text:
#130 Friday, August 26, 2005
CenterLines is the bi-weekly e-newsletter of the National Center for
Bicycling & Walking. CenterLines is our way of quickly delivering news
and information you can use to create more walkable and
bicycle-friendly communities.
|Editorial: The New Safe Routes to School Program
|NCBW Offers Built-Environment Training for Pub. Health Advocates
|Boston (MA) Hosts State Bike/Ped Conference Oct. 19
|Access Board Releases Report on Wheeled Mobility Aids
|ICMA Releases Healthy Community Code Reform Guide
|Indianapolis (IN) Mayor Pushes Physical Activity
|Pleasanton (CA) Council OKs Use of "Speed Lumps"
|U.S. Obesity Continues to Expand
|Gas Prices Hit Gloucester Co. (NJ) School Buses Hard
|Lansing (MI) Folks Consider High Gas Prices' Other Side
|Sussex (WI) Leaders Push Walkable, Bikeable Village
|Starkville (MS) Mayor Promotes Walking, Biking
|Experts: Cycling Helps Oregonians Check Obesity
|Lexington (KY) Focuses CMAQ $$ on Bike, Walk Projects
|Kahului (HI) Plan Features Greenways, Bikeways
|Amsterdam's Bicycle Culture
|Skowhegan (ME) Asks Maine DOT for Traffic Help
|Genoa Twp (MI) Builds Trails, Sidewalks for Kids
|Musings on Neighborhood Life, With Jane Jacobs
|Skokie (IL) Requires Bike Parking in New Developments
|Thomasville (GA) Bike Patrol Gets IPMBA Certification
I would like to suggest that the state departments of transportation
consider making their immediate priority putting together an outreach
program (with their FY05 monies) to inform local communities and school
districts about Safe Routes to School (broadly). We need to keep in
mind that most people have never heard of the notion and that it will
take some time and effort to get them on board. Also, without proper
advanced work, the tendency will be for localities and schools to view
this as nothing more than a "sidewalk grant program" and we will miss
the boat on the opportunity to build a nationwide movement to get kids
bicycling and walking to school again -- regularly.
So, immediate actions could/should include: public awareness/media
outreach, training and orientation programs, community inventories and
assessments (e.g., where the kids live that go to various schools, how
they currently get to/from school, what facilities and barriers exist
to bicycling and walking, etc.). Another immediate opportunity is to
encourage schools/communities to consider BROADLY their school
transportation programs, policies, and expenses. They are ALL feeling
the crunch of rising gasoline costs so this a very "teachable moment"
to get them asking questions about how this hugely expensive function
is being managed ... as well as looking for better (e.g. cheaper,
healthier, sustainable) ways to manage it.
Bill Wilkinson
National Center for Bicycling & Walking
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-> The National Center for Bicycling & Walking is pleased to announce a
new training opportunity for Public Health professionals and advocates.
On November 3-6, we plan to hold a three-day training in and around San
Jose, California. Participants will visit some of the most walkable and
bikeable communities in the country, they will learn about the basics
of good pedestrian and bicycle design, and will get a chance to learn
from the practitioners who made these active communities possible.
Organizer Bob Chauncey, commented on where the inspiration for this
training came from: "For the past year or two I have been crisscrossing
the country, talking to public health practitioners about the
connection between obesity and the built environment. There is a
tremendous amount of interest in this topic. Whenever we talk about
this relationship -- at a conference, at a regional summit, at a
workshop -- we always generate a lot of enthusiasm. I think this
training is a good next step for those who see this link, and want to
do something about it."
Chauncey asks interested public health professionals to contact him
directly, at <firstname.lastname@example.com> or 410-570-5765. We will have all the
details in the next issue of Centerlines.
<back to top>
-> In a recent note, William Hanson, Chair of the Framingham (MA)
Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, invited CL readers to "Join people
from across the Commonwealth working to improve bicycling and walking
conditions locally, regionally, and statewide. Participate in workshops
on current issues and initiatives. Discuss shared experiences and
strategies. Enjoy an exciting array of exhibits!"
The event, Moving Together 2005, will be held October 19th in Boston.
For more information, go to:
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-> According to the Aug. 23rd issue of TRB Transportation Research,
"The U.S. Access Board has released a report that is part of a major
multi-year project to collect human measures data on people who use
wheeled mobility aids. Started in 1999, this work will continue at
least through 2006. The report reviews research conducted in other
countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada and
examines how that research influenced access standards in those
countries. The comparative analysis developed for the report is
designed to provide a framework for the future comparison of research
findings and standards and may serve as a foundation for enhancing the
utilization of research for standards development. The analysis
highlights the importance of integrating research with standards
development, organizing international research collaborations, and
developing international standards."
For more information, go to:
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-> According to an Aug. 18th news release, "Local land use policy
changes can encourage more compact, vibrant, and healthy communities,
according to a new guide released by the International City/County
Management Association (ICMA). The consumer guide, 'Creating a
Regulatory Blueprint for Healthy Community Design,' is a road map for
local government officials and their staff as they consider reforming
zoning and development codes to encourage more physical activity in
their areas...
"The guide is especially useful now as more and more jurisdictions
focus on modernization of zoning and land development codes to
encourage the design of more livable neighborhoods. An increasing
number of public health officials contend that code reform is a key
element in efforts to increase physical activity and access to healthy
food among the United States population. ICMA's Creating a Regulatory
Blueprint for Healthy Community Design was produced with support from
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through its Active Living Leadership
national initiative..."
To download the guide and for more information, go to:
<back to top>
"I can remember walking as a child. It was not customary to say you
were fatigued. It was customary to complete the goal of the expedition."
-- Katharine Houghton Hepburn
-> According to an Aug. 25th Indianapolis Star article, "When it comes
to body shape, Indianapolis residents are living up to the 'Circle
City' nickname -- and Mayor Bart Peterson is determined to do something
about that. Six out of 10 adults in Indianapolis are overweight or
obese, according to a new survey by the Marion County Health
Department, partial results of which were released Thursday -- the same
day the mayor announced a new initiative to battle obesity. The survey
breaks down to 35 percent considered overweight and 26 percent
considered obese, or carrying more than 30 extra pounds. While less
than half of young adults (18-24) fall into those two categories, a
whopping 70 percent of adults 50-64 are overweight or obese -- the
study of more than 4,800 Marion County residents found. The youngest
generation doesn't fare much better. Indiana's children rank third
among the nation's most overweight, Peterson said.
"So Peterson stood in the athletics fields of the Jordan YMCA on the
Northside and kicked off the year-long FitCity campaign focused
particularly on children. The campaign issues a 'fitness challenge' to
Marion County residents to get serious about pursuing a healthy
lifestyle. 'The objective should be to get moving and to get that basic
fitness ethic worked into your routine and into your life,' Peterson
said. Each month the campaign will feature a different event, starting
with a walk for grandparents and grandchildren on Sept. 24th at
Tarkington Park. The mayor said he plans to take an active role in each
event. Noting that much attention is given to fitness buffs who
complete marathon races or achieve star athlete status, Peterson said
he wants to praise those who manage to squeeze fitness into more
mundane lives. 'We want to make heroes out of people who after they
finish dinner instead of lying on the couch and watching television, go
outside and just walk around the block one time,' he said..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/buc7e
Archive search: http://tinyurl.com/c2rp8
Cost: Yes
Title: "Mayor wants Indy to trim down"
Author: Shari Rudavsky and Dan McFeely
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-> According to an Aug. 25th Independent article, "Speed lumps and
radar speed signs were officially approved for inclusion in the City of
Pleasanton's traffic calming toolbox. The city council unanimously
approved the use of the devices. Councilmember Steve Brozosky was a
reluctant 'yes.' He stated, 'I hate them. The community seems to like
them. I will go with the community.' The vote occurred following a
parade of residents living along Crellin Road speaking in support of
the speed lumps. The city had used Crellin for a pilot program to test
the effectiveness of the speed lumps in reducing speed. Mike Tassano,
senior traffic engineer, said there was a significant speed reduction.
Before the speed lumps were put in, traffic traveled an average of 32
to 36 mph hours; after 25 to 30 mph. The lumps differ from bumps in
that they result in a smooth, rolling motion if vehicles travel at the
speed limit. They are 14-feet long, so the three-inch rise takes place
over seven feet. Grooves in the lumps allow for fire engines to
maintain speed.
"The city also conducted a poll to determine the support for the
devices. Tassano said that 65 percent of those on Crellin liked them;
63 percent who don't live on the road and drive it 'hate them and want
them out.' Most people, Tassano learned, found them to be ugly with 72
percent declaring they detracted from the look of the neighborhood.
However, they also said they would rather have the speed lumps than the
speeders. The cost of the speed lumps is less than other traffic
calming devices, such as traffic circles. Tassano estimated the cost of
the lumps at $3000 to $5000 for a 5 mph hour reduction. A traffic
circle costs $25,000. Traffic circles have been found to decrease
speeds about 1 to 2 mph and can only be used at intersections. Speed
lumps can be used at almost any location. 'They are low cost, have a
low impact on parking and provide significant speed reduction,'
declared Tassano..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/9gwhx
Archive search: click on "past issues" and "August 25, 2005"
Cost: No
Title: "Pleasanton Council OKs Use of Speed Lumps"
Author: Staff
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-> According to an Aug. 23rd Forbes article, "Obesity rates continue to
climb in every state except Oregon, and government policies and actions
offer little hope of reversing the trend, according to a new report
Tuesday from the Trust for America's Health. The report, 'F as in Fat:
How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2005,' found that
Mississippi is the heaviest state, while Colorado is the least heavy.
More than 25 percent of adults in 10 states are obese -- Mississippi,
Alabama, West Virginia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, Michigan,
Kentucky, Indiana and South Carolina. 'Across the board, we have every
state failing to meet the national goal of 15 percent or less of the
population being obese,' Shelley Hearne, executive director of the
Trust for America's Health, told a press conference.
"'Bulging waistlines are growing, and they are going to cost taxpayers
more dollars, and it's going to cost us in years of life and quality of
life, regardless of where you live,' Hearne added. 'We can, and must,
do better to start to turn around this obesity epidemic.' Added study
co-author Parris Glendening, president of the Smart Growth Leadership
Institute: 'About 119 million Americans are either overweight or obese.
That's 64.5 percent of adult Americans.'...The number of obese American
adults rose from 23.7 percent in 2003 to 24.5 percent in 2004. The U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services set a national goal that
obesity would be reduced by 15 percent by 2010. An estimated 16 percent
of active duty U.S. military personnel are obese, and obesity is the
biggest reason for discharging soldiers, Glendening noted..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/exzrf
Archive search: use "Search" window
Cost: No
Title: "Obesity in America Continues to Expand"
Author: Steven Reinberg
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-> According to an Aug. 24th Gloucester County Times article, "With
classes starting and gas prices rising, county schools don't have a
chance of sticking to this year's transportation budgets. Patricia
Hoey, superintendent for Harrison Township, said the district probably
spent $20,000 more in buses last year than expected. 'I definitely do
know we had a direct impact last year for increased cost on running our
buses,' Hoey said. With buses burning approximately 8-miles per gallon
and prices 50 cents a gallon higher than a year ago, budgets will be
even more strained. Gloucester County Superintendent of Schools Dr. H.
Mark Stanwood said he heard one school representative claim the
district's allotted transportation costs this year could be twice as
much as budgeted.
"'There are significant budget restrictions on how much a school is
able to have in these fund balances,' Stanwood said. 'If some of these
school districts don't factor these fuel increases in,' they will have
budget concerns. 'We know now that we'll probably be going to be over
budget and we're going to have to ask for a transfer from the board (of
education),' said Margaret Meehan, business administrator for the
Washington Township school district. 'We had anticipated a 10 percent
increase and gas prices have already exceeded that.' The school
district's fleet consists of 77 buses -- all with 54 student capacity
-- and 11 vans. 'Our only benefit is that we filled our gas tanks in
June,' before the great price increase, Meehan said..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/abmm9
Archive search: http://tinyurl.com/8h97y
Cost: Yes
Title: "School buses hit hard by gas prices"
Author: Jennifer Riggins
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-> According to an Aug. 24th City Pulse article, "Whether this summer's
price spike qualifies as [an] emergency...remains to be seen. But some
folks, in Lansing and beyond, see the jump at the pump differently than
the moaners at the water cooler. To them, it's a necessary adjustment,
a much-needed kick in the sustainability buttocks, a unique opportunity
for innovation and local action -- perhaps even a (gulp) good
thing...Lansing resident Jessica Yorko agrees...that the present gas
crunch has potential to put some long-overdue changes into higher gear.
Yorko, who helped organized this year's local Smart Commute project to
encourage bicycling, lives downtown with her husband and young son, and
runs a consulting business from her home.
"'With the gas prices changing, it's an opportunity for people to try
things they might not have tried before,' she says. Like what? When
Yorko got a job offer in the capital city a few years ago, she faced a
daily commute from Kalamazoo. 'I commuted for about a month, just
because I needed to start the job and find a place to live,' she
recalls, 'and it was terrible. I said to myself, "I dislike this
commute so much I don't want to drive to work at all -- not even for 15
minutes."' So she moved within eight blocks of her work, exercising a
non-suburban, non-exurban lifestyle option that's growing more and more
popular among young professionals..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/9rrfs
Archive search: http://tinyurl.com/bx48j
Cost: No
Title: "Energy from braking: The other side of high gas prices"
Author: Lawrence Cosentino
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-> According to an Aug. 24th Sussex Sun article, "It's a far cry from
the car-culture cul-de-sacs that form a common cartoon image of
suburban life -- especially among city folk. But will people actually
get out of the their cars and walk or bike the sidewalks, roads and
trails that Sussex planners say will thread throughout the community
and help draw it together? According to the planners, people will.
'Once they're paved, the people use them,' said Village President
Michael Knapp, citing the sidewalks the village built alongside Maple
Avenue eight years ago. 'While there was some opposition at first,' he
said, 'they're now well received by the community as a whole.'
"Assistant Village Administrator Jeremy Smith agreed. 'I've seen a
tremendous increase in bikers, walkers and joggers' since the sidewalks
were installed, he said. Knapp said he started thinking about the need
for sidewalks on Maple Avenue when he saw 'so many people walking along
the side of the road.' 'It was dangerous,' he said. Partly because of
the success of Maple Avenue's sidewalks, Sussex began to incorporate
the idea of a 'walkable' community in its official 2020 plan, a set of
guideposts the state requires as part of its Smart Growth plan mandate.
The plan includes a requirement, now part of the village's code, that
all new subdivisions include sidewalks, at least on one side of their
main roads..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/b5gy9
Archive search: http://tinyurl.com/78ubz
Cost: No
Title "For the movers and shakers of this community, the future looks 'walkable.'"
Author: Peter Abbott
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-> According to an Aug. 24th Daily Journal article, "When Mayor Dan
Camp walks city streets, he sees redevelopment. And he sees lots of
streets. The Democrat and developer by trade often walks to work,
keeping his city-owned car parked at City Hall. 'It's good exercise,'
he said. 'Besides, it's promoting Starkville to be a very walkable
community.' He also supports the city's becoming a more 'bikeable'
community. The city recently approved bike lanes along University
Drive, one of the city's busiest streets. If Camp has his way, the city
will have a new public facilities building downtown, re-infusing life
into rundown areas. It also will have condominiums and retail space
next to Mississippi State University's western entrance -- projects in
the works.
"The mayor said he's working to make Starkville a destination for
retirees and students. 'College town communities are attractive to
retirees,' Camp said. 'I want Starkville to be a final destination
choice.' He says he just needs time for positive changes to happen.
Camp, who has been mayor about six weeks, talked about what's been
accomplished and what he hopes to do as the Oktibbeha County seat's
chief executive..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/bbfgl
Archive search: http://tinyurl.com/crfrp
Cost: No
Title: "Starkville's Camp embraces role as new leader"
Author: Robbie Ward
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-> According to an Aug. 24th CNN article, "To shed the pounds that
crept around her waistline, Linda Ginenthal began riding her bike to
work -- an easy 3 1/2-mile trip. It's not a marathon, nor is it a
grueling hike. Yet diet experts say it's the kind of daily activity
that could hold the secret to why Oregon is the only state in the
nation where the obesity rate did not increase in the past year.
According to a study released Tuesday by the Washington, D.C.-based
Trust for America's Health, the percentage of overweight Oregonians
held steady at 21 percent last year, a sharp contrast to Alabama, where
the rate of obesity increased 1.5 percentage points to 27.7 percent.
"What makes Oregon different is its emphasis on urban design, which
encourages outdoor activities like biking to work, the study's authors
said. Ten percent of Portland residents pedal to the office on a system
of bike paths that crisscross the city like arteries, just as they do
in Boulder, Colorado -- another bike-friendly metropolis, located in
the leanest state in the nation. Only 16.4 percent of Coloradans are
obese, according to the study. 'The solution to obesity is not that
everyone should run a marathon,' said Michael Earls, co-author of the
study. 'It's the little things that begin to make a dent in the
problem, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or riding your
bike to work.'..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/7tgnv
Archive search: use "Search" window
Cost: No
Title: "Experts: Bikes help Oregon check obesity"
Author: AP
<back to top>
-> According to an Aug. 23rd Herald-Leader article, "Eight
traffic-related projects designed to improve Lexington area air quality
have been approved for funding, the city announced yesterday. The bulk
of the money for the projects, more than $1.2 million, is to come from
the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality [CMAQ] Improvement Program,
enacted by Congress in 1991 to help limit pollution and reduce traffic.
Although more than half of the projects could be of particular interest
to bicyclists, one project involves the extension of reversible lane
controls on Nicholasville Road from Tiverton Way to Southpoint Drive.
"Another of the projects, a Safe Routes to School Pilot Program, is
designed to encourage children to walk, bicycle, carpool and ride buses
to school. 'There's quite a few benefits to a number of these
projects,' said David Schaars, senior transportation air quality
planner for the Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization,
which handles transportation planning for Fayette and Jessamine
counties. Kenzie Nelson, Lexington's bicycle and pedestrian coordinator
will be involved in the Safe Routes to School Pilot Program. She said
that between 20 percent and 30 percent of the morning traffic in the
Lexington area is attributed to school travel. Two schools will be
selected for the pilot program, which is to be based on a national
model, she said..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/9zrkw
Archive search: http://tinyurl.com/dv68g
Cost: Yes
Title: "Eight Fayette traffic projects aim to improve air quality"
Author: Jennifer Hewlett
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-> According to an Aug. 23rd Maui News article, "The vision for A&B
Properties' 826-acre Waiale development became clearer at an open house
last weekend where goals, sketches and ideas from an earlier workshop
were condensed into a more refined draft of a 'community conceptual
plan.' If the design remains on track, then the newest extension to
Kahului would include six residential villages, two schools, a 190-acre
regional park, commercial centers, a health-and-wellness complex, and
long stretches of greenways and bikeways to promote walkable
communities. A&B planners will take the additional suggestions from
Saturday's event and tweak the draft even more for a final presentation
from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the former East-to-West Trading Co. store
near the IHOP restaurant. Members of the public are welcome.
"If nothing else during the past two-week process, A&B -- often
portrayed as an uncaring corporate developer with dwindling connections
to old Maui -- was praised for giving residents the opportunity to add
their two cents to the kickoff of what will be a lengthy journey. 'I
thought it was an interesting process,' said Tony Krieg, chief
executive officer of Hale Makua, who has been an active participant and
an advocate for incorporating senior housing into the project. 'It was
very open and friendly. In my group (at the workshop), there were no
wrong ideas. There was a lot of synergy from people from all walks of
life.' Grant Chun, A&B Properties vice president, expected it would
take more than five years before all the necessary land-use approvals
and permits were in hand..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/8jqe7
Archive search: use "Search" window
Cost: No
Title: "Community input helps A&B refine Waiale plan"
Author: Valerie Monson
<back to top>
-> According to an Aug. 22nd Slate article by Seth Stevenson, "One
night, strolling in the evening air, I happened by a theater as a play
was letting out. A crowd of distinguished Amsterdammers poured onto the
sidewalk. The men wore blazers and ties, the women wore dresses and
cardigans. Most of these theater-goers were in their 50s and 60s, with
wrinkles and bifocals and graying beards. It looked like a scene you
might witness any night in Manhattan, when a throng of well-dressed New
Yorkers emerges from a downtown playhouse. But there was a key
difference: The New Yorkers would stride toward the curb with one arm
in the air, hailing a taxi. The Amsterdammers, by contrast, were
unlocking their bicycles from nearby racks, hopping up on the pedals
with a little two-step, and riding away.
"I can't tell you how absurd it looked--and how utterly gleeful it made
me -- as these older couples, in prim evening wear, mounted their bikes
and rode side-by-side into the night. They whooshed past me, pedaling
with ease, and their conversations carried on undisturbed. The women's
dresses fluttered about their ankles; the men's cigarette smoke trailed
behind them. 'There's something about riding a bike that makes you feel
like you're 5 years old,' my American friend Carey, who lives and works
here in Amsterdam, said to me. Indeed, these proper Dutch couples
outside the theater seemed to morph, before my eyes, into bouncy little
children. I half-expected the ladies to shriek, 'Wheeeeee!' as their
bikes picked up speed and rounded a corner out of sight..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/9deu8
Archive search: http://tinyurl.com/7qznx
Cost: No
Title: "Should I move to Amsterdam"
Author: Seth Stevenson
<back to top>
-> According to an August 20th Morning Sentinel article, "Speeding
motorists and noisy truck traffic are making life miserable for
residents on Norridgewock Avenue, according to people who turned out
for a meeting with state transportation officials Friday morning. 'We
have 80 school groups a year, a lot of little kids whose safety is
jeopardized,' said Lynnette King, administrator at the Margaret Chase
Smith Library who also lives across the street from the facility. 'At
50 miles per hour -- even in the winter -- you don't know if they see
you or not. It's scary.' Representatives from the Maine Department of
Transportation discussed several possible solutions, including striping
the shoulders of the street, installing speed bumps and putting in
sidewalks and crosswalks. They said there is no way to limit truck
"John Balicki, the bicycle-pedestrian coordinator for DOT, said the
town would be responsible for painting stripes on the shoulders to
[designate] it as an official bicycle lane. 'Anything thing you do to
narrow the street makes people slow down," he said. Balicki suggested
what he called speed tables or traffic calming devices, raised sections
in the road: 'That has been effective in Augusta near the Lincoln
School. It's quite a jolt.' He said they cost about $4,000 to $5,000
each to install. Balicki said money to install a sidewalk might come
from Safe Routes to School, a program funded in a federal
transportation budget passed a few week ago. Application could be made
this fall, he said, with a 60-40 matching grant. Crosswalks could then
be considered, he said..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/7b8oo
Archive search: apparently no archives
Cost: ?
Title: "Neighbors air traffic problems"
Author: Darla L. Pickett
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-> According to an Aug. 23rd Detroit News article, "During school
mornings, Christine Vogt helps lead a group of middle school students
in a leisurely walk to school. The parks and recreation professor at
Michigan State University helped organize a group of kids in her Genoa
Township subdivision to walk to Brighton's Maltby Middle School. The
students use local trails and sidewalks that connect their
neighborhoods on the eastern edge of Genoa Township with nearby
schools, the city of Brighton and local attractions such as Mount
Brighton. 'The sidewalks and trails give the kids a great opportunity
to get to school, plus it connects them to Brighton,' Vogt said. Among
the trails that Vogt and her neighbors use is the new Bauer Road Bike
Trail, which was finished earlier this summer. The two-mile-long trail,
which runs along Bauer Road, connects to the Brighton Road Bike Trail
and other local pathways...
"The trail is one of many that have either been constructed or are in
the process of being built in Livingston County. Howell is looking at a
plan called Crosstown Trails, which would link bike paths to sidewalks
in the city and around it in the surrounding townships. The county's
southern townships are pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars
improving the Lakelands Trail, a 13-mile linear state park that runs
along the former Grand Trunk Western Railroad rail bed. That's just the
type of development Vogt is advocating. She grew up in a suburban
Chicago community where it was easy to commute in something besides a
car because it was interconnected with trails and sidewalks. Her family
moved to the current subdivision close to the intersection of Brighton
and Bauer Roads because there were so many trails and paths to so many
surrounding attractions. 'Not everybody has cars or can drive,
particularly young kids or old people' Vogt said..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/99yym
Archive search: use "Search" window
Cost: Yes
Title: "Genoa Twp. project makes community more walkable"
Author: Jon Zemke
<back to top>
-> In an Aug. 22nd Raise The Hammer op-ed piece, Ben Bull looks to Jane
Jacobs for guidance in his quest for a lively neighborhood, "Toward the
middle of ['The Death and Life of Great American Cities,'] I discovered
a list of four main criteria that Jacobs suggests all need to be met,
in order to bring diversity and vitality -- a.k.a. chaos -- to a
"As I read them, I wondered how they might apply to my own experiences:
Source: http://tinyurl.com/7n5mh
Archive search: use "Search" window
Cost: No
Title: "Climbing the Tree"
Author: Ben Bull
<back to top>
-> According to an Aug. 25th Skokie Review article, "Bikers who move
into new Skokie developments will have a place to park their bikes
under an amendment to the zoning code approved last week by village
trustees. The number of required bicycle parking spaces will range
from, 5 to 15 percent of the required motor vehicle parking spaces,
Community Development Director Peter Peyer said. Existing developments
will not be impacted unless they are required to expand their vehicle
parking. In such cases, said Plan Commission Chairman Paul Luke, the
development site plan is usually changed for the additional parking,
and the bike parking could easily be added. 'I wish we could make this
retroactive,' said trustee Don Perille, expressing a desire to see more
developments offering bicycle parking.
"Perille said he lives in a building with 20 bicycle parking spaces and
they are not enough. 'It's not enough even with older people in the
building,' he said. Trustee Michael Gelder, a self-proclaimed new
convert to bicycle riding, said he supports the amendment. 'I share the
enthusiasm for moving ahead in this area,' he said. 'It's so much
better to have a design for facilities for parking than using the
parking meters or street signs that give the village a much more
unkempt kind of appearance.' Peyer said a mixed-use development would
generally require bicycle spaces numbering 15 percent of required motor
vehicle spaces. The percentage drops to 10 for regular developments and
schools and 5 for strip shopping centers..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/9tvv6
Archive search: http://tinyurl.com/7d877
Cost: No
Title: "Bicycle parking mandatory for new developments"
Author: Mike Isaacs
<back to top>
-> According to an Aug. 25th WALB-News story, "The Thomasville Police
Department's bicycle squad is becoming nationally certified through the
International Police Mountain Bike Association. Seven additional
officers will be added to the existing four person team. It's based in
a central location in Thomasville so officers can branch out quickly.
"Officer Terry Whigham says the main advantage of the bicycle squad is
stealth. 'Our main times of operation is at nighttime. We use cover and
concealment methods using buildings, dark paths in the roadways,
different patrol techniques that we use with the bicycle to conceal
ourselves,' says Whigham..."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/8q6x2
Archive search: use "Search" window
Cost: No
Title: "Bike squad gets bumped "
Author: Staff
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-> According to the Aug. 23rd MATR News, "If you're interested in
dinosaurs, follow the Montana Dinosaur Trail. The new Fort Peck museum
is home to one of the world's most complete T. rex skeletons. Since it
opened in early May, the museum has been host to more than 19,000
visitors, thanks in part to the dinosaur trail promotion launched
earlier this year, according to the Great Falls Tribune. Officials had
hoped for 12,000 in a year."
A map from Travel Montana and this web site can help you find the
state's 13 dinosaur museums via the state highway system.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/a9sah
-> "For example, the [Hummer] H2, a pleasure craft if there ever was
one, does not have to meet any fuel economy standards because it is so
heavy that the regulations consider it a commercial vehicle..."
-> "The Bicycle Coalition of Maine...calls Maine a leader in the
effort. Last year, Governor John Baldacci announced more than a half
million dollars in grants to 13 Maine communities for the first Maine
Safe Routes to School program..."
-> "Randolph also advocates expansion of the Greenway Trail to increase
foot and bicycle travel -- decreasing traffic without excessive
-> "The [$17.9 million] project, which is expected to take at least 20
months to complete, will completely rebuild the pavement, add sidewalks
and bicycle lanes and update traffic signals.
-> "Young Otis spent time at the Denver Folklore Center where he bought
his first instrument, a banjo. He used to play it while riding his
unicycle to high school...[In the 70s, he] began coaching a
professional bicycle team. They ranked 4th in the nation and were known
for having two of the best African-American riders in the country..."
-> "DAVAO City Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III Thursday called on the
City Council committee on energy and transportation to work on the
establishment of bicycle lanes as the energy crisis looms..."
-> "Somehow, on a dead calm day after a rain, a tall, dead fir tree
dislodged its roots and toppled over, hitting Griffith on the shoulders
and slamming him face first into the pavement, giving him a
Aug. 2005 issue of WellSpring, from the Alberta Centre for Active
Living; includes articles on access and encouraging the abilities of
people with disabilities.
For more on the Centre, go to:
-> "MANAGING PERSONAL MOBILITY DEVICES (PMDs)...
"...On Nonmotorized Facilities;" Victoria Transport Policy Institute
article by Todd Litman on how to respond to new modes such as scooters
and Segways; 2005.
"Tips and Tactics for Success;" Governors Highway Safety Association;
2004. (1.2mb)
Spin Project article from the Independent Media Institute; 2005.
Commission for Integrated Transport report examines effectiveness of UK
transport policy in meeting commitments to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 2010.
August 26-28, 2005, Thunderhead Training, Decatur (Atlanta), GA. Info:
September 13-21, 2005, 2005 Physical Activity and Public Health
Courses, Hilton Head, SC. Info: Janna Borden, University of South
Carolina Dept of Exercise Science, 730 Devine St., Columbia, SC 29208;
phone: (803) 576-6050; fax: (803)777-2504; email: <firstname.lastname@example.com>.
September 14-16, 2005 Walk/Bike California 2005 Conference, Ventura,
CA. Info: Gail Payne, California Bicycle Coalition; phone: (510)
306-0066; email: <email@example.com>.
September 15-21, 2005, Physical Activity & Public Health Course, Hilton
Head, SC. Info: Janna Borden, PAPH Project Director, University of
South Carolina, Department of Exercise Science, 730 Devine Street,
Columbia, SC 29208; phone: (803) 576-6050; fax: (803)777-2504; email:
September 22-23, 2005, Walk 21 (VI), Zurich, Switzerland. Info: Walk21,
Diddington House, Main Road, Bredon, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire,
GL207LX, United Kingdom; phone: 00 44 (0) 1684 773 94; email:
September 22-24, 2005, International SIIV Congress on People, Land,
Environment and Transport Infrastructures, Bari, Italy. Info: contact
Joedy Cambridge by email: <firstname.lastname@example.com> with subject line of
"International SIIV Congress on People, Land, Environment and Transport
October 5-8, 2005, Bicycle Federation of Australia, Connecting Cycling
2005 Conference,
Planning for Healthy Communities, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Info:
October 9-11, 2005, APBP 4th biennial Professional Development Seminar,
Chicago IL. Info: Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals:
October 12, 2005, APBP ADA Training Course, Chicago, IL. Info:
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals:
October 13-15, 2005, Walking for Health: Measurement and Research
Issues and Challenges, Urbana-Champaign, IL. Info:
October 19, 2005, Moving Together 2005, Boston, MA. Info: Baystate
Roads Program, phone: (413) 545-2604; email:
October 21-23, 2005, Thunderhead Training, San Francisco, CA. Info:
October 27-29, 2005, Missouri Trail Summit, Columbia, MO. Info: Paula
Diller, Missouri Park & Recreation Assoc., 2018 William Street,
Jefferson City, MO 65109-1186; phone: (573) 636-3828; fax: (573)
635-7988; email: <email@example.com>
October 27-29, 2005, Cooper Institute Conference on Childhood Obesity,
Dallas, TX. Info: Melba Morrow, Cooper Institute, 12330 Preston Rd.,
Dallas, TX 75230; phone: (972) 341-3247; email:
March 28-30, 2006, Transportation and Economic Development 2006,
Little Rock, AR. Info: Mark Norman at <firstname.lastname@example.com>
The Bicycle-Friendly Berkeley Coalition (BFBC) seeks a motivated and
energetic advocate for alternative transportation, to serve in a
dual-role, Executive Manager position, as manager of the Berkeley
Bikestation and as Volunteer/Membership Coordinator of BFBC. The
Berkeley Bikestation is an attended, bike-parking facility in the
Downtown Berkeley BART Station, and BFBC is a grassroots,
member-supported, and volunteer-run non-profit. Our mission is bicycle
advocacy and education within the city of Berkeley.
The Executive Manager position requires 25-30 hours/week, on a flexible
schedule basis. Salary is $25,000-$30,000/year, based on experience,
with two-week paid vacation. The position has great potential to be
expanded into a full-time Program Coordinator position. The ideal
candidate will have an interest in fundraising and seeking grants for
bicycle-related programs, such as bicycle safety classes, safe routes
to schools, Bike-to-Work Day promotion, etc. Full details about the
Executive Manager position can be found on the BFBC website at
This is a great opportunity to gain experience with a transportation
advocacy organization that promotes alternative, human-scaled,
transportation systems in the greater Berkeley area. Berkeley is a
bicycle-friendly community with a progressive approach to
transportation planning. Please call 510-549-7433 with any questions.
Applications accepted until position filled. Please send resumes and
letter of interest to: Bicycle-Friendly Berkeley Coalition, ATTN:
Bikestation Manager/VC Position, P.O. Box 13357, Berkeley, CA 94712;
Fax: 510-849-9972; Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Editor: John Williams
Send news items to: <email@example.com>
Director: Bill Wilkinson
National Center for Bicycling & Walking, 8120 Woodmont Ave, Suite 520,
Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone: (301) 656-4220; fax: (301) 656-4225; email:
Web: http://www.bikewalk.org


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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Voicing one's opinion on Harry Potter is a bit like emptying a Dixie cup onto a forest fire. "Criticism" can barely find purchase whenever a book or film becomes so omnipresent that it loses its status as art object and enters the so-called "cultural fabric." The books alone have sold over 100 million copies, and the first movie's worldwide gross hovers around a cool $1 billion. Nonetheless, the Potter tale is a fairly brilliant pastiche of several cultural tropes. Harry an orphan raised by his beastly aunt and uncle discovers he's actually the famous spawn of wizards when he's invited to attend Hogwarts, a school for magic folk. Under the loose guidance of a giant, the boy struggles through his first year of school even as he joins the "Quidditch" team (which plays a sort of aerial soccer on broomsticks) and solves the mystery of the "Sorcerer's Stone" with school chums Ron and Hermione. It's a ripping good children's tale, of course but Potter transcends Kiddie Lit by juggling a seamless and mature blend of primal themes. In the first book alone, Rowling commingles mythology, class warfare, mentorship, a Scooby Doo mystery, sports, and death. As directed with surprising restraint by Chris Columbus from a script by Steve Kloves, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a faithful, longish adaptation that's well-acted, lightly funny, mildly spooky, and punctuated with well-staged action set pieces by director Chris Columbus. Young Daniel Radcliffe is utterly winning as Harry, and he sets the tone for all the child actors, who carry a two-and-a-half-hour movie on their shoulders with an ease that was probably murderously hard to come by. Meanwhile, the who's-who of British stage luminaries playing the Hogwarts faculty and hangers-on brings just the right tone of headmaster snobbery to the screen. Warner's two-disc Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone offers several "special features" which are something of a generational double-edged sword: For meat-and-potatoes viewers over the age of 12, the features are surprisingly few, and many are hidden under puzzles. See the full review for a breakdown of the games, although the chief attractions here are a behind-the-scenes documentary, seven deleted scenes, a production-sketch gallery and trailers Dual-DVD digipak with paperboard slipcover.
Back to Quick Reviews Index: [A-F] [G-L] [M-R] [S-Z]

subset: commoncrawl


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The web is sickness new strategies to earning profits daily. From monetizing blogs to online tutoring, you may make everything from a few bucks to hundreds of dollars often. The somewhat recent phenomenon on the internet is UGC or User Generated Content. In other words this really is content given by the consumer also it may be in audio or video formats. Sites like YouTube and Google video have offers a platform to thousands of people across the globe who will be aspiring actors, musicians, directors, chefs or perhaps magicians to shoot their unique videos and post it online. The specific situation has arrive at an area which you could can even make money with YouTube videos.
There are lots of videos watched daily all across the globe which means you can engage in we have and commence making money with your Youtube videos. You can create more income in the home by making a website on the account and registering with YouTube videos. Depending upon the videos, a large number of visitors will login for your watch the videos and the advertisements provided by Google. Inside your videos, you can add short descriptions in the video as well as the links.
So how do you How do you make money on youtube videos? Why don't we commence with a fairly easy illustration of what sort of business can make cash with YouTube videos. Why don't we repeat the clients are mixed up in manufacturing of ready-to-eat packaged food which is belonging to an ancient chef. There exists a type of internet marketing called viral marketing that's simply the passing of a message/advertising to a couple those who will then pass it on to a number of people they understand which will result in thousands of people receiving and viewing the advertisement.
You can refer to it the internet's word-of-mouth method of advertising. Now returning to the example, the chef as a way to popularize his products will start shooting cooking videos of varied recipes and posting them on YouTube. After that you can mail people who would be enthusiastic about this once an interest in the playback quality is generated, the cook is popular quickly. If your video gets greater than a 1000 hits (or views) then it automatically beats about 90% of all videos on-line. Very good could eventually bring about an increase in the sales of the product.
The above mentioned is a typical instance of an enterprise today tapping into the net platform wanting to boost its sales to make money using YouTube videos as a marketing strategy. Why don't you consider somebody trying to do the same without really using a business? Men and women will must work harder initially to get at a spot where one can can certainly make cash with YouTube videos. The concept would be to regularly post good videos (that may be informative or entertaining or both) on topics that you simply are a specialist in. Keep making videos and uploading them regularly onto YouTube.
Make sure you let your entire friends know about your YouTube page. Can remember the more amount of people viewing your videos; the greater it's for you personally. Utilizing a variety of tools available on the internet you are able to track precisely how well your page does with regards to users, views and traffic on the page. Once it's reached a suitable level, apply to the YouTube Partnership Program. After verifying the job, you feel a person and initiate earning revenue from your advertising money which will come in to these sites. So what are you awaiting? Make your own video, promote them to make money-using YouTube.
To get more information about How to make money from youtube check out our web portal: read here


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Interesting snippet from November 4, at wilsonsalmanac.com
"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
The Tripoli Treaty is frequently cited to indicate that the USA was not founded on Christianity.
Was the USA founded on Christianity? in the Scriptorium


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Yea today is my 74th birthday so belly to the bar drinks on me
Yea today is my 74th birthday so belly to the bar drinks on me
Well, congrats on making a fine old age Darell. Ill have a pint with you
Run for your life - there are stupid people everywhere!
Well happy 74th Darell - hope you have a great day
"He is wise who watches"
I didn't think we were that different in age, Darell. Perhaps because we are both really, really young at heart?
Would love to share a drink with you, especially in person. Next time I'm in Calgary.
Until then, cheers!
"Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
"Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59
74 beers for the gang, Darell, young boy!
"We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."
I'll raise a glass to that.
Happy Birthday Darell!
Hoisting a Brandy in your honour right now!
Many Happy Returns of the Day, Darell!
Congratulations Darell - here's wishing you many more of them
Wooohooo! Somebody here actually makes me feel young! Youngish. Well, okay...not the oldest. I release the Kraken in your honor - black spiced rum for one and all!
Congrats Daryl, only a year down on me! Problem is that with the failing memory I don't think I remember my 74th. I think that age before beauty prevails here and I will be glad to buy YOU a Birthday drink. Just a thought, if I put my belly against the bar I am then too far away to take it from the barman. Such is life! Happy Birthday to you Ditto etc.etc.
I cannot apologise enough for getting your name wrong first time around. I can only claim failing eyesight!
Last edited by Rebel; 07-12-2018 at 15:10. Reason: Grammar + error
Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. Winston S. Churchill
Happy Birthday Darrell you young wippersnapper! Hope you had a great day.
"Its a fine line indeed between going out in a Blaze of Glory or having Crashed & Burnt!"
Member Australian Society of WW1 Aero Historians
Thank you all for well wishes
Happy Birthday Darell! Isn't 74 in Canadian years more like 54? I'd be honored to tip a couple with you.
Happy birthday Darryl. I hope you enjoy yourself.
Hope you've enjoyed your Day of Days, Darell! Here's to the next 74
Seriously, here's to many more...
All the best,
Late to the party as usual ...
Happy Birthday, Darrel.
You don't look a day over 73
I miss our times on Skype with Mike
Hoisting a local craft beer to you as I type.
I don't think I could do 74
happy birthday darrell!!!
Well done that man. May you enjoy many more happy birthdays Darrell.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Happy Birthday Darell, hope you have a great day.
Will raise my glass to you
Cheers! That's a great reason to celebrate my friend!
Congratulations on your Birthday, yesterday.
Happy belated Birthday Darell!!! Since I'm so late, I'll start another round for you!!!
What was that song? Oh yeah, "it's a long way to ......" or was it ... any way happy birthday and have a pint or two on my tab.


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Relationships. We hear a lot about relationships lately, personal relationships, corporate relationships, relationships between groups. Some
of us are working to reinvigorate the Council's Relationships Committee. For those of us in Scouting, Relationships Committees are about
the relationships of Charter Partners and the units that they charter. Charter Partners can be civic groups, religious organizations, or just
about any other group that is willing to promote the ideals of the Boy Scout of America and use the program provided through BSA.
At this point, we see the mission of our committee as strengthening the relationships with both our (the Mid-America Council's) current Charter
Partners, and develop new relationships within the community for future partnerships. To achieve this goal we are in the process of contacting
existing Charter Organization Representatives (COR), the representative of the Charter Partner to the Scouting unit, with a view of training the CORs
as to their job and responsibilities and engaging them more actively in additional, future partnerships.
Russ Kock, Chair
Home | Mid-America Council | Calendar | Districts | Cub Scouts | Scouts BSA | Venturing | Camping | Invest in Scouting | Journey To Excellence | Popcorn
© 2012 Mid-America Council. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Legal | Join Scouting | Volunteer | Site Map | Contact Us


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'I think we did right today': CPS dog killed in the line of duty honoured nearly 50 years later
INNISFAIL — It was Oct. 19, 1969, when Calgary police dog Pharaoh made the ultimate sacrifice.
He and his handler, Const. Herb Craig, were tracking a suspect, taking them to a downtown rooftop.
It was there when Pharaoh fell through a fire escape to his death.
Somehow, the incident was never documented by the service.
It wasn't until the now-retired Craig visited the Calgary police canine kennels nearly a year ago that the service was even aware of his partner's death.
He brought up Pharaoh, noting that he wasn't on the plaque dedicated to the other two Calgary police dogs who died in the line of duty — Gino and Sirk.
A year-long archival search was launched by members to confirm Craig's claims.
Wednesday, Pharaoh was honoured with a plaque at the National Police Service Dog Memorial at the RCMP dog-training facility just south of Innisfail.
"It took an awfully long time," an emotional Craig said of the rightful recognition for Pharaoh.
"Pharaoh was an awesome dog. He always had my back. I felt very proud to be a K-9 officer, and I felt quite devastated when I learned how he passed away."
When asked to describe the fateful night he lost his partner, Craig admitted he couldn't get through reliving what happened without choking up.
Craig was one of the first officers on the Calgary police dog unit when it started in 1960 — a time when there were only four police dogs for the city of just over 235,000.
"We took turns — we got off at two o'clock in the morning, so we would start at two in the afternoon. We'd have a sitting in court and we'd take turns — we only had two K-9 cars," said Craig, who said the relationship between owner and handler hasn't changed between then and now.
"I think it's the same. A dog handler gets close to its dog because of what the dog does for him. I've gone through three other dogs on my own as a civilian and they have passed and it's not the same."
Sgt. Jim Gourley with the Calgary police K-9 unit says the force was happy to finally make things right.
"I think we did right today," he said.
"Unfortunately, we didn't get it right in 1969 — things were different. I think we made amends and I'm happy that we were able to do that for Herb."
Before the ceremony, attendees were able to get a first-hand look at upgrades made to the RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre's state-of-the-art training facilities.
"(Two years ago) we purchased 22-acres of land to move our old agility field — we wanted the public to have more access," said Staff Sgt. Gary Creed, acting officer in charge of the RCMP Police Dog Services.
"The agility field is replacing our old field, which ran its course for its life span."
Upgraded facilities include an improved tower housing a tunnel system allowing the dogs to track in tight spaces.
Other parts of their new land include spaces for human remains detection.
On Twitter: @zjlaing


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One of the ways that I'm trying to become a Mom You Can Count On is to manage my time a little better. If I don't make a list each morning of what I need to do, I am like a sailor out at sea without a compass. And if I don't stay on my toes throughout the day, I find myself floundering. And then I find that it's dinnertime and though I had a plan, the minutes got away from me.
One of the things that helps me immensely is to make dinner in the morning. It may not take less time to make it in the morning, but pre-planning and preparation can really help relieve stress that arises later in the day. Especially when the kids are barking at your heals for supper to be done.
And speaking of kids, if you do some dinner work in the morning when things are calm, it will be all that much easier to include them in the activity.
Here are some quick ways to make dinnertime prep smoother sailing:
** Brown taco meat ahead of time and reheat at dinnertime OR pop it into the crockpot to cook all day.
** Mix and shape meatloaf or shape hamburgers to be cooked later.
** Assemble lasagnas and casseroles in the morning. This will actually make the taste better as the flavors will have time to blend.
** Season roasts or chickens ahead of time and get them ready to pop into the oven later.
** Chop all your ingredients to be assembled into dinner later in the day. Mise en place is a cooking term to describe "proper planning of equipment and ingredients for a food preparation and assembly station." Having everything ready greatly speeds up your cooktime.
What pre-planning / pre-cooking do you do to lighten your load at dinnertime?
Related: Visit Tammy's Recipes for all sorts of Kitchen Tips each Tuesday.


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Sometimes you just can�t win. Take Falls officials. They find themselves caught in one of those damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don�t situations following the last snow storm, which led to 59 vehicles being towed.
This was done because a �snow emergency� had been declared and to facilitate getting the streets plowed during the blizzard that struck 10 days ago. If vehicles aren�t removed and plows have to go around them, the result is a bottleneck. And if vehicles are parked curbside in both directions, the bottlenecks become many and navigable road surface limited. The resulting zigzag path can make an already dangerous situation worse.
Plus, curbside vehicles keep the plows from completing their rounds in a timely way, which also adds to the danger as commuters have no choice but to take to snow-covered and icy streets.
And so the decision was made to tow vehicles blocking the plows� access. If it were up to some residents, Falls supervisors said during last week�s township meeting, vehicles would have been towed much sooner. Some fed-up folks had already called the township griping about residents who�d left their cars curbside during earlier snowfalls, making some streets a challenge to navigate.
From that perspective, township officials might have been too patient and forgiving.
That said, folks whose vehicles were towed shouldn�t have to mount a hunt to track their vehicle down. That�s what happened to resident David Wiggins, who showed up at last week�s supervisors meeting to complain that he couldn�t find his car. Turns out the township has deals with several towers, each of which agrees to charge a set towing fee of $125 that includes up to 30 days of storage. The agreement requires the towers to call the owners of the vehicles they tow, which didn�t happen in Wiggins� case. Nearly a week later he was still looking for his car.
Wiggins is not alone. Falls police were called in to help find several residents� vehicles, an unfortunate use of police time that otherwise could have been spent enforcing traffic laws, capturing bad guys and searching for the occasional missing person. Instead, they were searching for missing cars.
Our suggestion: Make sure all the towers are aware of the rules and get rid of the ones who ignored them. And get the word out on the towing policy. We know it�s posted on the township Web site and on the public access cable channel. Problem is, these venues are not widely viewed. Hope that doesn�t come as shocking news.
Officials might consider blanketing mailboxes with some sort of flyer. Or sending out a notice to the newspaper. Informing people is what we do.


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2012 UScA Sieger show
** HERE are the official 2012 UScA Sieger show results** So roughly 1,000 miles and an all night drive finds us in Indiana at the Sieger show! It doesn't seem like the dogs really noticed, which is great. The German Park in southern Indianapolis is hosting the Sieger show this year. Generally it hosts soccer… Continue


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A favourite publication for small farmers, gardeners and allotment owners, a Smallholder magazine subscription makes for a great read for country folk all year round! First founded in 1910, today's Smallholder magazine is filled with great advice on keeping livestock, bees and poultry, as well as reviews on recommended machinery and efforts on conservation for farm land, countryside and places of natural beauty across the UK. Filled with local news and countryside, farming and livestock events near you, it's a real countryside favourite for any smallholder, farmer, beekeeper or gardener.
Pick up a Smallholder magazine subscription today and find out the latest farming, DEFRA and NFU news, as well as a wealth of information on livestock – find out how to keep sheep, what will make your chickens happy and what makes alpacas tick! Know someone with a smallholding? Why not treat them to a Smallholder magazine gift subscription?
New to smallholding? With every issue of your Smallholder magazine subscription, you'll find great guides on getting started with every kind of smallholding – whether you're managing land or livestock, the expert features in every issue will help you get on your feet. With tips from fellow smallholders, farmers and countrymen across the UK, you're in good company with Smallholder magazine.
Seasoned smallholder? You'll love the regular updates straight from the horse's mouth with your Smallholder magazine subscription. Whether you want to know about the latest events to attend, livestock best practice or the latest changes in law and regulation from unions and the government, Smallholder will keep you up to date on everything new in the countryside.
Pick up a Smallholder magazine subscription today and find out all you need to know throughout the seasons about managing your smallholding and making the most of life in the countryside! Here's a snippet of what you'll find landing through your letterbox in every issue:
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|Session Name:
|Creating Amazing Characters
|Scott Campbell
|Company Name(s):
|Track / Format:
|Visual Arts
|How do you create memorable and distinctive characters? In this presentation, production designer, art director, and illustrator Scott Campbell will share his creative process for creating amazing characters. Scott will begin by describing his approach and showing past works, then move into a live demonstration where he will develop a new character design, sharing his thoughts during the process.


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The Canadian Manufactured Housing Institute became the CHBA Modular Construction Council in 2017. Visit www.chba.ca/modular for information.
Architects on Prefab - Douglas Cardinal
photo: Bruno Schlumberger
by Bernie Desjardins
In Canada, Douglas Cardinal is famous for having incorporated the cultural traditions of the country's First Peoples into impressively useful, technologically advanced structures that are best described as works of art—although their functionality and quality of design are beyond question. The Aanischaaukamikw - Cree Cultural Institute in Oujé-Bougoumou, Quebec is just one example of this. Douglas' signature curvilinear style is featured in many of his buildings, including the vast, magnificent Canadian Museum of History, which is located directly across the Ottawa River from the Parliament of Canada. Internationally, Douglas is the creative genius behind the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian, which accompanies the iconic Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and United States Capitol building on Washington's National Mall. Within the architectural profession, Douglas is recognized for his groundbreaking work as one of North America's earliest adopters of computer technology for architectural design.
Douglas Cardinal is well aware of the many benefits of prefabrication, including how problems that arise in site-based construction—weather, waste and vandalism, for example—can be avoided. But what does he consider to be the greatest benefit of building prefabrication? "A higher-quality finished product" he says, quite simply.
Douglas says that what initially sparked his interest in factory-based construction was that it offered the greatest potential to reduce the cost of housing. In decades past, prefabricated buildings were considered to be inferior to site-built structures, and there was a prevailing impression that a homebuyer would choose a prefabricated home based on economic considerations. As technology and methods have improved over the years, however, factory-built structures have taken the lead in quality, including accuracy of construction and structural integrity, while remaining cost-efficient. Manufactured housing is also "ideal for disaster relief," he says, "because of the speed and efficiency with which it can be delivered."
"If a single, custom car was built in somebody's driveway, it would cost about five million dollars," says Douglas. It would be unthinkable to build a car this way, yet most homebuilding in Canada is still done using a comparable method. Always one to embrace progressive technologies, Douglas is enthusiastic about the prefabrication of building components, the use of which he expects to increase in the future. "I have long had a preference for 'shop-built' components; I prefer to have as much of the building prefabricated in a shop as possible—space frames, panels, and plumbing stacks." Kitchen and bathroom modules can be prefabricated, allowing builders to take advantage of the precision and efficiency afforded by factory-based construction. "If we're going to compare it with automobile production ... even cars are now constructed using various assemblies rather than always dealing with individual parts. Housing can be built using a similar approach," Douglas says.
Of particular interest to Douglas Cardinal in considering the advantages of building prefabrication is the precise control over processes that a factory setting makes possible. Process control in building factories results in very little, if any, appreciable waste. But in addition to the "green" and cost-efficient aspects of prefabricated building, Douglas says process control is important in other ways. "In-factory processes can be redesigned for different projects, the work environment is much safer, and everybody working on the building has the final product in mind," he says. Every aspect of a building's construction can be established, monitored, or modified using Building Information Modeling (BIM) software. "BIM systems help to coordinate the various disciplines involved in constructing a building." Instead of "doing site-built inside a factory", there is a need to redesign manufactured housing to take full advantage of factory-based construction processes.
"A major challenge for volume producers of housing is to make each unit unique, rather than having them all look the same. New and different approaches to assembly and different materials and textures are needed to accomplish more of this," says Douglas. Thanks to modern technologies like BIM, it is now much easier to customize designs. But the public needs to become more aware that customization of homes can be accomplished to a much greater degree than in the past, he says. "It is necessary to teach people that customization and variety are possible. People want homes that have a unique identity. Choices should be made that are those of the homebuyer, and BIM makes this possible."
Innovative building materials are continually being introduced into the marketplace, and Douglas Cardinal is quick to realize the potential of these new products. Sandwich panels made from a foam core sandwiched between sheets of plywood or other material are very promising for future application in prefabricated building, he says. "With sandwich panels, thermal bridging is greatly reduced. And when fire-resistant board is used, the result is increased fire safety." When he designed the Long Point First Nation School, Douglas opted for the use of another relatively new and very promising material called cross-laminated timber (CLT). Douglas says that when he designed the school with CLT panels in mind, the limitations of the factory and the necessary retooling of it had to be considered. This, however, was found to be a relatively straightforward challenge that was worth the effort.
Douglas' Cardinal House, a relatively small residential building using panelized prefabrication, was an early foray of his into prefabricated construction that is currently in use in China. He is now considering a design for a similar type of home using CLT , for which there is increasing application in Canada, and which offers enormous value-added potential for the nation's forest industry.
Prefabrication's potential for reducing the cost and increasing the quality and efficiency of building construction is recognized by many. Those with vision, like Douglas Cardinal, are leading the way in applying new technologies, materials and tools to harness that potential, and create some of the most outstanding homes and buildings the world has ever seen.


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Is a Virtual Tour Knowledge or Education?
Recently I was involved with a team that produced a virtual tour. The primary goal of the free virtual tour was intended to give a international audience a chance to gain knowledge by exploring the space. The depth of knowledge gained directly correlated to the participants involvement of freely selecting from varies features such as embedded videos, audio podcasts and information on building materials and products used throughout the space.
Assuming that knowledge becomes education at the point where the participant actually applies that what they learned, there is at one point in the tour a Google sketch-up feature embedded in the program that can actually be used. But what if, as most do, the participant looks at the feature but does not act. Would the knowledge still be education?
The tour can take between 1 â 1.5 hours depending on how many interactive features the participant selects. A final feature includes a quiz based upon the basic elements of the tour. The quiz follows the guidelines outlined in the standards of the International Learning Unit. It meets the organizationâs credential requirement, other professional organizations education requirements, and even most state licensing boardâs MCE requirements. Only by paying and successfully completing the quiz will âeducationâ credits be awarded? Is that really the only difference between knowledge and education â fees? You be the judge - take the virtual tour, yourself. Stop before the quiz. Is it knowledge or education?


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Updated: January 24, 2019
Location: Saint Louis, MO, United States
Job ID: 2275
You're bold, empathetic, and very resourceful, especially when results are at stake.
You have what it takes: a competitive drive coupled with the exceptional ability to communicate the science behind our client's products and build lasting business relationships. Such talent and passion make you the right fit for this unique sales role with Syneos Health.
Why Syneos Health? Join our groundbreaking global network of more than 23,000 employees with the ability to service clients in over 110 countries. As part of the only fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization, you'll be connected to a multitude of career paths and employment opportunities. You'll be supported with comprehensive resources based on today's emerging technologies, data, science and knowledge — instead of practices from the past. Teaming with some of the most talented professionals in the industry, you'll gain exposure and work with endless energy in a dynamic environment to over-deliver and outperform. You'll integrate seamlessly with our clients and do what's best for their success. In a recent five-year period, INC Research/inVentiv Health has helped to develop or commercialize 82% of novel new drugs approved by the FDA and 70% of products granted marketing authorization by the EMA.
Syneos Health has launched more than 120 sales teams in the last 5 years across all major Therapeutic Areas – more than the top 25 pharma companies combined. We offer you more than just one job. The diversification and breadth of Syneos Health creates a multitude of career paths and employment opportunities. Our client roster consists of more than 550 organizations including all 50 of the largest global biopharmaceutical companies.
This opportunity is with our Selling Solutions Commercial Division, which partners with top tier pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology companies to develop and execute sales and marketing strategies that deliver. Syneos Health is seeking a field-based sales professional responsible for effectively applying promotional and selling strategies to expand business opportunities and deliver revenue in an assigned area and contribute to the achievement of the revenue goals. Provide complex and technical information to ensure awareness and appropriate use of products to LTC prescribers, LTC pharmacists, and LTC nursing personnel.
Job Requirements
Along with a results-oriented mindset, self-assurance and an engaging manner, the ideal candidate has:
Full Syneos Health Selling Solutions benefits which include:
Make your work matter everywhere. Be a driving force in the evolution of healthcare sales
Syneos Health companies are affirmative action/equal opportunity employers (Minorities/Females/Vets/Disabled)


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To obtain a price estimate for a test or procedure at Rice Memorial Hospital, please contact our Patient Access Registrar at 1.800.854.5093. To help us provide the most accurate estimate, please have a copy of your physician's order, the procedure name or CPT code and diagnosis code (ICD-10) if available.
Depending on your insurance policy, you may be asked to pay your co-pay, deductible and/or co-insurance on the date of service.
In addition to anything your clinician may ask you to bring in, please bring the following:
- Insurance card(s)
- Photo ID such as a driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport
- Estimated patient responsibility owed/due/amount
A deductible is an out-of-pocket fixed dollar amount (usually per year) that an individual must pay for health care expenses before their insurance company will start to make payments for covered medical services. Plans may include both individual and family deductibles. Plans may also have separate deductibles for specific services.
A co-insurance is an out-of-pocket amount a health insurance plan requires a patient to pay, usually a stated percentage such as 20% of medical expenses, after the deducible amount is paid.
A co-payment is an out-of-pocket amount a health insurance plan requires a patient to pay, a fixed dollar amount, when a covered medical service is received. The co-pay amounts may differ depending on services and your plan.
Example: If the allowed amount for your service is $500, your responsibility according to your plan may be:
- $150 deductible
- 20% co-insurance
- $500-$150 (deductible) = $350. Of the $350, you owe 20% (co-insurance) = $70
- Total patient responsibility is $220 ($150 + $70).
- Total payment due from insurance is $280 (80% of $350).
In general, it is a good idea to review your insurance policy and benefits before receiving medical services. In some cases, for instance, if you are coming in for laboratory tests or a chest x-ray, you may NOT need to notify your insurance company. However, for many other services such as an inpatient admission, ambulatory surgery or an invasive diagnostic test/procedure, your insurance company may require that you notify/obtain approval in advance. Lack of such notification could result in reduced benefits and higher patient responsibility.
We ask for your insurance information every time you visit Rice Memorial Hospital to ensure that our records are accurate and up to date. Patients and/or employers change insurance carriers with great frequency. To process your bill quickly and accurately, we ask you for your insurance information on every visit. This gives us the opportunity to verify your insurance coverage and benefits.
Rice Memorial Hospital will coordinate benefits for patients covered by more than one insurance policy. It is important that you provide the information for both insurance plans at time of registration in order for us to submit claims to both insurance companies.
Yes, we'd be happy to discuss payment options with you. Rice Memorial Hospital also offers a 0% bank loan to help you fit a monthly payment within your budget. To discuss payment arrangements please contact us at 320.231.4371, or toll free at 1.866.601.0527.
You may contact the Rice Memorial Hospital financial advocates weekdays from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Please be prepared to provide your account number which is found on your statement. Please do not hesitate to contact one of our financial advocates with any questions you have regarding your statement, balance or to inquire about what options are available to you. Financial advocates are available Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm at 320.231.4371 or 1.866.601.0527.
Please call us to request a copy of your itemized bill. You can expect to receive a copy of your bill within 7 to 10 days.
Call the phone number that corresponds to the first letter of your last name:
A-H call 320.231.4686
I-Q call 320.231.4815
R-Z call 320.231.4289
Outside the Willmar area, call toll-free 1.866.601.0527
"Provider-Based" or "Hospital-Based Outpatient" refers to the billing process for services rendered in a hospital outpatient clinic or location. Under this model, patients may potentially receive two (2) charges on their combined patient bill for services provided within a clinic. One charge represents the facility or hospital charge and one charge represents the professional or physician fee.
Yes you may pay your statement online by clicking pay your statement online by clicking here. For assistance with online bill pay, please call our accounts receivable department at 320.231.4242.
Each visit you have at Rice Memorial Hospital is recorded using a unique account number. This may result in a separate statement for each visit.
Rice Memorial Hospital will send you a statement once insurance has processed your claim. There may be times when your insurance company requires information from you before they will process charges. If that is the case, please respond in a timely manner to prevent your claim from being denied. If you insurance company does not process your claim in a timely manner you may also receive a statement.
If you have questions regarding the expected cost of your services at Rice Memorial Hospital please call 1.800.854.5093. To help us provide the most accurate estimate, please have a copy of your physician's order, the procedure name or CPT code and diagnosis code (ICD-10), if available. The Patient Access Registrar will be able to give you an estimated facility cost of your services. You may pay your bill prior to or at the time of service. A receipt will be issued to you for your payment. Cash, check or major credit cards are accepted. You also have the opportunity to set up a payment plan in advance if you are not able to pay in full by the time of services.
Unpaid balances, including all applicable co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles and any non-covered services are the responsibility of the patient and must be paid upon receipt of the statement. For your convenience we accept a variety of payment methods:
- Cash/Check
- Money Order
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Discover
- American Express
Pay Online
Payments can be mailed to Rice Memorial Hospital at:
Rice Memorial Hospital
PO Box 150
Willmar MN 56201
Please be sure to include your account number with your payment.
If your charges need to be billed to an auto insurance carrier, you'll need to open a claim with the insurance company. MVA patients need to give Rice Memorial Hospital claim number and address information; we can submit your visit to insurance for you. It is important that you provide your medical insurance benefit information as well so that any required authorizations or other steps to ensure coverage are followed. This will assist in protecting you and the hospital financially should the auto insurance deny payment. We need a copy of the denial in order to bill your insurance.Download Motor Vehicle Accident Form (pdf)
If we do not receive worker's compensation information from you or your employer you will be responsible for your bill. It is important that you provide your medical insurance coverage benefit information as well, so any required authorizations or other steps to ensure coverage are followed. This will assist in protecting you and the hospital financially should worker's compensation deny payment. We need a copy of the denial in order to bill your insurance.Download Worker's Compensation Form (pdf)
If you have had any changes in coverage, you will need to update Rice Memorial Hospital with that information. If the claims need to be sent to worker's compensation coverage or auto insurance, please provide that information to Rice Memorial Hospital. Contact your insurance company if you have any concerns about why they did not process a charge.
If you have any other questions regarding your statement, Rice Hospital insurance clerks can be reached: Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm.
Please call the phone number that corresponds to the first letter of your last name:
A-H call 320.231.4686
I-Q call 320.231.4815
R-Z call 320.231.4289
Outside the Willmar area, call toll-free 1.866.601.0527
Email: email@example.com
If you see a doctor in the Emergency Department, the charge will come from Rice Memorial Hospital, but you will get a separate Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance company.
A pathologist is the doctor who reads any tests or specimens that are sent to the Rice Laboratory. If you have tests done, you will get a separate bill from them, as well as a separate Explanation of Benefits (EOB).
The doctor who gives you anesthesia (if you are put to sleep during a procedure) works for Affiliated Community Medical Centers (ACMC). They will send you a separate bill and you will receive a separate Explanation of Benefits (EOB).
The certified registered nurse anesthetist provides the anesthesia and stays with you during the procedure. You will receive a separate Explanation of Benefits (EOB) and separate bill for these services.
You will receive a separate bill and Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from the doctors who provide care for surgery, tests, or room services. The bills will come directly from the doctor or the clinic where they work.
A radiologist is the doctor who reads x-rays, CT and MRI tests. If you have these tests done, you will get a bill from them, and a separate Explanation of Benefits (EOB).


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Posts Tagged 'testing'
I am one of "those" teachers.
Last week, all the teachers at Central Falls High School in Rhode Island were fired. There has been all kinds of back and forth about the issue. Some, including President Obama, are applauding the bold move. I have to wonder just how the teachers feel. I wonder because I am one of "those" teachers. No, not from that "failing" school, but perhaps from one that is not much different. We struggle. We struggle everyday trying to increase our test scores so we will no longer be labeled as failing or under-performing, but more importantly we struggle to meet the many needs of our kids. So, I wonder how the teachers feel.
Are they wondering what will happen to the girl whose mom is ill with cancer, a girl who worries how she and her mother will survive when there is no income during all those treatments? Are they wondering what will happen to the young man who just lost his mother, only a short time after losing his father? Are they wondering what will happen to the teenage girl who is doing her best to stay in school while taking care of her infant child? Are they wondering about the five or six students who are living in shelters or working several jobs to support themselves? Are they wondering who will be there for "their" kids?
Is anyone wondering who will be there for these kids? You see, I think many times the only thing these kids have is their relationship with a teacher, a teacher that cares about them, not as a test score, but as a person. When did we stop caring about caring? When did we start making test scores more important than kids? When did test scores become the only measure of the success and talents of our students?
Don't you wonder too?
How do you start a new lesson? Do you wade in slowly? Do you dive in cleanly? Or, Do you take a running leap and jump right in?
I suppose in my 20 years as an educator, I have done all of the above. Sometimes, I am apprehensive about a lesson I am introducing, not really sure how my students will respond to it. I dip my toes in and then take slow steps to test the water. If the water is warm enough, I swim around and enjoy, or if it's too cold for comfort, I gasp and make a hasty retreat. With other lessons, I am ultra-prepared. Taking only a moment to adjust my goggles, I execute a perfect, streamlined dive. Once in the water, I am off and swimming, carefree. And, then there are the other kinds of lessons. The type of lessons where I take a running leap and cannonball my way into them. I am running toward the deep end knowing I am going to create a huge splash. Those folks lounging on the edge are going to get mighty wet. Yep, they are going to be dripping. They might choose to grumble and walk away, or they might see how much fun it is and take a running leap of their own.
Lately, due to all the standardized testing hoopla, I almost lost my way. I almost forgot how important those cannonball lessons are for everyone: my students, myself, and my administration. Last week, I decided to cannonball my way into a lesson. I skipped what I had planned and introduced my students to a class ning. All of sudden, there they were, the sounds of laughter, excitement, and good old-fashioned fun. My students were energized and completely engaged, sending all kinds of comments flying about the room. Now, that was a cannonball! The biggest surprise- the administrators lounging on the side took a running leap and jumped right into the fray.
So, what types of lessons are you planning these days?


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Harsh winter weather, involving heavy ice or snowfall, presents extra and unusual risk in our day-to-day activities. If you are an employer or allow the public on to your premises or facility then you must be able to show that you have considered the safety of your employees or visitors in foreseeable situations.
Tag Archive: assessment
Permanent link to this article: http://www.clearsnow.ie/health-and-safety-in-harsh-winter-weather/


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Or call us at (214) 224-3152
The Library has been named "the Top Place to Sip and Sup" by the Wall Street Journal, "Best Bar in the Greatest City on Earth" by Maxim magazine, one of the best "Seduction Spots for America's Best Bars" by Playboy magazine and consistently chosen as one of Dallas' best piano bars.
The Library offers a comprehensive menu of classic cocktails, beer and wine and an extensive menu of snacks, small plates and large plates...something special for everyone.
Open Sunday through Saturday at 2:00 pm. Live entertainment nightly on Monday through Saturday.
The Landmark Restaurant, a longtime Dallas icon, is elegant, historic venue with relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Executive Chef Patrick McElroy oversees all culinary operations in the hotel and created a modern, Nouveau-Americana menu for guests to enjoy in The Landmark Restaurant and The Library.
Chef McElroy's menus celebrate The Warwick Melrose's long history by fusing a fresh and modern approach with classic American favorites. Guests will experience a variety of new choices on the revamped breakfast, lunch and dinner menus that speak to both ladies who lunch and gentlemen in search of an entrée of Texas-style proportions.
Open Sunday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch.
Open Monday through Saturday for dinner.
Brunch is served on Sunday only.


text: When Doctors Take the Time To Really Listen Mommy Moments My daughter Julia is in the 6th grade. A few times this school year she mentioned that the teacher asked her to move closer to the front of the class when they were required to copy notes from the smart board. Since Julia had worn glasses for part of grade 1, I thought it would be a good time to take her in to get her eyes looked at again. Since I have a busy schedule, I loved that I could quickly book an eye exam* on the Canada Pearle Vision scheduler page. I was really happy that I was able to book a weekend appointment so that my daughter would not have to miss any school. Once I had the appointment scheduled I got an email confirmation that included directions and an option to add it right to my calendar. I found this very convenient. When we arrived at the appointment we were warmly welcomed, and after the paperwork was filled out it was time to get started. The doctor took time to ask both myself and my daughter if we had any concerns. Dr. Lee really took the time to listen before starting the exam*. She asked her about her eyes, but also about other hobbies and interests. Dr. Lee explained to Julia what she was checking every step of the way. I love that the doctor really took the time to connect with my daughter. At the end of the appointment Dr. Lee was very honest. She said that Julia did not need to have a prescription, but because the teacher had moved her to the front of the class and because Julia felt that the size 11 font on the smart board was difficult to read sometimes, she would give her an optional prescription. If we decided to take it, the prescription would help crisp up the things in the distance, but she would only need to wear the glasses for school. I really appreciated the honesty. I loved that she gave me the written prescription and let us decide from there what we wanted to do. http://intheco.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Mommy_Moment_Video.mp4 Life is busy, so I really appreciated that it was easy to book the appointment online and as a mom I love that the doctor was thorough and really took the time to listen. This post was brought to you by Pearle Vision. As always, opinions are my own. Arrange your own eye exam Here. Experience a child's first eye exam: http://intheco.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/BensGlasses_Can_HD_30_YouTube.mp4 *Eye exams arranged


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Homocysteine-lowering therapy improved outcomes after percutaneous coronary interventionPDF
ACP J Club. 2003 Mar-Apr;138:33. doi:10.7326/ACPJC-2003-138-2-033
Source Citation
Schnyder G, Roffi M, Flammer Y, Pin R, Hess OM. Effect of homocysteine-lowering therapy with folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 on clinical outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention: the Swiss Heart study: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002;288:973-9. [PubMed ID: 12190367]
In patients having percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), does homocysteine-lowering therapy with folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 reduce adverse coronary outcomes?
Randomized (unclear allocation concealment*), blinded (clinicians, patients, and outcome assessors),* placebo-controlled trial with 12-month follow-up.
A university hospital in Bern, Switzerland.
553 patients (mean age 63 y, 80% men) who received angioplasty to treat at least 1 significant coronary stenosis (≥ 50%). Exclusion criteria were unstable angina, myocardial infarction (MI) within the past 2 weeks, renal insufficiency, or receipt of vitamin supplements. Follow-up was 83%; all patients were included in the analysis.
Patients were allocated to homocysteine-lowering therapy with folic acid, 1 mg/d; vitamin B12, 400 µg/d; and vitamin B6, 10 mg/d (n = 272) or to placebo (n = 281) for 6 months.
Main outcome measures
Adverse events defined as all-cause mortality, cardiac death, nonfatal MI, need for repeated revascularization for proven ischemia, or a composite of adverse events.
Main results
Analysis was by intention to treat. The composite endpoint of any major coronary adverse outcome was lower in the homocysteine-lowering group than the placebo group, as was the need for repeated revascularization and repeated target lesion revascularization (Table). Adjustment for age, sex, and risk factors known to influence the need for repeated revascularization did not affect the results. The groups did not differ for nonfatal MI, cardiac death, or all-cause mortality.
In patients having PCI, homocysteine-lowering therapy with folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 reduced the need for repeated revascularization and adverse coronary outcomes.
*See Glossary.
Source of funding: Swiss National Science Foundation.
For correspondence: Dr. G. Schnyder, UCSD Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USA. E-mail email@example.com.
Table. Homocysteine-lowering therapy vs placebo after percutaneous coronary intervention†
|Outcomes at 1 y
|Composite outcome
|69% (50 to 97)
|15 (9 to 167)
|Repeated revascularization
|29% (1.8 to 46)
|18 (11 to 281)
|Repeated target lesion revascularization
|37% (4.6 to 57)
|17 (11 to 136)
†Composite outcome included death, cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or need for repeated revascularization. Abbreviations defined in Glossary; RRR, NNT, and CI calculated from data in article using Cox proportional-hazards ratio.
Systematic reviews have consistently shown a strong relation between elevated blood levels of homocysteine and risk for atherothrombotic vascular disease (1, 2). Furthermore, blood levels of homocysteine can be lowered in most patients using folate-containing multivitamin therapy (3). However, uncertainty still exists about the relation between homocysteine and vascular disease, especially whether it is causal (and modifiable) or confounded (high homocysteine levels may simply be a marker of another causal vascular risk factor), or whether high homocysteine levels in the blood may simply be a consequence of the atherosclerotic disease process or its complications (4).
The study by Schnyder and colleagues provides further support for a causal association between homocysteine and vascular disease by showing, for the first time, a reduction in major clinical vascular events, including death, MI, and target-vessel revascularization with folate-based homocysteine-lowering therapy. Although the risk reductions for death or MI were not statistically significant, the consistency of the treatment effect compared with the overall risk reduction suggests that the reduction in these outcomes is real.
A potential limitation of this study is that 13% of patients were lost to follow-up; imbalances in clinical outcomes between the 2 treatment groups after loss to follow-up could alter the study results. However, this is unlikely because the baseline characteristics and disease severity of patients lost to follow-up did not differ from the rest of the study population and a similar proportion was lost from both treatment groups.
What are the implications for clinical practice? Although causality of association between homocysteine and atherothrombosis remains unproven, the substantial benefits of simple, inexpensive, nontoxic, multivitamin therapy seem to provide a strong rationale for routine use of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 in patients receiving PCI. However, confirmatory data further evaluating the "homocysteine hypothesis" of atherothrombosis would be welcome (4).
John Eikelboom, MD
Royal Perth Hospital
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
1. Boushey CJ, Beresford SA, Omenn GS, Motulsky AG. A quantitative assessment of plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for vascular disease. Probable benefits of increasing folic acid intakes. JAMA. 1995;274:1049-57. [PubMed ID: 7563456]
2. Homocysteine Studies Collaboration. Homocysteine and risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2002;288:2015-22. [PubMed ID: 12387654]
3. Homocysteine Lowering Trialists' Collaboration. Lowering blood homocysteine with folic acid based supplements: meta-analysis of randomised trials. BMJ. 1998;316:894-8. [PubMed ID: 9569395]
4. Eikelboom JW, Lonn E, Genest J Jr, Hankey G, Yusuf S. Homocyst(e)ine and cardiovascular disease: a critical review of the epidemiologic evidence. Ann Intern Med. 1999;131:363-75. [PubMed ID: 10475890]


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Edenton Ladies Tea Party
Many women took the lead in the boycott of English goods. A group in North Carolina were lampooned by a British cartoonist as the
Edenton Ladies Tea Party
when they dared to sign a pledge to support colonial resistance to British measures, including a continued boycott of tea.
This was one of the earliest organized efforts on the part of women to influence public policy. In the 18th century, politics was thought to be an improper sphere for women, but the American Revolution nudged this dictate toward liberalization. The first nationwide women's organization, "The Ladies Association," was organized during the war in Philadelphia by Esther de Berdt Reed. It raised money for Washington's army and was known, somewhat derisively, as "Washington's Sewing Circle."