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Tammy Cagle was fired three years ago amid a corruption probe of her agency by the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation. Cagle was not criminally charged in the probe, and the reasons for her dismissal were ultimately unrelated to it. Cagle claimed that she was fired as a ŌĆ£scapegoatŌĆØ in light of the public outcry over the corruption allegations.
Cagle lodged an appeal with the N.C. Administrative Office of Hearings seeking her job back, as well as back pay. It was recently rejected by the state Administrative Hearing Officer, however, except for a token six months of back pay.
ŌĆ£It is my impression she is glad the case has concluded and wants to move on. It took a number of years to resolve. Litigation of any kind is draining on everybody involved,ŌĆØ said Michael Byrne, an attorney in Raleigh who represented Cagle.
The reason for CagleŌĆÖs firing was two-fold. One reason stemmed from a series of unorthodox and irregular handling of monetary assistance applications on behalf of CagleŌĆÖs family members. (See related article)
Another reason was CagleŌĆÖs communication with DSS employees about work-related matters, including the SBI investigation, while she was on investigative leave, despite instructions not to do so from the DSS board.
Incidentally, Cagle was not fired as a direct result of the SBI investigation. The timing, however, was apropos.
Cagle was put on paid leave shortly after the SBI corruption investigation was launched in February 2011, and then fired for good four months later ŌĆö and so in the publicŌĆÖs mind, the two events have forever been linked.
But technically, the SBI probe was not the reason for CagleŌĆÖs dismissal. It did, however, play a role in why she was placed on investigative leave with pay in the first place.
The SBI was investigating an alleged cover-up by child welfare agents following the death of a Cherokee toddler while in the care of a relative. Family members had warned DSS that the relative caring for the toddler was unfit and suspected the toddler was a victim of severe neglect and possibly abuse.
After the toddler died, social service employees fabricated records to cover up any negligence on their part and make it appear that they had adequately investigated the allegations of neglect and abuse, according to police and court records.
Cagle has not been charged with any wrongdoing in connection with the cover-up, although two lower-level employees were. But law enforcement records suggested Cagle was initially among those being investigated for their ŌĆ£potential involvement in the cover-up,ŌĆØ according to the case file.
ŌĆ£The SBI indentified Cagle, along with one or more social workers, as, allegedly, participants in a meeting concerning the falsifications,ŌĆØ according to the wrongful firing case file.
When the SBI launched its investigation three years ago, Cagle was put on administrative leave with pay and instructed not to have any work-related communication with her former colleagues.
One concern was that CagleŌĆÖs ŌĆ£presence would have had the potential to intimidate agency employees from being forthcomingŌĆØ during the investigation, according to the case file.
Additionally, ŌĆ£Placing [Cagle] on investigative leave with pay furthered the overarching concern about maintaining the communityŌĆÖs trust in the agency in the wake of the death of Aubrey Littlejohn and allegations of misconduct,ŌĆØ attorneys for Swain DSS contended in written arguments.
Forbidden calls
Cagle called her former colleagues at DSS on several occasions while on leave and tried to talk to them about the ongoing criminal investigation and her own pending performance evaluation.
Three employees documented their conversations with Cagle. Some of the conversations were merely agency gossip. But she also tried to interject in agency business, asked about the status of her employment investigation and talked about the criminal investigation, according to the case file.
Cagle denied this. She claimed that her former co-workers at DSS were longtime friends. She was not intending to talk about work, but brought up the SBI investigation simply because it was the talk of town.
ŌĆ£Her intent in making the calls was not to conduct business, but in essence to gossip with friends,ŌĆØ CagleŌĆÖs attorney stated in written arguments. ŌĆ£If the subject matter strayed into forbidden areas, it did so only in minor terms that did not obstruct the investigation.ŌĆØ
In her calls to Talmadge Jones, who was second in command at DSS under Cagle, Cagle twice warned him that DSS Attorney Justin Green was ŌĆ£turning against us,ŌĆØ according to JonesŌĆÖ account of the conversation.
Jones immediately reported the conversations to the interim director of DSS, who had been brought in on a contract basis. The interim director told Jones to write up a summary of the conversations with Cagle.
In JonesŌĆÖ written log of the phone conversations, he claimed that Cagle expressed concern that Green had turned against ŌĆ£them.ŌĆØ
Cagle said she had spoken to Green and ŌĆ£reminded himŌĆØ that he had been present during a meeting following the toddlerŌĆÖs death where they talked about it being ŌĆ£a very serious case,ŌĆØ according to JonesŌĆÖ account of his conversation with Cagle.
That meeting had also included Craig Smith, the child welfare caseworker who had been assigned to Aubrey LittlejohnŌĆÖs case. Smith was later charged with doctoring records to cover up any possible negligence by DSS.
When Smith made a visit to AubreyŌĆÖs home to investigate an unexplained injury, he told AubreyŌĆÖs caretaker she must take Aubrey to the doctor to have the injuries checked out. The caretaker never did so, however, and Smith never followed up to find out. However, Smith fabricated a record showing that he had followed up with the doctor and claimed the checkup had occurred when in fact it had not, according to police reports and the criminal charges.
Apparently, Cagle had asked Smith about the doctorŌĆÖs visit in a meeting following the toddlerŌĆÖs death ŌĆö a meeting at which Green was allegedly present, according to JonesŌĆÖ account of his phone conversation with Cagle.
Jones said Cagle told him in the phone conversation that she had ŌĆ£remindedŌĆØ Green of what transpired at the meeting with Smith. Supposedly, when Cagle asked Smith ŌĆ£What would you say if you had to testify in court?ŌĆØ and Smith ŌĆ£stated that he ŌĆśwould swear on a stack of BiblesŌĆÖ that he had spoken to the doctor at Cherokee Hospital,ŌĆØ so goes JonesŌĆÖ summary of what Cagle told him that sheŌĆÖd told Green.
CagleŌĆÖs attorney later denied the veracity of JonesŌĆÖ version of the phone conversations between him and Cagle.
Regardless, the Administrative Hearing judge said the assertion that Cagle was merely calling her longtime friends at the agency to gossip was ŌĆ£not credibleŌĆØ and that her discussions with them were about the very things the communication ban was supposed to head off.
ŌĆ£[Cagle] was well aware of the social and political uproar in the community over the AgencyŌĆÖs handling of the Littlejohn case, the impact the matter had on the trust bestowed on the agency by the public, and the media attention it drew,ŌĆØ the Administrative Hearing Judge wrote in his ruling.
The interim director of DSS brought in on a contract basis even issued a staff memo reminding employees if they talked to Cagle, not to talk about work matters.
Initially, the board noted two other performance issues during their performance review of Cagle while she was on leave. Those included:
ŌĆó Getting a stipend for using her personal vehicle for work, during a period of time when she was actually using a county vehicle.
ŌĆó Failing to pursue a Masters of Social Work degree as instructed by the board when hired as director in 2005.
But these two were ultimately jettisoned from the official reasons later given for CagleŌĆÖs firing.
Wrongful firing denied, back pay allowed
Cagle claimed the real motivation behind her firing was finding someone to take the fall given the uproar over the alleged cover-up and death of a toddler.
ŌĆ£[Cagle] denies any just cause for dismissal and alleges that she is being made the scapegoat for some issues with Swain County DSS that attracted widespread negative media attention,ŌĆØ according to CagleŌĆÖs suit.
CagleŌĆÖs attorney claimed the death of Aubrey Littlejohn ŌĆ£apparently caused a great deal of consternation and/or discussion in the Swain County community.ŌĆØ
In verbal testimony, Cagle had referred to the public backlash over the death of Aubrey Littlejohn as a ŌĆ£big to-doŌĆØ in the community.
Cagle was represented by Attorney Michael Byrne out of Raleigh. Swain County DSS was represented by Attorneys Bill Cannon and Mike McConnell of Waynesville.
In her appeal, Cagle claimed that she was ŌĆ£dismissed without just causeŌĆØ and sought reinstatement to her position, back pay and benefits and legal costs.
While the case was denied, the judge granted Cagle six months of pay and $5,300 in attorneyŌĆÖs fees.
The judge in the case found the DSS board did not adequately detail the reasons for her firing.
In a June 2011 letter to Cagle telling her she was fired, the DSS board failed to enumerate the specific instances when Cagle had violated the order not to contact DSS staff about work-related matters. It also failed to enumerate the specific instances in which she had acted inappropriately in signing off on benefits for family members.
While the judge found Swain DSS had just cause to fire Cagle, failing to itemize the grievances in her initial firing letter will cost Swain County about $37,000 in sixth months of back pay and legal fees for Cagle. It will come out of the countyŌĆÖs general fund, according to Swain County Manager Kevin King.
Checking in on the Aubrey Littlejohn case three years later
Three years ago, a Cherokee toddler mysteriously died while in the care of a relative. The trailer where she was living allegedly lacked a heat source. When she was brought to the hospital, her core body temperature was only 86 degrees, and she was dressed in a soiled diaper and T-shirt.
An autopsy report ruled her cause of death undetermined but noted it was not inconsistent with hypothermia.
The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation launched a probe into an alleged cover-up by Swain County DSS workers, who were accused of falsifying records to conceal possible negligence by the agency. The agency had been warned of unsafe living conditions, neglect and possible abuse by the toddlerŌĆÖs caregiver.
ŌĆóŌĆéTwo lower-level employees were eventually charged with forgery for falsifying records and obstruction of justice. One of the two, Candice Lassiter, pleaded guilty to the forgery counts in 2013. The other, Craig Smith, has not been to court.
ŌĆóŌĆéMeanwhile, AubreyŌĆÖs caretaker, Ladybird Powell, was charged with second-degree murder in AubreyŌĆÖs death. But the largely circumstantial evidence against Powell would have made the charges difficult to prove at trial, so a plea bargain was reached for involuntary manslaughter in 2013. She was also convicted of extortion and felony child abuse. She is serving nine years in prison.
ŌĆóŌĆéA civil suit against the Swain County Department of Social Services was filed by the family of the toddler, Aubrey Kina-Marie LittleJohn. It is still pending.


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- No Related Stories
Fri, 27 Jul 2012 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
July 19-29: JMU Children's Playshop, "The Velveteen
Rabbit," 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, 4
p.m. Sunday
Studio Theatre, Forbes Center for the Performing Arts.
This timeless family classic is a heartwarming story about friendship and devotion. A loveable toy bunny learns about the world and with courage and strength strives one day to triumph and become "real." The Velveteen Rabbit spends his days in the nursery with oversized toys that are brought to life, including a toy boat, a great lion and a stuffed horse. His other favorite companions include two larger-than-life forest rabbits that just can't stop hopping. Adapted by William Buck from the book by Margery Williams; for tickets, check http://www.jmu.edu/jmuarts/.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hi all,
Just wondered if anyone else has gone through periods where your older baby/toddler (my dd is 16 months) has wanted to nurse much more often than usual.
At least a couple of times a day Kate is asking for 'mama' every half hour or so, lasting for a couple of hours. Also she's often doing it right before mealtimes - if I then try to give her a meal she refuses it and if I nurse her she's too full for the meal - maybe I just need to move the mealtimes a bit earlier to pre-empt the nursing? Because some days she seems to be eating only bm and that can't really be good for a child her age. Mind you it is a hot and humid summer here at the moment so maybe that's normal?
Any comments or ideas?
(So glad these forums are here!!)


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No reportable incidents
1Construction tools valued at $500 including a power saw and impact wrench were taken from the back of a work truck in the 9000 block of North 51st Street the morning of July 9.
2A $75 bicycle was taken from a locked storage unit in the 4500 block of West Dean Road on July 12 or 13. No other units were reported broken into.
3A $119 chain saw was taken from Sterling True Value, 7649 N. Teutonia Ave., about 12:30 p.m. July 14. A man was seen with the saw and, just as he neared the register, he bolted and ran out of the store.
4A Smith and Wesson .40-caliber gun and a GPS unit valued at $575 were taken from a locked car in the 4600 block of West Deer Run on July 14 or 15. A rear window was smashed causing $500 damage.
5A 22-year-old Milwaukee woman was arrested for theft at Kohl's, 9060 N. Green Bay Road, at 4:20 p.m. July 18. She hid clothing and jewelry, 22 items in all valued at $730, inside her clothing and left the store leaving behind tags in the fitting room. When asked what happened, she said, "I got caught stealing" adding that she didn't intend to steal.
6A 35-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested for driving while suspended and failure to have insurance after another car rear-ended him in the 6600 block of West Brown Deer Road at 3:30 p.m. July 20. The man, a Mexican citizen without a green card, had been arrested for drunken driving in 2008 and at that time his license was suspended.
7A 27-year-old Brown Deer woman was arrested for theft from Kohl's, 9060 N. Green Bay Road, at 3:30 p.m. July 23. The woman entered the store pushing a stroller holding a young child and an empty purse. She took items into a fitting room and exited with a full purse and handed empty hangers to a loss prevention officer. She then left the store. Fifteen items valued at $339 were recovered, all hidden in her purse. The woman said she was having financial problems and panicked when her child acted up.
8More than $600 of collector coins including silver dollars from 1879 were reported taken from the 500 block of West Bradley Road on July 21. The actual date of the theft was not known.
9An 18-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested for theft of a 2010 Mercedes SUV from the 6900 block of North Barnett Lane early evening July 19. The keys were in the car and a bicycle was left at the scene. The car was recovered by New Berlin police at 171st Street and Greenfield Avenue on July 22. The man and a friend were seen pushing the car because it had run out of gas. He denied taking the car saying a friend named "Little Rob" offered it to him to drive for the evening after paying $50.
10A 48-year-old Cedarburg woman was arrested for drunken driving and refusal to take a breath test when stopped because of a revoked license plate at Lake Drive and Dean Road at 2 a.m. July 22.
11An 82-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested for trespassing and burglary, but these charges were pending, after taking items from a vacated home in the 7600 block of North Seneca Road at 6:25 a.m. July 23. The man who has a scrap metal recycling company knew the former owner and had been at the home previously picking up scrap metal. At that time, he left a window unlocked so he could re-enter the home. He said, at first, he had permission from the owner but then admitted he knew she no longer owned the property. Police confiscated various items from his truck including an air conditioner, metal shelves, books and a TV.
12A 26-year-old Brown Deer woman was arrested for theft of a $42 bottle of vodka from CVS Pharmacy, 8661 N. Port Washington Road, at 7 p.m. July 24. Another theft was reported by an unknown male caught on surveillance video taking seven bottles of vodka valued at $227 about the same time. The woman was arrested at a bus stop across the street.
13A 20-year-old Milwaukee woman was arrested for theft of 17 packages of men's underwear and socks valued at $550 from Boston Store, 5701 N. Lydell Ave., at 8:30 p.m. July 23. The woman put the items in a bag and was stopped as she tried to leave the store. The woman, who said she intended to sell the items, also said she was sorry.
14An unknown number of personal checks were reported taken from a resident at Laurel Oaks, 1700 W. Bender Road, on July 24. When the checks were taken was not known but the resident was alerted to the theft after a call from her bank reporting some had been cashed and the signatures were not hers. The forged checks totaled about $9,000.
15A 30-year-old Mequon man was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and unsafe lane deviation after witnesses reported his erratic driving in the 2500 block of West Silver Spring Drive and the 5000 block of North Lydell Avenue early evening July 24. The man admitted being a recovering heroin addict saying he "slips up sometimes." A hypodermic needle and other items used to shoot heroin were recovered.
16A 54-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested for theft of a pair of $35 shorts he stuffed down his own shorts at Sports Plus, 5800 N. Bayshore Drive, and glass frames valued at $504 from Lens Crafters, 5684 N. Centerpark Way, at 11:45 a.m. July 25. He left the center and got on a bus which was stopped and he was arrested. He also had two Frederick's of Hollywood bras and three pairs of sunglasses all with tags valued at more than $600. He denied taking those items saying he was holding them for a friend.
17Two Milwaukee females, 14 and 22, were arrested for theft at Kohl's, 5650 N. Bayshore Drive, at 2:30 p.m. July 28. They both filled foil lined purses, booster bags, with clothing valued at more than $220. The 22-year-old had outstanding warrants for theft and possession of marijuana.
18A 50-year-old woman, residence not listed, was arrested for drunken driving with a passenger younger than 16, possession of 1.3 grams of marijuana, driving the wrong way on a divided highway and refusal to take a breath test in the 7000 block of North Port Washington Road at 1:50 a.m. July 29. The woman said she had taken oxycodone and Percocet. The marijuana was found in a grinder disguised as a grenade. Her preliminary blood alcohol content was 0.171.
19A 49-year-old Brown Deer woman was arrested for drunken driving and refusal to take a breath test after an officer saw her driving about 25 mph in a 45 mph zone and deviating from her lane in the 3300 block of West Brown Deer Road at 12:50 a.m. July 26. The woman, who admitted having "a drink" had a preliminary BAC of 0.136. She was warned for lane deviation.
20A 19-year-old Greenfield man was arrested for disorderly conduct and underage drinking when he was found lying on the ground blocking a doorway in the 1600 block of East River Park Court about 1:30 a.m. July 21. When told to leave, the man yelled using profane language. His BAC was 0.19.
21A $100 cellphone, a wallet and contents including $30 cash were taken from the life guard office at Atwater Beach, 4000 N. Lake Drive, between 3 and 4 p.m. July 21.
22A pit bull mix attacked and injured a West Highland terrier dog and its owner as they walked in the 3800 block of North Murray Avenue about 9:30 p.m. July 21. The Westie suffered a number of bites and was treated for those injuries. The owner was also treated for injury.
23A $475 bicycle secured to a bike rack was reported taken from the 3800 block of N. Oakland Avenue at 2:25 a.m. July 23.
24A woman reported being the victim of a strong-armed robbery as she walked at the rear of the 1300 block of East Capitol Drive about 8:30 p.m. July 25. The woman said a man, about 30, 5-foot 8-inches tall, with a mustache, demanded money and pushed her to the ground causing injury to her face, arms and hands. Nothing was taken. She said she was unable to identify the race of the person who attacked her.
25Graffiti was sprayed on a garage door in the 4100 block of North Murray Avenue on July 25 or 26.
26Plants and the rocks of a retaining wall were scattered about a yard in the 2300 block of East Beverly Road on July 25 or 26. There was no information regarding any damage
27Two unsecured bicycles, valued at $250 and $750, were taken from an underground garage in the 800 block of East Kensington Boulevard between 3 and 7 p.m. July 27.
A resident reported a male riding a bicycle left racist and anti-Semitic writings on their porches in the 4800 block of North Newhall Avenue, the 1600 block of East Blackthorn Place and the 1900 block of East Glendale Avenue the evening of July 23.
28A 17-year-old Fox Point boy was arrested for violation of absolute sobriety, possession of drug paraphernalia, a pipe with residue, open intoxicants and imprudent speed in the 4700 block of North Wilson Drive at 10:30 p.m. July 23. His BAC was 0.06. Two 17-year-old boys of Milwaukee and Glendale, passengers, were cited for underage drinking. Their preliminary BACs were 0.123 and 0.187.
29A 31-year-old Tennessee man was arrested for disorderly conduct and soliciting without a permit in the 5100 block of North Palisades Road at 5 p.m. July 24. The man said he was selling magazines to "some white crackers" and told police he didn't need a permit and didn't have to speak with them. He had been arrested July 21 in Waukesha for selling without a permit and over the last 10 years has been arrested in 15 states.
30Residents reported two male juveniles trespassing and looking in windows in the 5000 block of North Lydell Avenue early evening July 22. The boys left in a gold Ford. In the same block, a resident reported he was threatened by a male juvenile who used a racial epithet about 11:30 p.m. July 24.
31A 44-year-old Milwaukee woman was arrested for drunken driving, nonregistration, failure to carry a driver's license and violating a traffic signal in the 5600 block of North Santa Monica Boulevard at 9:25 p.m. July 26. Her BAC was 0.14.
31Items valued at more than $200 including a GPS unit, earphones and candy were taken from an unlocked car in the 5500 block of North Bay Ridge Avenue on July 26 or 27.
32A 22-year-old Whitefish Bay man was arrested for possession of a marijuana pipe and littering after throwing that pipe on the beach as police arrived at Big Bay Park, 5000 N. Palisades Road, at 1 a.m. July 27. Another 22-year-old Whitefish Bay man was arrested for possession of alcohol, beer, at the park. Both men were also cited for violation of park hours.
33A 24-year-old Whitefish Bay man was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after a report of "family trouble" in the 5500 block of North Berkeley Boulevard at 3 p.m. July 27. The man was treated at a hospital.
34An 18-year-old Whitefish man, and two Milwaukee men, 18 and 19, were arrested for disorderly conduct after getting into a fight in the 100 block of East Chateau Place at 6:50 p.m. July 27. The Whitefish Bay man took a bicycle belonging to the Milwaukee men because, he said, one of them owned him $15. Those men denied owing any money and when they came to get the bike, a fight began.
35A 48-year-old Whitefish Bay man was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after causing a disturbance in the police department lobby, 5300 N. Marlborough Drive, at 7:30 p.m. July 27. North Shore Fire was called because of his "high level of agitation" and he was taken to a hospital.
36Items valued at more than $700 including a laptop computer and cellphone were taken from an unsecured apartment in the 100 block of West Henry Clay Street between 7:40 and 9:40 p.m. July 27.
37A 48-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested for prowling and possession of burglary tools after a report of him in the 200 block of East Chateau Place at 10:30 p.m. July 27. He was in possession of decorative solar lights.
Firefighters responded to 126 calls, 80 emergency medical and 46 fire/rescue, July 23 to July 29.
- North Shore Police Reports, July 28, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, July 21, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports July 14, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, July 7, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports: June 30, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, June 23, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, June 16, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, June 9, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports: June 2, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports: May 26, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports: May 19, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, May 12, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, May 5, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, April 28, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, April 21, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, April 14, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, April 7, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, March 31, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, March 24, 2016
- North Shore Police Reports, March 17, 2016


text:
DD is almost 13 months old. She wakes up about 4-5 times per night, nursing for just a minute or two before drifting off back to sleep. If she were actually hungry, I'd assume that she would nurse for much longer, until her belly is full. We cosleep, but before our last long vacation, I had her sleeping in her crib for all of her naps and for at least half of every night. Now, we're back to cosleeping full time because she doesn't want to be in the crib anymore. I figure it'll take some time for her to warm up to sleeping in the crib again. What I did notice when she was partially in her crib that she didn't wake up as much. When she's in bed with me and DS and DH (it changes all the time), she seems to wake up with every movement. The crib is right next to our bed, and when she slept in it, she didn't seem to be bothered by noises.
Is 4-5 times during the night normal? Could it be that cosleeping is the culprit?


text:
A man who witnessed the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, remembers the raid that drew the U.S. into World War II on Friday.
Edwin Nakasone told the Minnesota Historical Society that he was eating breakfast when he saw 15 planes flying in to attack a U.S. barracks on Dec. 7, 1941.
He was 14 years old at the time and living in Oahu, Hawaii. He later served in the U.S. Army as an interpreter in Japan.
Nakasone speaks at an event in St. Paul marking the 71st anniversary of the attack. It's hosted by the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and the Fort Snelling National Cemetery Memorial Rifle Squad.


text:
Embassy of the Mantis
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text:
Pittsburgh Hotel Guide
While flying is not the only way to get to Pittsburgh, it is one of the most popular ways. Flights to Pittsburgh land at Pittsburgh International Airport. Since numerous airlines fly into the airport, travelers should have no problems finding flights to Pittsburgh. Obtaining a rental car will make it possible for visitors to see more of Pittsburgh and to do so on their own terms.
Having the desired type of hotel on a trip is another way to make sure a visit is pleasant. Finding a Pittsburgh hotel will be easy. If proximity to a particular place is important, visitors will not be disappointed by Pittsburgh hotels. If travelers opt not to stay at airport hotels, downtown hotels are available. There are hotels near University of Pittsburgh locations, hotels near Heinz Field, hotels near PNC Park, and hotels in Oakland. If the best place for a traveler to stay is a place that takes pets, pet friendly hotels can be found. For more discriminating guests, there are luxury hotels downtown as well as Pittsburgh resorts. And, if money is tight, cheap Pittsburgh hotel deals can be found throughout Pittsburgh.
No matter where visitors stay, they will be near things to do in the Pittsburgh area. In season, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Pirates play. Riding the Duquesne and Monongahela Inclines is a must. Gambling is available at the Rivers Casino. Finally, great restaurants abound to feed the hungry.
Since this former steel town is full of modern amenities, Pittsburgh vacations and business trips are now desirable. Modern transportation, the hotels in Pittsburgh, and plenty to do, make Pittsburgh a destination of choice for many.


text:
Tiered Knit Shell
Style: 570108605
Out of Stock
Soft, fluid knit forms a sculptural silhouette with asymmetric tiers. A modern essential, finely crafted from stretch matte jersey that resists wrinkles and always looks refined.
- Close stretch fit.
- Wide, contoured shoulders. Bust side-swept with pleats. Hidden side zip.
- Fully lined.
- 95% polyester, 5% spandex. Machine wash. Imported.
- Hits at mid-hip (25.5" from shoulder).
Read more… Read less…


text:
A solid front line of Horford and Milsap, I think Bargs gets owned again. It's KMart's turn tonight so maybe he can help contain Horford and Milsap and for heavens sakes someone stick to Korver like glue and not let him go off like Danny Green did.
Solid thread Rady, thanks.


text:
A charter bus carrying members of an Iowa college softball team has been involved in a multi-vehicle crash that closed part of Interstate 80.
The bus carrying students and coaches from Simpson College was headed east Friday morning on Interstate 80 near Colfax when a semi-trailer truck jack-knifed in front of it. School officials say bus passengers were not seriously injured.
Television station KCCI reports the Iowa State Patrol says several semi-trailer trucks were involved in the crash. It is unclear if there are additional injuries. Eastbound lanes near the crash remain closed.
The crash is one of several after a major snowstorm dumped several inches of snow across the state.
Another bus later picked the team up for a tournament in Marquette, Mich.


text:
Thursday, 01st January 2009
Lil Jon
Australian Tour 2007
Coming soon...
Coming soon...
Founded in 1998, Heavy Rotation started out as an agency specialized in booking urban US-DJS in Germany. The company's roots in Germany explain the strong ties to European promoters. Over the past ten years the agency was able to not only add live performers to its roster but to also expand into new markets such as Asia, Africa and Australia. In 2006 Heavy Rotation opened its office in New York.
© Copyright 2011 - 2013 by HR Booking


text:
Inauguration Week: Marimba Orchestra and Friends
Sat, 16 Mar 2013 8:00 PM - Sun, 17 Mar 2013 1:00 AM
Location: JMU Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, Concert Hall
Time: 8:00pm
This event is open to the public but tickets are required.
This extraordinary event returns with performances by JMU's Marimba Orchestra, Steel Band and Madison Singers, as well as faculty guest artists. This concert features selections by Grammy Award winner Bela Fleck, plus classical and ragtime style works, including a medley of tunes from hit Broadway musicals, as well as an extended salute to the world-renowned Carlos Santana.
For tickets, check http://www.jmu.edu/jmuarts/ or call (540) 568-7000.
Tickets required.


text:
Bizarre Foods Delicious Destinations
Tues 9|8c
Booze Traveler
All New Dec 12 at 10|9c
Expedition Unknown
Wednesdays at 9|8c
Hotel Tipping Etiquette 01:48
Tour South Africa 02:33
North Carolina
$10K Grand Prize: Winter Escape Sweepstakes
Romania Travel Guide
No Reservations Disasters 01:40
Tony Parties With the Undead 01:48
Planet Primetime
From Sheik to Chic
8am | 7c
Feelin' the Philippines
8:30amam | 7:30amc
Burger Land
A Burger is Born
9am | 8c
Old Miss Burgers
9:30amam | 8:30amc
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Barre Town budget proposal includes two additions
BARRE TOWN The towns budget committee wrapped up its annual deliberations this week, approving a municipal spending plan that would expand the Police Department, level fund the library and cut funding for an organization that promotes economic development.
According to Town Manager Carl Rogers, those three issues dominated discussion during the committees final meeting. When it was over, Rogers said, the committee, which held back-to-back meetings Monday and Tuesday, adopted the general and highway fund budgets that town voters will be asked to approve May 14.
Rogers said the general fund budget was the focus of Tuesdays session. The proposal endorsed by the committee calls for spending $3,224,851 during the fiscal year that starts July 1. Thats an increase of $153,900, or roughly 5 percent, over the budget that voters approved a year ago.
Though Rogers said the committee made modest modifications to the budget he recommended, it did approve two big additions.
One was $40,000 to hire an additional full-time police officer, and the other $25,000 to convert the furnace at the East Barre Fire Station from oil to propane. The latter cost would include the removal of an underground oil tank.
Rogers said $40,000 would cover the cost of making a midyear hire, and, after some discussion, the proposal to hire an eighth officer was approved by a vote of 7-2.
Though the numbers involved were much smaller, Rogers said the votes to level fund the Aldrich Public Library for a fifth straight year and reduce funding for Barre Area Development Corp. were even closer.
Responding to the librarys request for a more substantial increase, Rogers recommended a 3 percent bump in the towns $103,000 contribution, even as some committee members suggested cuts in excess of $20,000.
Those proposed cuts were never seriously considered Tuesday night, though a motion to support Rogers recommendation for a 3 percent increase was rejected 6-3. The committee ultimately voted 6-3 to level fund the library.
According to Rogers, the committee voted 5-4 to trim $3,220 from the $52,220 he suggested as the towns contribution to Barre Area Development Corp. Like the local library, BADC is jointly supported by Barre and Barre Town.
The committee also finalized the highway fund budget this week. The final figure, according to Rogers, is $2,535,530 a reduction of $70,810, or 2.7 percent, from the budget voters approved last year.
Rogers said the committees decision to use a less expensive road resurfacing technique than he recommended saved more than $100,000. Other notable adjustments included a decision to skip the proposed purchase of two portable speed bumps for $8,000 and to trim 100 tons from the salt budget for a savings of roughly $6,000.
According to Rogers calculations, approval of the proposed general fund budget would trigger a 2.5-cent increase in the municipal portion of the tax rate, while the highway fund budget would allow for a 1.5-cent reduction. However, he said, the projected budget-related rate increase of 1 cent could double due to a decision a year ago to use $60,000 in surplus funds to reduce the tax rate then.
Rogers said the tax projections dont reflect the anticipated loss of revenue associated with a newly settled tax appeal with Rock of Ages Corp.
david.delcore @timesargus.comMORE IN Central VermontMIDDLEBURY According to WebMD, Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes a persons muscles ... Full StoryTiffany Briggs and Kayla Jackson eyed each other across the table, clasped hands, and then it was... Full StoryMARLBORO Police are investigating a burglary on Higley Hill Road. Full Story
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INGREDIENTS:1 ½ cups rhubarb, trimmed, cut into ½ inch slices 1 lb. plums, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 ½ Tbsp. ginger root, peeled, finely chopped 1 cup clover or orange blossom honey 1 Tbsp. orange zest DIRECTIONS:Combine all ingredients and bring just to a boil. Immediately reduce heat. Simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens, about 40 minutes. Take care not to scorch toward end of cooking. Cool; refrigerate in a tightly sealed container. SERVINGS:1 ½ cups From: PHOTO ...
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12 Key Lessons Learned About Technology Investing
by Bob Turner
Although the technology sector may not be all that it used to beits maturing and increasingly cyclical in natureit still offers some compelling investment opportunities.
We think at Turner Investment Partners that we have accumulated some useful lessons over the years about investing in the sector and discuss 12 of them here.
Some burnt-fingered investors, scorched by years of losses in tech stocks, might find this topic curious and ask, Why should anyone care about the tech sector, of all things? To them the tech sector is so 1990s. Tech stocks were of course the market darlings in the last decadetotal returns of 25% in just one quarter were commonplacebut have underperformed miserably since then.
Columnist John Waggoner of USA Today made this wry observation: For technology stocks, and the funds that invest in them, the past five years have been a tragedy interrupted by brief periods of calamity. The Goldman Sachs Technology Composite index has lost an annualized 4.64% for the past five-year period ended June 30, 2006. Investors have pulled $29 billion from tech funds in the past five years, mutual fund data firm Lipper estimates. And the tech sectors weighting in the S&P 500 index has shriveled from 35% at the start of the decade to about 15% today.
Why Care?
In light of all this doom and gloom, why should anyone care about tech stocks now?
As we see it, there are five reasons:
First, for our part, the most mundane reason is that we must care about the tech sector because, under our sector-neutral portfolio-management policy, our growth portfolios are obligated to be invested in tech stocks proportionately to their weighting in the target indexes.
Second, if, as we expect, growth stocks should at long last start outperforming value stocks for a sustained period after lagging for seven years, we think tech shares may be a prime beneficiary of growths resurgence.
Third, we think the tech sector, although increasingly cyclical, should still grow over time faster than the rest of the economy. We just dont think it will grow five times as fast, as in the 1990s. In the near term, over the next six to 12 months, weand more than a few Wall Street analyststhink that as the economy slows, the tech sectors earnings in aggregate should hold up relatively well, which could enhance tech stocks return potential. The consensus of Wall Street analysts is that the companies in the Goldman Sachs Technology Composite index will increase their earnings per share by 14.6% over the next 12 months, according to I/B/E/S. We think that telecommunications-equipment, flash-memory, and semiconductor stocks could do especially well.
Fourth, tech stocks have tended to flourish once the Federal Reserve stops its series of interest-rate hikes. According to the economic-research firm ISI, stocks in the tech sector have been among the leaders in stock market performance in the three months after each final Fed tightening that occurred in 1987, 1989, 1995, 1997, and 2000. For example, in those five instances, computer-networking stocks gained an average of 34.5%.
Finally, as growth investors always searching for blockbuster stocks, we think the tech sector remains a prime place to search. Indeed, some of our biggest gains in recent years have come from tech stocks like Apple Computer, Broadcom, and Marvell Technology Group.
For all these reasons, we thought it might be an opportune time to discuss some of the key lessons weve learned about investing in the tech sector.
Here, then, are 12 of our primary lessons about tech investing.
1: Heed the Cockroach Principle
Lesson #1: Sell a tech stock at the first sign of earnings disappointment. And once the stock is sold, dont buy it again until its issuers earnings improve.
Like history, a disappointment in corporate earnings tends to repeat itself. Time and again weve found its far better to sell a tech stock at the first inkling of bad news rather than wait to see what happens next, since unfortunately more bad news is usually in the offing. That principle has been popularly referred to as the cockroach principlea weak quarterly earnings report is like a cockroach in that if you come across one, others are almost certainly lurking about.
Conversely, we would rather forgo a 15% gain in a tech stock and wait to buy it until we receive a clear indication that earnings are in fact picking up. In the past weve been tempted to buy a previously lucrative tech stock whose price had dropped to the single digits, in the belief that it had finally bottomed . . . only to find more earnings cockroaches surfacing. (Often, that kind of earnings infestation serves as an indication of some fatal flaw in a companys business model.)
2: Focus on Innovators
Lesson #2: To find the tech leaders, look for the innovators.
If the tech sector has a commandment, it may very well be: Thou shalt innovate or thou shalt perish. As many now-departed companies have unfortunately learned, the threat of extinction is rarely remote in the tech sector. A failure to innovate can result in tech firms quickly becoming contemporary equivalents of those companies that made horse carriages in the late 19th century.
Typically, innovation requires substantial spending on research and developmentand the best tech companies tend to allocate a generous chunk of annual sales to their R&D budgets. In a sector as fiercely competitive as technology, its difficult to determine who will win or lose in the long run. But if you were forced at gunpoint today to choose which tech companies were likely to end up as winners five years from now, you could do worse than to pick those that happen to spend amply on R&D. Our research has shown that tech leaders typically pour amounts ranging from 5% to 19% of their annual sales into R&D.
3: Beware Seasonality
Lesson #3: Financial conditions in the tech sector and gains in tech stocks are influenced by seasonality.
Translated from Analyst-Speak, seasonality means that the performance of both the tech sector and tech stocks conforms to a somewhat predictable up-and-down pattern, geared to the seasons of the year.
In modern times, the period from October to May has almost without fail proven to be best for owning tech stocks, and tech companies earnings tend to be strongest from October to May.
One reason why tech earnings receive a boost beginning in October is that capital spending for tech products and services tends to rise then, as predictably as the leaves in New England display their most vivid autumn colors at that time. Some of the increased capital spending is due to budget flushcompanies stepping up purchases to use up the remaining money in their budgets before the year ends. Another reason: The tech sector, with products such as cell phones, digital cameras, flat-screen TVs, and MP3 players, is becoming increasingly oriented to the consumer, and consumer spending peaks during the holiday shopping season.
4: Watch the Cycles
Lesson #4: As it matures, the tech sector increasingly bobs up and down in synch with the waves of the economy.
We like to characterize tech as a cyclical/growth sector, reflecting a hybrid status. Inevitably, as the tech sector gets bigger and biggerits annual revenue worldwide now exceeds $1.5 trillionits overall growth rate will slow more and more. Blame it on the harsh reality of the Law of Large Numbers: High growth rates must deteriorate as the base swells.
Also, as the tech sectors economic cyclicality has become more pronounced and as product and service offerings have proliferated, pricing has become more competitive and problematic. Leverage has shifted gradually from the supplier of technology to the buyer of technology. In the late 1990s, products for digital networks, for instance, were so pricey that some buyers whined they were being held up. But thats not the case today; the buyers have the upper hand. We hear reports all the time now of buyers telling tech companies, If you want our business, then cut your product price by 8%. Price competition in tech is global, and its really cutthroat. Domestic companies like Cisco Systems are finding it harder to compete on price with Chinese firms like Huawei Technologies and ZTE, with their lower manufacturing costs.
An absence of pricing power presents a quandary for the tech sector, which must respond by cutting costs to stay profitable. But history has shown that tech is a sector where you cant conserve your way to prosperity; a degree of pricing power is essential if revenue and profits are to grow robustly for long.
5: Invest in Market Leaders
Lesson #5: The most rewarding tech stocks in the long run typically are those of companies that are either first or second in their markets.
Historically, just a small percentage of tech playersthe market leadershave produced most of the stock market wealth. If you want to try to get rich beyond the dreams of avarice, you are unlikely to do so by investing in the number-four player in the industry.
Leaders typically become leaders because they find a fast-growing and scalable (capable of expansion) market niche. Apple Computer in personal computers, Microsoft in operating software, Intel in semiconductors, and Cisco Systems in Internet routersall had the knack of spotting promising markets early on, riding the growth of those markets to great heights, and in the process helping to create that growth with value-added new products. As a result their profits soared, and not coincidentally, their stocks rose by four- or five-digit percentages over time.
You really dont want to know how the stocks of lesser competitors like Gateway, 3Com, National Semiconductor, Intergraph, Sybase, Netscape Communications, and Bay Networks fared.
6: Be Merger-Wary
Lesson #6: Beware of mergers of equal-sized tech companies.
A merger of equals in the tech sector generally proves unsatisfactory because both parties tend to have serious problemsproblems that tend to be the motivation for the merger in the first place. So if we happen to own the stock of one of the partners to such a merger, we sell it pronto.
We consider the Symantec-Veritas Software merger in 2004 a classic example of the folly of a merger of equals. Symantec was a data-security company that was increasingly desperate to sustain a double-digit annual growth rate. Symantec hoped the answer to all of its problems would be Veritas Software, a company that was comparable in size but, ominously, growing less than half as fast as Symantec was. The result: blah financial and stock market performance by the combined company.
The difficulty of integrating two tech peers is compounded if they are geographically distantif one of them is based in, say, Redwood City, California, and the other in Glen Cove, New York. Also, once the merger is completed, much of the best technical and sales talent tends to leave. In a merger of tech equals, one plus one often proves to be something less than two.
Thats not to say that all tech mergers and acquisitions are futile. We have seen many instances in which a larger firm, to enhance its existing capabilities, has acquired a smaller firm, and the arrangement has worked out splendidly. Heres what makes the difference: that kind of acquisition is complementary in naturea niche acquisition designed to add a technology or expertise that the acquirer either doesnt have or needs to bolster.
7: The Cheap Just Get Cheaper
Lesson #7: Valuation alone is not reason enough to buy a tech stock.
Earnings and earnings expectations are what drive tech stocks (and, we believe, all stocks). If earnings and earnings expectations arent favorable, all that usually happens to a cheap tech stock is that it just gets cheaper. As far as were concerned, theres no such thing as a value tech stock; no tech stock should be bought simply because its cheap.
Some investors salivate over the prospect of buying a beaten-down tech stock at a bargain pricewhat has been called the cigar-butt approach to tech investing, comparable to trying to extract one last puff from a cigar butt discarded in the gutter. But its been our experience that any initial advantage you earn from such a bargain will be eroded quickly if the company continues to generate poor earnings. As we walk down the street, picking up cigar-butt tech stocks is definitely not for us.
8: Get in at an Early Stage
Lesson #8: The most profitable time to invest in a tech company is when its products or services are in the early stage of their life cycle.
The time to buy Apple Computer was in 2003, when it began marketing in earnest one of the great products of modern times, the iPod (and happily for us, we did buy it then, although we hasten to add that not all of our stock picks at the time performed nearly so well). Quarterly sales of the iPod mushroomed from 219,000 units in the first quarter of 2003 to 8.5 million in the second quarter of 2006. During that time, Apple reported earnings that continually exceeded Wall Street analysts expectations, to the benefit of its stock price. In some cases, such as in the semiconductor industry, its getting harder to ferret out promising new products or product extensions because companies are disinclined to talk much about them in advance. As the semiconductor companies see it, why should they bang the drum for a new chip if doing so will only deter customers from buying their existing chips? When a semiconductor company decides to clam up, we seek to gauge the potential commercial appeal of a new chip by tracking the number of design contracts that the developing company is winning. If the number of a design wins is rising, it can indicate customers seal of approval for the impending new product.
9: Management & Talent Matter
Lesson #9: Theres no substitute for exceptional management and technical talent.
In his essay, On Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson famously asserts, An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man.
A tech company above all must have good fundamentals in its business to succeed. But if a tech companys shadow is cast by a chief executive who has vision, integrity, and the ability to inspire employees, success can be even sweeter. Just look at what Steve Jobs accomplished with Apple Computer, John Chambers with Cisco Systems, Bill Gates with Microsoft, and Andrew Grove with Intel. One trait that all of them had in common: they gave their technical talent the freedom to spend, experiment, and make mistakes. Its been our experience that if management tries to micromanage innovation, the result more often than not will be poor.
The quality of technical talent is even more critical to a tech companys efforts to realize its potential. So to identify the tech companies that may be up-and-comers, we try to find out which ones seem to be landing the best and brightest technical talent.
Elite young technical talent tends to gravitate to small, unbureaucratic companies that are making the greatest breakthroughs in their fields and presenting them with the greatest prospects of becoming millionaires by age 40. We think Microsoft should take warning and Google should take heart about their own prospects from this trend weve observed: A decade ago tech wunderkinds newly graduated from schools like MIT, Stanford, and Carnegie Mellon went to work at Microsoft; today they are going to work at Google.
10: Domination Is Short Term
Lesson #10: Tech leaders arent remaining on top as long as they used to.
As we see it, the days of a company like IBM dominating for 20 years or more are over. Today 10 years is almost an eternity for a tech company to stay king of its particular hill. The pace of change is accelerating brutally in most tech industries; the life cycle of new products in telecommunications, for instance, is often measured in months. Companies like Johnson & Johnson in health care, Procter & Gamble in consumer staples, American Express in financial services, and Caterpillar in producer durables that were leaders in their industries three decades ago are still leaders today. But such sustained leadership is far less common in the tech sector than a total lunar eclipse is in astronomy.
Finding tech companies that are growing fast at any given time is fairly easy, in our opinion. The hard part is determining how long those companies can keep growing fast. Those that grow fast and for a long time will be the leaders. Most prospective tech leaders are mid-cap companiescompanies with market capitalizations between $2 billion and $10 billion, a range we like to call the sweet spot. Small-cap tech companies inevitably have a blow up or two along the way. But mid-cap tech companies have reached the sweet spot because theyve proven to have good management, because they tend to have sophisticated operating and financial systems in place, and because they have reduced their financial risks by broadening their products or services beyond one flagship product or service.
11: Apply the 10/10 Rule
Lesson #11: The ability to limit losses in individual tech stocks is critical to achieving good investment results.
Tech investing is governed by what we call the 95/5 Rule95% of the market value of the tech sector tends to be created by about 5% of the sectors stocks. That leaves a lot of tech stocks that can go wrong badly.
As thorough as we try to be in conducting fundamental research, we may not always know why a tech stock is suddenly going haywire. Thats particularly true of small- and mid-cap tech stocks, which are less visible and less widely followed by Wall Street.
Weve found another of our rules, the 10/10 Rule, to be an invaluable technical tool in making sell decisions on tech stocks behaving badly. Basically, that rule obligates us to scrutinize any stock that declines in price 10% more than its sector does in any 10-day trading period. Applying the 10/10 rule has enabled us to cut our losses in many tech stocks early and avoid further carnage. When something goes wrong with a tech stock, it behooves you to exit through the selling door before the crowd does.
12: Ride Your Winners
Lesson #12: Let your winners run.
When you own tech stocks that are generating outsized extra return, the best practice often is to do nothing and simply let them continue to generate extra return. In some cases, we have learned this lesson the hard way. We have held some big tech winners but succumbed to the temptation to take profits in them, only to buy them back later at higher prices.
When it comes to our tech winners, inertia strikes us as a sensible investment strategy. We think our ideal holding period for such stocks is forever or until theres a good earnings-related reason to sell them, whichever comes first.
We are fond of citing the following example as a cautionary tale on the folly of selling winners prematurely:
In 1992 a conscientious portfolio manager might have been tempted to sell Cisco Systems after it had reaped a two-year gain of 640%. Isnt the phrase Nobody ever lost money taking a profit almost Sacred Writ on Wall Street?
But locking in a 640% gain would have been a colossal mistake. By selling prematurely, by failing to let Cisco Systems run, you would you have missed an additional 13,897% return before it finally began to falter in March 2000.
Similarly huge missed opportunities would have resulted if you had had an itchy trigger finger with Microsoft, Dell, Jabil Circuit, and Qualcomm, among other tech blockbusters.


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|Assistant Coach
|Alma Mater:
|University of Scranton '91
Ron Caputo is in his eighth season as a member of the Duke lacrosse coaching staff. One of the great lacrosse minds nationally, Caputo works closely with the midfield and faceoff specialists.
In his seven seasons with the Blue Devils, Duke has posted a 111-29 record, captured three ACC titles, advanced to the NCAA Semifinals seven times and ultimately won the 2010, 2013 and 2014 national championships. Duke has ranked among the top 11 in scoring offense in each of the past seven campaigns and was among the top six in six of those, including the No. 2 spot in 2014
In 2014, Caputo mentored arguably the most talented midfield group in Duke's history. The trio of Deemer Class, Myles Jones and Christian Walsh combined for 97 goals and 79 assists for a midfield record 176 points. Class' and Jones' 65 and 63 respective points both were a program-best. Class went on to earn first team All-America honors. Overall, Duke ranked second nationally in scoring offense with 14.85 goals per game.
Working closely with the faceoff specialists and the midfield, Duke has won 56.0 percent (1684-2990) of its restarts over the past six seasons, including an impressive 62.5 percent in 2013. Under Caputo's watchful eye, Duke has had great success at the X with All-Americans CJ Costabile and Brendan Fowler. In 2012, Caputo helped mentor Costabile and Fowler to above .500 faceoff percentages as they finished with .526 and .604 win percentages at the X, respectively. In 2013, Fowler took it one step further as he established a NCAA single season record for faceoffs won with 339. He picked up the ACC Defensive Player of the Year honor as well as being named the NCAA Championship Most Outstanding player after winning 20-of-28 faceoffs in the title game.
Perhaps even more impressive in 2013 was the play of Duke's midfield. The Blue Devils' two midfield lines combined for 223 of Duke's 464 points and 132 of the 295 goals in 2013. Senior David Lawson flourished in his final season, earning All-ACC and first team All-American, while Jake Tripucka and Josh Offit also both garnered All-American accolades.
In 2012 with Caputo guiding the group again, midfielder Robert Rotanz had a record-setting season, registering 40 goals and earning USILA All-America first team honors. His 40 tallies are the most by a Duke midfielder in program history. In addition, Justin Turri earned USILA All-America honorable mention honors after netting 19 goals and 32 points overall.
Coming off the national championship in 2010 and returning just 48 percent of its scoring, Duke finished 2011 ranked sixth in scoring offense with 12.2 goals per game and had three midfielders with at least 25 points on the year. Turri earned USILA All-America second team honors, while Rotanz captured an honorable mention nod.
In 2010, the Blue Devils won 54.5 percent of their restarts to rank 13th nationally, while senior Sam Payton was 14th individually. Offensively, Duke ranked second in scoring offense with 13.45 goals per game. The Blue Devils also ranked second in assists per game (8.35) and points per game (21.8) under Caputo's watch.
In Caputo's inaugural season with the Blue Devils, Duke led the nation in scoring offense with 15.2 goals per game. The squad won an NCAA record 18 games and advanced to the NCAA Semifinals for the second consecutive season under his assistance as the Blue Devils featured the top two individual scorers in NCAA history in Matt Danowski and Zack Greer.
Prior to his arrival at Duke, Caputo spent four seasons (2003-06) on the Hofstra University men's lacrosse staff as an assistant coach. He joined the Pride in 2004 as a volunteer assistant coach for current Blue Devil head coach John Danowski, who served as the head coach at Hofstra from 1986-2006, as the Pride compiled an overall record of 35-28 and a 14-9 mark in Colonial Athletic Conference play, during his tenure.
In 2006, Caputo worked alongside Danowski to help lead Hofstra to an overall record of 17-2, a mark that included a perfect 6-0 mark versus CAA opponents, and a final national ranking of No. 2. The Pride won the CAA Championship and reached the NCAA Quarterfinals, while setting a school record for wins and winning percentage (.895).
Before his stint at Hofstra, Caputo served as a varsity assistant lacrosse coach from 1997-2003 at Syosset (N.Y.) High School, where he coached Blue Devil teammates and brothers Dan and Chris Loftus. A 1991 graduate of the University of Scranton, Caputo led Syosset to three county semifinal appearances and one Nassau County Championship game berth.
Caputo is married to the former Randi Heller of Farmingdale, N.Y., and the couple has four children, Samantha, Owen, Jake and Jayme. The family resides in Holly Springs, N.C.


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Tipmont REMC
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Rebate Program
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Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling: $35
Electric Water Heater: $50 - $100
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Tipmont REMC customers are eligible for rebates for the installation of efficient water heaters and air-source and geothermal heat pumps. A rebate is also available for the recycling of older, less efficient refrigerators and stand alone freezers. Air-source heat pumps are eligible for rebates between $150 and $450, while geothermal heat pumps are eligible for a $500 rebate. Water Heaters with a capacity of 80 gallons or less are eligible for a $50 rebate and systems with over 80 gallons of capacity are eligible for a $100 rebate. Heat pump rebates are only eligible for single-family residences that are occupied year-round. All necessary proof of purchase information is required. Customers are also eligible for rebates from Wabash Valley Power Association. Review all program information on the web site listed above. Customers should contact utility to ensure system and home eligibility.


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Sorry to join in so late here, since I am also a wohm toddler BFing mom I figured I'd chime in. I stopped pumping at around 13 months, but BF during the day on weekends. My supply seems to have adjusted fine. (This is in response to your question to Molly.)
After I stopped pumping DS got water in his sippy cup at daycare since he is allergic to cows' milk. At that time he was gaining fine, but he got sick over the holidays and lost some weight. Now we are going to see if he likes soy so we can get him some more calories.
Thanks for starting this thread!


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The volleyball team begins play on Aug. 29 with a home match with Cisco Junior College at 2 p.m.
Head coach Larry Lollar has a handful of returning players but will have to rely on their athleticism and not their height this year.
"We aren't very tall this year, but we do have some athletes," said Lollar at a early practice session.
With a few newcomers and a few experienced players, such as Kathy Acosta and Korie Rodriguez, the Cougar volleyball team will compete within their region. But, it will be tough to meet those junior colleges who will have a few six-footers who are also athletic and play big at the net.
Men's soccer looks to be a more experienced and talented group than last year.
"This is the best talent we've had here, and we should be far more competitive," said head coach Bill Cleavelin.
Three imports from the British Isles have joined the team this year and will be joined by a very good group of newcomers. Speed, experience and some depth in numbers will help the Cougars challenge for a post season tournament spot in Region XIV.
The Cougars begin their regular season on the road on Aug. 23 at the University of Dallas. Their first home match is set for Sept. 13 when Jacksonville Junior College pays a visit to Beeville.


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Im Yours
Your original file link
could you tell me please which is the wap address i have to write so to download the song.. thank you
You could tell me how to download this ringtone on my phone?
first...downloap to ur computer then send to ur phone using bluetooth...
could have the chorus or a little bit longer than it is. but other than that its very clear and sounds good.


text: I really wish I could see the armor on it. Problem being is there would be outcries to glyph the armor option for those that like the nekked version. Then those minor glyphs will be even more painful to choose. One with Nature (the druid random teleport) is really, really cool. The glyph to give travel for mount speed is basically going to be mandatory. The last may be up for opinion, but I like either having orca or the swim speed buff. If it shirvallah went glyph, I'd be really conflicted... unless the entirety of the talent was a major glyph, then it'd be easy. The major glyphs for feral are boring.


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Red Kap® Team Style Jacket with Slash Pockets. CSJT38
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Upcoming Renewable Energy Hour Shows
We have a number of shows with known topics and guests already scheduled so we thought we'd list them here for your planning purposes. All RE shows are at 9am every other Monday.
On our pledge drive show, Monday, 2/24, Jeff will solo with returning guest, David Arkin. David is an award winning architect specializing in sustainable building. They will be focusing on straw bale and zero energy homes.
On Monday, 3/10, we will technically be stepping outside of our traditional focus on renewable energy. We will be joined by Anna Birkas, a local hydrologist to talk about the drought and what we can do to help with our own water situations.
On Monday, 3/24, we will have our occasional "open lines" show. We will spend the whole show with listener call ins on whatever RE topics come up. Trouble shooting? In the news? Shopping advice? Please keep to the topic of renewable energy.


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Jalapeno peppers are often thought of as the most generic type of hot pepper out there. Generally, they don't have much kick when freshly picked off the vine. It isn't until you either roast, steam, or bake them before their true heat comes out. Jalapenos range from around 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville units. Usually you can buy them at your local grocery store. When in raw form the capsaicin they hold is almost undetectable, causing them to taste more like a fibrous bell pepper than a hot pepper. If you would like to test this at home, try a jalapeno raw and then try some freshly baked poppers or some roasted jalapenos and you will notice a distinct difference.
The name of the pepper comes from the city of Jalapa, Mexico in which the plant originates. At Central Farms, we have experimented with many strains of Jalapenos such asthe early variety, jumbos, purple jalapenos as well as the traditional jalapa variety. Jalapenos can be picked and roasted when they are all green but will eventually turn red and get a bit hotter.
At Benito's, we use jalapenos in Joe's #1 Jalapa (naturally). They provide a fantastic base for a classic salsa verde which includes all natural cilantro and freshly squeezed lime juice to produce a quintessential citrus sizzle.


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What is in this article?:
- Firm demand, project delays keeping fertilizer markets tight
- Expansion in Latin America
• This report shows that demand for fertilizer is steadily increasing in response to supportive agricultural market fundamentals, while expansion of supply is still delayed because of schedule slippages for about half of projects.
The International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) has released to the public its Medium-Term Fertilizer Outlook 2012-2016.
This report shows that demand for fertilizer is steadily increasing in response to supportive agricultural market fundamentals, while expansion of supply is still delayed because of schedule slippages for about half of projects.
On the demand side, tight market conditions for maize and oilseeds provide strong incentives for farmers to increase productivity and optimize their return. In this connection, world fertilizer demand is seen as up by 2.8 percent in 2011/12, and by another 2.5 percent in 2012/13, to reach 181 million tonnes (Mt) of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphate and potassium).
When compared to 2007/08 — the last campaign before the economic downturn — world fertilizer demand is anticipated to have fully recovered by 2012/13, including for potash.
During this five-year period, South Asia alone is forecast to account for approximately 60 percent of the net increase in global demand.
"In the next five years, reduced inventories and strong crop prices are expected to persist in the agricultural commodity markets because of the need to supply the fast-rising food, feed, fibre and bioenergy markets. This is anticipated to stimulate fertilizer demand, but high crop price volatility could result in significant year-on-year variations," says Patrick Heffer, Director of the IFA's Agriculture Service.
World demand is projected to reach 193 Mt by 2016/17, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of 2.1 percent over the average of the 2009/10 to 2011/12 campaigns.
Average annual growth is seen as stronger for potash (+3.7 percent per year) than for phosphates (+2.3 percent) and nitrogen (+1.5 percent) because the nitrogen and phosphate markets have recovered faster than the potash market, and because there is an urgent need to rebalance fertilization to the benefit of potash in several developing countries.
Contrary to historical trends, Asia's weight in regard to global growth is progressively declining, while


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The supervisors of Lackawaxen Township approved the proposed expansion of the Holbert Brothers Bluestone Quarry at a meeting on July 20, but before doing so, township solicitor Tony Waldron read a list of 10 conditions that he recommended by attached to the approval, and the supervisors agreed to the conditions.
Chief among them is one that mandates that only one acre of the expanded quarry can be worked at a time, and a new acre can't be started until the previous acre has been reclaimed.
The quarry is situated very close to the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational and most people familiar with the situation consider it to be located within the river corridor. As such, land uses are supposed to comply with the land use guidelines in the River Management Plan (RMP).
A 40 acre expansion would not be in compliance with the guidelines. But Sean McGuinness, the superintendent of the National Park Service (NPS), initially thought the one-acre rule would mean that the operation is in compliance. But after reading through the conditions and other documents related to the permit process, McGuinness said he had a number of serious concerns.
One of the conditions allows the Holbert brothers to remove the "overburden" from the entire 40 acres all at the same time. The overburden is usually defined as everything that exists above the rock which is to be quarried, such as the soil, trees and other vegetation. Additionally, the conditions allow for each acre of quarry to be "bonded" rather than "reclaimed," which could result in the entire 40 acres being cleared.
On a related matter, Wayne Holbert in the past has asserted that because the quarry can't be seen from the river it is not in the river corridor. In documents prepared by Waldron, it was written that the quarry is indeed located within the corridor district, but not subject to RMP because it was in operation before the plan was in place.
During a general discussion of the matter on the evening of the vote, supervisor Rich Krochta said the supervisors had considered many factors in the decision.
Waldron said that everyone agreed that if the application had been for a new quarry it would not have been approved. But, he said, "The family has been there since the 1700s, and the quarry has been more or less in operation for over 100 years, and that's a factor here, and just about everyone that is involved, including the Park Service, came in afterwards."
He added, "There are state regulations that say you should not unreasonably restrict the development of mineral resources and that's right in the municipality's planning code."
At another point, Waldron explained why NPS and the Upper Delaware Council were not named as interested parties and were therefore denied permission to speak at a public hearing on the matter in June. He said the supervisors decided that the only interested parties would be adjacent or nearby landowners, and when they asked for advice about whether the two organizations should be included, he responded that it was a matter that could go either way. The supervisors then voted that they should not be granted party status.
McGuinness said he would look into an appeal of this decision, because both organizations have obligations regarding the entire river corridor and are therefore affected by the proposed quarrying. He said he would discussing the situation with NPS legal counsel.
On another matter at the meeting more than one commenter said that while the current permits allow quarrying on 10 acres, it is actually happening on 18 acres. McGuinness says the RMP allows for only four acres to be open for mining at a time. The supervisors and the zoning officer said they would investigate the matter of size of the operation.
Some neighbors have threatened to bring legal action, and wanted the expansion application to be denied outright. Ron Parker, who owns a home in the St. Vincent's Pointe neighborhood, issued a statement saying, "The supervisors failed to protect the interests of Lackawaxen citizens, the environment and the Delaware River. Their decision will be appealed and they will loose the lawsuit causing an unnecessary significant cost to the local residents."


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GV Now
Sustainability champions celebrated at annual breakfast
Posted on April 03, 2014
Grand Valley students, faculty, staff and community members were celebrated and recognized for their sustainable efforts at the sixth annual Sustainability Champions Awards Breakfast April 3.
President Thomas J. Haas, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell and Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies Dean Anne Hiskes spoke about the importance of growing sustainable practices at Grand Valley and in Grand Rapids. Thirty-eight sustainability champions were recognized at the event, which was hosted by the Sustainable Community Development Initiative.
"Sustainability is one of our core values at Grand Valley," Haas said. "Our students told us that, so when it comes to student success, our collective efforts must focus on that mantra and core value."
Hiskes said Grand Valley's campuses serve as a living, learning model of sustainable best practices. "Our vision at Grand Valley is to make sustainability a part of everyone's everyday job," she said.
Recipients of the Nichols Sustainability Scholarship were also recognized at the breakfast. The scholarship was created in 2006 to reward students who are committed to making a difference in environmental, social and fiscal sustainability. Nichols, established in 1936, is a distributor of products to clean and protect the Great Lakes Region.