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Most AMC activities are open to both members and non-members, and most are free. Some activities may have fees to cover expenses such as transportation, equipment rentals, meals and lodging.
Some activities require registration. You will be given the meeting time and location when you register. If the activity does not require registration, the meeting time and place will be given in the listing.
Some activity leaders will e-mail a list of things to bring, while others will list "bring lunch and water," and others will list nothing at all. It depends on the leader and the trip.
Participants should:
1. Be truthful and honest with themselves and the trip leader, especially when representing their physical condition, skills and equipment.
2. Be in good physical condition. Be ready for the demands of the trip.
3. Have the proper equipment, (boots, pack, bicycle, canoe, etc.) and have it in good working order.
4. Tell the trip leader of any special conditions that might impact the trip. For example: a medical condition.
5. Dress properly for the conditions. Bring sufficient food, water and spare clothing.
6. Take responsibility for your own safety. Stay with the group. If any problems, let the leader know as soon as possible.
7. Take responsibility for the safety of the group. Keep those behind you in sight. Keep the trip leader informed of problems. Follow the directives of the trip leader.
8. Keep alert and mentally fit. The use of alcohol or any other intoxicating substances prior to, or while on the trip, is strictly forbidden.
9. Be considerate of others. Pack out all trash and litter. Do not disturb other people enjoying nature.
If you have questions, ask the trip leader! By e-mail or phone before the trip, or in person during the trip.
Get to the meeting place before the start time!
Remember that all our leaders are trained volunteers. Extend to them the respect and thanks they deserve.
All of the above certainly apply to hiking. If you are new to hiking, or to our group, you should probably start out with an easier hike. When you are ready for a long, difficult hike, don't be surprised or offended if the leader asks you a few questions about your experience.
Delaware Valley Chapter Hike Rating System
Hike ratings consist of a number-letter-number system indicating PACE-TERRAIN-MILEAGE. All Chapter hikes and backpacks include a rating.
Click picture for the hiking schedule.
1 - Leisurely (nature walk)
2 - Moderate (steady, comfortable pace)
3 - Brisk (firm pace)
4 - Fast
5 - Extremely fast
MILEAGE is estimated, plus or minus a mile.
A - Solid pavement, sidewalk
B - Soft ground, sand, carriage trails
C - Hiking trails, gentle rolling hills
D - Steep hills, scrambling possible
E - Rough terrain, exposure, thick brush
F - Extremely difficult terrain, possible
sustained exposure
EXAMPLE: A very fast six-mile hike on a paved path would have a hike rating of 5A6.
Ratings should be considered approximations and not exacts. A brisk pace for one person may be a moderate pace for another person. Also there can be variations within each terrain category, especially for the C rating. Please contact the activity leader if you are not sure about a particular activity.
Click picture for the backpacking schedule.
Below: video from a Black Forest Trail backpack trip.
We currently run beginner, intermediate, and experienced backpacking trips. Our trips are primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern Regions and may run from one night out to a full week and are run all four seasons of the year.
A backpacking workshop is generally offered each year for anyone interested in becoming a backpacker or who would like updated information. Please contact our backpacking chair for detailed information. There will be subsequent trips to sign up for in which to use this newly acquired knowledge.
Our chapter does have several backpacks for beginners to rent for a nominal fee to get their feet wet. Most of us are willing to share equipment such as filters, stoves, etc. to help newcomers learn about equipment prior to making the investment. Intermediate and experienced backpackers must provide their own equipment. The equipment varies greatly by choice of the backpacker and the season.
We welcome people at all levels that are able to carry the weight and wish to enjoy the outdoors in more remote settings for extended periods.
Video plays in a new window at You Tube. We cannot embed it because it contains copyrighted material.
All the trip basics listed above apply. Particularly, make sure that you have kind of bike suitable for the trip, i.e., road bike, mountain bike, trail bike or hybrid. This is listed in the trip description. If you are not sure, ask the leader. Make sure your bike and tires are in good condition. Carry a spare inner tube that fits your tires, a pump and tire levers. Carry sufficient water and food.
Helmets are required, and must be worn on all club rides!
Click picture for the bicycling schedule.
Click picture for the paddling schedule. Click below to go to the Paddler's Website.
AMC runs both flatwater and whitewater trips. Each trip listing will state the classification of the trips. Generally, trips listed as class 1 or as flatwater are suitable for most paddlers, while class 2 and above trips are whitewater for those with the appropriate equipment and skills. Click here for a detailed description of river classifications.
On some flatwater trips, rental canoes and kayaks are available. This will be noted in the listing. However, it may be possible to borrow or share a boat if you don't have one. Ask the leader, preferably a week or more before the trip date.
For Class 2 and higher trips, paddlers must provide their own equipment: Canoe or kayak suitable for whitewater with flotation and grab loops or handles, a helmet, lifejacket, sprayskirt for closed boats, paddle and clothing suitable for water & air temperatures. Paddlers must have the necessary skills, be able to wet exit their boat, swim and self-rescue in a rapid: swim boat and self to shore, get back in boat, or eskimo roll.
Life Jackets (Personal Flotation Devices) must be worn and secured at all times while on the water.
This applies to all club trips. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Helmets are required on all whitewater trips.
We try to provide a broad range of family activities throughout the Delaware Valley that get new and existing members outdoors. Many members began their lifelong appreciation of the natural world through experiences they had when they were children. These experiences encouraged them to grow up to be good environmental stewards. We need future generations to care for and preserve our natural treasures.
Many activities offered have an underlying educational theme. We have offered hikes that taught about the plight of the American Chestnut tree and what is being done to save it from extinction. Another event involved tagging and releasing of Monarch butterflies to learn more about their migratory path.
Of course, many activities are purely for fun and just provide an opportunity for families to enjoy the outdoors together. We are always looking to expand the variety of activities offered and want to promote the conservation efforts of AMC to future generations.
Parents, please note! Any minor attending one of these outings (regardless of the presence of their parent or guardian) must have their parent or legal guardian sign AMC's Release Agreement prior to their participation.
So before you send your children off with their grandparents, a friend or another adult, please download this form, print it, fill it out and sign it and send it along with the kids.
Trails If you can garden, you can do trail work!
AMC's core mission is conservation and stewardship, and trail building and maintenance is a big part of that mission.
We help maintain the trails on Mt. Misery in Valley Forge National Park, and we maintain a 15-mile section of the Appalachian Trail. We also assist with volunteer projects at Valley Forge and other parks, as needed.
We welcome people of all levels of physical ability. You just need to be able to hike to the site. We will train you and provide tools, even gloves and eye protection. Work ranges from easy jobs such as raking and pruning, to as strenuous as moving rocks and logs. We will match the task to your ability. So join us, and give back to our community!
Click here for the Appalachian Mountain Club main website.
© Copyright 2007-2019 All Rights Reserved. The Appalachian Mountain Club - Delaware Valley Chapter.


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These homes included major structural design and building scope. Blue Horizon Builders worked with these clients to rebuild entire structures, from concept, through all trades to final completion.
A sample of work captured at the beginning and end of the building process.
Prior to starting Blue Horizon Builders, the team ran Logworks Inc, a log subcontracting firm in Colorado. These photos include some of that work, highlighting the high quality craftsmanship and attention to detail required in the high end, custom log home building trade.
Blue Horizon Builders is a full service general contracting company that specializes in residential construction and remodeling.
Whether you want to build a new home, add on to your existing home, update your kitchen or bathroom, or just increase the functionality of your living space, we welcome the opportunity to make it happen.
We are proud to have earned the recommendations of past clients, and look forward to working with you.

subset: commoncrawl


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Commando Fit Club
Commando Fit Club
Commando Fit Club is a community driven exercise class designed to make every single member the best all round athlete. From the very beginner to the elite athlete our classes are fun, varied and challenging and is a brilliant program if you love both training indoors and outdoors.
What to expect
Our classes offer you a full body workout with a combination of cardio, strength and core training. We base our training on fundamental movement patterns designed to maximise your efficiency in every day life and achieve a good all round athletic body. Push, pull, climb, jump, punch are key movements in our classes using a range of functional fitness equipment to challenge you physically and mentally.
HIT – High intensity training delivers a raised metabolism up to 24 hours later meaning you are still burning those calories!
Our HIT classes are mind and body changing combining cardio and resistance training for the ultimate burn.
Personal Benefits;
- It's sociable and you will meet some great new friends.
- It's guaranteed to get you results.
- Its' fun, safe and effective.
- Constantly varied workouts to keep you entertained.
- It's outdoors and in the fresh air which will invigorate and enhance mental well-being.
- Instructors provide expert guidance, knowledge and motivation.
Health Benefits;
- Increased muscle definition
- Excellent de-stressor
- Lowers blood pressure
- Enhance weight loss
- Improved cardiovascular function
- Improved strength and muscular endurance
- Improves sleeping patterns
- Increased flexibility
- Increased Confidence and self esteem
Don't take our word for it, come and meet the team.
Contact us for a free trial.


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SEO & Customer Conversion
What good is the most compelling content in the world if people can't find it using search engines? In the process of preparing a magazine's print archive for the Bondi Archive Platform, the pages are scanned and metadata is extracted using optical character reading software and hand tagging. This metadata is used by the Bondi Archive Platform to programmatically create gateway landing pages for each article. These landing pages offer a short abstract and thumbnails of the referenced article.
Marketing copy and links are also included to entice the person to click through and view the magazine if the archive is sponser supported, or to begin a subscription if it is not. The Bondi Archive Platform exposes these gateway pages to the search engines, which will allow them to be crawled, indexed and included in organic search results.
For examples of archives powered by the Bondi Cover to Cover Platform please visit archive.aviationweek.com and classic.esquire.com.


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Dianne Batchelder
Events Committee Chair
The Events Committee is responsible for the planning, oversight and execution of all the events in which the SAOS participates. This includes coordinating the refreshments at monthly meetings, picnics and other events, coordinating the activities of refreshment and clean up volunteers, and ensuring all monthly meetings are advertised and club activities are publicized. Many members participate to ensure a smooth monthly meeting:
Hospitality Table. Our gracious hostess Jeanette Smith provides some of the goodies on our hospitality table along with other volunteers. Drop a dollar into the donations jar to fund the coffee and other supplies necessary for her efforts.
Publicity.Yvonne Schimmel is responsible for publicizing the SAOS and the benefits of membership.
Welcome Table. Membership Committee volunteers Carolyn Smith and Rae Coletti man the Welcome Table to introduce guests to the club. If you have questions, they'll introduce you to someone who will get you the answers.
Raffle Tickets. Dianne Batchelder assists the Finance Committee to organize the plant raffle and run the raffle and auction. Somehow our newcomers always seem to go home with a new orchid!
Show Table. Members bring their blooming orchids to the show table. Courtney Hackney talks about the show table plants and Terry Bottom photographs them.
After oohing and aahing, members are asked to vote for their favorite orchid on the Show Table and the Members Choice is announced.
Clean Up Volunteers. Volunteers stay a little while after the meeting to help rearrange and clean up tables and sweep up. Watson Realty graciously offers us the use of their conference room, we need to leave it in as good or better condition than we found it.


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FANGORIA caught up with filmmaker Douglas (FAMILY PORTRAITS) Buck in Vancouver, Canada, where he is preparing for the March 13 production start on his redux of Brian De Palmas 1973 psychological horror tale SISTERS. After initial announcements of a cast featuring Asia Argento, Chloe Sevigny, Stephen Rea and a cameo from director David Cronenberg, Argento has now had to bow out of the film, to be replaced in the lead role by French actress Anna Mouglalis (pictured). Unfortunately, Asia dropped out due to scheduling reasons, says Buck. I believe she is on to a Catherine Breillat film, which should be a good project for her, and I really wish her well.
As for his new star, Buck says he couldnt be more pleased. She was someone, along with Asia, that early on I was very interested in for the part, the filmmaker says. After Asia left the project, Anna was nice enough to quickly read the script and agree to come on board. She is an amazing actress, having done a number of very provocative French films, including LA VIE NOUVELLE and LE PRIX DU DESIR with Daniel Autuiel, while also being stunningly beautiful, as her status as a number-one French Chanel model attests. I cant tell you how excited myself and [producer] Ed Pressman both are, as she can easily become the Catherine Deneuve of our time.
In addition to Mouglalis filling the role of the disturbed woman who may or may not have a murderous Siamese twin, Sevigny (also appearing in David Fincher's upcoming ZODIAC) has taken the part of a curious reporter played by Jennifer Salt in the original, while Rea (INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE) portrays the sinister doctor initially essayed by PHANTOM OF THE PARADISEs William Finley. Both these actors add an amazing amount of class to the film. I couldnt be more pleased to get them, Buck says. I met Chloe in New York to discuss the part and I cant wait to get to work with her. Along with being beautiful, she brings an integrity to every role she plays, large or small. Ive been a fan of Stephen Reas work since THE CRYING GAME and am ecstatic to have him. Both Stephen and Chloe are exactly the type of actors Ive dreamed of working with.
The main challenge for Buck, who co-wrote the screenplay for the new SISTERS with John Freitas, is coming up with a fresh take on De Palmas movie in these remake-saturated days. I am a big fan of the original De Palma film, but where his main focus was style, style, style, with little concern for character or substanceand I dont mean that as a criticism, Im sure he may even agree with that assesmentI want to create something more character-driven and tragic," says the director, who is making his feature-length debut on SISTERS after several memorable short films. While still giving the horror crowd the proper amount of gore and violence I myself love, I also want to have a thread of tenderness running through the film. I want the audience to come out of the film thinking, Am I supposed to feel good about what Ive seen, or really horrified and dirty? Creating that dichotomy of reaction is something Ive always enjoyedin other words, I like screwing with the audience!


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- Review
- Open Access
PFAPA syndrome: a review on treatment and outcome
- Federica Vanoni1Email authorView ORCID ID profile,
- Katerina Theodoropoulou2 and
- Michaël Hofer3
© The Author(s). 2016
- Received: 8 April 2016
- Accepted: 21 June 2016
- Published: 27 June 2016
The syndrome of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis (PFAPA syndrome) is the most common cause of periodic fever in childhood. The current pharmacological treatment includes corticosteroids, which usually are efficacious in the management of fever episodes, colchicine, for the prophylaxis of febrile episodes, and other medication for which efficacy has not been proven so far. Tonsillectomy is an option for selected patients. Usually PFAPA syndrome resolves during adolescence, but there is increasing evidence that this condition may persist into adulthood.
- PFAPA treatment
- PFAPA outcome
- Tonsillectomy
- Glucocorticoids
- Colchicine
The syndrome of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis (PFAPA syndrome) is the most common cause of periodic fever in childhood and it was first described in1987 by Marshall et al. [1]. It is characterized by episodes of fever lasting for 3–6 days with recurrence every 3–8 weeks, associated with at least one of three main symptoms: aphthous stomatitis, cervical adenitis, and pharyngitis [2]. Disease onset is usually before the age of 5 and generally resolves by adolescence. Patients are asymptomatic between episodes and show normal growth. Proposed contributors to pathogenesis include infection, abnormal host immune responses, or a combination of both [3, 4]. PFAPA syndrome is an immune mediated disease characterised by a cytokine dysfunction [3, 5]; moreover, the strong familial clustering suggest a potential genetic origin of the syndrome [6, 7]. The presence of variants in inflammasome related genes, mostly in NLRP3 and MEFV, suggest a possible role of these genes in PFAPA pathogenesis [7–9]. However, none of these variants alone seem to be relevant for the disease etiology, suggesting an oligenic or polygenic background.
Diagnostic criteria used for PFAPA
I. Regularly recurring fevers with an early age of onset (<5 years of age)
II. Constitutional symptoms in the absence of upper respiratory infection with at least 1 of the following clinical signs : a) aphtous stomatitis, b) cervical lymphadenitis, c) pharyngitis
III. Completely asymptomatic interval between episodes
IV. Normal growth and development
Pharmacological treatment for PFAPA syndrome
Treatment of the episodes
0.5–2 mg/Kg, orally the first day of fever
Possible to repeat on day 2 if fever persists
0.2 mg/Kg, orally the first day of fever
Possible to repeat on day 2 if fever persists
Prophylactic Treatment
0.5–1 mg/daily, orally
Gastro-intestinal side effects
20–40/mg/Kg/daily, orally
Poor efficacy
1 mg/Kg, sc the first and second day of fever
Symptomatic treatment during flares
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and anti-pyretics have shown poor results in resolving symptoms of PFAPA syndrome. Glucocorticoids are highly effective in aborting the attacks, but there are limited data on the effectiveness of any preventive medication in PFAPA.
Rapid resolution of flare: glucocorticoids
Orally given glucocorticoids relieve symptoms of PFAPA in a dramatic fashion [11–15].
A single dose of prednisone (1– 2 mg/kg) or betamethasone (0.1–0.2 mg/kg) given at the onset of an episode can dramatically abort fever attacks in a few hours. Aphtous stomatitis, however, can take longer to resolve [2, 16]. If one dose is not effective in inducing resolution of flare, a second dose may be given the following day.
In the largest PFAPA cohort described so far, Hofer et al. found that 147 out of 301 patients were treated with steroids. They observed a rapid resolution of fever episodes after a single dose of steroids in 93/147 patients (63 %), whereas 46 (32 %) showed a partial response and only 8 (5 %) were non-responders [16]. Data from the EUROFEVER registry confirm the widespread use of steroids for disease flare, with 81 out of 92 patients treated at the onset of attacks, and their effectiveness in 73 patients (90 % of those treated) [13]. Wurster et al. described a cohort of 60 patients in which 44 patients were treated with steroids during episodes and the treatment was effective in 37 (84 %) [17].
Tasher et al., in their uncontrolled series, described that a single low dose of prednisone (mean 0.6 mg/kg per day) was effective to rapidly resolve the fever episode within an average of 10 h in 51 out of 54 PFAPA patients [18]. The effectiveness of a single low dose of prednisone was confirmed in a preliminary study performed by Yazgan et al., that did not show any statistical significance in efficacy between a dose of 2 mg/kg/day versus a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day respectively in 40 and 46 PFAPA febrile attacks [19].
The usefulness of steroids is limited by the fact that the interval between episodes may be shortened in 25–50 % of cases [15, 20, 21]. Moreover, the administration of corticosteroids does not prevent future fever attacks. Side effects are rare; the most commonly reported by Tasher et al. is restlessness. Nevertheless, parents of PFAPA patients are often concerned about the possibility of systemic side effects, and this fact may result in poor compliance.
Finally, the steroid response may be useful in distinguishing attacks of PFAPA from familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) or other hereditary periodic fever syndromes (HPF) [11, 12] and can be used as an additional criterion for diagnosis [16]. In fact, HPF attack, except for periodic fever associated with Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD), usually doesn't show a dramatic response to a single dose of steroids like PFAPA.
Reduction of flare frequency: colchicine
The precise mechanism of action of colchicine in reducing inflammation is unknown. Colchicine binds to tubulin, forming a tubulin-colchicine complex. This complex can change the structure and the function of the cytoskeleton, thereby influencing neutrophil and lymphocyte migration and adhesion [22]. The rationale for the use of colchicine as a prophylactic treatment for PFAPA is based primarily on clinical and laboratory similarities between FMF and PFAPA and the long-term experience with this drug in the treatment of FMF. For these reasons, when colchicine is effective in PFAPA patients, an alternative diagnosis of FMF has to be considered.
In a 6-month open label, randomized, controlled study, Aviel et al. showed a significant increase in intervals between attacks in 8 PFAPA patients on colchicine therapy compared with 10 patients treated only with corticosteroids. Among the 18 treated patients treated, 8 carried FMF mutations; 6/8 in the colchicine group and 2/10 in the steroid group [23].
Padeh et al. described 10 PFAPA patients previously diagnosed as FMF patients; 6 out of 10 were heterozygous for an MEFV gene mutation (M694V), but had clinical features consistent with PFAPA. Colchicine prescribed to these patients had only a partial effect and was discontinued [24].
In an open label study, Tasher et al. investigated the efficacy of colchicine treatment in 9 PFAPA patients with frequent episodes (≤14 days interval). Two patients out of nine were compound heterozygotes for multiple MEFV mutations but exhibited typical features of PFAPA. Colchicine treatment significantly increased the interval between the episodes in eight of these patients [25].
Dusser et al. performed a retrospective, multicenter study in which they reviewed 20 PFAPA patients treated with colchicine. Half of the patients were heterozygous for a pathogenic mutation in the MEFV gene. The authors found that nine patients had no more or suffered half as many episodes during colchicine treatment. No significant differences in demographic/clinical variables or the rate of MEFV mutation carriage were found between the two groups (responder and non-responder) [26].
Due to the small size of the samples, Aviel and Dusser didn't find variables that could predict responsiveness to colchicine. Because of the good response of FMF to colchicine, PFAPA patients heterozygous for MEFV mutations may respond better to this drug, but differences in the response to colchicine between carriers and non-carriers of the MEFV mutation have not been demonstrated so far.
Colchicine is usually well tolerated. The most common adverse reactions to colchicine are gastrointestinal (approximately 10 %). This effect may be partially explained by induction or worsening of lactose intolerance by this medication [25], though multiple mechanism may be responsible.
These findings suggest that colchicine may be an effective second line treatment to prevent frequently recurrent fever episodes in PFAPA patients, in particular if prednisone is decreases the interval between episodes.
Other medications
Cimetidine, a common H2 antagonist, has immune-modulating properties, inhibiting chemotaxis and T-cell activation. Cimetidine was suggested as an effective prophylactic treatment for PFAPA in 1992 by Feder [27]. Thomas et al. reported a 43 % efficacy of cimetidine in a group of 28 patients according to data based on telephone recall [2]. Wurster et al. found that in their cohort, cimetidine was effective as symptomatic therapy in 6 out of 25 (26 %) patients while in the remaining patients the treatment was ineffective [17]. None of the 92 PFAPA patients from the EUROFEVER registry, and none of the 42 patients from the Norwegian cohort, were treated with cimetidine, underlining the fact that in recent years this treatment is less prescribed [13, 21]. Moreover, there are no randomized controlled trials supporting benefits of cimetidine to date.
IL-1 plays a central role in PFAPA pathogenesis, as demonstrated by Stojanov et al. [3]. In a small cohort of 5 children with PFAPA syndrome a single dose of anakinra, on the second day of fever, dramatically improved both clinical picture and laboratory parameters [5]. Cantarini et al. described a case of a 27-year-old man resistant to conventional therapy (corticosteroids, colchicine, and tonsillectomy) who was treated with subcutaneous injection of anakinra, with a complete resolution of fever attacks [28]. Despite these interesting reports, the use of IL-1 blockers for PFAPA treatment is restricted to selected cases due to the lack of both randomized trials as well as coverage by health care plans.
Vitamin D has recently gained attention as a possible regulator of inflammation due to the finding that low Vitamin D levels are associated with some inflammatory disorders [29]. In recent years two studies investigated a possible role of vitamin D in PFAPA syndrome. Mahamid et al. found a significant correlation between PFAPA and vitamin D deficiency, demonstrating a significant difference in vitamin D levels between 22 PFAPA patients and 20 control subjects [30]. Stagi et al. confirmed this finding and demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of febrile episodes and a shortening of mean duration of episodes in patients after vitamin D supplementation (400 IU 25-hydroxyvitamin D daily during wintertime) [31]. However, on the basis of these data it is not possible to conclude that vitamin D is effective in treating or preventing PFAPA syndrome, and prospective studies on large cohorts of patients and randomized clinical trials are needed.
The role of tonsillectomy in PFAPA syndrome remains controversial. In 1989 an initial study reported efficacy of tonsillectomy in 4 PFAPA patients [32]. Afterwards, a large variability in success rate was reported in other studies. In a randomized controlled trial, Renko et al. compared the effectiveness of tonsillectomy versus no intervention in 26 patients diagnosed with PFAPA (14 underwent tonsillectomy and 12 were observed without surgery) [33]. PFAPA syndrome resolved immediately in all 14 patients randomized to tonsillectomy; in contrast, the syndrome resolved spontaneously within 6 months in 6/12 patients who did not receive tonsillectomy. However, in this cohort, 50 % of the tonsillectomy group and 77 % of the control group had recurrent fever as the only cardinal symptom and thereby did not actually fulfil diagnostic criteria for PFAPA.
Garavello et al. performed a prospective randomized controlled trial with 39 PFAPA patients; 19 underwent adenotonsillectomy and 20 were treated with medical therapy [34]. Six months after surgery, resolution of episodes was observed in 12/19 cases (63 %) and at 18 months follow up they observed complete resolution of episodes in this group within 1 year. In contrast to the findings of Renko et al., only 1 patient in the control group showed spontaneous resolution.
A prospective study by Licameli et al. evaluated the long-term efficacy of adeno-tonsillectomy in 102 patients with PFAPA followed for longer than 6 months after surgery (mean 43 months): Ninety-nine experienced complete resolution immediately aſter surgery and 1 after 6 months. Of the 2 remaining patients, 1 continued having fever episodes, while 1 was further investigated and subsequently diagnosed with MKD [35].
Although other reports exist, a recent Cochrane review [36] points out that only two randomised controlled trials, conducted on small cohorts of patients, demonstrate the effectiveness of the tonsillectomy in treating children with PFAPA. Moreover, these studies show some differences in outcome after surgery, probably due to the heterogeneity of the study population, the choice of different diagnostic criteria, the different type of intervention (i.e., tonsillectomy versus adenotonsillectomy), and the different follow up schedule aſter surgery. It is not proven that to combining adenoidectomy with tonsillectomy can improve the outcome, compared to tonsillectomy alone.
Considering the favourable evolution of PFAPA and the possible post-surgical complications, adenotonsillectomy should be proposed to selected patients, for example when the interval between attacks is very short in which corticosteroid treatment is not appropriate.
PFAPA syndrome is considered a self-limited disease that generally resolves spontaneously before adolescence [16, 17]. Patients' growth and development are normal and no long-term consequences have been described [2].
Wurster et al. followed a cohort of 59 patients for a period ranging between 12 and 21 years. Fifty patients experienced spontaneous symptom resolution without relapse; only 9 maintained typical cardinal PFAPA symptoms, though fever was less frequent [17]. They also observed a significantly higher frequency of family history of periodic fever in the patients with persistent symptoms in adulthood.
In a Norwegian cohort, thirty-seven children were followed until resolution with a median follow up of 18.7 months (range 7.2– 75.7). The median age at the time of resolution was 52.1 months. Interestingly, eight children experienced a relapse after a febrile attack-free period of more than 6 months. The median duration of the attack-free periods leading up to the relapse was 20 months [21].
Other studies, with a shorter follow-up, reported a spontaneous resolution in only 20–32 % of the patients [12, 24, 25].
Berkun et al. described a cohort of 124 PFAPA patients, of which 65 showed a single MEFV mutation. PFAPA attacks in MEFV carriers were shorter, compared with patients without mutations, and the frequency of their attacks and oral aphthae were also lower. This may suggest that mutations in causative genes of other monogenic periodic fevers may modify the disease course [37].
As shown in different studies, PFAPA may have its onset in adulthood as well [11, 16, 38]. To date, no long-term outcome data are available for adult patients diagnosed with PFAPA syndrome, so it is not known whether adults with PFAPA syndrome may spontaneously undergo clinical remission. Based on a review of the recent literature, tonsillectomy does not seem to be a valid option in these patients [39]. There are reports describing adult PFAPA patients with a history of tonsillectomy during childhood due to recurrent febrile tonsillo-pharyngitis, with subsequent disease free period of several years. These findings may suggest that tonsillectomy is efficacious in inducing a temporary remission but that the effect may be transient [40].
PFAPA syndrome is a relatively common condition in childhood, but it can also persist into adulthood. The disease usually has a benign and self-limiting course. Treatment with single doses of glucocorticoids is effective in controlling the fever episodes. Colchicine may be an interesting option for patients with frequent episodes. Tonsillectomy should be reserved for selected patients refractory to medical treatment and children with long-lasting disease affecting the quality of life.
FMF, familial mediterranean fever; HFP, hereditary periodic fever; MKD, mevalonate kinase deficiency; PFAPA, periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, cervical adenitis
Not applicable.
None of the authors have any source of funding to declare in relation to this manuscript.
Availability of data and materials
Not applicable. This is a review paper, our findings reflects the data reported in the cited literature (see references list).
Authors' contributions
FV, KT and MH collaborated to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Competing interests
None of the authors have any financial or any non-financial competing interests (political, personal, religious, ideological, academic, intellectual, commercial or any other) to declare in relation to this manuscript.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.
Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
Authors' Affiliations
- Marshall GS, Edwards KM, Butler J, Lawton AR. Syndrome of periodic fever, pharyngitis, and aphthous stomatitis. J Pediatr. 1987;110(1):43–6.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Thomas KT, Feder Jr HM, Lawton AR, Edwards KM. Periodic fever syndrome in children. J Pediatr. 1999;135(1):15–21.PubMedView ArticleGoogle Scholar
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Darin Schanker Speaks at CTLA about Voir Dire Process
When the Colorado Trial Lawyers convened in Steamboat Springs on August 9-11, 2012, Darin Schanker of Bachus & Schanker, LLC addressed the group on a need for more time in the voir dire process.
During his presentation, Schanker shared strategies for earning the judges respect in order to obtain more time for voir dire as well as ideas for how attorneys can best use any additional time a judge allows them. Voir dire refers to the questioning of prospective jurors by the attorneys and judge in order to ultimately seat a fair and unbiased jury. In voir dire, every second counts and the outcome of the process can have an enormous impact on a trial's outcome.
The Colorado Trial Association (CTLA) is the largest specialty bar association in the state of Colorado. It is committed to protecting consumer rights and working to increase public safety.
Tell Us What Happened to Your Family
Get your free case evaluation here.


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While I sit in pain from aging athlete disease, another part of my anatomy decided to feel the pull of recent events. No, that part is working fine as re-discovered every morning in the shower while virtual glimps Jessica Biel's be-thonged ass are still freshly implanted in my mind. While my shoulder has decided to start crying out daily for a dose of Advil, the learning part of the soft mass uptop is getting a healthy RDA approved amount of knowledge.
The classes are going slowly but well through the first week, as this busy bee is enjoying the time behind a dense Accounting book. The online nature of the classroom has some taking used to, but very welcome for someone in my position as I get to flick on the classroom when I want and not have to have the professor repeat his/her lecture or worry about mis-hearing information.
In a sense. Perfect.
Now if you need some brain juice this morning or afternoon whenever you dear reader get around to reading these pages, Truckin out for all the vitamins and minerals for the thing you call an information storage center needs to stay in top shape. Especially those of us who could use some witty banter besides the debit and credits within Income Statements, Cash Flow Statements, and Balance Sheets. Holy shit, I retained somethin' I read, 14 years in Accounting and never had to know/learn the basic finanical statements, well played bullseye.
Anyways, on to the show:
1. Lovers' Whirlwind by Paul McGuire
I don't know if you want to know the real answer. You're a new arrival. It's not proper to ask all these questions on your first day. The real answers are not important... More
2. The Dog Lover by Sigge S. Amdal
I had a chat with my pet fish and decided to check out the local pet store to see if they had frozen larvae – a delicious to hungry Kili fish that'll make 'em fornicate like swine given the opportunity... More
3. A Hermit Faces the Drunken Public by Jonny Vincent
People are still - generically - boring as all fuck. Guys are still - generically - pathetic in their desperate and pitiful sleazy crabbing for attention when placed in the vicinity of the Unfair Sex... More
4. Pie by Katitude
Her gray hair was caught up in a bun that had become untidy and thin wisps had escaped it to frame a pale face. A much-washed pastel pink t-shirt proclaimed her to be the "World's Greatest Grandma"... More
5. Crazy Colonel Ranald MacKenzie by Johnny Hughes
In the scene in Dances With Wolves where Kevin Costner rides around between rebel and union lines trying to get shot, that was based on Crazy Ranald. He was brave like only a crazy man can be. He got shot with bullets and arrows. He was also called Bad Hand because he lost two fingers in combat... More
6. Hip-Cat Jargon by Tenzin McGrupp
I secured a one-way rental. $300 for the week. Would it take me a week? Maybe more? I had no idea. I'd probably want to make a couple of spontaneous stops along the way. My new life in California would have to wait a couple of days, maybe a couple of weeks. Who knows, maybe I wouldn't even end up there at all... More


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BIZCAP Completes $2 Million Restructuring, Recap for Contractor
Business Capital (BIZCAP) has secured a $2 million accounts receivable credit facility for a contractor in the Western U.S. The new line of credit is secured by progress and non-progress billed invoices and will refinance an existing bank loan and provide the company with additional working capital.
The client, a 30-year old, family-owned company, provides repair, renovation, maintenance and upgrade services for multi-family and commercial buildings. Because it holds multiple licenses in specialty trades, the company performs comprehensive construction solutions and solves complex structural problems for a wide variety of customers without having to retain subcontractors.
The company had experienced significant annual financial setbacks caused by the downturn in the building and construction industry since 2008 and the incumbent bank had frozen its line of credit. Business Capital was introduced to the company by a turnaround firm other consultants, which were unable to secure new funding needed to alleviate liquidity shortages. Shortly following engagement, Business Capital worked closely with the incumbent bank's Special Assets Group, tailored a structured settlement agreement providing full repayment to the bank, and arranged for the installation of a new scalable credit facility to accommodate the company's return to profitability and future growth.
"We are thrilled to have played our part in the recapitalization of this company," said Chuck Doyle, managing director of Business Capital. "It was a challenge because the slow economy has hit the building and construction industry particularly hard. We worked closely with the company and their existing lender and were able to develop a unique and highly customized loan restructuring that benefited both the client and their bank. We were also able to provide them with additional working capital by successfully articulating the strength of the client's new capital structure and projections for future profitability to carefully selected, specialty lending partners and ultimately get them recapitalized."
Business Capital is a national commercial finance and debt restructuring firm that specializes in business loans for small- to middle-market companies.


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HOME AFFAIRS – SETTING TRAPS FOR BURGLARS – 4 February 2005
[Patrick Mercer: ... The definition of reasonable force has had to be clarified – that is clear from the issuing of a leaflet this week. If the law is a good law, if it is working, why is an A4 leaflet necessary to clarify it? ... ]
Dr Julian Lewis: I, too, noted the issuing of the leaflet. One of the things it said that struck me was that one must not lay a trap for anyone. Let us suppose that a person has been consistently targeted by burglars. Does the rule mean that as long as that person goes to sleep, wakes up in time – before he is attacked – and then uses reasonable force on a burglar, it is all right, but if, because he has previously been targeted, he stays up at night and then uses reasonable force on a burglar, he can be convicted because he laid a trap?
[Patrick Mercer: I simply do not know. The law does not make it clear. Despite the fact that a scrap of A4 paper has been issued – albeit only 100,000 copies – I cannot give a clear answer to my hon. Friend's question.]


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General Education Development Test
The GED Ready™ score report provides students with one of three responses:
Click HERE to purchase the GED Ready™
GED Ready™: Cost is $6.00 per subject area or, contact your local GED® Testing Center for options on their program.
For more information on the benefits of the GED Ready™, click on the following link: GED Ready™ Benefits
High School Equivalency Test
In an effort to continually improve The Education Plan and to make it easier for you to save for your child's future, The Education Plan will be issuing fee refunds to eligible account owners.
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text: I think every time Tor does a YouTube video it should come with some sort of warning at the start whenever I'm involved. For some reason Tor always has to have the camera out while I'm doing something stupid - this time you get to hear me sing and I share with you all my first ever KFC. However if you want to know what goes on pre FABB and during our events have a watch of the above vlog. Also I think I'm going to be filming some tag videos with Tor in the not so near future so if you want to see what other clangers I'll drop and a sneaky peek of the new house subscribe to Tor's channel (That's Peachy) or else I'll kneecap you, don't say you haven't been warned.


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I'm just about done moving into my new home, but already I'm happy as a clam!
We (my husband and I) have pretty much gotten everything straight and are just dealing with the pinny-nanny stuff. You know what I'm talking about: organizing, decorating, etc. It's strange and wonderful having all our things back. They've been in storage for two years. Even our dogs are happy to have their own space again.
I don't know what I'm happier about; having my books back or having my writing space back. Oh well. I'm just happy!


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Written by Jenn Sadai
The world is full of keyboard warriors and online activists hoping their voices will change the world. They tweet and post their missions, but may not have the courage to act when personally confronted with the problem. That's normal. I was the same way until recently. It's easy to preach what you know is right, but it is a lot scarier to actually act upon it.
Recently, millions of women stood up for the rights of all women and it was inspiring to watch. Now millions more are speaking out against new immigration restricts and creating positive change for those affected. It proves to me that actions will always speak louder than words. Although my online efforts to spread peace and heal humanity has had its impact, I need to follow through in my daily life. I need to be willing to voice my views on acceptance and equality when faced with the realities around me.
Knowing When to Speak Up
I'm not saying we need to argue every inappropriate joke or sexist comment. We wouldn't survive a day without having a fit on someone. We need to choose our battles and know when something crosses the line. For me, the line is crossed when someone threatens or bashes a group based on race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. The challenge is deciphering between hate speech and ignorant jokes.
Trust your gut, because it will take gut to follow through with it. If you think a person who falls into the category that is under verbal attack would be genuinely hurt by the remarks, speak up. Don't be aggressive or confrontational, just gently point out that you find their comments to be offensive. Be respectful of their opinion while voicing your own.
It's a fine line to walk. As someone who recently had to walk it, I will confess it wasn't easy. Fortunately, the outcome was positive. Hopefully it even opened the eyes of someone who wouldn't have thought twice about making a joke about gay or transgender people.
If we're unwilling to stand up for those under verbal and physical attack, there will be no one willing to stand up for us when we're the ones under fire. No one is exempt from discrimination, which is why as human beings we need to stand up for the rights and freedoms of all people.
Permission to post by author Jenn Sadai
Jenn Sadai is a Canadian author and advocate who's just crazy enough to think she can change the world. Jenn shares her stories of surviving domestic violence, depression, and workplace bullying in hopes that it will help others cope and heal. She is the author of Dark Confession of an Extraordinary, Ordinary Woman, Dirty Secrets of the World's Worst Employee, and Cottage Cheese Thighs. Website


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Per Anger Prize-winner jailed
This year, the prize in memory of Per Anger was awarded to human rights defender Brahim Dahane, from Western Sahara. Dahane is currently incarcerated in Morocco and his sister has represented him at the ceremony in Stockholm on November 16th when Swedish Culture Minister Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth awarded the SEK 150,000 (EUR 14,500) prizemoney and the silver trophy, which weighs the same as a human heart. Brahim Dahane was nominated by the Swedish Section of the International Commission of Jurists.
The jury's reason for its choice: In recognition of having demonstrated unwavering personal courage, employed peaceful means and risked his life in the struggle for human rights during the conflict between Morocco and the Polisario over Western Sahara.
For the whole of his adult life, Brahim Dahane (born 1965) has, by peaceful means, continued to assert the Sahrawis' right to an independent Western Sahara and been active in the fight for human rights, not least by founding the human rights organisation ASVDH (Asociación Saharui de Victimas de Violaciones Graves de los Derechos Humanos Cometidas por el Estado Marroqui).
As a result of his dedication, Brahim Dahane has spent long periods in prison. He has been subjected to torture. At the time of writing, Mr Dahane has once again had his liberty taken away. He and other human rights activists were arrested by the Moroccan authorities on 8 October 2009 on their return to Casablanca, following a visit to the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf (Algeria).
"The jury chose Brahim Dahane as the prizewinner back in early September, due to his merits as a defender of human rights, without any thought that he could be re-arrested. In the current circumstances, where it is reported that Brahim Dahane is set to face a military tribunal, we can only hope that he will be given a free and open trial that can be monitored by international observers," comments Eskil Franck, superintendent of the Living History Forum and chairman of the prize jury.
The work of Brahim Dahane and the ASVDH gives a voice to Sahrawi victims of torture, disappearance and abuse. He has managed to build up good relations with international organisations and the international press, which has led to statements from ASDVH often being published in above all the Spanish press and on the internet. He has also managed to convince visitors and commissioners to come to Western Sahara, thus breaking the silence surrounding this long-drawn-out conflict.
" We are very pleased that the jury of the Per Anger Prize has decided to pay attention to the importance of supporting human rights defenders at risk. Brahim Dahane is a person who has chosen to help others without thinking about his own safety, and it is our moral obligation to do whatever we can to support him and other human rights defenders in the world," says Natasha Jevtic Esbjörnson, head of communications at Civil Rights Defenders.
Western Sahara is considered Africa's last remaining colony. The territory was colonised by Spain in 1884. In 1975 the Moroccan regime instigated the Green March into Western Sahara, with the military invading at the same time. When Spain left Western Sahara in 1976, Morocco occupied the north and Mauritania the south. That same year, the independence movement Polisario, founded in 1973, proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Mauritania left the territory in 1979, at which point Morocco seized control of the south. In its fight against the Polisario, Morocco built berms (sand walls) to enclose around 80 percent of Western Sahara's landmass.
A ceasefire has been in force since 1991, monitored by the UN peacekeeping mission MINURSO. Despite numerous UN plans and mediation initiatives, the conflict has yet to reach a solution. In resolutions in the Security Council and the General Assembly, the UN has consistently asserted the Sahrawis' right to self-determination. A large number of Sahrawi refugees continue to live in camps in Tindouf in the south-west of Algeria.
Press photos are available at:
Press contact: Press secretary Jakob Larsson +46 (0)702-59 38 19
The Per Anger Prize is an international prize, established in 2004 by the Swedish Government to promote initiatives supporting human rights and democracy. The Government has commissioned the Living History Forum to manage the nominations, appoint a jury and organise all the various aspects of the prize. The official award ceremony will be held on 16 November.
The prize is named after Per Anger who, as secretary of the Swedish legation in Budapest, initiated Sweden's work to save as many people as possible from persecution and death during the Second World War in Nazi-occupied Hungary.
The organisations nominated in 2009 were Amnesty International, Diakonia, UNA-Sweden, Civil Rights Defenders (formerly the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights), the International Commission of Jurists, Reporters without Borders, Save the Children, the Red Cross and the Church of Sweden.
In previous years the prize was awarded to Archbishop Gennaro Verolino (2004), Arsen Sakalov (2005), Aliaksandr Bialitski (2006), Organización Femenina Popular (2007) and Bishop Sebastian Bakare (2008).
Read more about the previous prizewinnersCategories: News.
Tags: Brahim Dahane, Human Rights Defenders, and Per Anger Prize.
Regions: Sweden and Western Sahara.


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Hello Everyone!
Streamlining the office procedures has finally paid off and I am available to revive the NEWSLETTER via email. I will also post the newsletter on Facebook at the Henry County VAC page. The space on the Henry County Courthouse website will still give accurate information but will have links to the most current newsletter.
I think bi-weekly will work best for the emailing of the newsletter.
I am so excited!!! I have received reports that another VV has received a 100% rating!!!
I have sent all the posts of the HCVAC letters as of yesterday. The letter and enclosures contain important information from past Transportation Specialist, Curtis Potter. He writes in regard to the options of changing the dinner times prior to the bi-monthly meetings. Please read up on this and think about the options. I also included a few informative and a couple fun veteran events posters for your posts.
THE HCVAC NEWSLETTER, April 2017, #1
VIRTUAL VA IS LAUNCHED!!!! I always have said there is a method to my madness. This rollout of the Virtual VA Regional Office is what I have been preparing the office for. The VA will soon disconnect the fax lines at the intake centers leaving claims and pension and DIC and all of those things with two choices, 1) Snail Mail USPS or 2) upload to the virtual regional office intake site online.
What has our office done to become prepared?
Our office is prepared for this rollout! It is finally rolling out and it only took the VA 9 years to git 'r done!
VA Announces Internal Review of Caregiver Program
WASHINGTON – Today the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that, effective April 17, it has suspended revocations initiated by VA medical centers based on eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) for three weeks.
"VA is taking immediate action to review the National Caregiver Support Program to ensure we honor our commitment to enhance the health and well-being of Veterans," said Dr. David J. Shulkin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. "I have instructed an internal review to evaluate consistency of revocations in the program and standardize communication with Veterans and caregivers nationwide."
VA Medical Centers will continue accepting PCAFC applications, approving applicants based upon current eligibility criteria, processing appeals and monitoring eligible Veterans' well-being at least every 90 days, unless otherwise clinically indicated.
"Caregivers play a critically important role in the health and well-being of Veterans, and caring for an injured Veteran is a labor of love," said Dr. Poonam Alaigh, Acting VA Under Secretary for Health. "We remain focused on process improvements and support services for our family caregivers so they can take care of our Veterans."
Revocations exempted from this suspension include those made at the request of the Veteran or caregiver; by the local Caregiver Support Program for cause or noncompliance; or due to death, permanent institutionalization or long-term hospitalization of a Veteran or caregiver.
VA recognizes that family caregivers who care for Veterans in their homes have been putting Veterans first since the founding of our nation. VA's Caregiver Support Program will continue to provide a menu of training, education and resources to enhance the family caregiver role. These support improved family caregiver understanding of the impact that their work has on the health and well-being of the Veteran they care for.
To learn more about the VA Caregiver Support Program, visit the Caregiver Website or call the Caregiver Support Line at 855-260-3274.
New VA Chief on Public Scrutiny: Bring It!
USA Today - The Department of Veterans Affairs has a new message on public scrutiny: Bring it on. President Trump's pick to lead the agency, VA Secretary David Shulkin, is unveiling a new web site that will reveal for the first time exactly how care at every VA hospital and clinic across the country compares with nearby private-sector hospitals and national averages.
Full Article
Administration Officials Move Slowly to Fill Open VA Leadership Posts
Military Times - Two months into his tenure as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, David Shulkin still doesn't have most of his top team in place. But that could change in coming weeks. VA officials announced Monday they have launched a new search committee to identify candidates to be the next under secretary for health for the Veterans Health Administration, a key post that will be at the center of medical access issues facing the department.
Full Article
DC VA Medical Director Relieved From Duty Following Scathing Watchdog Report
Stars and Stripes - A government watchdog found the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in the nation's capital was putting veterans at "unnecessary risk" by failing to sterilize storage areas and running out of various medical equipment, according to a report releasedWednesday.
Full Article
Report: Better Study Needed to Determine Connection Between Illness and Burn Pits
Stars and Stripes - A new federal report says the data from an existing registry of troops' downrange exposure to burn pits cannot be used to establish a link with health problems they are now experiencing, making it difficult to prove they are entitled to special benefits.
Full Article
Purple Heart Recipients Could Get Full Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
ABC 13 - A new bill could grant Purple Heart recipients full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, along with Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the bill.
Full Article
VA Launches a New System to Try to 'Predict' Vet Suicide
Military Times - The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new system to try to predict suicidal behavior among veterans called Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health—Veterans Enhanced Treatment, or REACH VET. The program allows the VA to analyze data from health records and identify veterans that are at a statistically higher risk for suicide, hospitalization, illness and other issues.
Full Article
Hundreds of Female Marines Join Group Pressuring Male Colleagues to Change
Stars and Stripes - Hundreds of female Marines and Marine veterans have launched a new group to press for an end to misogyny in the Marine Corps, saying the recent scandal in which nude photographs of some women in the service were distributed by their male colleagues is unacceptable.
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VA, Vets Fighting Opioid Epidemic
Fox News - Jason Simcakoski, a 35-year-old Marine, husband and father, died at the Tomah VA Medical Center in Wisconsin in 2014 from a toxic combination of prescription drugs. His overdose sparked national outrage, with some veterans calling VA hospitals "candy factories." His death eventually led to the passage of the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act, which created stronger procedures for the prescription guidelines used by VA providers.
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Ads Pressure Senators to Support VA Bill Allowing Workers to Be Fired for Misconduct
Washington Examiner - Concerned Veterans for America released a series of online ads Wednesday aimed at gaining senators' support for legislation that would allow Department of Veterans Affairs officials to more easily remove employees who have engaged in misconduct, a process that now takes months or years.
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Trump Welcomes Wounded Vets to White House
Military Times - President Trump is thanking wounded veterans and soldiers for their service as he welcomes them to the White House. Trump calls service members "real heroes." He addressed them Thursday as part of the annual Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride.
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Trend of Outsourcing VA Work Continues
FEDWeek - A bipartisan bill (S-706) seeks to help pare down the backlog of VA disability benefit claims by shifting some of the responsibilities outside the department, the latest in a series of actions in that direction. The bill would allow local doctors to conduct disability medical examinations for veterans. Currently, veterans must visit a VA facility for that examination.
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Portland VA to Temporarily Stop Removing Vets From Caregiver Program
The Oregonian - Under pressure from Oregon's congressional leaders, the Portland VA said Monday that it has temporarily stopped removing people from a program that pays spouses of disabled veterans to be caregivers.
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VA Doctor Honored as Chiropractor of the Year by Professional Association
VA Doctor Honored as Chiropractor of the Year by American Chiropractic Association
WASHINGTON—Dr. Anthony Lisi, national program director for Chiropractic Services at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), was recently namedChiropractor of the Year Award for 2017by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).
ACA presented Lisi with the award at its annual meeting in Washington, D.C.,early March.
Lisi was recognized for his work in establishing chiropractic residency training programs within VA. The residencies, now in their second year, provide graduates with advanced clinical training in complex cases, knowledge of hospital practice, policies and procedures, and opportunities to collaborate with other health-care professionals in a team setting.
"We are proud of Dr. Lisi and his work at VA," said Dr. Poonam Alaigh, acting under secretary for Health for VA's Veterans Health Administration (VHA). "It is always great to be recognized for your work and especially meaningful when that recognition comes from your peers. When Veterans receive care, we believe it is important that we take a holistic approach. Chiropractic care is an important and valuable specialty."
In his role with VHA, Lisi oversees national clinical program and policy matters related to the integration of chiropractic services into the VA health-care system, and also serves as Chiropractic section chief at theVA Connecticut Healthcare System.
VAbeganproviding chiropractic care in 2004 with 26 clinics caring for 4,000 Veterans. Since then, it has grown to 79 clinics, offering care to more than 44,000 Veterans.
For more information about VA's Chiropractic services, visitwww.prosthetics.va.gov/chiro/locations.asp.
VA Secretary Schedules News Conference to Discuss Appointment of Acting Director of D.C. VA Medical Center
WHEN:3:45 p.m.today.
WHERE:The news conference will be held at the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center, 50 Irving St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20422, fourth floor auditorium.(Media, please arrive 15 minutes early.)
WHAT:VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin will hold a news conference to discuss the appointment of retired U.S. Army Col. Lawrence Connell as the acting Medical Center Director for the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center. Connell was named to the position after VA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an interim summary report titledHealthcare Inspection – Patient Safety Concerns at the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center (VAMC), Washington, D.C. Connell was serving as a senior advisor on policy matters focusing on development, adoption and implementation of VA-wide programs and strategic issues. VA relieved the current director of his duties in light of the IG report.
WHO:Connell served more than 30 years as an Army medical service officer, including 15 years as a MEDEVAC pilot as well as chief operating officer, Pacific Regional Medical Command, Honolulu, Hawaii; chief executive officer of Stuttgart (Germany) U.S. Army Medical Health Clinic; commander of the 43rdArea Support Medical Battalion; and other medical-related staff positions.
ADDDITIONAL INFORMATION:RSVP to Jill Snyder email@example.com Gina Screen firstname.lastname@example.com. Media may also dial in to800-767-1750; when prompted use the access code 21898# (You must enter the # symbol to enter the call.)
VA explores new Veteran-centric treatments through Center for Compassionate Innovation
WASHINGTON– Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the launch of the Center for Compassionate Innovation (CCI), which will explore emerging therapies that may enhance Veterans' physical and mental well-being.
In addition, VA is accepting proposals to fulfill CCI's mission of finding innovative approaches to health care, which may support those Veterans who are unsuccessful with conventional treatment. Proposals may be submitted throughhttps://www.va.gov/healthpartnerships/and will be evaluated through a rigorous algorithm that critically assesses the safety and efficacy of the innovation.
"VA is unique in our approach to health care," saidVeteransAffairs Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. "We are committed to offering Veterans cutting-edge and innovative care. That means carefully exploring every avenue that will promote well-being."
CCI explores innovations in the health-care industry as well as innovative practices currently being piloted on a small scale within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). CCI is primarily interested in innovations that address post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain and suicidality. However, CCI will explore any safe and ethical innovation intended to improve Veterans' health and well-being.
CCI is not an implementation office intended to conduct research, clinical treatment or establish a vendor relationship. CCI is strategically positioned to spotlight cutting-edge therapies and treatment modalities emerging in private industry. CCI is an example of VA's quest to continue as a leader in providing innovative and effective treatments for Veterans.
Rules, Procedures and Eligibility Standards:
The Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) of HENRY County is a County Governmental Agency operated by and for U.S. Veterans. The VAC is authorized to act as the central committee for veterans' assistance in HENRY County under the Military Veterans Assistance Act (330 ILCS 45/1 et.seq.) and is funded in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/1-1001 et.seq.).
The Veterans Assistance program is an emergency and interim financial assistance program and should not be considered to be an ongoing financial supportive program. Beginning June 01, 2017 - continual and ongoing assistance exceeding 60 calendar days shall on the 90th consecutive calendar day render the household ineligible for assistance for the period of 45 calendar days; eligibility may be renewed after the 45 day period of ineligibility. All assistance provided by the VAC is predicated on the established standard of need as set forth by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). It is not the intent of either the Commission or the County to provide assistance either less than or in excess of the levels of assistance adopted by the IDHS.
Applicants for Veterans Assistance shall be residents of HENRY County and unable to provide food, shelter, and medical care for themselves or their dependents. Applicants must have applied for Public Aid INCLUDING THE TOWNSHIP WHERE THE VETERAN LIVES, (examples include but are not limited to AFDC, Food Stamps, and medical) and registered and working with IDES, Vet Reps; if able to work.
To be determined exempt from employment, a veteran must provide documentation from the VA, the veteran's VA physician or another federal or state agency which unambiguously states that the veteran is presently unable to work due to a disability. If the documentation does not state that the reason for remaining unemployed is PERMANENT and TOTAL, the veteran shall update the VAC as to employment every 3 months.
Every veteran has the right to receive and submit a written application for Veterans Assistance.
Food orders and personal items: Dependant upon the number of qualifying household members. Dependant
Utilities and fuel: Utility payments will be made, providing the applicant qualifies in other respects. No deposits or past due bills will be paid to the utility company.
Rent Payments: This Veterans Assistance office does not pay security deposits, back rents or home finding fees. Rents shall not be paid to relatives; unless it is a separate rental dwelling,
Honorable Discharge: Is a discharge in which the character of discharge is described as Honorable and General Under Honorable Conditions.
Last Period of Active Military Service: Refers to the last period of active military service or discharge, whether the veteran has served one or more terms of Active Military Service.
Active Military Service:
Is full time service in a branch of the United States Military as opposed to Reserve duty where a member is still in the military but not actively engaged. Active duty for training, service as a Cadet or Midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, United States Coast Guard Academy, United States Air Force Academy, or in any component of the Reserve Officers Training Corps is not considered as qualifying service


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Southland Season 5 DVD Boxset
Availability: In Stock
Southland Season 5 DVD Special Features
Actors: Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, C. Thomas Howell, Regina King, Ben McKenzie
Writers: Ann Biderman
Producers: Christopher Chulack, John Wells, Jonathan Lisco
Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 2
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: August 13, 2013
Run Time: 430 minutes
Southland Season 5 DVD Photos
Southland Season 5 DVD Overview
Officer Ben Sherman is awarded the medal of valor under dubious circumstances,Southland Season 5 and is letting the commendation go to his head while on the job, as well as bringing Ben into the company of some officers with very dangerous attitudes.Ideals clash as John Cooper trains a new rookie officer, a military veteran who served in Afghanistan. Detective Lydia Adams struggles to care for her newly born child while simultaneously maintaining a grip on her job,Southland Season 5 DVD leaving Christopher in her mother's hands while she contemplates informing the father of his baby's birth. Officer Sammy Bryant continues his custody battle over his son with his ex-wife,Southland Season 5 DVD frustrating him as Tammy uses unconventional methods to win.
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MMofA hosts a monthly Night Market that showcases makers, artists, artisans, and craftsman who make locally-sourced, handmade goods. Support your local artists and join the party and shopping fun with great food and drink from The Crepe Crusader and the DJ stylings of Neil Byrne aka Hot Lobster. We at Serpents of Bienville are grateful to have a table showcasing our original prints, zines, and local artists at these events.
Learn more at www.mobilemuseumofart.com/programs/night-market/