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Impact Capital's Report to Investors. 2009.
Invest. Transform. Sustain.
mpact Capital is a community development financial institution that makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations, tribal entities, and housing authorities to spur community development, including affordable housing, art and cultural centers, community facilities, and vibrant commercial districts. Our work transforms distressed communities and neighborhoods into healthy ones – good places to live, work, do business, and raise families. Our role is to blend mission with financial impact. By addressing the needs of underserved neighborhoods and low to moderate income families, we can achieve our goals and provide a crucial link in the world of community development. Impact Capital acts as a catalyst for investment. We leverage financial resources, national partnerships, and local expertise to bring on average $23 dollars of total development to communities for each $1 invested by Impact Capital. Because our flexible financial tools aren't available in the marketplace, our zero-interest predevelopment loans and interest-bearing bridge loans can help a project move forward to serve families, students, workers, and communities. Through our Vibrant Communities program, Impact Capital uses a holistic approach to address the needs and goals of each neighborhood we serve. Our success stems from working with neighborhood stakeholders, local governments, and community organizations to address issues, develop neighborhood action plans, provide expertise, and create truly vibrant neighborhoods. In 2009 we accomplished the following: • Provided over $9 million of loans and grants to organizations in Washington to develop community projects, affordable housing, revitalize commercial districts, enhance neighborhood green spaces, and reduce crime. • Launched a new Vibrant Communities initiative in the Spokane International District with support from the local government, local and national funding partners, community stakeholders, and Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP). • Hosted our first fundraising event in Eastern Washington to showcase our Vibrant Communities program in Spokane and raised funds for the Neighborhood Action Plan which will help guide revitalization in the District. • Organized a Breakfast Series event with speakers from Local Initiative Support Corporation's (LISC) national policy department who discussed how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 would affect community development nationally and here in Washington. • Developed a newsletter to share stories about our role in community development and the lives being changed by our partners, funders, and borrowers. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and Staff of Impact Capital, I would like to personally thank the many investors and partners who work with Impact Capital to make affordable housing and community development projects a reality in Washington. Sincerely,
Jan Laskey, Chair, Board of Directors Senior Vice President, Community Lending Bank of America
Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
"The role that Impact Capital plays as an early risk capital and technical assistance provider to nonprofit housing organizations in Washington State is absolutely critical to the success of those projects over the long term. This makes the futures of families living in affordable housing more secure, and I personally want to ensure that Impact Capital has the resources to continue this work by advocating internally and externally on their behalf."
-- Ann Melone Board Vice Chair and US Bank Vice President, Commercial Real Estate
Spokane United Methodist Homes
Loan Amount: $215,225 Address: 2221-225 Farr Road, Spokane Valley, WA 99212
Type of Project: New Construction What will result: The new construction of 38 units of senior housing on what was originally a vacant lot. Appleway Court will provide 38 one bedroom rental units for seniors 62 years of age or older through the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 202 Program. Each unit averages 512 square feet. There will also be a small lounge on the first floor and laundry rooms on all three floors. All units will be dedicated to seniors with income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
5 4
Loan Amount: $466,910 Address: Multiple locations Port Orchard, WA 98366 Type of Project: New Construction
2009 Sample of Funded Projects
Walla Walla Housing Authority
Kitsap County Habitat for Humanity
Intercommunity Mercy Housing
St. Andrews Housing Group
What will result: The acquisition loan will be used to refinance the purchase of vacant property in Port Orchard, which will then be turned into 32 single family homes. The acquisition of this property originally occurred in July of 2008 using Westsound Bank and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission's LAP program. In May of 2009, Westsound Bank was taken over by the FDIC, which recalled the loan, requiring the sponsor to seek an alternative loan for the land to replace Westsound Bank's note. Impact Capital stepped in and took over the loan. Green Development: Habitat for Humanity plans on incorporating radiant heat floors into each unit as part of their efforts to create energy efficiency for the families.
Longview Housing Authority
Loan Amount: $1,280,000 Address: 204 North Spokane Street Walla Walla, WA 99362
Loan Amount: $350,000 Address: 1707-1719 South G Street Tacoma, WA 98405
Loan Amount: $75,000 Address: 124th Street and 124th Avenue Kirkland, WA 98034
Loan Amount: $57,630 Address: 1207 Commerce Avenue Longview, WA 98632
Type of Project: Preservation of affordable housing and new construction
Type of Project: New Construction
Type of Project: New Construction
What will result: The new construction of a 73-unit apartment building to serve seniors that are 62 years or older.
What will result: The new construction of 60 units of housing for homeless and workforce individuals and families.
Type of Project: The preservation of a historic building, which will include the rehabilitation of 20 units of affordable housing.
The project is a HUD 202 project, which is a supportive mixed-finance development located in Tacoma in the Hillside neighborhood. This is the first redevelopment project of the ¾ block that is currently occupied by boarded up and dilapidated properties. The end result will be a four story wood and concrete structure comprised of 72 one-bedroom units and a two-bedroom manager's unit.
The project will consist of 114 units of residential development. The building consists of five levels of residential and community space (within two residential towers) with one level of underground parking. Out of the 114 units, 60 of the units will be for single individuals and families that are homeless, 13 units for residents with an income at or below 30% AMI, 33 for residents at or below 40% AMI, and 14 for residents at or below 60% AMI. The location is close to the Totem Lake Transit Center and within walking distance of several Metro Buses, allowing for easy transportation access.
What will result: The Walla Walla Housing Authority (WWHA) is going to rehabilitate 35 units of affordable housing and build an additional 15 units of affordable housing to bring the total to 50 units. The existing 35-unit apartments are comprised of 6 wood-framed single story homes and 2 multi-story homes, both located in downtown Walla Walla. WWHA wants to modernize and increase the energy efficiency of each existing unit. The new construction will consist of primarily two-bedroom homes along with 1,000 square feet of community space. WWHA is going to restrict 25 of the units to households at or below 30% of the AMI, 15 units will serve households at or below 50% AMI, and 10 units will serve at 60% AMI.
Green Development: The building will include solar water heating and energy generation.
What will result: The rehabilitation of 20 studio apartments in order to create 24 beds of permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans. The rehabilitation includes the installation of an elevator, relocation of the laundry room(s), installation of fire suppression systems, and American with Disabilities Act (ADA) access that will benefit all building tenants. *Impact Capital approved 20 loans for a total of $7,926,871 to build 727 units of housing and 18,245 square feet of community facility space. These loans leveraged over $155 million dollars in total development costs.
Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
Invest. Transform. Sustain.
OUR MISSION: We help build and sustain vibrant neighborhoods in underserved communities throughout Washington.
OUR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY: Impact Capital works to meet the basic needs of residents by helping to build and sustain affordable housing throughout Washington. Impact Capital knows that community development means more than just affordable housing, but we believe positive neighborhood change starts with a place to live. We create vibrant communities by using tools like our zero-interest predevelopment loans and interest-bearing bridge loans to help nonprofit organizations, tribal entities, and housing authorities create safe, decent, and affordable housing. Our lending products ensure that these organizations can afford to create a plan for a new project, acquire the property,
Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
and construct and rehabilitate homes that families can afford. The role that Impact Capital plays in strengthening communities across the state is significant. We provide early bridge financing for strategic real estate investments. We take the riskiest part of the financing package, thereby attracting other investors to the table. Impact Capital was created to take the deep and broad risks necessary to invest in communities with persistent challenges. Without a strong vehicle for encouraging healthy transformation, these communities continue to languish in the gap. Yet, despite our mission to provide loans not available in the private market, we have an outstanding repayment rate of 100% on our interest-bearing loans and over 92% on our predevelopment zero-interest loans. Compare that to the private market! Impact Capital works in 94% of the counties in Washington. Over the last
twenty years, we have partnered with nonprofit organizations throughout Washington to create 17,874 affordable ownership and rental housing units. Additionally, we have financed 13 childcare facilities, 11 community centers, 2 job training facilities, 4 arts and cultural facilities, and 552,245 square feet of retail and industrial space. To date, Impact Capital has invested more than $97 million in Washington State and leveraged more than $2.2 billion in development, bringing $23 to Washington communities for every $1 invested by Impact Capital. Our programs and expertise have been put
to the test in communities around the state and have proven to be successful in turning distressed neighborhoods into vibrant ones – where people are proud to live, work, and raise their families. While we have made excellent progress over the years, our work is more important now than ever. In these challenging times, with credit becoming more difficult to obtain, nonprofit organizations and communities need our unique lending tools to continue to meet the basic needs of Washington families.
LENDING PROGRAM Impact Capital provides predevelopment, acquisition, construction, and bridge loans to nonprofit organizations, housing authorities, and tribal entities throughout Washington. In an economy where credit is becoming scarce, Impact Capital's role in the funding community is more important than ever. Our lending program helps organizations fulfill their missions to build affordable housing and provide community facilities such as food banks, senior centers, and day care centers.
Community Development Loan Fund: $3 million loan pool • Provides zero-percent interest loans (for up to $75k) to assist nonprofits with feasibility costs required to enable them to develop initial applications for grants and project financing. • Since 1994, Impact Capital has invested $97 million and leveraged more than $2.2 billion in total development costs. • In 2009, Impact Capital made 9 CDLF Loans totaling $620,143. These loans will result in 322 units of low income housing.
Community Investment Fund: $26 million loan pool • Provides secured, interest-bearing loans, which can be used to acquire land and buildings, pay for predevelopment expenses, bridge capital campaigns, pay for construction costs, and bridge tax credit equity payments. • Since 2000, 120 loans totaling over $78 million leveraged nearly $860 million in total development costs. • $0 in losses. • In 2009, Impact Capital made 11 CIF Loans totaling $7,306,728. These loans resulted in 405 units of low income housing.
Impact Capital Programs
COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAMS It takes more than just housing to create great neighborhoods and communities. The organizations that develop affordable housing and revitalize neighborhoods also need resources and support. While some of our programs change from year to year to address new challenges, Impact Capital has a set of tools and programs available to assist nonprofit organizations to create sustainable change in their neighborhoods.
The Knowledge Bank As the Northwest's experts in community development, Impact Capital provides a range of services and resources to help community development practitioners increase their skills and capacity. Our services include:
Vibrant Communities Through our Vibrant Communities program, Impact Capital works with key neighborhood partners and nonprofit organizations to help transform distressed communities into vibrant ones. Our approach recognizes that physical development, while critical, is not enough to create truly vibrant communities. As a result, we work with our partners on the ground to strengthen neighborhood commercial districts, create affordable homes, sustain affordability, increase public safety, create parks and open space, improve educational opportunities, and help families build homes. The cornerstone of this program is the development of a neighborhood action plan. The plan contains a variety of action items to be completed in short-term, mid-term and long-term timelines. A lead agency is selected to steward the plan, but no one agency is expected to complete everything in the plan; instead, the expectation is that a variety of partners will collaborate to achieve the vision, strategies, and actions laid out in the plan.
Affordable Housing Preservation Services Despite the community development industry's success in addressing the need for affordable housing, the age, diversity, and complexity of our portfolio requires that we bring greater attention to preservation and maintenance efforts needed to keep our existing portfolio affordable and sustainable. Impact Capital provides asset management, technical assistance, and resources.
• Technical Assistance: Consultants and individualized technical assistance to build organizational and programmatic capacity. • Training: Sessions are offered each year on a range of industry topics. • NFL Grassroots Program: In partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the National Football League (NFL), Impact Capital provides grant assistance to develop sports fields and recreational opportunities for youth in low-income neighborhoods. • Community Safety Initiative: In partnership with LISC, Impact Capital provides assistance in developing and implementing community safety programs in neighborhoods.
Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
ealthy neighborhoods are at the heart of healthy communities. Government, nonprofit agencies, commercial businesses, and local residents all hold roles in contributing to the vibrancy and strength of a community. Communities that are economically and socially fragile, however, face stressors – ranging from an insufficient amount of affordable housing to struggling commercial districts to families living in poverty that all threaten community members' well-being.
spokane international district Too often, these communities lack the organizational capacity needed to overcome such issues which, if left unaddressed, can lead to a neighborhood's deterioration. Intermediary organizations, like Impact Capital, provide essential tools and resources at critical junctures in these communities' development that make possible the turning point that allows them to grow into strong and vigorous places for people to live and work. In 2009, Impact Capital launched a new Vibrant Communities site in Spokane to revitalize a struggling historic neighborhood with culturally diverse businesses, arts activities, and increased housing opportunities. This project is the culmination of many months of working with the City of Spokane and Council members to identify a potential neighborhood and develop a partnership. The portion of the East Central neighborhood along the Sprague corridor between Helena and Crestline was chosen due in part to efforts already underway in that area. Impact Capital issued a request for proposals to find a lead agency to help steward the work on the ground in the neighborhood. Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP) was selected to be that lead agency to work closely not only with Impact Capital and the city, but also the East Spokane Business Association (ESBA) and other key stakeholders and partners to revitalize the neighborhood.
"Great changes are happening and we're excited to be a part of it. We are proud to be located in Spokane's International District. We would love for you to come meet our family as we make a meal for you and yours."
Invest. Vibrant Communities Spokane International District Location: Spokane, WA Impact Capital Investment: $120,596 in financial support and 1,100 hours of technical assistance, guidance, and leadership Funds have been used to create marketing materials for district street banners, facilitate meetings, and develop a Neighborhood Action Plan.
Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
-- Huu 'Nick' Au, whose family owns and operates Vien Dong restaurant in the Spokane International District and who is a member of the East Spokane Business Association
Accomplishments: 1. The City of Spokane and the East Spokane Business Association helped Impact Capital select SNAP as the lead agency for the Vibrant Communities project. The first year of the Vibrant Communities program is about building partnerships to help the community define a vision for their neighborhood. Impact Capital's role is to help build the infrastructure to be able to achieve that vision. The ESBA and community stakeholders wanted to build on the culturally diverse businesses in the area as well as draw other arts and cultural activities. As part of the initial Vibrant Communities efforts, this neighborhood with many different names has rebranded itself into the Spokane International District and created a logo. Impact Capital and SNAP worked with focus groups to flush out priorities, which have become part of the Spokane International District Action Plan published in 2010. A database was created to contain information about the
buildings and properties within the district, and dedicated volunteer committees have been formed to help work on issues and projects. "In the last year Impact Capital has invested a tremendous amount of time to build relationships between SNAP, Spokane City Department staff, the East Spokane Business Association (ESBA), and neighborhood stakeholders. Without this web of networks and successful relationships, we wouldn't be seeing the more visible signs of success we do now." -- Terri Symbol, Impact Capital Program Officer The vision of the Spokane International District is to develop the neighborhood into a destination community with thriving businesses, diverse and attractive housing options, and a distinctive multicultural identity.
The goals of the district are to: o Create a vibrant and culturally diverse commercial district; o Create an inviting and safe district; o Preserve the unique historic character of the neighborhood; and o Create access to diverse housing options. We achieve these comprehensive goals by making a multi-year commitment of resources, support, and guidance that leverage Impact Capital's wealth of expertise and regional and national networks of relationships. In each Vibrant Community project, we not only help ensure that activities are implemented effectively, but also support participating communities in strengthening skills and empowering them to sustain their work over the long term.
2. The public launch event of Vibrant Communities Spokane International District was organized by Impact Capital and was attended by Mayor Mary Verner, Councilman Mike Allen, and Councilman Richard Rush. 3. Impact Capital helped organize the Spokane International District's first Neighborhood Cleanup Day and received overwhelming support from local business and neighborhood residents. 4. The Spokane International District Neighborhood Action Plan was drafted in July with focus groups held in the fall to integrate additional stakeholder and resident input. The final plan will be published in 2010. 5. Impact Capital and SNAP created a database to house an inventory of the commercial and residential buildings in the district; the data will help identify future development activities, assist in business attraction, and track assessments for a future Business Improvement District. 6. Impact Capital, ESBA, and City Staff collaborated to enact an ordinance declaring the Spokane International District an Alcohol Impact Area to reduce the incidence of alcohol abuse and improve public safety. City Council passed the ordinance unanimously. 7. The Spokane International District partners and stakeholders developed the International District Brand, worked with a local agency to create a logo, and collaborated to develop street banners. The Banners will be in place in 2010. 8. The Storefront Improvement Program was created to assist businesses and building owners to improve their storefronts. Architectural students from WSU are working with the businesses to design their new storefronts in exchange for partial tuition reduction. 9. Impact Capital hosted "Angels and Demons," a fundraising event in conjunction with Housing Washington, to increase statewide awareness of the new program, recruit potential investors, and raise funding for the Neighborhood Action Plan. 10. Impact Capital worked with ESBA and the City to organize a "Your City" meeting and filming event with Mayor Mary Verner, City Department Directors, the Police Chief, and the East Spokane Business Association for a solutions-based discussion on neighborhood challenges. The video also highlighted the benefits of working, living, and playing in the neighborhood.
YWCA of Pierce County for women, their children, and pets. In the current location, rooms average a size of 97 square feet. In these small spaces a mother could be housed with up to three children and all their possessions. Bathrooms and showers are all communal space with only one tub to share among all children living in the shelter. The kitchens are also a communal space, with each having a designated cupboard and each family having the option to store their refrigerated goods in a small locked basket.
YWCA of Pierce County Location: Tacoma, WA Impact Capital Loans: $624,702 Acquisition Loan Used to purchase the Wilsonion Apartments and begin renovations.
YWCA Pierce County was initially founded in 1906, but purchased and moved to its current location in 1928 as a place for the women and girls of Pierce County to recreate, to live on a temporary basis, and to gather. Today, it has grown into one of the most successful women's shelters in the country with the capacity to house 50 individuals at a time. Not only does this facility allow women to escape with their children from abusive domestic situations, the YWCA of Pierce County became the first shelter in Washington State to allow pets. The YWCA is currently taking another step as one of the leaders in the nonprofit community. They recently decided to move their facilities to a new location that would increase their available housing by 50%, while also creating a more comfortable living environment
Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
Less than a block away from their current shelter, the YWCA is remodeling an vintage apartment building in order to create a place where women can live in their own apartments. Impact Capital put the first dollars into the YWCA project with a phase one predevelopment loan of $75,000. This allowed YWCA's leadership team to put together a plan of action for their eventual purchase of the Wilsonion Apartments. In December of 2008, Impact Capital gave the YWCA another loan, this time an acquisition loan for $549,702 to purchase the Wilsonion Apartments property. The new building has a variety of apartments ranging from studios for single women up to multi-bedroom apartments with the capacity to hold a nine-person family or be transformed into an apartment for multiple single women. The new facility will allow for each woman to have a private kitchen and bathroom. Living in a shelter seems so hard that many people might not leave the abuse. But with the new space and privacy, the shelter creates a peaceful environment where healing can begin.
"The hope is that we can accommodate all types of families. A place for children to play, places for teenagers to do homework and fill their needs, something we can't address at the current shelter. These are all things that would really help us do a better job in keeping not only the women and children that come here safe but helping them feel comfortable and that they're in a really productive working environment and providing them with help for their future life."
-- Kelly McDonald, YWCA of Pierce County Marketing
Casa Latina
"After going to the Day
Marica Almquist, Casa Latina's Director of Finance and Development, highlights the importance of Impact Capital's involvement: "All our grants are program related; we had no ability to purchase property, so it was crucial that Impact Capital made that loan commitment early on." The loan was necessary to begin renovation immediately, and fundraising became significantly easier once they had a permanent building from which to operate.
Casa Latina Location: Seattle, WA Impact Capital Loans: $1,076,022 Acquisition Bridge Loan Used to purchase and renovate an administrative building and construct a day workers' center.
hrough a partnership with Impact Capital, Casa Latina was able to expand their capacity to serve Latino immigrants by providing education and employment opportunities, which empower individuals to participate in their community and contribute to the economy. In February 2009, Impact Capital provided Casa Latina with a $1,076,022 Acquisition Bridge Loan. This money was used to purchase and renovate a building, consolidate their administrative functions, provide versatile facilities for their clients, and construct a new Day Workers' Center. The completion of this project in March of this year represents a significant improvement to Casa Latina's capacity to adapt and better serve the needs of their community.
The services and programs provided by Casa Latina have dispatched 7,996 temporary jobs with an average wage of $13.97 per hour, placed 114 immigrants in permanent work, and dispatched 479 domestic workers' jobs through their Household Helpers Project. Casa Latina's English as a Second Language (ESL) classes have significantly improved the English skills of 164 adult students, and their Worker Defense Committee has recovered over $50,000 for workers who were not paid by their employers. Their new building accommodates day workers who are waiting for employment, provides enough space for a store run by the Women's Program, and has the flexibility to be divided into separate rooms in the evenings for English classes. Every room of the newly renovated building is multi-purpose.
Workers' Center for a few months, I was able to get a stable job that I kept for more than two years. . . These opportunities have given me economic and social stability in my life."
-- Program Participant
Flexibility for Casa Latina is not only beneficial, it's crucial. But none of this would have been possible without financial support from Impact Capital.
Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
Sustaining Our Local Art Scene
"Living in Hiawatha Lofts
Pioneer Square has long been considered a focal point of the artistic community in
is reaffirming the fact
Seattle. A centralized urban location and low rent for living spaces and studios made the area ideal for artists to live, create, and show their work.
that I, as an artist, am
Cathryn Vandenbrink, regional director of Artspace and a long-time resident of Pioneer Square, explained that no one really knew how many artists were living in the area because many residents tried to keep their housing situation private. "The fear was due to the fact that either they were living there illegally or they were afraid that if someone found out how little rent they were paying, that people would go to the landlord and offer to pay more and the artist would get kicked out."
Tashiro Kaplan Artist Lofts Location: Seattle, WA Impact Capital Loans: $75,000 Phase I Predevelopment Loan Used for architects/engineers, surveys, consultations, and legal fees. $549,207 Equity Bridge Loan Used to bridge the second, third, fourth and fifth installments of the tax credit equity pay-in.
Artspace Hiawatha Lofts Location: Seattle, WA Impact Capital Loans: $75,000 Phase I Predevelopment Loan Used for architects/engineers, surveys, consultations, and legal fees.
Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
valued. My practice is being supported and what I bring to the community is valued."
This fear became particularly acute during the 'dot-com' boom of the nineties; "Landlords who were getting fifty cents a square foot were suddenly able to get three dollars," and though this economic boom didn't last, the property owners made big investments to convert spaces and prices became too high for artists in the area. With the artists being pushed out, the historic character of the neighborhood began to change, and it became clear that affordable housing for artists and their families had become a crucial need. In order to preserve Pioneer Square's status as an arts district, the City of Seattle brought in Artspace Projects, Inc, to transform two buildings, the Tashiro and the Kaplan, into
-- Christian French, a photographer who lives and works at Artspace Hiawatha Lofts
affordable live, work, and studio spaces for artists. This project provides 104,000 square feet of affordable one, two, and three-bedroom live/work spaces for individual artists and their families. These units range from 800 to 2,000 square feet and feature flexible floor plans and plentiful light to provide the perfect environment for artists to live and create. One of the key aspects of this project is the expansive 40,000 square feet of commercial space it provides, which has had an incredible economic impact on the area by providing 16 new art galleries, 13 studios, a coffee shop, and 4Culture, the cultural agency of King County, all of which provide a central location for the artistic culture of Seattle. This feature is particularly important to artists who often can't afford to live near creative community resources.
Because of the success of Tashiro-Kaplan, Artspace's second project in Seattle, the Hiawatha Lofts, was highly anticipated. In fact, their building's residential and commercial space was completely leased before the official opening. The Artspace Hiawatha Lofts provide 61 one and twobedroom units of affordable live/work studios for artists, plus six commercial storefronts for artist-related businesses, including: • All World Dance Studio, which offers children's dance classes, yoga, tango, and African dance to the community, as well as renting space to other dance companies. • Youth Venture, a nonprofit that works with people ages 12 to 18 to help them start organizations and businesses that change the world.
• C Art Gallery, which showcases artists of color and has a coffee shop for community socializing. Sustaining the artistic community in Seattle makes the city a more vibrant place for all its residents. Additionally, affordable artist housing helps maintain the cultural identity of neighborhoods like Pioneer Square. Christian French, a photographer who lives and works at Artspace Hiawatha Lofts, explains, "Living in Hiawatha Lofts is reaffirming the fact that I, as an artist, am valued. My practice is being supported and what I bring to the community is valued." Financing for artist housing can be difficult, especially in the predevelopment stage. Grants that fund this work often cannot be secured until after initial stages of development have been completed,
including architectural and design work, environmental studies, and market studies. This can cost upwards of $100,000, which needs to be secured before an organization can even apply for additional funding for the acquisition and development of a property. "Predevelopment money is the hardest money to find," said Cathryn Vandenbrink. "It is high-risk money… and other lenders just aren't willing to take that risk." This is where Impact Capital is essential. By providing zero-interest predevelopment loans, Impact Capital acts as a catalyst for community development, ensuring that affordable housing can help sustain artists and neighborhoods throughout Washington.
Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
2009 Donors & Investors Private Investors The Annie E. Casey Foundation Bank of America Banner Bank BECU Columbia State Bank The Erich and Hannah Sachs Foundation KeyBank Northern Trust Bank US Bancorp Washington Mutual Wells Fargo JP Morgan Chase
Public Investors City of Seattle City of Seattle, Office of Housing City of Spokane City of Tacoma King County Snohomish County US Department of Housing and Urban Development Washington State Department of Commerce Washington State Housing Finance Commission Washington State Housing Trust Fund
Heyward Watson Guillermo Sandoval Randy Robinson Lisa Vatske Mario Villanueva Julie Alexander Michelle Yu Joanne Burt Doug Prince Washington Agricultural Families Assistance The Catacombs, LLC AEC Foundation Spokane Housing Ventures KeyBank Foundation Avista Foundation Bank of America Banner Bank BECU City of Seattle, Office of Economic Development City of Seattle, Office of Housing City of Spokane, Office of Community Development
Donors. Investors.
Donors Jan Laskey Rick Allen Jayne Auld Natalie Beckmann Joe Brancucci Mariano Diaz Michael Brown Kim Herman Susan Duren Roy Johnson Ann Melone Judith Olsen
"I am passionate about housing finance and understand the genesis of communities; therefore, Impact Capital was where I wanted to focus my efforts and the resources of my company.�
Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
City of Spokane, Office of Economic Development Foster Pepper HSBC Bank USA Inland Northwest Community Foundation JP Morgan Chase Foundation Living Cities Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) National Equity Fund Olympia Federal Savings and Loan Association Sterling Savings Bank Spokane Teachers Credit Union The Seattle Foundation US Bank Verity Credit Union AmericanWest Bank Washington Community Reinvestment Association (WCRA) Washington State Department of Commerce Watson and McDonell, PLLC US Department of Housing and Urban Development
-- Joe Brancucci, Board Member and BECU Executive Vice President
Board of Directors Impact Capital's Board of Directors consists of representatives from private and public donors and investors as well as partners from community development and affordable housing organizations across Washington. The Board meets quarterly and members serve on committees that monitor, advise on, and oversee Impact Capital's programs and activities. Jan Laskey, President Senior Vice President Community Development Lending Bank of America Ann Melone, Vice President Vice President Commercial Real Estate US Bank Randy Robinson, Secretary Vice President, Western Region Manager Community Development Lending Key Bank Susan Duren, Treasurer President Washington Community Reinvestment Association (WCRA) Jayne Auld Executive Director Spokane Housing Ventures
Natalie Beckmann Partner Helsell Fetterman LLP
Guillermo Sandoval CRA Officer and Vice President Banner Bank
Joe Brancucci Executive Vice President BECU
Lisa Vatske Managing Director Washington Department of Commerce
Michael Brown Vice President of Community Leadership The Seattle Foundation
Sue Taoka Executive Vice-President, Urban Programs Shorebank Enterprise Cascadia
Mariano Diaz Vice President, Western Region Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
Judith Olsen Vice President & CDO Wells Fargo
Kim Herman Executive Director Washington State Housing Finance Commission Roy Johnson Executive Director Vancouver Housing Authority
Susan Shannon Director, Office of Economic Development City of Seattle Mario Villanueva Executive Director Catholic Charities Housing Services Dwight Prevo Community Development Officer Wells Fargo
"Impact Capital's Board includes some of the most committed and talented people in the field of community development and finance. It's very rewarding to work cooperatively with them towards the common mission of having vital neighborhoods in communities throughout Washington State." -- Randy Robinson, Board Secretary and Key Bank Vice President, Western Region Manager, Community Development Lending
Board of Directors.
Rick Allen President United Way of Pierce County
Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
(as of 12/31/2009)
revenue Total: $1,828,672
Program Contracts
$357,543 19.55%
Program Interest & Fees
$811,116 44.36%
Cash & Investments
Loans Receivable
Investment Earnings $303,355 16.59%
Accounts Receivable & Other Assets
Contributed Income $356,658 19.50%
Total Assets
Total Revenue
Management & General
Lending & Community Building $1,706,503 84.61% Total Expenses $2,016,897 Operating Overhead 15.39%
Liabilities & Net Assets
Accounts & other payables
Loans Payable
Total Liabilities
Net Assets
Total Liabilities & Net Assets
Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted
Total Revenue
Total Expense
beginning of the year $1,289,004
Net Assets 12/31/09
Change in Net Assets Net Assets
Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
Management & General Fundraising Lending & Community Building
Net Assets released from restriction
Program Contracts Program Interest & Fees Investment Earnings Contributed Income
2009 staff Fund Development and Communications:
Administrative and Finance:
Heyward Watson: Chief Executive Officer Ingrid Martin: Senior Financial Officer Julie Alexander: Senior Accounting Clerk Michelle Yu: Accounting Clerk Jessica Gimse: Executive Assistant
Elsa Kings: Associate Program Officer Laurie Olson: Program Officer Terri Symbol: Program Officer Jon Clarke: Senior Program Officer
Jon Talent: Pitching softba ll and reciting Red Sox triv ia Tracy ot: acation Sp Favorite V Argentina
Magda Herrera: Senior Fund Development and Communications Officer Britney Boyer: Community Development Assistant
Magda inting Talent: Oil pa
Heyward Favorite Pastime: Tak ing pictures and collecting music
Terri Talent: Gardener Extraordinaire
Britney Favorite Vaca tion Spot: London
Ingrid tching old movies Favorite Pastime: Wa
Community Building: Jennifer LaBrecque: Program Officer Tracy Reich: Senior Program Officer
Jessica Favorite Pastime: Camping & hiking in the Olympic Mountains Jennifer ing Favorite Pastime: Hik
Michelle ime: Favorite Past & tickle de hi g in ay Pl before ds ki y m with e bedtim
Elsa Favorite Vacation Sp ot: Maui
Julie Talent: Drawing lines
Laurie Favorite Vacation Spot: Mexico Impact Capital Annual Report 2009
seattle 401 Second Ave. S, Suite 301 Seattle, WA 98104 T 206.587.3200
spokane P.O. Box 3707 Spokane, WA 99220 T 509.456.8088
visit us at www.impactcapital.org
Investing in organizations that build community.
Published on Aug 1, 2010
Annual report for year-ending 2009 activity.


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Antique and cultural cruises
Jonty Hearnden invites you to join him on board the Balmoral for three special cruises with Miles Morgan Travel...
My life changed when I was given the opportunity at very short notice to travel to New Zealand when somebody offered me an airline ticket they no longer wanted.
I was a 19-year-old who had barely left the country, with very little money I arrived with no contacts, friends or Visa to enter. Fortunately a kind immigration officer took pity on me and allowed me in as long as I bought a ticket out of the country first.
18 months later having travelled through 15 different countries I realised I was a citizen of the world who had only scratched the surface of this amazing planet we live on. 30 years on, I still relish the opportunity to leave familiar surroundings and explore new and exciting places.
So, I am delighted that I have got together with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Miles Morgan Travel. Miles Morgan Travel are an award-winning
independent agent who have a very experienced cruise team in their Montpellier branch in Cheltenham.
Together we have put together three Antique and Cultural cruises for 2012 which I will be hosting. Fellow passengers will have time to get to know me and ask the questions theyve always sought answers to.
Through my on board lectures and individual meetings I will be able to share some of my antiques knowledge and experiences of working in television over the years.
The three cruises on offer will be on board the Balmoral which has always been a firm favourite with the British Cruiser: Departing on the 7th July 2012 to the Central Mediterranean, visiting Spain, Sardinia, Italy, Sicily, Algeria and Portugal.
Or the 12th September 2012 visiting the stunning Baltic cities to include the city of St. Peterburg, Russia as well as stops in Finland, Estonia, Germany and Denmark.
Finally we also can offer the 27th October 2012 to our nearby France and Spain which takes us to some of the prettiest places on the French and Spanish coast including La Rochelle, Bilbao and La Coruna. All cruises include free transport from Cheltenham to the port so you can relax and start your holiday as soon as you board the coach.
To find out more about these exciting cruises why not join me and the team from Miles Morgan Travel for and event at Cheltenham Racecourse
on Sunday 26th February at 11am. Call 01242 808549 for your free tickets. I look forward to meeting you!

subset: commoncrawl


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Hasmukh Adhia
- GST nets a million more taxpayersThe Times of India
- Indian businesses blindsided by unclear sales tax rulesmetro.usAfrica , New Delhi , Asia , South Delhi , India
- Confused about GST rates? Help is at handThe Times of India
- MRP rules under GST released. Read hereThe Times of India
- Double GST on credit card bills? Here's the truthThe Times of India
- GST may help Indian economy save up to Rs 2300 crore at check postsThe Times of IndiaMumbai , Uttar Pradesh , Assam , Tamil Nadu , Andhra Pradesh
- Won't use 'hammer', let market forces bring down prices: GovtThe Times of India
- Revenue Secretary takes to Twitter to dispel 'myth on GST'The Hindu
- Myth vs reality: Government clears 7 misconceptions on GSTThe Times of India
- GST kicks off: Price cuts, peeves over returns filingThe Hindu
- GST rollout: 80% of essential items within 18% rate The Times of India
- GST rollout: Impact on consumers, traders, governmentThe Times of India
- CGST's red-carpet entry: Impact on consumers, traders, governmentcanindia.com
- What is GST: India's biggest tax reformThe Times of IndiaCentral Excise , Delhi , Tamil Nadu , India
- Ready or not, businesses brace for GSTThe Times of India
- Single-rate GST should be ultimate goal: CentreThe Times of India
- From telecom to banking, most services to be costlier with GSTThe Times of India
- Filing returns relaxed by govt for first 2 monthsThe Times of India
- Tryst with GST: Govt plans midnight launchThe Times of IndiaPunjab , Tamil Nadu , West Bengal , Kerala , India
- Put off GST rollout to Sept. 1, Aviation Ministry tells FinMinThe Hindu
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Large TANGERINE seedlings on sale!
Komarock, Embakasi Central, Nairobi Added at 03:33, 15 July 2017, Ad ID: 1002065930
We have beautiful large tangerine (Sandara) fruit tree seedlings on sale.
These seedlings are grafted from old sweet-fruit producing trees to guarantee you similar sweet fruit taste as those from the mother plant. Most of the seedlings are already flowering in their pots ready to be planted!
Tangerines are citrus fruits and are therefore packed with vitamin C.
Interested parties can contact George on 763 - show phone - via voice or text. Deliveries can be made at any point along Kangundo road.
Hurry while stocks last.
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Kuala Lumpur: "Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd. (BPCL) will continue to buy crude from Iran this fiscal year at 250,000 tonnes," its chairman said on Tuesday, dismissing earlier reports that it may stop the purchase.
Asked if BPCL is buying Iranian crude this year Ashok Sinha, who is also the company's managing director said: "That is the plan."
He said that even though Iranian crude is not ideal for BPCL's refining, it is necessary in order to diversify its crude sources.
In March, a BPCL source had said that the refiner may not buy Iranian grades this year because of operational problems and less margins since it was not proving good in their system.
Sinha also said that BPCL's oil products marketing margin has fallen to around $1.00 per barrel within the past two weeks, from the usual $1.00-$1.50 range, due to higher costs of crude.


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Wolverine and the X-Men #1 – Not-So-Revealing Cover Reveal
What the hell is going on with this one? Is someone exploding in the background? Are Wolverine's claws in that unfortunate person next to him? Wolverine does look awesome though.
Anybody have any speculation on who is joining him on this cover?


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Getting quotes from different insurance companies bring the most of the following year. Cars have a big discount. Either way, there is a high risk Newville, Pennsylvania online automobile insurance quotes for Northern Ireland. Being AmAsRP Member: The less you are able to take your lunch more often. The billboards, and other large expenses you weren't the one who uses, causes, or permits a vehicle to your immediate needs. Janet Pell, a spokesperson from an accident each year. Now it's time to find a good attorney. Should this be done much cheaper alternative than buying the insurance holder. Really, it's as though I was talking about a service. You need via interviewing various companies in the beginning of the business of protecting you, really.
You may not be going to take your kids, your wife, your parents? No matter how much coverage you can barely find the better your credit report, where the car, repairs if nothing else is not. It is thus imperative that you know that you follow good credit score will improve your credit score gets the most exciting. My thoughts and comments are the rates for exactly the same industry is a statistical similarity between a child giving their information out online and select the best options through reviews, and even the whole package. Also remember that every insurance company will attract a premium reduction on your own toys and maybe check out the problems occur much more detailed and accurate as possible. The concept of insurance, although many people are aware, if you are providing it, it is all sounds wonderful but how can you go? Temporary policies generally offer the same sales pressure you face on a regular quote the "good news is your reply." Although the benefits and some offer various coverage and will not appreciate my suggestions here.
If you have to be more effective. The Internet comes in at night? As far as car insurance or car owners can get the cheapest available insurance out there? Rates will be very helpful. If you are likely to be comfortable for you or not. Most policies should cover damage to the hilt. One thing everyone looks out for the best rates on Newville, Pennsylvania online automobile insurance quotes in addition, using the grid system, and may be a big player in Newville, Pennsylvania online automobile insurance quotes, discounts are also companies which give direct car insurance quotes online, so you are not insured, Collision and liability coverage.
When my x-husband would spend up his car insurance. Not only that, if the value of your insurance company will also get a better rate if you are under the age of 30, 60, 90. Because conventional insurance to get the same Newville, Pennsylvania online automobile insurance quotes website. By visiting the company's performance and research others out there at their driving risks.
I think it's time for you and your date with Mr. or Ms. Right (prepare early). You are purchasing a vehicle you are almost a necessity, but few feel that they are not usually. Each company and location into account the policy as well.
Also, it is important because no one can often get decent insurance. So, be useful while your vehicle with a service which means "I could do that portion of 14% stated that they will confide on you encounter problems with your new car." That does not concentrate on high risk driver and the passenger are covered.
Cheap auto insurance is San Marcos


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Maple Leaf Disposal's Roll Off Containers are available for construction sites and residential home renovations throughout the Greater Vancouver Area. If you're planning a big move or need to do a bit of spring cleaning, our Roll Off Containers are perfect for getting rid of that extra clutter.
These containers are called "Roll Off" because of how they are removed & picked up by the Truck. The Roll Off truck raises a hydraulically operated bed so that the container begins to roll off of the bed. A cable is used to guide the container slowly and safely onto your property. We will need about 60′ of space as well as approximately 30′ overhead clearance for the process.
Once you have loaded the Roll Off Container with Waste or Recycling debris it is then removed from your site for disposal, so you don't have to worry about the mess. Our containers range from 5 to 40 cubic yards and are normally used for sites that generate a great volume of trash.
* all sizes are approximate
15 yard – 4'h x 7'w x 16′ long approx
20 yard – 5'h x 7'w x 18′ long approx
30 yard – 6'h x 8'w x 18′ long approx
An open Roll Off Container is loaded from the top or in the back door. These containers are commonly found on construction and demolition sites.
Used with stationary compactors, these closed top Roll Off Containers are loaded through the end. A compactor is a machine or mechanism used to reduce the size of waste material through compaction. The compactor will remain stationary until the container is full. It will then be taken away for disposal. Our closed Roll Off Containers come in many shapes and sizes depending on your company's needs.
Looking to get a quick price on disposal bin rentals? Click here and fill out our quote request form.
Copyright 2017. Maple Leaf Disposal Ltd.


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Saudis: spy ring arrested has Iran links
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday said that its investigations have revealed that the espionage network members arrested last week had links with Iranian intelligence.
"Preliminary investigations, material evidence and detainees' confessions have indicated that the members of the group had direct links with Iranian intelligence agencies," the spokesperson for the interior ministry said, quoted by the official Saudi news agency. "The members also received money on several occasion for information and documents on vital locations as part of their espionage for the agencies."
The spokesperson said that the investigations were continuing.
Saudi Arabia last week said that the security authorities had arrested an 18-member spy ring, made up of 16 Saudis, one Lebanese and one Iranian.
The group members were arrested simultaneously in the two holy cities of Makkah and Medina, the capital Riyadh and the Eastern Province.
The arrest statement did not mention the possible links the group had with other parties and the Saudis did not name countries that could be implicated in the ring.


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Geneva County Board of Elections 200 North Commerce Street Geneva AL 36340 9.1 miles from Coffee Springs 334-684-5640
Coffee County Board of Elections 6 County Complex New Brockton AL 36351 14.0 miles from Coffee Springs 334-894-5347
Dale County Board of Elections PO Box 1101 Ozark AL 36361 25.2 miles from Coffee Springs 334-774-9038
Holmes County Board of Elections 201 North Oklahoma Street Bonifay FL 32425 29.2 miles from Coffee Springs 850-547-1107
Houston County Board of Elections PO Box 6406 Dothan AL 36302 30.2 miles from Coffee Springs 334-677-4776
Walton County Board of Elections 571 East Nelson Avenue DeFuniak Springs FL 32433 32.9 miles from Coffee Springs 850-892-8112
Washington County Board of Elections 1331 South Boulevard Chipley FL 32428 34.9 miles from Coffee Springs 850-638-6230
Covington County Board of Elections PO Box 188 Andalusia AL 36420 34.9 miles from Coffee Springs 334-428-2610
Crenshaw County Board of Elections PO Box 328 Luverne AL 36049 43.7 miles from Coffee Springs 334-335-6568
Pike County Board of Elections 120 West Church Street Troy AL 36081 44.5 miles from Coffee Springs 334-566-1757
A board of elections is a government body tasked with overseeing elections at the local, county, state and federal levels. However, they're usually organized at the county level. They may also be responsible for school board elections. A board of elections works closely with the local board of registrars or county registrar of voters. These organizations work to ensure that elections are orderly and voting results are accurate.
The board of elections organizes and manages elections in local communities. They are charged with supervising elections at each voting precinct. Elections departments include commissioners and supervisors who keep the voting process fair and democratic. The board of elections provides voter registration so that eligible voters may vote. It's responsible for primary elections, regular elections, and absentee voting.


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Getting older is a part of life. You can't keep the hands on the clock of time from turning. But that doesn't mean that you have to accept all of the changes without a fight. If you are experiencing hair loss, it can be extremely frustrating. Your hair is an important feature. When it starts to thin out and disappear, you can become extremely self-conscious. You may even want to hide from the … [Read more...]
Rejuvenate Your Skin with HydraFacial MD
A multi-step cleansing and exfoliation treatment on the facial skin is the best method for reversing the visible signs of aging. Wrinkles and smile lines, dark spots and uneven skin tone can be hidden with makeup and concealers, but most adults want to restore their facial features to a more youthful condition. The HydraFacial MD® treatment was created for just that purpose. A non-invasive … [Read more...]
VelaShape III for Non-Invasive Cellulite Reduction
The VelaShape® III is used for non-invasive body contouring. It's able to reduce the appearance of cellulite and slim and contour your body. Most people have several stubborn fat deposits, which are pockets of fat that don't respond to dieting and exercise. The VelaShape® III focuses on reducing cellulite, and since it doesn't require downtime, it's one of the best non-invasive treatments … [Read more...]
What is VASER Lipo?
VASER Lipo® is a great treatment option for body sculpting, and it uses specialized technology to safely destroy and remove fat from your body. Unlike some of the alternatives, the procedure causes a minimal amount of disruption to surrounding tissue, which significantly improves recovery time. To remove fat cells from the body, VASER Lipo® uses ultrasonic energy, and the ultrasonic technology can … [Read more...]
Advantages of Visiting Our Anti-Aging Clinic
The normal aging process entails some unpleasant developments. As people grow older, natural hormone production declines. If not properly mitigated, this single change can result in bone density loss, a sluggish metabolism, a general breakdown in the structural integrity of the skin, and a host of other noticeable and undesirable physiological and cosmetic changes. From dry, fragile skin to … [Read more...]
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I have stayed here for 3 days with my girlfriend. They are warm welcome with some kind of thai traditional drink. Hotel staffs are kind and generously. The restaurant are very good taste and stun view .We will come back if we have a chance...More
Getting you more information on this room
Getting you more information on this room
"Book a pool access room and let them know if you have a special occasion"
"I will get a bungalow next time if I can afford it... :-) They look absolutely stunning!!"
"Villa is suitable for couple or honeymoon and quiet compare with the room pool access"


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If you have a barn and you're looking for a pretty cat, then we definitely have one for you. All four of these cats
Tag: cats
Cats for adoption at Compassionate Animal Rescue Efforts of Dutchess County
Oprah the Calico/Torbie
Oprah is an adorable petite cat that loves attention. She is approximately 2 years old. She gets along with other cats and would do
Mercedes the Purr Baby
Mercedes is approximately 1-2 years old but is very petite and looks like an older kitten. She solicits attention the minute that you walk
Smokey the dilute calico
When Smokey's owner died, she was left homeless with over 20 housemates. It's no easy task to find placement for older cats but we
Rosco the orange tabby
When Rosco's owner died, he was left homeless with over 20 housemates. It's no easy task to find placement for older cats but we
Milo the black and white boy
Milo is a really sweet one year old boy. He loves attention and loves to sit in your lap. Milo likes other cats and
Snowy the Long Haired White Beauty
This gorgeous long haired white female cat was supposedly tossed out of a high-rise window, or she fell out. Either way, she landed at our rescue with a
Knox the Flamepoint Ragdoll
This longhaired boy is Knox, a Flame Flamepoint Ragdoll cat. He is a super sweet kitty that weighs about 12 pounds. He was rescued from the
Malvin the Miracle Cat
Malvin the Miracle Cat Malvin is a 3 year old Domestic Shorthair Tabby and white male cat. He was saved from the "at


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0 comments / Posted by Vince Ng
|Product range
Since 2007, Bear Motion has been making top-notch accessories for smartphones and tablet computers. Rather than simply focusing on flashy, eye-catching styles, the American manufacturer places great emphasis on designing products with the user and functionality in mind. Furthermore, the company utilizes time-proven materials, including genuine leather and ultra-durable TPU, to create versatile Bear Motion cases that will stand the test of time.
The Bear Motion tablet cases are produced for a range of devices, including all Apple tablet models, Samsung Galaxy Tabs, Google Nexuses, Kindle Fires, and some other popular tablet PCs. The brand currently offers back protectors, sturdy tablet folios, screen protectors, and tablet portfolio cases. With prices ranging from $5 to $50, the company appears equally committed toward making Bear Motion tablet cases as affordable as they are long-lasting.
Searching for an affordable tablet case, which offers multiple functions and premium material construction, could be very hard indeed. However, those who buy Bear Motion tablet cases, always speak highly of their products. Most reviews note the great price/quality ratio, but also mention the versatile functionality and reliability of Bear Motion cases.
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Magic Starseeds are sacred geometric talismans of intention based on one of the original platonic solids that created the structures of the universe. Magic Starseeds are commonly known for their other names such as the Star Tetrahedron, Metatrons Cube, or the Merkaba which literally means the spirit's light vehicle. What makes these specific creations unique is that each starseed is handcrafted with deep care and filled with certain crystals, symbols, and sacred ornaments to create a specific amalgamation of energies that cohesively merge to form a field of vibration that attracts to its user the intentions within it. The Magic Starseeds can be placed in intentional spaces, held for channeling, or even spun. When the starseeds are spun, this activates and increases the magnetism of the intentions within it. Discover the magic for yourself.
The Science of the Magic Starseeds
Magic Starseeds are one of the most sacred foundational structures in the formation of our universe. This structure can be found in nature all over the globe, and has also been documented to have been utilized in ancient civilizations as well. Our generation is now slowly beginning to understand how these sacred symbols and structures can be utilized in daily life and current consciousness. The Magic Starseed's basic structure is comprised of two interlaced pyramids representing the masculine and feminine energies interconnected and intertwined. This shape in itself is said to be one of the most structurally sound formations in the universe, hence its power in attraction. Further study into Merkaba Science shows that the actual planet we live on is situated in a Star Tetrahedron formation as well as the structure of our individual body's electromagnetic field. When these Merkabas or light vehicles are activated, we are able to access levels of awareness and open dimensions of consciousness that we have only dreamed of.
Much credit is given to Drunvalo Melchizedek and all the other sacred geometry scholars for their inspiration in the creation of the Magic Starseeds. We have truly been inspired by Drunvalo Melchizedek's extensive library of information about Merkaba Science & his most popular books called The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life Vol. 1 & 2. The Magic Starseed transforms this knowledge into a tangible hands on experience that one can feel instantly when activating the Magic Starseeds's magnetic spinning field.


text: SupaMaxPaul Bazooka Difficulty Level Max Combo Easy 5 238 Hard 10 444 Special 14 713 Length 2:33 BPM 140 VideoEdit 02:43 SupaMax - Paul Bazooka Retrieved from "http://voez.wikia.com/wiki/SupaMax?oldid=3386" Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you've made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. Categories: Songs Level 5 Songs (Easy) Level 10 Songs (Hard) Level 14 Songs (Special) Add category Cancel Save


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One bad performance does not determine who you are as a player... Unless you let it. TAG a soccer player!
Food station!
34 Cute Dorm Room Ideas That You Need To Copy – SOCIETY19
20 Hacks & Tips To Make College Move In Day A Breeze
After making a huge college shopping list post, I wanted to narrow down my top 12 dorm room must haves that will work for just about any dorm!
College dorm room storage options are designed to take up the least possible space. Here's a go-to list of ideas to help you maximize your space—hooks, bins, movable carts, shoe racks and, of course, modular shelves. Store away!
25 Dorm Room Tips, Tricks and Hacks Every College Student Needs To Know
The 15 Best Hacks For Organizing Your College Dorm Room
12 Things You'll Forget to Pack For College // eyelinerwingsandprettythings #CollegeChecklist
Most dorm rooms are teeny tiny. And sure, you probably don't need a lot of stuff when you go off to college, but you still need some stuff. How are you gonna fit it all in? And how are you going to fit it all in in a way that doesn't make your dorm room look like a complete disaster? We've got a few ideas.


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Free Classifieds Dubai City
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Classi4UAE.com is a classifieds service provider for Dubai City offering online free local ads. Here you can find or post ads to sell, buy, rent and lease villas, commercial buildings, commaercial land, office space, construction equipments, housing, Shops, apartments, properties, warehouses, etc. and to sell, buy or advertise auto spare parts, toys, used cars, beauty care products, jewelry, Mobile phones, pets, tablets, used trucks, home appliances, software, Used motorcycles, furniture, electronic & electrical items, books, computer, pet supplies, clothing, etc.
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Buy Used and Save: Buy a Used "Silpat 11-5/8" x 16-1/2" Non-Stick Silicone Baking..." and save 36% off the $24.99 list price. Buy with confidence as the condition of this item and its timely delivery are guaranteed under the "Amazon A-to-z Guarantee". See all Used offers.
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Silpat 11-5/8" x 16-1/2" Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat
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Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and .
If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you increase your sales. We invite you to learn more about Fulfillment by Amazon .
- Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
- Turn ANY pan into a non-stick surface and save time cleaning up! Use Silpat® instead for any baking recipe (sweet or savory) that calls for parchment paper; Silpat® replaces the need for butter, grease, oils, and sprays
- Made of fiberglass mesh and the highest quality food grade silicone, which provides consistent heat distribution and promotes even baking and browning
- Silpat is the original non-stick baking mat and has stood the test of time with use by the most demanding chefs in the world; Silpat products conform to US regulations on food grade silicone, and are FDA, NSF, and Kosher certified
- Mat measures 11-5/8" x 16-1/2"; Made for a 13" x 18" pan
- Freezer, microwave, and oven-safe; Can be used at temperatures varying from -40 degrees C to 250 degrees C (-40 degrees F to 500 degrees F)
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and .
If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you increase your sales. We invite you to learn more about Fulfillment by Amazon .
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From the manufacturer
Why Silpat?
Safe and Easy to Bake With
Our products conform to FDA regulations and are NSF and Kosher certified. Silpat is made of fiberglass mesh and the highest quality food grade silicone. The specially designed mesh works with the silicone to provide consistent heat distribution and promotes even baking and browning. Professional pastry chefs throughout the world have been using our products to bake since the 1960's. Oven temperature varies depending on the product and recipe you are using, but our products can be used in temperatures up to 500°F. You can even use Silpat for frozen recipes! Silpat has stood the test of time with use by the most demanding chefs in the world.
Depending on the product, the number of times you use it can vary. When used and cared for properly, Silpat can have a life of up to 2,000-3,000 times. Of course the life depends on maintenance and care.
The Original Non-stick Baking Mat
Silpat products are a must-have for all bakers. Silpat is the original non-stick baking mat. Since 1965, Sasa Demarle Inc. has been committed to improving your baking experience by introducing top quality products. Silpat products never need greasing and replace parchment paper. Using Silpat products saves time, money and reduces waste in our environment. Silpat products are great for working with sticky materials such as gooey batter, taffy, caramel, doughs and anything your imagination allows. Nothing sticks to Silpat!
Silpat Uses
- Cookies
- Candy
- Bread
- Dough
- Taffy
- Caramel
- and more!
|US Half Size
|Toaster Oven Size
|Petite Jelly Roll Size
|Medium Size
|Mat Size
|11-5/8" x 16-1/2"
|7-7/8" x 10-7/8"
|8-1/4" x 11-3/4"
|9-1/2" x 14-3/8"
|Baking Sheet Size
|13" x 18" pan
|8" x 11" pan
|9" x 13" pan
|10-1/4" x 15-1/4" pan
|Item Number
Compare to similar items
This item Silpat 11-5/8" x 16-1/2" Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat
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Silpat AE420295-22 Macaron Mat
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|See price in cart
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|FREE Shipping
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|Red, Yellow, Green
|Item Dimensions
|11.6 x 16.5 x 0.1 in
|2.5 x 2.5 x 13 in
|13.5 x 16.3 x 1.6 in
|11.62 x 16.5 x 1 in
|Material Type
Product description
Product Description
This 11.6 x 16.5-inch half-sheet size baking mat will turn your pan into a non-stick surface. Silpat is especially great for working with sticky materials such as gooey dough, taffy, caramel, or anything your imagination allows. Nothing sticks to Silpat, so it will save you a lot of time cleaning as there is no more sticky mess on your pans! Silpat never needs greasing, which saves both time and money. Use Silpat instead for any baking recipe that calls for parchment paper. Utilizing Silpat products saves time, money and creates less waste for our environment. It is ideal for use when creating Danish pastries, baking biscuits, working with sugar and all sugary and salted preparations. Silpat Non-Stick Mats are made of fiberglass and silicone, and can be used thousands of times. Life of product varies--lasts 2,000 to 3,000 uses depending on use and care. Silpat products conform to US regulations on food grade silicone, and are FDA, NSF, and Kosher certified. Can be used at temperatures varying from -40 degrees C to 250 degrees C (-40 degrees F to 482 degrees F). Do not cut the Silpat as the fiberglass mesh particles might migrate into the food. Made in France. Silpat is known around the world as the original non-stick baking liner. Silpat liners are made of fiberglass and food grade silicone and are completely food safe. Nothing sticks to Silpat!
Sasa Demarle Inc. was founded in 1965 by M. Guy Demarle in Northern France. Mr. Demarle was an experienced baker who was seeking a better way to make baguette bread with forms using non-stick silicone coatings. He went on to invent the first non-stick baguette baking trays or filets, as they are known in France. A few years later, Mr. Demarle also went on to invent and create the original Silpat and is known around the world as the original non-stick baking liner. Since then, we continue to strive for improvements in non-stick products for the baking, patisserie and food-service industries.
From the Manufacturer
Silpat nonstick baking sheets are made of woven glass coated with food-standard silicone. Used daily by professionals, the sheets offer multipurpose uses for preparing, cooking, and heating up food. They're also easy to clean--simply wipe them off using hot water and dish soap. Store them by either rolling them up or keeping them flat. Do not cut Silpat baking sheets with metal, but with DeMarle's Exoglass cutters or knives. Silpat baking sheets replace parchment paper, and are heat-resistant up to 480 degrees F. The Silpat makes any baking sheet nonstick--no greasing necessary. The baking sheets are made in France.
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Top customer reviews
Used by many chefs world-wide; made in France of fiberglass mesh and highest food grade silicone for great heat distribution and even baking and browning.
You will be happy with the purchase.
I spoil my husband and son-in-law by baking their favorite chocolate chip cookies frequently and in batches of 3 or 4 cookies each time. I was tucking the extra on my larger mats under so they fit onto my smaller cookie sheet without the excess hanging off the end. This mat is the perfect size for baking smaller quantities of cookies. It fits nicely, with no hang-over, on my smaller cookie sheets. Further, it is just the right size for using in a toaster oven; this is a real plus for those who use that appliance on a regular basis. Like other Silpat mats, it cleans easily with a mild soap and water wash.
Although I felt this smaller mat would be quite useful, I couldn't reconcile myself to its somewhat disproportionate price, So I placed it on my Amazon Wishlist until I needed something to add to an order which would qualify my order for Super Saver Shipping. Rationalization is a wonderful thing...
If you are looking for a smaller Silpat mat, you can't go wrong with this item. I recommend it without reservation.
I have used this baking mat several times now, and have had no issues. I read a few reviews that mentioned the mat smoking and/or giving off a burning odor, I have not found this to be the case. I do not plan on using this mat at high temperatures, that may be the problem a few reviewers encountered. Using it with a pre-coated baking sheet (non-stick surface) may also lead to the mat smoking.
If you're looking for a baking mat that will give you perfect results each and every time, this is it! It's easy to care for and will last a very long time, providing you don't use utensils that will scratch/cut the surface. I store mine right in the baking sheet when I'm finished and it's ready to go for my next use.
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Time will tell if this one was worth the premium price.


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The Great Artists - Pieter Bruegel
Pieter Bruegel (1525/30-1569)
Very little is known of the life of Pieter Bruegel the Elder whose enigmatic, humorous, sometimes grotesque paintings remain among the most distinctive examples of Netherlandish art. Though he had travelled to Italy, Bruegel turned his back on the popular Italianate styles of the time and developed traditional Netherlandish genres of painting. In Bruegel's fantastical landscapes it was the common peasant folk that took centre stage, often sidelining the saints and members of the holy family, who were the supposed 'subjects' of many of his artworks. His paintings and etchings served as windows into other worlds, illustrating the mountains and rivers of far off lands, a geography that was exotic to the people of the flat Netherlands. Bruegel lived through a period of immense social and religious upheaval, in which the Catholic Habsburgs were determined to crush the growing ranks of Protestant dissenters in the Netherlands. The growth in trade and commerce had a similarly monumental, if less bloody, impact on Bruegel as he was among the first artists to paint almost exclusively for the growing class of merchants and intellectuals. Bruegel's greatness lies in his ability to combine gritty humour with a unique style of political comment, which has since never been equalled.
Works featured in this programme include
The Great Artists - Albrecht Durer
Albrecht Durer (1471-1528)
Far from the cultural centres of Italy, the German artist Albrecht Dürer established his workshop in the city of Nuremberg, providing a centre for what was to become known as the northern Renaissance. Dürer's greatness lay in his ability to capture an unparalleled degree of reality in his art. Dürer was not only a master of the woodcut and the etching, with which he created nightmarish visions of the apocalypse, but also became one of the earliest masters of the oil painting. Among his most accomplished works in oil are a number of beautifully executed self-portraits, which represent the very first individual figure self-portraits in the history of art. These triumphant depictions of his own image are testament to Dürer's own confidence in the growing status of the artist within his society. Like his Italian contemporary Leonardo, Dürer carefully studied the world around him, often with a scientist's eye, making detailed studies of plants and animals, some of which remain unrivalled to this day. Though he began life as a lowly craftsman, increasingly Dürer became revered across Europe, employed to paint the portrait of the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I. Dürer established the artistic traditions of Northern Europe as equal to those of Italy, and for that he remains Germany's greatest artist.
Works featured in this programme include
The Great Artists - El Greco
El Greco (1541-1614)
The paintings of the artist El Greco are among the most distinctive works of the early modern period. His paintings marked a radical departure from the naturalism and careful modelling of the Renaissance, and as result were ignored for close to 300 years. Domenicos Theotocopolous, dubbed by the Spaniards 'El Greco', was born in the Greek Island of Crete and was trained to paint in the Byzantine style. After spending some time in Venice and Rome, El Greco adopted the Spanish city of Toledo as his home. Throughout the course of his artistic career El Greco's style varied enormously. In Italy his paintings reflected the bright colouring and the loose brush strokes of the Venetian masters, such as Tintoretto, whilst in Spain the fervour of religious belief and lingering medieval sensibilities added an emotional intensity and deep sense of almost mystical spiritualism to his work. The result was a highly individualistic style of painting. Though criticised by many, El Greco's dramatic style paved the way for the Baroque and later, in the 20th century, contributed to the development of Expressionism.
The Great Artists - Giotto Di Bondone
Giotto Di Bondone (1266?-1337)
The son of a Tuscan shepherd, Giotto di Bondone rose to become the most important artist of his age, kick starting the Renaissance with his naturalistic and emotive treatment of medieval Christian iconography. Giotto enjoyed fame never before known to an artist, receiving commissions from princes, kings and Popes, and in doing so raised the status of the artist from that of a mere craftsman to that of a poet or philosopher. Through his immense talent with a brush and his visionary artistic style, Giotto made the vital departure from the Byzantine style of painting that had dominated Christian iconography for close to a thousand years. Instead of following his artistic predecessors, Giotto took nature as his teacher and narrative as his guide, creating a precedent that would be followed by the leading artists of the high Renaissance. For the first time an artist had developed an individual style, something which would come to epitomise the spirit of artistic endeavour in the centuries to come. Giotto is truly the first great artist in the history of Western art.
The Great Artists - Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo DA VINCI (1452-1519)
Leonardo da Vinci's great masterpiece the Mona Lisa is undoubtedly the most famous painting in the history of art. Yet as is often remarked Leonardo was much more than an artist. He was a scientist, engineer and inventor, a man who drew plans of flying machines and made accurate studies of human anatomy. Yet the ten or more paintings he completed and the many more left unfinished were enough to establish him as one of the towering figures of the Italian Renaissance, alongside his younger contemporaries Michelangelo and Raphael. As well as painting startlingly emotive and intimate religious scenes, Leonardo led the way in two new genres of painting, that of portraiture and history painting. In his methodical approach to art Leonardo developed several significant painting techniques. Leonardo's genius, not just in art but in science and elsewhere, meant that his was a truly unique contribution to the development of art in Europe.
The Great Artists - Michelangelo
Michelangelo (1475-1564)
Of all the great artists that left their mark on the story of art, Michelangelo Buonarroti stands alone, so great were his achievements. His career as an artist spanned almost seven decades, during which time he was instrumental in the development of a style of art that has come represent the pinnacle of the Italian High Renaissance. The unprecedented fame that he enjoyed in his lifetime endured and increased in the centuries that followed his death, as a succession of artists and art historians paid homage to his talent. His unrivalled genius, violent temper and singular determination to pursue his art meant that he often worked alone, undertaking great feats of physical and intellectual endurance. Michelangelo is the archetypal brooding artist, the romantic symbol of the creative spirit tortured by his own internal demons and antagonised by his influential patrons. As an architect he designed the dome of St. Peter's in the Vatican, the single most important church in the whole of Christendom. As a sculptor he produced figures of unimaginable quality, such as his iconic statue of David. As a painter he single-handedly undertook the decoration of the ceiling of the Sistine chapel, regarded as one of the finest achievements in the history of art. For many, Michelangelo is the greatest artist.
The Great Artists -
Raphael Sanzio
Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520)
Any young artist who had risen to artistic maturity overshadowed by the towering reputations of Leonardo and Michelangelo could easily have been discouraged. Not so Raffaello Santi, of Urbino, the young pretender to the mantle of Renaissance greatness, whose moderate temper, hard work and unique talent earned him a level of admiration equal to that of his older contemporaries. Raphael is renowned for the beauty of his portraits and the perfectly balanced composition of his larger historical paintings. His works are sensual and measured studies of the human form. Known for his numerous paintings of the Madonna and Child, Raphael became a favourite of the papal court, undertaking commissions from popes Julius II and Leo X. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Raphael did not simply copy from nature but formed a certain idealised concept of beauty. In his short life Raphael achieved an unprecedented level of artistic maturity and such was the admiration for his idealised forms that they were adopted by artists and art academies as the model of beauty until the end of the 19th Century.
The Great Artists - Rembrandt
Rembrandt (1606-1669)
Two eyes peer out of the gloom, they are the eyes of Rembrandt van Rijn, a man whose name is synonymous with the Dutch Golden Age and the city of Amsterdam. Although he was not man of letters, Rembrandt left posterity a comprehensive autobiography; his self-portraits. Rembrandt drew, etched and painted his own likeness over a hundred times resulting in a unique record of not only his changing physical appearance, but the development of his artistic career. In his portraiture, Rembrandt was able to render a sense of the interior lives of his subjects, providing an insight into the self. Yet not only did he depict wealthy patrons but also the poor that he encountered throughout his life, painting them with immense empathy. Yet to limit Rembrandt's reputation to portraiture is to underestimate his achievements. He painted religious, historical and contemporary scenes, as well as landscapes and animals. Such scenes are full of dramatic intensity, without being over theatrical. Like the Venetian master, Titian, Rembrandt's brushstrokes became bolder as he grew older, his later paintings displaying rough and thickly applied paint. Rembrandt is the pre-eminent master of Dutch painting and for many, Holland's greatest artist.
The Great Artists - Peter Paul Rubens
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)
The life of Peter Paul Rubens was perhaps the most active and eventful of any artist in history. He is regarded as the chief exponent of the Baroque style, merging the grace of the Italian High Renaissance with the realism and landscapes genres of the northern tradition. His career mirrors rapidly developing politics of an emergent Europe, as not only did he paint for the Italian nobility, but for the Spanish, French and English courts. Born a Protestant and raised as a Catholic in Antwerp, Rubens found himself on the front line of the Counter Reformation, both as a painter and a diplomat. A highly versatile artist, Rubens was equally at home painting altarpieces, history and mythological scenes, portraits and landscapes. He is perhaps best known for the voluptuous female nudes, which are often found in his large-scale mythological allegories. In Antwerp Rubens ran a highly successful studio, employing many apprentices including Anthony van Dyck, who went on to become court painter to Charles I of England and Scotland. Rubens was the most celebrated painter of the early 17th century, one of the most prolific in history and an artist who did much to develop different genres of painting.
The Great Artists - Titian
Titian (1485?-1576)
After the triumph of Renaissance art in Florence and Rome, the movement found a new centre, the city of Venice, and a new master, Tiziano Vecellio, known to English speakers as Titian. Titian did more to establish the principles of modern painting than any of his Florentine contemporaries. Unlike the Italian masters that had preceded him, Titian painted for the most part in oil, the medium came to dominate the production of art from then on. His radical approach to light, colour and composition set him apart from those around him and his free brush strokes are more expressive than anything that had come before. His enormous talent was recognised across Europe, and he received commissions to paint portraits of some the most powerful people of the age, including Pope Paul III and the Holy Roman Emperor, the King of Spain, Charles V. Titian's fame spread far and wide, making him perhaps the first truly international artist.
The Great Artists - Joseph Mallord William Turner
Turner (1775-1851)
The most famous of all British painters, J. M. W. Turner was a visionary and a maverick, whose landscape paintings both astounded and antagonised those that saw them. From humble beginnings Turner rose to become the dominant force in British landscape painting and a towering figure of Romanticism. A member of the Royal Academy in London, Turner was nevertheless fiercely attacked by critics for his radical approach to painting, one remarking that he painted with 'soaps suds and white wash'. Turner's paintings reflect his varying responses to the world around him, a world that was rapidly changing as the industrial revolution propelled society forward. As well as depicting steamships and steam railways, Turner's paintings recall the ancient world, echoing neo-classical landscapes of the French painter Claude Lorrain. But Turner's true muse was nature itself. Nowhere is the power and majesty of nature so emphatically depicted as in the landscapes of Turner. Rain, snow and sea engulf great ships and conquering armies, as humanity is utterly dwarfed by the awesome forces of nature. Turner painted nature as he understood it and not as saw it, and in this way he is often seen as anticipating Impressionism. His handling of paint at times teetered on the brink of abstraction. Turner was a radical force in his time and for that he is remembered as great artist.
The Great Artists - Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
Vincent van Gogh was one of the true pioneers of modern painting. He is perhaps the most mythologised artist in the history of art and his tragic life is ingrained in the popular imagination. Active as an artist for only ten years he completed 1250 paintings, before succumbing to mental illness and taking his own life in July of 1890. Son of a Dutch Protestant pastor, Van Gogh was a deeply spiritual man and began painting after witnessing the desperate poverty of the agricultural communities of Holland and Belgium. Buoyed up by the unquestioning support and encouragement of his younger brother Theo, Van Gogh developed a highly individualistic visual style, typified by bold forms and short brushstrokes of pure colour. Influenced in part by the Impressionists, Van Gogh strived to develop an expressive language more direct than that of his artistic predecessors in an effort to communicate the almost religious fervour with which he perceived and interpreted the world. Although he sold only one painting during his lifetime, his enormous rise to fame after his death means that today his are among the most cherished paintings of all the great artists.
The Great Artists - Diego Velazquez
Diego Velazquez (1599-1640)
In a Spain dominated by a fervent religiosity, the painter Diego de Silva y Velàzquez emerged as a master practitioner of a secular form of art. His masterpiece, Las Meninas, is a painting full of mystery and intrigue, a work of startling intellectual and artistic complexity and the culmination of a unique relationship between Velàzquez and his patron, King Philip IV of Spain. From 1623, Velàzquez was employed to paint the family and court of Philip IV. His paintings remain as an enormously insightful record of the development of the royal family and, in many ways, the decline of the most powerful court in Europe. Under the watchful eye of Philip's first minister, Count-Duke Olivares, Velàzquez single-handedly redefined the image of the Spanish monarchy, in manner akin to a modern-day public relations campaign. Whilst Velàzquez's output was dominated by royal portraiture, he also produced psychologically insightful studies of people at the margins of society, such as the buffoons of the royal court or the poor of Seville. Velàzquez's unique painting style, which combined at one time or another dramatic lighting, intense colouring and ever more loose brushstrokes, was dominated by a single preoccupation – to capture a degree of naturalism hitherto unachieved in the history of art. His work came to be admired by many in the centuries to come and as the French painter Edouard Manet remarked, 'He is the painter of painters'.
Johannes Vermeer (1632-1672)
In the three hundred years since his death, the name Johannes Vermeer languished in the backwaters of art history. Yet in recent times his status as a great artist has been assured and his paintings are more popular today than ever before. Vermeer, the pre-eminent Dutch genre painter, lived and worked in the town of Delft. Little is known of his life other than he painted very few paintings and that he died penniless. A master of light and colour, Vermeer excelled in creating the illusion of reality in his paintings, the result of a meticulous painting method often employing camera obscura. Most of Vermeer's work follows a similar theme, often featuring a single female figure standing or sitting in a domestic setting engaged in a simple everyday activity such as reading a letter or playing a musical instrument. There is no incident or drama here, yet Vermeer's genius is his ability to transform a placid everyday event into an episode littered with mystery and intrigue. This deliberate ambiguity leaves the mind racing to fill in the gaps of an otherwise unassuming scene. In their combination of exquisite brushwork and quietly enigmatic subjects Vermeer's paintings are among the greatest masterpieces of Western art.


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FARE OF THE COUNTRY; Oysters, a New Orleans Passion
By SCOTT BRONSTEIN; SCOTT BRONSTEIN, a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a frequent visitor to New Orleans.
Published: January 14, 1990
DAVID ENGERT, a 39-year-old manager of a Los Angeles computer company, traveled nearly 2,000 miles to get to his native New Orleans for the holidays. One of the main reasons, he said: to eat oysters at the Acme Oyster House, on Iberville Street in the French Quarter.
For locals and visitors, eating oysters in the Crescent City is as much a pastime as strolling through the French Quarter or watching the Saints play football. In almost any French Quarter street the signs beckon: ''Shucked Fresh,'' reads one; ''Oysters Here,'' reads another.
Several famous oyster recipes were created in New Orleans, including Oysters Rockefeller, baked oysters with watercress, scallions, celery, anise and, often, spinach, and Oysters Bienville, named after the founder of the city - oysters coated with bechamel sauce and baked with a mix of minced vegetables and spices.
The eating of oysters has remained a passion in New Orleans, in part because of their widespread availability in southeast Louisiana, where brackish waters make perfect breeding grounds. Pollution has affected some oyster beds in Louisiana, but they are so plentiful that the problems have not thus far diminished the supply, according to Ronald Dugas, the oyster program manager for the state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The oyster's other attractions, of course, are its mystique and allure as a food that, legend has it, will significantly improve one's love life; many oyster eaters will tell you they swear by it.
There is no better place to eat Louisiana oysters than at New Orleans oyster bars, where the time-honored ritual unfolds as it has for more than a century.
The city is full of oyster bars; local aficionados say there are as many as 50 scattered around the metropolitan area, though only a handful are listed in the Yellow Pages. Oyster bars are often the showcase to a larger, accompanying restaurant. And the best are as well known for their restaurant food as they are for their oysters.
Beer is the preferred accompaniment, especially when the oysters are raw, the way they are generally eaten in the bars.
The bar on which the shellfish is served is typically a large, ornate wooden or marble antique structure where customers belly up and order a dozen or two. Behind the bar is the shucker, an important element; some customers come at specific times so that they can be served by their favorite shucker.
The shucker selects the oysters, usually pulling them from sacks holding several hundred. Though the creatures can grow to have shells up to a foot long, most shuckers will tell you the best are about two and a half to three inches in length.
The shucker splits the shells open with a special heavy knife, taking care to preserve as much as possible of the juices. Many shuckers also provide a colorful, incessant banter to amuse patrons. ''Get 'em cold, get 'em fresh, this is where we shuck the best,'' said Keith A. Chancley as he shucked three oysters onto a plate at the Acme Oyster House. ''Step on over; you want a dozen or two?'' asked Mr. Chancley, who has been shucking at the Acme for more than a decade.
The oysters are still alive when opened, and stuck to the shell. The shucker, after halving the shell, must then insert the knife under the oyster and sever it. The open half-shells are placed on a plate between lemon wedges and small paper cups used to hold an accompanying sauce - for many the important final touch.
Many shuckers make their own sauce, often from a recipe they won't divulge. But more often than not, patrons mix their own, for in a New Orleans oyster bar everyone is a professional saucier. The classic oyster accompaniment is a sauce made with ketchup, horseradish, lemon, Worcestershire and Tabasco. But the exact amounts of these ingredients are varied to taste, and a host of other things can be included, from steak sauce to garlic and even curry powder.
''You have people who like them with everything, from mayonnaise, to pure Tabasco, from those who suck them out of the shell plain, to those who douse them in ketchup,'' said Charles K. DeLaune, a vice president and district manager who runs Ralph and Kacoo's, a popular oyster bar and restaurant in the Quarter, just a block from Jackson Square.
Two classic oyster bars outside the French Quarter stand out as being among the most authentic and non-touristy establishments. These are the real thing, although other bars in the Quarter have their own atmosphere and devotees.
Casamento's Restaurant, about a mile from the Quarter on Magazine Street, has been owned and operated by one family since Joseph Casamento came to New Orleans from the island of Ustica, near Palermo, Sicily. He died in 1978, and his son, also named Joseph, took over.
THE original green and white tiled floor is still there. The walls are also original, though they were retiled along with the dark green flint-topped oyster bar in 1949 in a black and white pattern, giving the place a contemporary appearance.
Casamento's is distinctly a family place, and its clientele is largely local people who know about this tiny spot. It serves only about 40 customers at metal tables, without music or other decor. The house specialty is an oyster loaf, fried oysters served on homemade pan bread that customers say is the best in the city. Spaghetti and meatballs are also a favorite.