nongovernmental agencies, educational institutions, community groups, and individuals.
Volunteers live in their communities for two years, so they are uniquely able to integrate themselves and earn the trust and respect needed to be accepted as valued partners and mentors. Earning that trust is particularly vital to business development Volunteers who consult on what are often basic issues of money, planning, and survival. There is a wide diversity in EMA countries, so some Volunteers work with illiterate villagers while others work in countries about to join the European Union (EU). Regardless, in each country, Volunteers use formal and nonformal education to help community members build basic business skills, improve communication, network, develop organizational capacity, access and use available technologies, and develop life skills.
Business development Volunteers are engaged at the grassroots level in their respective countries, working increasingly with underserved populations, women, and youth. They also work across sectors when their business and organizational skills complement those of health, environment, and education Volunteers. Issues of sustainability, transparency, and community participation continue to guide project development, particularly as posts seek to work in more rural areas with great needs and few resources.
Peace Corps projects in the region continue to explore the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) at all levels of project planning and implementation, and Volunteers make major contributions toward closing the global "digital divide." They provide guidance to communities on incorporating ICT into business, education, and community development projects. Capacity-building efforts concentrate primarily on training people to use basic software applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. While many Volunteers conduct skill-building exercises, others expand their work by focusing on training of trainers. Several Volunteers specifically incorporate activities that promote girls' and women's use of technology. Volunteers have also established Volunteer-led ICT committees and taught community members to use videos, newsletters, and audiotapes in product development.
A Volunteer in Jordan, working with the teacher in a special education school, used computers to enhance the school's curriculum and training. Using a small project assistance grant, three computers and peripheral equipment were purchased and training sessions scheduled. After receiving basic computer training, the teachers trained their students to use the computers. The teachers are using computer technology to monitor attendance, send out correspondence, and develop new curricula, and the students, all of whom have special needs, are accessing academic programs on the computers and using them for self-directed study.
Half the population is younger than 25 in more than half of the countries of the EMA region. Consequently, youth development activities are increasingly important. Projects that develop the assets and capacities of young people are underway in Bulgaria, Jordan, Mongolia, Morocco, the Philippines, and Ukraine. It is more critical than ever for young people to have positive channels of economic, social, and political opportunities. Volunteers help young people and their communities view youth as an important asset in facilitating positive change. They engage and prepare youth for their roles within family life, the workforce, and as active citizens. Important areas of activity include life- skills training for employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership; and promoting tolerance, self-esteem, and conflict resolution. In one emerging area, Volunteers are working with youth on journalism-related activities and partnering with youth on community development projects. In all of the areas in which Volunteers work with youth, they advocate for youth participation in their communities using effective methods such as service-learning programs.
Many Volunteers work with young people in the classroom or through after-school clubs to support school-to-work transitions and to make learning relevant to real-life priorities. Some Volunteers use English language instruction in camps or clubs to teach important life skills. Other Volunteers work with marginalized young people to build their capacity to create a positive future in a region where human trafficking, street children, drug and alcohol use, prostitution, and lack of schooling plague youth.
Health Volunteers in the EMA region continue to educate individuals, households, service providers, and communities about the importance of health promotion and disease prevention. In addition to other sector area projects with health components, Albania, Armenia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, and Turkmenistan support distinct health projects that emphasize preventive health education as an important component of healthy lifestyles and improved quality of life. Volunteers and their counterparts strengthen different aspects of health education not only at health clinics and hospitals, but also in day-care centers, schools and universities, and local community organizations. Their assignments encompass the design of health education materials as well as the delivery of these messages with an emphasis on behavior change. Health education topics include pre-and post-natal care, personal and environmental hygiene, nutrition and food security, and preventing sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
Working in schools, with youth groups, and with nonprofit organizations, Volunteers promote a greater understanding of local ecology and environmental issues. Although the specific issues addressed in these projects vary greatly among countries, there is some overlap in activity types, as Volunteers increase awareness through eco-clubs, camps, and tree-planting campaigns. Volunteers also address coastal issues, recycling, and small animal husbandry. They help improve cook stoves and train park guides. Volunteers who teach English as a second language (TEFL) also take on environmental awareness projects as secondary activities. In Romania, for example, they helped organize an agricultural fair which drew an estimated 10,000 visitors. More than 60 community volunteers gave their time to the festival, which included 10 seminars on agricultural themes and provided 35 exhibitor stands for agriculture companies.
To ensure a project's sustainability, gender roles must be considered at all levels of project planning and implementation. Volunteers across sectors receive training in participatory approaches to project planning and community development. These approaches help increase community members' participation in the decision-making processes that affect their lives. This is especially true for women and youth. At in-service trainings, community members and Volunteers learn to use tools that aid in designing and implementing community projects to include a gender perspective.
In addition to integrating a gender perspective from the outset of their activities, Volunteers and
their host country partners often focus projects on empowering girls who are often more disadvantaged than boys, especially in the areas of education, leadership skills, and self-esteem. The highest percentage of girls' and boys' leadership camps is in the EMA region. These camps provide a format for a wide variety of topical, leadership, and empowerment activities for girls and boys.
In addition, every post in the EMA region is a source, transition, and/or destination country for human trafficking, so anti-trafficking efforts are a high- priority development issue. Anti-trafficking committees have been established in Albania, Macedonia, and Mongolia to assist Volunteers interested in contributing to reduction efforts by researching and developing best practices and possible programs that target youth.
As a whole, the EMA region strives to continually develop and refine its programs and Volunteer projects to address the current development needs of host countries, to ensure that Volunteers gain a broader understanding of other cultures, and that other cultures gain a better understanding of the United States and its diversity.
External Links
Congressional Budget Justification 2008 Peace Corps website (PDF, 47MB)


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Using data from nearly 89,000 tests for pesticide residues in produce, the Environmental Working Group compiled its annual list of the 20 most contaminated fruits and vegetables, called the "Dirty Dozen Plus."
20. Plums
19. Pears
18. Nectarines (Domestic)
17. Cherries
16. Kale/collard greens/leafy greens
15. Snap peas (Imported)
14. Lettuce
13. Blueberries (domestic)
12. Bell peppers
11. Strawberries
10. Spinach
9. Potatoes
8. Peaches
7. Nectarines (imported)
6. Hot peppers
5. Grapes
4. Cucumbers
3. Cherry Tomatoes
2. Celery
1. Apples
Among the cleanest? Kiwi, onions, sweet corn, pineapples, avocado, cabbage, frozen sweet peas, green onions, winter squash, broccoli and summer squash.
Read more about this year's rankings here.
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The Asian tiger mosquito is the most common daytime biting mosquito in the Carolinas. This mosquito was accidentally brought into the United States from Asia in used tires. It quickly spread into the southern United States during the late 1980's. This mosquito spreads dog heart-worm, encephalitis, Dengue fever and may be a vector of West Nile virus.
Unlike many native mosquitoes, the Asian tiger mosquito does not breed in swamps or other wet natural habitats. This mosquito breeds in artificial containers such as rain gutters, bird baths, flower pots, tires, barrels, boats, tarps, cans, and garden pools. They can also breed in tree holes and other natural reservoirs that hold water. They feed mainly during daylight hours, making them a major urban pest for gardeners and other people working or playing outside. Only the female mosquitoes feed on blood, which they use in producing eggs. These eggs can hatch in 24 hours and the emerging larvae (wrigglers), feed on microscopic pieces of organic matter. In about a week they pupate. The pupae (tumblers) last for a few days and swim in the container if disturbed. Adults emerge and the females can bite a day or so later. Females can survive for a month or more.
Night time applications of insecticide fogs by mosquito control agencies often do not effectively control Asian tiger mosquitos because they are active mainly during daylight hours. Homeowner can best control this pest by eliminating breeding sites. Water filled cans, tires, pots, and blocked rain gutters should be drained. If empty containers must be stored they should either be drilled to allow drainage, turned over or placed in a location that does not allow them to fill with water. However, these mosquitoes can fly several miles from breeding sites. If there is an abandoned house or a trash filled yard, the mosquitoes breeding in this site can infest an entire neighborhood.
If breeding sites cannot be drained there are some homeowner products that can be added to small water systems to kill the wrigglers. These products are usually a floating device that releases a beneficial bacteria, Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), into the water. When the larvae feed on the bacteria, they die. These products, if applied properly will not hurt children, pets or wildlife. These products are designed to treat only small containers, tree holes or ponds. Large bodies of water should only be treated by mosquito control professionals. Before any pesticide is applied always read the label and follow the directions and safety precautions exactly.
You can reduce the chance of being bitten by Asian tiger mosquitoes by wearing insect repellents and long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors. There are a variety of products available. Products with the active component DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) work to repel all mosquitoes. Many products have different concentrations of DEET.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control recommends that DEET products should be applied sparingly to exposed skin. Most effective repellents will contain 20 percent to 30 percent DEET. Products with more than 30 percent DEET may cause side effects, mainly in children. Repellents may hurt the eyes and mouth, so do not put repellent on the hands of children. No insect repellents should be used on children under 3 years of age. Apply repellents only as directed by the manufacturer's directions for use on the label. Wash off the repellent when you go back indoors.
Are These Breeding Sites on Your Property?


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Patent Leather Bow Heel
Style: 570091084
Out of Stock
Patent leather mid-heel is on point for winter. Layered leather bow on the toe has a hematite metal accent .
- Our obsessively great fit feels as beautiful as it looks.
- Breathable lining.
- Super-comfortable memory foam footbed.
- Leather sole scored for traction.
- Patent leather. Imported.
- 3.25" sculpted mid-heel.
Read more… Read less…


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Take windmills, tulips, 500 beautiful cats, people from all around the world, and sprinkle in some wonderful seminars and discussion. You now have the annual meeting and show of the World Cat Congress! Hosted by Fédération Internationale Féline (FiFe), with a cat show organized by Mundikat Cat Club, the 2009 World Cat Congress was held in Arnhem, Netherlands, April 11-14.
The World Cat Congress, in partnership with Royal Canin, was established in 1994 to promote harmony in the cat fancy. Nine registering bodies, from five continents, make up the Congress. While respecting our various differences, the Congress seeks to promote the health and welfare of cats, encourage the sharing of resources in the interest of cats, and educate people about the global cat fancy.
It was a treat for me to judge my very first FiFe show, along with many of the delegates from around the world. And, I was proud to find that, on the second day of the show, the Best Overall Cat was, SGC Yakimo of Shaggy-Coons, and one of TICA's current Top 20 Cats!!!


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Buy for$3.84(9 items)
Written by Destructo on 11.07.2011 at 08:17
This album does this:
A punch to your face, grabs you by the throat, drops you to the ground and pummels you mercilessly till you are broken, bloody and bruised !!!
This is exactly the type of "ass-kicking" album I was waiting for, this year. And it delivers a mighty whallop indeed !!
A little trimming of the excess fat (17 tracks...wow) and I would have actually considered giving this a 10.
But an utterly brilliant album nonetheless !!!