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Henderson County's sewer system would become part of a regional water and sewer authority, with the county having three votes on a 15-member governing board, under legislation introduced Thursday by N.C. Rep. Chuck McGrady and two Republican colleagues Thursday.
Henderson County's sewer system would become part of a regional water and sewer authority, with the county having three votes on a 15-member governing board, under legislation introduced Thursday by N.C. Rep. Chuck McGrady and two Republican colleagues Thursday.
Under House Bill 488, the county's Cane Creek Water and Sewer Authority — which serves about 3,200 customers in Mills River and Fletcher — would merge with Buncombe County's Metropolitan Sewerage District and the city of Asheville's water system.
The newly created Metropolitan Water and Sewerage District would save area utility customers millions of dollars annually, according to bill co-sponsors McGrady, Rep. Tim Moffitt and Rep. Nathan Ramsey. But the bill is highly contentious.
Asheville has vigorously resisted giving up control of its water resources, while Henderson County commissioners have previously balked at merging Cane Creek's sewer system with MSD if the county didn't have "meaningful representation" on a regional utility board.
As proposed, the regional authority would give Asheville, Buncombe County and Henderson County three seats each on the 15-member board, with one seat each for the towns of Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Montreat, Weaverville and Woodfin and the Woodfin Water and Sewer District.
One of Henderson County's members on the board would have to be chosen by the county from three names submitted by the town of Mills River. McGrady said that was included because Mills River "is really impacted by the (city's) water plant," which restricts development upstream.
"The key from Henderson County's perspective is, by being part of a regional authority, they actually now have a voice and a place at the table with regard to issues related to water," McGrady said. "Up to now, that's hasn't been true."
But a majority of Henderson County commissioners interviewed Thursday said they don't think three seats on a 15-member board is adequate, and said they'd seek to tweak their representation when the bill moves to the Senate.
"I think we've got to rework it," said Chairman Charlie Messer. "They've offered us three (seats) for some time. We've said it would take at least four."
Messer said a new consultant's study showing the county could build its own wastewater treatment plant at two potential sites in Fletcher for roughly $29 million gives the county bargaining power, along with a Mills River water treatment plant "that's never been paid for. We have two aces in the hole now."
Commissioner Mike Edney, who sat for several years on the old regional water authority board, agreed the county deserves more than three seats.
"If I were writing the bill, I would have Henderson County with about 50 percent of the representation because over the next 20-30 years, the population that's now in south Buncombe is going to migrate into here," he said. "So our interests are going to be more acute in a relatively short period of time than they are right now."
Commissioner Larry Young wants more details from Davis & Young, the consulting firm that conducted the study, about the county's options, but said he's leaning toward the county building its own sewer plant and staying "self-sufficient."
Three votes on a 15-member board isn't enough, he added, "because that means the others are going to vote with the city of Asheville."
But McGrady said there's no basis for giving Henderson County more seats than Buncombe or Asheville because "you have to look at the number of customers and in terms of what's being invested." The city had 30,338 sewer customers in 2011, with $19 million in billings, compared to 3,125 accounts and $961,154 from Cane Creek.
"They're getting three seats, but they're getting three seats at a table that includes water," McGrady said about Henderson County. "That's what they wanted in 1995, and back then, they only had two seats. Moreover, I think it's a really good deal in not having to build a sewer plant."
McGrady said Cane Creek's inclusion in the authority makes sense, since MSD's wastewater treatment plant in Woodfin already treats about .7 million gallons a day of Henderson County sewage. The merger would also lower rates for Cane Creek customers, McGrady said, saving the average rate payer roughly $120 per year.
This is not the first attempt at creating a regional water and sewer authority. In 1994-95, fearing a water shortage, Asheville City Council and Buncombe County commissioners got together with Henderson County's board and agreed to "work in good faith to achieve a consolidated, independent utility authority."
That deal allowed for construction of a water intake at the confluence of the Mills and French Broad rivers in Henderson County. But the city terminated the three-party agreement in 2004, after disagreeing with Buncombe County over fees for maintaining the water system.
The loss of two industries — a Gerber baby food plant and Ball bottle plant — also had reduced the city's thirst, according to county officials.
"They built this very nice technology in Mills River, but it cost a lot to run," recalled Edney. "About that time, Ball and Gerber closed down, so they had a huge water plant with very expensive water and nobody to use it. The necessity of partnering with Henderson County went away and my opinion is, once they knew they didn't need us, they stabbed us in the back (by terminating the agreement)."
The abiding distrust among former allies is why the General Assembly felt compelled to mandate a regional authority, McGrady said.
"People keep asking, why is the General Assembly jumping on this? Because the General Assembly wants to resolve these long-standing issues related to water and sewer and get on with other things. Water, in particular, has been a source of friction about every 20 years. Frankly, we want to get that behind us."
H.B. 488 will be read on the House floor on Tuesday, April 2, before being referred to several committees.
Reach Axtell at 828-694-7860 or email@example.com.


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Returns Policy
Everyone at Fancy-Dress-Forever pride themselves in offering all their customers the best possible service and quality products. Our staff are always ready and willing to assist you in your purchase choices or in the unlikely event you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase. You can contact us by phone on 01245 226021during office hours or by email at firstname.lastname@example.com. In the event that you would like to cancel an order or effect a return of goods, please follow the relevant process highlighted below to ensure that the you are refunded, where applicable, as quickly as possible. Please note that all refunds will be processed back to the original form and method of payment. All refunds will be acknowledged via email or postal mail.
Order Cancellation: Pre-Shipment
If you wish to cancel an order before it is shipped, please do so immediately via telephone or e-mail. You will not be charged any penalty and your payment method will also be cancelled. If the order has been shipped, then the Post-Shipment cancellation will apply.
Important Note - We do not refund items that have been worn, washed or damaged. Additionally for hygienic reasons, all sales on the following items are final and not eligible for returns; makeup, eyelashes, tights, stockings, wigs, contact lenses, underwear, and masks.
Some costumes may include stockings, underwear, masks, wings, wigs and/or other accessories. These items are usually supplied in sealed packets separate to the costume. We strongly recommend that customers try on the costume first. Unfortunately we are unable to process refunds under any circumstances where items have been removed from sealed packaging.
We are not a manufacturer, so the whole product and packaging must be returned in the same condition as you would have received it and how you may expect to receive it. If the product or packaging including the picture card, is in any way missing, damaged/split we cannot offer a refund.
Before sending the parcel back to us, please contact us by phone or email for a Returns Number that must be enclosed with the original delivery note. You will be asked for the reason for the return including whether you will prefer a refund or exchange plus whether the item has been used. In addition, you will need to confirm your name, order number and postcode, so please have these available if you telephone. You will also need to include this with your parcel back to us, as failure to do so may result in delay of any refund.
Returns Post-Shipment
If you're unhappy with your purchase for any reason, simply return it to us within 14 working days(*) and we will process a refund on receipt of the goods back. We are sorry but due to false promises in the past, we are unable to replace or exchange an item until the original is returned to us. If you need an item in a hurry, we suggest you place a second order for the new item and send the original back at a later date.
Sometimes goods may be purchased in advance as a present or delivered whilst on holiday, therefore the aforementioned 14 day period can be missed. It is at the discretion of Fancy-Dress-Forever as to whether a refund will be offered. As a gesture of good will, we are happy to consider a solution on a case by case basis. In all cases where it is agreed that goods may be returned, we're happy to refund to the value of 70% of the purchase price (excluding shipping costs).
All items will be inspected upon their return. We regret that goods cannot be refunded where there is clear evidence of them being cleaned, worn, traces of body odour, smoke, makeup, fake tan and/or perfume. We kindly request, that you treat all unwanted items in your possession how you would wish to receive them.
May we please ask you to additionally note:
That you or your carriers are responsible for any returned goods until they reach us. Cost and Risk of return will be at your expense and we recommend that you receive proof of posting or use Royal Mail's "Recorded Signed" service.
- We regret outbound shipping, packing and insurance cannot be refunded.
- We try to make refunds within 14 days of receipt back to us though promise to make all refunds within 30 calendar days. Please note that we will not be held liable for any interest payment that you may incur because any refund was made outside of your credit/debit card timescales.
- Should you request an exchange of goods for any reason other than faulty goods, you will be liable for the delivery costs.
Product Guarantee
All of our products come with our 30-day guarantee where you may return faulty goods for exchange or refund of original purchase price. This does not affect your Statutory Rights.
Returns Policy - Faulty Goods
In the event of receiving a faulty product from us, please notify us immediately, or within 14 days so that we may make arrangements for a replacement product or refund.
May we please ask you to additionally note:
- We shall be under no liability in respect of any defect arising from fair wear and tear, wilful damage, negligence, abnormal working conditions, misuse or alteration or repair of the ordered goods without our approval.
- Any returned goods that we receive which are outside of this Returns Policy would be defined as 'In Dispute'. Such 'In Dispute' items will not be refunded or exchanged. A reason for this decision will be provided. We are happy to re-ship such 'In Dispute' items back to you at your expense; otherwise they will be destroyed within 91 calendar days from their receipt back to us.
Product images displayed on our website are supplied by the costume manufacturers, these images may vary slightly from the actual costume. Our suppliers reserve the right to make changes to the products at any given time without previous warning. However, these changes should not interfere with the quality or the general concept of any of the items in question.
(*)14 days from receipt of delivery is defined as the date the goods were received by you.

subset: commoncrawl


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Add vehicles to compare. You can compare up to 3 vehicles at a time.
Tax, title, license and dealer fees (unless itemized above) are extra. Not available with special finance or lease offers. Some vehicle pricing includes down payment assistance - to qualify must be financed with GM Financial. Pricing includes rebates and incentives that can be a little confusing. Contact our Sales staff and we will verify your pricing based on your location! Please Note: Our inventory is updated daily but may also include vehicles in transit, ones that are not currently available, or ones that have recently sold. Vehicles may have aftermarket kits and accessories that are not currently reflected in the online price - Please call to verify! It is the customers responsibility to contact us to confirm pricing and availability. We strive to provide you with the best information that we have so that you can make an informed purchase decision. Our online inventory is updated daily, but may include vehicles in transit, vehicles recently sold, and vehicles that the manufacturer has asked us not to sell due to safety recall. We thrive to promote our online pricing information as accurately as possible, but we are humans working with computers and the displayed pricing information is subject to error. Recently installed dealer equipment may not be reflected in the price above. However, it can usually be removed, so that we can honor the price listed.


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Pestalozzi receives no government funding and relies solely on donations from individuals, businesses, Trusts, and Foundations. All donations make a difference, so if you can help to support our students now, please donate here.
Change the lives of young people
Students from around the world rely on the generosity of people like you to provide a life-changing experience of living and learning together. Please donate today to help a young person to thrive and achieve their vision of change in the world.
To donate please click here
You money could help buy what is listed below:
- £20 - would buy a science text book for a young person studying to become a doctor or engineer
- £50 - would pay examination fees to help support a student's application to an international University
- £100 - would buy a student's school uniform
Or, you can set up a regular donation by downloading the form here
- Just £5 a month could pay a young person's medical fees for the year.
- £15 a month could support extracurricular learning in music and art for a young person.
- £30 a month will pay a student's personal allowance for the year, covering clothing and personal use.
Regular donations help us to plan future spending, meaning that each year we can help our students to achieve their best in a supportive and challenging learning environment. Click here to download a regular giving form.
Pestalozzi 200 Club
Donors giving £200 or more per year on a regular basis are eligible to join the Pestalozzi 200 Club. Benefits include a credit online and in the Pestalozzi Newsletter, additional updates about the students throughout the year, and invitations to exclusive and VIP events.
Many thanks to our current Pestalozzi 200 members.
To apply for membership, please download and complete the application form and send to:
Martin Colvin
Individual Fundraiser
Drury Lane
St Leonards-on-Sea
East Sussex
Email: email@example.com
Direct telephone: +44 (0)1424 871929
In This Section
Any Questions?
Please contact us by clicking the link below.


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In an interview with Eugene Borukhovich, Bayer's Global Head Digital Health, he dispels the industry's misunderstanding about corporations and startups working together.
How did you get into the pharmaceutical industry?
I was born as a geek and technologist and had an opportunity to join a Pharmacy Benefit Manager in the United States many years ago, realizing I could apply my tech skills to help heal people. I am a serial intra- and entrepreneur, and about 1.5 years ago joined Bayer. And for the first time, I am now working directly inside the Life Science industry.
Why is the mission and work of Startup Health important to you?
The StartUp Health team has been on an amazing journey. Not only the concept, but more importantly the execution, of creating a global Health Transformer army focused on key moonshots to improve our society. The system is to be admired!
Tell us about Bayer's Grants4Apps program.
Grants4Apps was born five years ago by visionary Jesus del Valle Rosales, and literally at the time was grants for apps. The team has been run like a startup itself, continuously pivoting and innovating with introductions of programs to connect the world to Bayer and Bayer to the world. The core of the program is 100-day accelerator in Berlin, but we have had amazing uptake of the different models across the world within Bayer. Our stem4health meetups are in over 30 countries and growing every week; our co-working spaces are popping up from Moscow to Milan; and our accelerator program expanded to Shanghai as well.
What is Dealmaker?
We recently introduced Dealmaker for more mature startups. It is very transaction oriented, to solve the industry's challenges. With over 800 applications, Dealmaker turned into a one-day event where we picked the top 40 startups and, together with our challenge owners, legal, procurement and other key experts, we were able to sign letters of intent for a percentage of those companies THAT DAY! We are replicating this model now in the United States, focused on selfcare as the Grants4Apps Generator—so stay tuned for more news at the StartUp Health Festival. This is the passion and dedication of our #G4A Global family of innovators.


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When you are trying to decide which gym to join, it is not always as simple as you think it might be. There is an endless list of factors that need to be taken into consideration to make sure that the gym you join is perfect for you. By finding a gym that perfectly suits your needs you will greatly increase your chance of sticking to your new training program, and you give your less chance for excuses and/or loosing interest, which when combined give you the RESULTS you so desperately want.
First of all you need to look at what your fitness goals are and what you will require in a gym in order to achieve them. Gyms can be great places and when you find one that caters for all your specific needs it can become your second home, to some even their first! A gym can also be a place that people find all manner of excuses to avoid at all costs, so try and look for a gym that gives you minimum excuses, remember the more excuses you make and miss sessions the harder it will be to get results.
Below I have listed some of the factors I think are the most important when considering which gym to join.
Gym – The gym floor itself, should provide you with a wide and well maintained range of equipment, including both CV and weight machines, also a good selection of free weights (if this is an area you use – and it should be). There should also be a decent sized stretching area, nobody need the excuses to miss out the stretching and cool down sections of their program. The most important thing is that there would be enough space and kit available at the times you are planning to go to the gym, you do not want to have to be waiting around to take your turn on a bit of kit you want to use.
Classes – If you enjoy the odd boxercise class or are a spinning addict, have a good look at the studio timetable and make sure that the classes you like are available at a time that you would be in the gym.
Pool – Make sure that the pool caters for your circumstances, if you are a serious swimmer make sure that the gym you wish to join closes off lanes at the times you are in. Or if you just want to go in a float about with the kids then make sure you are aware of the times that the pool is open for the kids to use or even better is there a kids pool? The pool may also hosts a range of classes such as aqua aerobics, if you like the water this is a class that is well worth trying out.
Atmosphere – This is an often overlooked aspect of joining a gym, in order to maintain your new found gym going it is vital that you feel comfortable in the club. The best way to find this out is to ask for a guest pass and train at the gym at a time you normally would and experience it for yourself. If this is not a possibility on your tour take your time to have a look around and see what feel you get for the gym and those who are using it. Remember some gyms are targeted at different age groups, younger gyms tend to be louder and more intense, as opposed to the family type gyms.
Services – What else would you be looking for from the gym you join? Lots of gyms offer the normal additional services such as Personal Training, Nutritional Advice, and Physio. Many larger health clubs will offer a wider range of services such as beauty therapy, hairdressers, crèche's and much more.
Convenience – In my opinion this is the most important factors to look at when choosing a gym. Many people join gyms that they would have to travel to, and this is then often used as an excuse not to attend on those low energy days. It is best if you choose a gym that is very local to home, work or ideally on your way between the two and then you are much more likely to keep your attendance up. Also parking can often be a problem at some retail park based gyms, so ensure that your new gym has adequate parking spaces, especially at peak times.
Price – The monthly membership fees must be affordable and reflect what you consider to be value for money, gyms are not cheap but there are some more budget type chains. Obviously if you join a budget gym, the levels of service tend to be lower and the range of kit tends to be less. You should consider how many visits to the gym you will realistically make each month and work out the price on a cost per visit basis, this will allow you to look at the cost more realistically Most gyms now make you sign up for a twelve month contract, if you decide to join a gym using such a contract make sure that you thoroughly read the contract, especially the cancellation terms.
All gyms should give you a tour and allow you to have a look round before you join, also you will have the chance to ask any questions that you might have from someone in the sales department. I do encourage people to talk to other members and staff in different roles in the gym, this will allow you to get a much better idea of what the gym is really like. Some gyms, if you ask, will also give you a free day pass before you join so that you can try all the various facilities before you buy, I would always recommend that you try and get one of these and have a go!
Hopefully by looking at the above factors, and deciding what is important to you before you start to visit gyms, you will find the perfect gym for you. Remember a gym should be a place you are happy to be and enjoy training at, this will greatly improve your chances of sticking to your new exercise program, and most importantly getting the results you want!


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Bren's Photo for the Week – 59 – Shadows
Bren's Photo for the Week – 59 – Shadows
."Vivid" is my handy, all-purpose word, and this is my handy, all-purpose blog.
Come along on an adventure with us!
ACTION Speaks LOUDER Than WORDS
"Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off." ~ Proverbs 23:18
The ramblings of a retiree who cycles and cooks in France
immersed in nature
Looking for meanings in words, images and sounds
My stories, my poems, my thoughts
Life on the Big Island of Hawaii
Random musings on life, society, and politics.
iPhone Photos From In My Daily Life
Music * Movies * TV * Books * Games * Humor * Road Trips * Healthy Eating * Tips & Tricks * Saving Money * Resources
Philosophy is all about being curious, asking basic questions. And it can be fun!
Minimalism - Textures - Abstraction
A Journal Of Everyday Life
Adventures and Postcards from the road


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After returning from the first ever TFL gathering in Lexington MA last weekend I wanted to use some the rye starter that Varda gave me to make a rye bread. Dave Snyder posted his latest bake of the above bread on The Fresh Loaf this past week and pushed me over the edge to try it myself. You can find the recipe at his original post here.
This recipe uses a three-step build process called the Detmolder process which by using precise temperatures for each build is supposed to optimize the development of yeast growth, lactic acid and acetic acid production.
David had described his latest bake as having an almost sweet taste without that much sour flavor. My bake to me seemed to have a much more sour flavor than intended. I think I might have rushed the second build a bit which could have effected the final outcome.
In any case, the crumb came out about where I think it should for such a high percentage rye bread. The crust ended up much more thick than I think it should.
This type of dough is docked instead of scored and you only use steam for the first 5 minutes of the bake.
I will have to try this one again and see if I get the same result.
Submitted to Yeast Spotting.


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DeshidratadosMar. 14, 2013
Almendras/EE.UU: alta floración compensaría escasez de abejas
Blue orchard bees have been tried as supplemental pollinators in almond orchards.
Mike Hornick
This year's almond bloom in California appears sufficient to mitigate pressures the industry there has faced from declining bee populations.
"We're in the middle of bloom and conditions are very good," Bob Curtis, associate director of agricultural affairs for the Modesto-based Almond Board of California, said in late February. "Our prospects for getting the crop pollinated are favorable at this time."
Harvesting typically starts around Aug. 1 in Kern County, then moves to other growing areas and finishes in October. The state has about 800,000 acres of almond trees. The board represents about 6,000 growers.
"Bee supplies are tighter this year," Curtis said. "Our standard has been two hives per acre with eight-frame strength. We'll still have two hives, but it won't be eight frames or above across the board."
Eight-frame strength offers insurance against poor bloom conditions, but those have not materialized, he said.
The adequacy of bee populations has been a continuing issue for growers.
"The hive supply for several years has been stable or declining, but this last year was a confluence of a lot of different stressers," Curtis said. Winter losses rose. Pest control — of varroa mites in hives — has been problematic. And in the upper Midwest, drought and loss of foraging land to corn and ethanol production have affected bees.
The board has put $1.4 million into bee health research in partnership with the beekeeping industry. That's starting to pay off, Curtis said.
The board has asked growers to plant forage. Growers are also trying out the blue orchard bee — a relative of the leafcutter bee used in alfalfa production — as a supplemental pollinator.
New almond varieties are likely to help.
"The first commercial self-compatible almond varieties are starting to come online," Curtis said. "It will reduce the number of bees required because all you need is transfer of pollen within the flower."


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For a crime to occur, an opportunity has to exist and a motivated criminal has to be present. Help prevent crime by taking informed steps to make your neighborhood, business, and family safe and resistant to crime and unattractive to criminals.
The San Diego Sheriff's Crime Prevention Unit strives to reduce crime and improve quality of life in partnership with the communities we serve. Crime Prevention Specialists, working as members of our patrol stations, deliver and support ever-evolving prevention and safety programs, and maintain close partnerships with organizations, agencies, and community members. Specialists employ strategies ranging from personal safety to CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), stay aware of the latest residential and commercial security practices, and coordinate resources to combat current crime trends and future threats. Where you see Neighborhood Watch, Crime Free Multi-Housing, or safety and prevention information at a community fair, know that a Sheriff's Crime Prevention Specialist is close at hand and ready to assist.
For current and upcoming crime prevention events, click here (coming soon).
Review the prevention program and action information posted as links below. For additional information or support, contact your local Crime Prevention Unit member:
Information for Action
Well-informed people make better decisions, and better prevention decisions reduce crime. Register for the
Sheriff's Crimemapping
and Nixle services
to stay informed. Community members can take an active role by knowing when to
suspicious activity
. Your overall safety and security is enhanced when you are aware of your surroundings and risks - begin by
reviewing tips for your personal safety.
If you or someone you know is at risk of domestic violence, act now with Domestic Violence
information. (Violencia Domestica)
Neighborhood Watch
When neighbors work together, entire neighborhoods can benefit. Crime Prevention Specialists encourage and support Neighborhood Watch programs throughout the communities we serve. If you want to see a Neighborhood Watch sign with the Sheriff's star on it on your street, get involved and call your local patrol station.
Be a good neighbor and a good partner with your Sheriff's patrol team, and report suspicious activity by calling (858) 565-5200.
Crime Free Multi-Housing Program
The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program (CFMH) is successful because it approaches crime on many fronts. Law enforcement cannot solve crime problems alone. Neither can the management or residents of rental properties. However, by working together, the end result can be a successful reduction of crime and improved quality of life in rental communities. If you are a rental property owner, manager, or community member and want to reduce crime and increase quality of life in your complex through CFMH, call your local Crime Prevention Specialist.
Residential, Travel, and Vehicle Security and Safety
Good prevention and safety practices start at home. Review our Home Security Guide, Apartment and Condominium Safety overview, and use the Home Security Checklist to make your residence more secure. Residential Security Checks, vacation home checks, and other services are available through your Crime Prevention Specialist.
Going away? Know before you go - leave a safe home and be safe on your trip.
Vehicle-related crime is a persistent problem throughout the San Diego Region. Take steps to protect your vehicle and know that as long as there's something of value in your vehicle, including information about your identity or credit, a crook will see it as an opportunity.
Child and Senior Safety and Security
Review the following information and contact your Crime Prevention Specialist for additional support or to coordinate a presentation to your organization.
Business and Commercial Site Security
Crime Prevention Specialists provide no-cost commercial security reviews at your business site. To take proactive steps to secure your business practices by employing the following information. And remember, out of sight, out of mind - would a crook see an opportunity here?
Commercial and construction sites are affected by metal theft, often involving significant damage or loss of services, has been addressed with laws regulating metal recycling. For more information, review the metal recycling laws.
Identity Theft, Fraud, and Scams
Seemingly since the dawn of time, swindlers and crooks have been misrepresenting themselves and their intentions to steal from others. Today's web-based technology have created additional opportunities for thieves to obtain and use your personal information. Always consider the security of your personal information - in the trash, in your vehicle, in your online communications.
And a note about social networking websites: If you wouldn't post it on your front door, don't post it on the web.
If you become a victim, take action by reporting the crime and notifying the credit agencies to "flag your credit." See the credit agency contacts listed in the identity theft information below.


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About the Regional Animal Shelter in San Marcos
Residents of Hays County are served by a Regional Animal Shelter located in San Marcos. It is overseen by the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, which consists of seven (7) members; one licensed veterinarian, one city official, one person whose duties include the daily organization of the shelter, one animal welfare organization and one City or ETJ resident; one representative of City of Kyle and one Hays County representative. This board provides advice regarding the animal shelter and animal welfare.
For more information about the Regional Animal Shelter visit the City of San Marcos website. Phone is 512.805.2650.
In addition there are nonprofit animal rescue groups throughout Hays County, many of which can be found in phone directories and on the Internet.
For free and/or low-cost spay/neuter and other animal services in Hays County contact:
Pet Prevent A Litter (PALS) of Central Texas
Pet Services/Ayuda para las Mascotas
www.PreventALitter.com 512.754.PALS (7257)
In addition to spay/neuter services, PALS through its Pet Pantry provides food for pets and keeps them in their homes. The Community Cat program provides assistance and classes for Trap-Neuter-Return-Maintain (TNRM). Humane Education program teaches kindness, pet care and responsibility to children.
www.emancipet.org 512.587.SPAY (7729)
EmanciPET offers wellness and spay/neuter services through its mobile clinics at various locations in Central Texas, including Hays County. To see a calendar of places/dates or to make an appointment, click on Spay/Neuter at the top of the EmanciPET page.


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You are in Cairo East storeSTAY IN Cairo East CHANGE CITY
74 Items
74 Items
Choose from joi and send online flowers with same-day delivery in Cairo East. joi offers the highest quality same-day flowers and last minute bouquets for occasions.
joi offers the highest quality roses with elegant packaging and diverse arrangements. It provides you with the most luxurious gift shopping experience as it mirrors Cairo East's extravagant atmosphere.
Our quality flower bouquets are cultivated in a germ-free environment and given utmost care to provide you with fresh high-quality flower bouquets and arrangement that live longer than average and are sent on the same-day anywhere in Cairo East.
Pair your same-day flowers with a gift of your choosing. Find online a large selection of gifts including gifts for woman, gifts for men, birthday gifts, wedding gifts, newborn gifts and more. Our joi agents will deliver your gift with a smile on their face and you can request a singing telegram with it.
Have your same-day flowers delivery sent with same-day cakes including cheesecake, chocolate and red velvet cakes cakes for occasions such as weddings, birthdays and last minute surprises. Enjoy our fast delivery free of costs of shipping and handling.
Send a box of luxury chocolates along with your same-day flowers delivery to impress the recipient with delicious chocolates from top brands. Your gift bundle will be delivered on the same-day with our stylish and friendly joi agents.


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WASHINGTON (AP) - Law enforcement leaders who met with President Barack Obama Monday urged him to focus on strengthening gun purchase background checks and mental health systems, but did not unify behind his more controversial gun control efforts.
The message from sheriffs and police chiefs gathered at the White House reflected the political reality in Congress that the assault weapons ban in particular is likely to have a hard time winning broad support. The president appeared to recognize the challenge of getting everything he wants from Congress as well, participants in the meeting said.
"We're very supportive of the assault weapons ban," as police chiefs, said Montgomery County, Md., Police Chief J. Thomas Manger in an interview with The Associated Press. "But I think everybody understands that may be a real tough battle to win. And one of the things that the president did say is that we can't look at it like we have to get all of these things or we haven't won."
Opinions over an assault weapons ban and limits on high capacity magazines - two measures the president supports - were divided in the room. While Manger said the police chiefs from the large cities support that kind of gun control, some of the elected sheriffs who were in the meeting may not.
"I think what was made clear was that gun control in itself is not the salvation to this issue," said Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald of Story County, Iowa, one of 13 law enforcement leaders who met with the president, vice president and Cabinet members for more than an hour, seated around a conference table in the Roosevelt Room.
Among the participants included three chiefs that responded to the worst shootings of 2012, including Aurora, Colo., where 12 were killed in July; Oak Creek, Wis., where six died in an assault on a Sikh temple, and Newtown, Conn., scene of the most recent mass tragedy that left 20 first-graders dead.
The White House recognizes that police are a credible and important voice in the debate over guns that has developed following last month's elementary school shooting in Connecticut. Obama opened the meeting before media cameras and declared no group more important to listen to in the debate.
"Hopefully if law enforcement officials who are dealing with this stuff every single day can come to some basic consensus in terms of steps that we need to take, Congress is going to be paying attention to them, and we'll be able to make progress," Obama said.
Obama urged Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, limit high capacity magazines and require universal background checks for would-be gun owners in a brief statement to the reporters. But participants said after the media was escorted from the room, the focus was not on the assault weapons ban.
"He did not ask us if we do or do not support an assault weapons ban," said Hennepin County, Minn., Sheriff Richard Stanek, president of the Major County Sheriffs' Association. "He did not ask us if we do or do not support high capacity magazines."
"I told him very candidly that this isn't just about gun control alone," Stanek said. He said the bigger issue is that the Justice Department's system for background checks is incomplete since many states don't report mental health data or felony convictions. He mentioned how in his home state of Minnesota, a 14-year-old shot and killed his mother with a shot gun, but was later able legally to buy additional handguns and automatic weapons because the background check did not reveal his history. "There's example after example after example like that across the country," Stanek said.
Fitzgerald said the mental health system needs to be better funded because jails across the country are becoming "dumping grounds for the mentally ill."
"I was not the only sheriff that spoke up on that issue," Fitzgerald said. "To me, that is the No. 1 thing if we are going to impact that kind of violence that's happening in America."
All the law enforcement participants interviewed said they appreciated the president's attention to the issue and found the meeting constructive. Manger said the president did a lot more listening than talking and heard about the need to fund more police officers to protect school safety and a proposal to restrict the sale of ammunition on the Internet besides the broad calls for stronger mental health and background check systems.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, said he's never been more encouraged about the prospect of gun control legislation of some sort, even if the assault weapons ban his group supports is an uphill battle.
"You're not going to get 100 percent of people to agree on anything as it relates to gun control, and we're no different, but a majority of people in the room recognize that something needs to be done," he said. "This was not just a passing thing as far as the president and vice president are concerned. This is something that they are determined to keep in front of the American people until they get something passed."
While the assault weapons ban was not a major focus of the White House meeting, participants say it was discussed at length at a later meeting with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who sponsored a ban in 1994 that lasted for a decade and last week introduced a renewal of the ban in Congress.
"I would say her message was not well received overall by the group," Stanek said. "Everyone has an opinion on it one way or another."
Follow Nedra Pickler on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nedrapickler
WASHINGTON (AP) - Law enforcement leaders who met with President Barack Obama Monday urged him to focus on strengthening gun purchase background checks and mental health systems, but did not unify behind his more controversial gun control efforts.


text:
GNU Health personal and medical history package
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Mexico monarch butterfly decline fans fears in California
Plummeting populations of monarch butterflies in Mexico have raised fears about the future of the largest and most remarkable insect migration in the world, but the group that winters in California appears to be holding on after years of decline.
Mexico is the winter destination of hundreds of millions of the striking orange-and-black butterflies, which travel thousands of miles from southern Canada and the United States each year to escape the cold - with some settling along the warmer parts of the California coast.
But this year's winter count of monarchs in the Sierra Madre of Mexico was the smallest recorded since 1993, when entomologists began keeping records, according to a study by the World Wildlife Fund.
The dramatic decline - from close to 1 billion to an estimated 35 million - has lepidopterists in California in a flutter, but nobody seems to know what effect, if any, the collapse might have on monarchs in the Golden State.
Only 1.65 acres of the pine and fir forests west of Mexico City were covered with monarchs this winter, compared with 2.93 acres last year, according to the report, which was prepared by the Wildlife Fund, Mexico's Environment Department and the Natural Protected Areas Commission. At their peak in 1995, the butterflies covered 44.5 acres of the forest.
The population is now less than 5 percent of its peak, said Karen Oberhauser, an ecologist who has been studying the monarchs for 30 years.
"It's really concerning," said Oberhauser, a professor in the department of fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology at the University of Minnesota. "The numbers have never been this low. Last year was the lowest year ever, and this year is just a little more than half of what we had last year, so that's two years in a row of record low numbers."
California rebound
The butterflies in Mexico are the same species as the ones that winter in California, which has recently experienced a rebound in monarch populations.
The California butterflies, which gather for the winter in more than 200 groves along the coast, declined 90 percent between 1997 and 2009. The winter population at Natural Bridges State Beach, near Santa Cruz, dropped from an estimated 120,000 in 1997 to just 1,300 in 2009.
Things have improved in California over the past five years, largely as a result of conservation efforts, according to experts. An estimated 7,800 monarchs were seen this winter at Natural Bridges. That's compared with 1,500 a year ago, which was a particularly bad year, said Michael Ray, the state beach's interpretive specialist.
"We had an excellent year," Ray said. "It was probably the best population we've seen in about 15 years."
The monarch is one of the largest and, many say, most beautiful butterflies in the world. It is found throughout North America, but the species has expanded its range around the globe, including to Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia.
Milkweed feasts
Mexico's spectacular winter monarch migration is the largest in the world, with tens of thousands of butterflies often covering a single tree. The forest is a kaleidoscope of butterflies, with so many that one can hear the sound of their wings flapping, according to researchers.
The insects begin their trek south in Canada and the Pacific Northwest, where the caterpillars live on milkweed until they are ready to fly. The trip south involves a unique genetic directional imprint that scientists still do not understand.
The migrating butterflies divide at the Rocky Mountains into eastern and western migratory populations. The western group spends November through March in California and the eastern population winters in Mexico, more than 2,500 miles away from where they started.
The study blames the decline of the eastern population on urban sprawl and a lack of milkweed- and nectar-bearing flowers along their migratory route through the Midwest. The problem, Oberhauser said, is that corn and soybean crops have been genetically modified to be resistant to herbicides, particularly Roundup, which is a Monsanto trademark. As Midwest farmers increased herbicide use, milkweed died off.
The report also blamed a dramatic reduction in butterfly habitat in Mexico as a result of illegal logging and extreme weather in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.
Concern for state's numbers
The extermination of milkweed is not as big of a problem in the Pacific Northwest, which may be why the monarch population in California hasn't been hit as hard. Still, experts say, the butterfly population in California is by no means safe.
The California butterflies are being threatened by urban sprawl, pesticides and loss of habitat.
"Here in the western portion of their range the numbers have been going down" over time, said Chris Nagano, a senior scientist for the endangered species program for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "I wouldn't say the monarch as a species could be in trouble, but the phenomenon where they winter in California and Mexico, that's a concern."
It is not clear how much the western and eastern populations mix - some monarchs tagged in Arizona have been found in both Mexico and California - but their journey back and forth from their wintering grounds is phenomenal.
In March, the males die and the females start heading back north, but each butterfly lasts only a couple hundred miles, where they lay eggs on milkweed and die. The trip back to Canada is essentially a relay race involving four generations of adult butterflies, which each feed on flowers along the way before breeding and dying. The monarch that returns to Mexico or California the next year is consequently five generations removed from the last ancestor that wintered there. Scientists have not figured out how the insects know where to go.
"It's really amazing," Oberhauser said. "Certainly there are other organisms that migrate and other insects that migrate, but the migration of monarchs to the same spot year after year is a unique phenomenon, and the density of their population is unprecedented."
The World Wildlife Fund is urging Canada, the United States and Mexico to take action to protect monarch migration at the North American Leaders' Summit on Feb. 19 in Toluca, Mexico.
"What's happening to monarchs is probably happening to lots of species," Oberhauser said. "This is a species, unlike most other insects, that we can count and look at what we've done to it. So this really should serve as a wake-up call."
Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com Twitter: @pfimrite


text:
Guessing game time. A married aging actress is rumored to have decided to end her celebrity marriage over that dirty, dirty mistress: World of Warcraft.
Via sister site Gawker.com, comes this BuzzFoto blind item:
This married/aging actress has put up with a lot throughout her celebrity marriage. She's practically raised the kids on her own, dealt with scandals and cheating and still managed to put on a happy face on the red carpet. Within this next year, she plans to finally leave her husband and make the divorce public. The current final straw? Not other women or drugs, but an addiction to World of Warcraft. We kid you not.
Not Catherine Zeta Jones.
Celebrity marriage, aging actress, husband is hardcore WoW. But, who?!
BuzzFoto Blind Item #228 [BuzzFoto via Gawker]


text:
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Current System.
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text:
Starting in February of 2007, I started this little blog with very little in terms of expectations. At the end of the month, I had a total of 27 views to the blog. Most of them were probably mine. 😉
The month after, I had a whopping 50% increase and jumped to 37 views. Well, it looks like I increased, but actually I decreased from two hits a day down to one because the month of February was only a short month of blogging. I think I started somewhere in the middle of the month averaging my views per day to being 2/day. So, yes, a total of 30 days of work got me a total of a view a day basically. It was depressing and like many who blog, I'm sure I was wondering "what am I doing?"
Somehow, the 3rd month gave me a little inspiration. Thanks to wordpress, our posts are not just optimized for the internet, but they also show up in some categories on the blog site where other "wanna be bloggers" are able to see our posts and give their support, if not just their curious fingers clicking on our well thought out post titles. 😉
It took me another 4 months (yes 7 months total) before I hit the 1000 views+ mark. In September, I had almost doubled what I had in terms of website traffic in one month. The google sandbox is reality. It takes a while to get a blog (and a lot of hard work & energy spent) to get it more traffic. Just a few months after in December, I increased my traffic 800%!!!


text:
Winter Block Puzzle
Description: Drag the blocks from the outside to the inside to construct the image.
Category: Winter Games
Note: This game was built with HTML5. It runs on Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari or Internet Explorer 9 or higher. It is also optimized for iOS devices, including iPad, iPod, and iPhone.
Game Spotlight
Play games, win ourWorld money, and get clothing and accessories to create your own style.


text:
New Year Honours List
JJ Williams awarded MBE
ESPN Staff
December 29, 2012
JJ Williams won 30 caps for Wales during his playing career and a further seven for the Lions © Getty Images
Former Wales winger JJ Williams has expressed his delight at being awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list.
The 64-year-old, who won 30 caps for his country between 1973 and 1979 - winning two Grand Slams - and made a further seven Test appearances for the Lions on their tours to South Africa in 1974 and New Zealand in 1977, is recognised for his services to rugby and to charity.
Williams, who was also part of the Llanelli side that wrote itself into Welsh rugby history by defeating the all-conquering New Zealand All Blacks 9-3 at Stradey Park 40 years ago, Press Association Sport: "Receiving the MBE is right up there with all the things I achieved during my playing career. It is very special and I was tremendously excited when I found out I would receive the honour.
"A lot of the players I played with in the 1970s received honours at the time and I thought maybe my chance had gone. But to have received this honour later in my life means I will cherish it that little bit more and it is very, very special for me and my family."
Williams also helped set up the Welsh Rugby International Players Benevolent Association, to assist those who struggled after their playing careers had finished, something he has found to be rewarding.
He added: "I am particularly pleased that the charity work I have done is also a part of this, and I hope it has played a big part in it because it is something that is very important to me.
"The setting up of the Welsh Rugby International Players Benevolent Association has helped a lot of players who have suffered illness or injury in later life, and it is help that was needed as it was an amateur game when they played. I enjoy my charity work, I was fortunate to be given a good life through sport and I think it is right to give something back."
Debbie Jevans, who recently became the chief executive of World Cup organisers England Rugby 2015, has also been awarded a CBE for her work as director of sport for London 2012. A pivotal member of the team responsible for delivering the highly-successful Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as the Games-wide medical and anti-doping programmes, has now been charged with ensuring rugby's next showpiece event hits those same heights.
The man who as chief executive of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) had overall responsibility for delivering the biggest most successful sporting event ever staged in Britain, who has also been recruited to the England Rugby 2015 management board, Lord Deighton has been awarded the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Deighton, whose award is in addition to the peerage he received ahead of joining the Government as a Treasury minister, spearheaded London 20212's campaign to raise £2 billion from the private sector to stage the Games.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Communication error please reload the page.


text:
Friday, November 29, 2013
countdown to christmas
Posted by The Links at 8:21 PM 4 comments
Labels: Christmas, Pinned There Done That
thanksgiving 2013
Posted by The Links at 9:17 AM 1 comments
Labels: Family, Thanksgiving
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
my little turkey
Posted by The Links at 9:59 PM 2 comments
Labels: Thanksgiving
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
the trains at northpark
Posted by The Links at 10:31 PM 1 comments
Labels: Christmas
Monday, November 25, 2013
meal planning monday
Posted by The Links at 6:10 PM 0 comments
Labels: Meal Planning
Sunday, November 24, 2013
baby no. 2 {27 weeks}
what i'm looking forward to? The Christmas Season. We put our Christmas tree up this weekend and Pearson is just in awe of it. It's going to be so fun to see Christmas through his eyes this year as he starts to grasp some of it.
how are you feeling? So much better this week. No Charlie Horses, no sciatic nerve pain and no hand or feet falling asleep. Praise the Lord!! I feel great all day and get around just fine, but after Pearson's nap (which is usually after I've been busy working on some sort of project) I start to poop out. By the time Matt gets home I am completely exhausted and my body just starts to hurt. I have Braxton Hicks contractions occasionally throughout the day, but they always pick up in the evening. I end up spending most of my evening on the couch.
Posted by The Links at 9:01 PM 0 comments
Friday, November 22, 2013
five on friday
Posted by The Links at 10:23 PM 2 comments
Labels: 5 on Friday
Monday, November 18, 2013
meal planning monday
Posted by The Links at 8:33 PM 2 comments
Labels: Meal Planning
Sunday, November 17, 2013
baby no. 2 {26 weeks}
what i'm looking forward to? Pulling out all of Pearson old clothes out of the attic to starting to sort through what we can reuse.
how are you feeling? All sorts of cramps going on in my body. I found out at the doctor that the cramp in my butt is my sciatic nerve. Little man likes to position himself where he presses or pinches this nerve which gives me an awful shooting pain in my butt. One night this week I woke up in tears it hurt so bad.......however the last two nights it hasn't bothered me at all. Hopefully it is a thing of the past because it was quite painful. I am having multiple Braxton Hicks contractions each day. They aren't painful, just annoying. My hands have also started randomly falling asleep. Fun times!!
Posted by The Links at 9:49 PM 2 comments
Saturday, November 16, 2013
pearson {29 months}
- If we ask you if we can help you, your response is always "No, I help you"
- I let you have juice boxes for the first time this month. Big mistake. You are obsessed and think you should have one everyday. We ran out last week and I won't be buying anymore any time soon.
- You LOVE to sing songs but you do not like to perform for us. You sing the ABC's and Jesus Loves Me alot, but you are always buy yourself or where we can't see you. You come home singing all sorts of songs from preschool.
- Your favorite snack right now is hummus and pita chips. You wake up some mornings asking for it.
- We turned your room into a "Big Boy Room". You are still in your crib but you have a little play area in your room now where the rocking chair used to be.
- We got Nash's bed and bedding all set up and sometimes when I put you down for a nap you tell me "No, dat bed." You love to be in his room.
- Another phrase we here alot is "I dood dit" (I do it) or "My dood dit".
- When sports are on the TV you usually say "Go Cowboys" or "Go Bay-Yer" (Baylor). Last week when Matt was getting really excited during a Baylor game, he looked at me and said "Daddy's so-wee" (silly).
- You have started taking showers with us. You think it is such a fun thing!
- You won't let us change your diaper on the changing table anymore. You have to choose where you lay down now. You are not interested in potty training at all and I am A-Okay with that. I'm not ready for it. After you poop, you promptly tell us "Diapa Change".
- We have had to pretty much quit letting you watch TV. It's such a battle with you after the show is over that it's not worth the 30 minutes of peace and quiet it give us to let you watch a show.
- You love to go to Chick-A-Way (Chick-fil-A) with Lolly & Pops on Tuesday mornings. Some mornings when I ask you what you want for breakfast you tell me "Chick-A-Way wif Ya-Yi and Pops".
- You still take a great 2-3 hour nap every day. If it is not a school day you usually go down around 1pm. On school days you go down at 2pm and usually sleep until 5pm. School wears you out.
- You have become an apple snob like your Mama! You never liked apples until I started offering you Honeycrisps.
- You have discovered that your pants have pockets and you call them your "Phone Pocket".
- Anytime we pass a fire station you like to see if the fire trucks are out. If the doors are closed I always say "Ah man, the doors are closed." The other day as soon as we passed the station you said, "Ah man da doors are closed." It's so funny to hear you mimic what we say.
- You are talking in lots of sentences and phrases. You amaze us with all that you can say now. You can really communicate well.
- At night when we say it's time to say our prayers you say "Talk to Jesus". You put your hands together and squint your eyes together where you can still see. Some days you will repeat after us and some days you won't.
- A while back I told Pearson that he was going to have to start going tee-tee in the potty soon so we can give Baby Nash all of his diapers. He quickly responded, "No.....Baby Nash go tee-tee in the potty."
- You like to tell us what the weather is like each day (raining, windy, hot, cold, cloudy, dark).
- All shirts with collars are coats to you. When you wear a dress shirt you like to say "I handsome."
- Funny words you say....
- Smoo-Bee (Smoothie)
- Tee-Bee (TV)
- Ya-Wer (Water)
- Bwank (Blankie)
- Don't Truck (Dump Truck)
- Es-Ta-Bater (Escavator)
- Ro-Yer (Roller)
- Yo-Gurk (Yogurt)
Posted by The Links at 9:58 PM 1 comments
Labels: Watch Pearson Grow
surprise sleepover
Posted by The Links at 9:29 PM 2 comments
Thursday, November 14, 2013
pearson's 2K music program
Posted by The Links at 10:00 PM 3 comments


text:
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text:
I ordered the Centaurs as soon as they went live and will doing a review as soon as they arrive.
Quickblade22 wrote:Cool deal, though I hope the review doesn't include rhyming I will have to order some very soon also.
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text:
Littlefield has helped benefit Sanford, York County
To the editor:
I am writing in support of state senatorial candidate Brad Littlefield.
Brad has a proven track record in Sanford that has had great benefits to much of central York County. His activity on the Sanford Regional Economic Growth Council, along with his support of the foundation and creation of said council, has been vital to the development of York County's growth.
He has supported the establishment of Sanford Downtown Legacy and is currently the vice president of that corporation.
His resolve has been steadfast in the revitalization of the former Goodall Sanford Textile Mill Complex, which has brought forth the beginnings of new development of the mill yards. That is just the start of his understanding of how important it is to create an environment where individuals and businesses alike can thrive.
Brad also has a unique understanding of our municipal issues. He was instrumental in the Department of Transportation establishing a Central York County Corridor Study to investigate the need for infrastructure capital improvement throughout central York County.
As vice chair of the Sanford Regional Economic Growth Council and a member of the York County Legislative Advocacy Group, Brad took part in the development of the Excellence in Manufacturing program that has been established in South Sanford at the former U.S. Optical building, with classes taught by instructors from York County Community College late this fall. This new course instruction was designed to meet the huge needs of machine tradesmen for Pratt & Whitney, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and General Dynamics that have gone unanswered for years.
The above accomplishments are just the beginning of why I believe Brad is deserving of the District 3 support and are the reasons I will be supporting him on Nov. 6.
Ken Burgess
Poland Springs' support is appreciated
To the editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to support Poland Spring and the good people there who make things happen!
We recently held an event in Sanford. The "event" was a band performance by the "President's Own" United States Marine Band. This performance was held on Oct. 17 in Sanford and was offered free to the public. The Sanford Department of Recreation and Public Property, through the meticulous work of the Sanford School Nutrition Program, hosted a luncheon for the band members and staff prior to the concert, and Poland Springs' Hollis Center Plant made a generous donation of water to help us defray the costs of this luncheon.
This isn't the first time that Poland Springs has joined The Town of Sanford in supporting community events that are either offered at a low cost or completely free to the public. The public enjoyed the evening, and the band and the accompanying staff members sent us a gracious hand-signed thank-you note for the lunch provided to them.
This type of community spirit is what keeps our communities going. To be able to give to the Sanford and surrounding communities the gift of beautiful music for the evening was a pleasure, and the support of this local company is truly appreciated.
Marcel Blouin
Recreation and Public Property
Expand your culinary horizons
To the editor:
After having worked in Philadelphia for a little over a year, I have been pleased to find more local employment and return to my native Sanford and loving family. Among the many pleasures of getting reacquainted with the area, of course, is visiting some of my favorite restaurants and eateries. However, as Philadelphia is well known for its culinary establishments, there are many places in that area that I will miss frequenting.
My whole family enjoys a diverse array of ethnic cuisine, and I am no exception to this. I have been pleased that one thing I am not suffering withdrawal from is Thai food. This is due to the fact that Sanford has one of the finest Thai restaurants I've ever been in right here in the center of town. I'm speaking of the Thai Koon, which is located just off Main Street in front of the new police station. During my residence in Philly, I have gone to several restaurants serving Thai food, but surprisingly none was equal to the Thai Koon. Every dish is authentic and well prepared, and the prices are exceedingly reasonable.
To my dismay, on a couple of recent trips to the Thai Koon, I noticed that there weren't as many folks seated in the dining area as I would have expected. It does seem to me that there is some evidence of restaurants which could be perceived as being slightly out of the ordinary, having a hard time making it in this area. At the same time, when folks are contemplating eating out, you can often hear them complaining that there is nowhere to go, except for "the same old places."
Don't get me wrong; I love steak and potatoes as much as the next guy. Fast food is a small but persistent staple of my diet, which I seem to be powerless to eliminate completely. Life to me is not complete without regular visits to the salad bar a Bonanza. I can't help but feel, though, that our town would be greatly impoverished if we failed to support this local small business, which in many places would have patrons lined out the door.
I urge you to consider expanding your culinary horizons and visit the Thai Koon for either dining in or take out. If you haven't been in for a while, they've redecorated and the place is gorgeous. I recommend the basil fried rice. Happy eating!
Bruce Carlson, Jr.
Tuttle is a dedicated public servant
To the editor:
At a time when we all seem to be up to our eyeballs in political messaging, I'm relieved to see the high quality of people we have consistently had serving us on the local level who have remained above reproach.
In particular, I would like to thank John Tuttle for his service to our country, our state and our local area. I had the privilege of attending John's induction ceremony to the Maine Wrestling Hall of Fame a couple years ago and was impressed, not only with his accomplishments as a student-athlete from Sanford, but more importantly, with the humble way he accepted the honor. He later went on to serve our State and our country in the National Guard, as a first responder and EMT and as a state legislator.
Whether he is on the wrestling mat, responding to a natural disaster or serving us in Augusta, John has remained a dedicated public servant. Thank you, John, for all you have done for our Town and will continue to do in the future.
Adam Cote
Voters can make this positive change
To the editor:
I have been a colleague and friend of State Representative John Tuttle for more than 33 years. He has always been known in Augusta as a hard worker and someone who is totally dedicated to serving his constituents.
Rep. Tuttle has the experience and expertise to tackle the major issues that will be at the forefront in the upcoming legislative session.
The Maine Senate will have several new members in the next legislative session, and John's ability to hit the ground running will be an asset for the people of Maine and Senate District 3. He is someone you can trust to do what's right and do it with honor.
There is one very positive change that you can make in state government. Change State Representative John Tuttle to Senator John Tuttle.
State Sen. Bill Diamond
Support Mongeau, Mastraccio, Noon
To the editor:
I encourage residents of Springvale and Sanford to vote in support of three local citizens running for office — David Mongeau for town council and Anne-Marie Mastraccio and Bill Noon for state representative.
As our town government begins to change, we need people on our council who have the energy, enthusiasm, and business expertise to move us forward. I have been impressed with many of the ideas presented by David Mongeau, his intelligence and engagement in civic issues, and his desire to see Sanford-Springvale move in a positive direction. It would be nice to have representation from younger businesspeople in town, and I admire him for his desire to become involved and make a difference in town governance while at the same time providing a wonderful eating option in town (Fusion Bistro).
I am also very pleased to see that Anne-Marie Mastraccio is running for state representative in House District 143. As someone who has lived here for 27 years but is from away, I have always been impressed by the educated and intelligent representatives we have had on both the school committee and in various aspects of town government. Anne-Marie stands out in all her service to our citizens. She is articulate, educated, well informed and energetic. Not only would she be an excellent representative for Sanford-Springvale, she would be a solid member of our state legislature. She has great experience at several levels of citizen representation, knows what we need to do to get government to work, and has the energy and enthusiasm to make things happen.
I also encourage people to support Bill Noon, who is running for state representative in House District 144. Bill has been a Springvale businessman (Noon's Carpentry and Noon's Sheep Farm) for 25 years and knows well the needs of local people. He does not have ties to former legislators and would speak with an independent mind for the people in our area. We need fresh ideas at the state level, and Bill's perspectives would provide those.
Please support David Mongeau, Anne-Marie Mastraccio and Bill Noon. You won't be disappointed.
Carol Forbess
Noon is moderate and sensible
To the editor:
I am enthusiastically supporting Bill Noon for election to the State House in District 144 for Acton and parts of Lebanon, Sanford and Springvale.
This is a guy we can get behind when national politics are polarized. We have a candidate who has over twenty years of experience as a moderate and sensible force for progress on the Sanford Planning Board.
I like that Bill and his wife, Jean, own the Noon Family Sheep Farm and have been instrumental in founding the Three Rivers Land Trust.
Bill is a woodsman, a carpenter, a father and a grandfather. Bill is dedicated to both land and the people of his community.
Let's elect him to the State House.
Patricia H. Frost
Charter gives community back to the people
To the editor:
When I was elected to serve on the Sanford Charter Commission for the people of Sanford and Springvale, I and several others spent a great deal of time making sure this community was not going to remain a status-quo community.
That was what most everyone on the charter commission did. We made sure that what we put forward to the voters was that you, the people of this community, will now have a say in the future of this community, and not that good old boys club that has plagued this community for years.
Over 13,000 voters will determine who will lead — the Mayor of this council instead of 7 members of the council. The word "mayor" is just a name change, instead of chairman. No pay increase, no increase in power ... just a name change. Those who chose to run for mayor will now have to tell you what makes him or her better than the rest running for this important spot, and not the good old boys club.
With regard to the budget process, while it is redefined, you still have a budget committee; it's just not called a finance committee. You still elect four budget committee members town wide and the council appoints three. The budget committee's job, for the most part, is the same; they will work to prepare and present a working budget to the council and then to the voters. The best part is that over 13,000 voters will have a say on the budget they present to the community.
The last issue is Sanford going from a town to a city. Folks, it's nothing more than a face lift. It was more about making Sanford more attractive toward economic growth and to enhance this community on what we have to offer. It cost nothing to the taxpayer; it changes nothing with regard to departments. This is nothing more than a word-change as it does nothing to change the vibrant history the Town of Sanford and the Village of Springvale, but only adds to it.
So on Nov. 6, please vote yes on passing this charter. Give this community back to the people and let's move forward in making Sanford shine.
Gerry Gay
Sanford Charter Commission member
Charter's CIP structure will reap benefits
To the editor:
What is CIP?
Budgets are separated into "expenses" and "capital." Expenses cover non-tangible budget items, like salaries, office supplies, heating fuel, electricity, etc. Capital expenditures are for tangible items, such as rolling stock (police cars, fire trucks, snow plows), major repairs to buildings (HVAC systems, roof replacement), equipment (trash compactors), and other infrastructure items (mainly roads and sidewalks).
The town's current charter requires that 2-percent of the previous year's combined municipal and school budgets be appropriated for the CIP. This 2-percent is available for all capital expenditures and has been barely enough to maintain buildings and equipment and purchase police, fire and other vehicles. The pressure to ensure that tax rates stay at or below the previous year has led to very little, if any, CIP expenditures for road maintenance. Our roads and sidewalks continue to deteriorate to a point that it has negative effects on our personnel property (wear and tear on our cars and trucks) and, of even more concern, our safety. The only way to address our poorly maintained roads is to either increase the CIP or borrow the money in the form of a bond.
This year's CIP is 3.9-percent, of which 1.9-percent, or approximately $1.04 million, is designated for major road repairs. This $1.04 million is only enough money to cover the repair of just a few of Sanford's worst roads. But there are many more. And eventually the taxpayers of Sanford will have to pay for repairing these neglected roads. It is inevitable.
The proposed charter for which we will vote to adopt on Nov. 6 has a provision that a portion of the CIP must be used for infrastructure — specifically, roads and sidewalks. This requires that an additional 2-percent be added to the current 2-percent requirement at half-a-percent per year over four years. This additional percentage maxes out at 2-percent, for a total CIP allotment of 4-percent. The entire amount of this additional money must be designated specifically for roads — no exceptions.
The proposed charter's requirement for an additional half-a-percent per year in CIP funds will not increase the tax rate for the first three years — because the current CIP is already at 3.9 percent. In fact, the charter's CIP requirement could actually result in a decrease in the percentage CIP until Year 4 after the charter is enacted.
If the people of Sanford are not happy after three years of road improvements that result in improved safety and less wear and tear on our vehicles, then there is a simple option to amend this section of the charter and reduce or eliminate the minimum CIP requirement. The process requires that the council draft an amendment and place it on the ballot for the voters to accept or reject. Our current charter has been amended several times since its adoption using this process. Since the mandated CIP percentages have no negative impact on taxes until the 2016/2017 fiscal year, voting "NO" for the charter just because you disagree with this portion of the proposed charter is a rash decision. The best option is to vote "YES" and take the next three years to decide if the CIP portion of the charter needs revision or not. I suspect that the benefits that Sanford will reap from the increase in CIP funds will be quite noticeable and appreciated by many, if not all, who travel Sanford roads on a daily basis. I urge everyone to get out and vote on Nov. 6 — and I also urge the people of Sanford to vote yes for the proposed charter. A YES vote is a vote that will set Sanford in the right direction towards a better future for ourselves and the generations to follow.
Judith Gibbs
The Bluebird and the Owl
To the editor:
Once upon a time, in two different forests, there lived a Bluebird and an Owl. Both were good and feathered creatures who wanted to live a correct life, but each went about it in a very different way.
After a torrential storm battered the forest, the Bluebird (a.k.a. Aves-In-Chief) tried and tried in vain to reinstate the golden climate that had once imbued that serene and safe woodland, but was sadly unable to do so. No matter how many full-throated promises he made, a sort of fog prevailed everywhere, and the result was grounding fear, confusion, and sadness. Finally, to satisfy his own social sense and to appease his flock somewhat, the Bluebird resorted to the habit of flying across the expanse of that huge forest, collecting worms and other delicious cuisine from other birds who had been able to survive the torrential storm, having built and fortified more-abundant nests. The Bluebird would then indiscriminately distribute his snatched, new-found bounty into less-plentiful nests and their hungry inhabitants' beaks. The result in some cases was that those receiving birds, sensing over time no possibility of climate change in the forest, biologically required or came to expect that the Bluebird would forever continue delivering this delicious room service accommodation. After a short while, as a consequence of the lack of structure and striving, some of these creatures slowly and stealthily lost hope and the ability to even compete in their pursuit for food. In short, they were left without any true stimulus to maintain or improve their circumstances. Alas, they became shackled to a way of life they never intended.
Likewise, some of those feathered creatures who had enjoyed full nests and who kept striving could not maintain a level of plenty in their nests due to their being continuously depleted by the Bluebird. These too soon lost courage and, in turn, were sadly damned to the same fate, settling for a way of life they never intended — hence, the lack of spirit, the despair in the 4-chambered hearts of all those deceived birds and throughout that doomed forest due to the albatross of bureaucracy hanging heavily around everyone's neck.
Meanwhile, in a neighboring great forest, the Owl — who was sometimes perceived as less friendly a leader — inspired and encouraged his fellow creatures by extolling the virtue of self-reliance and, to the extent possible because of his experience and wisdom about climate-changing in such matters, provided winged examples and opportunities for them to gradually soar to altitudes they never thought possible. It must be added that most of the birds responded positively to this expectation, flying out each morning as in an Adventure, and grabbing the "loot" they so desperately needed in order to live rich lives independent of servitude or encumbrance. As you might expect, their structured and active lifestyles resulted in chirpy attitudes that translated into hope and the peace of mind that are the consolations of a plentiful nest (and full belly). Not to mention self-worth. And melodic warbling!
Speaking on condition of anonymity (because they did not wish to be show-offs) many of these confessed to the joy of choosing to share delicious worms and other such cuisine with others too fragile to provide for themselves. And all lived happily after in this enchanted forest.
Lorraine Masure
Archambault is reliable
To the editor:
I'm glad to see Dan Archambault is willing to serve in the Maine House of Representatives.
Putting your name on the ballot, campaigning for almost 11 months and, when you win, driving to Augusta daily to work on controversial public policy issues, often late into the evening, for two years is a serious commitment to the citizens of Acton, Lebanon and Springvale. Dan is the best choice to fulfill this commitment, he can do the job. All you have to do is vote for him on November 6th.
Dan is a contractor and Coast Guard retiree, husband and father. I worked with Dan on a barn reconstruction project several years ago and happily got to know him well. He is smart, reliable and articulate. It is the reliable part that should be most important to the voters. Augusta is a long drive from Acton, Lebanon and Springvale. Two years in office until the next election is a long time to be your representative. The work in the Legislature is often not glorious work; it is mind-numbing, contentious and complicated. There are few easy votes and few issues that even a majority can agree on.
Dan will attend every Legislative session, participate in his Committee assignment and vote on all issues brought before the next Legislature, no matter how difficult. That is what reliable means. He will represent your interests in Augusta both in the Legislature and on problems you have with state government. I will vote for Dan Archambault on Nov. 6, and you should too.
Richard Nass
Springvale would become a mere neighborhood
To the editor:
At a recent town council hearing, Charter Commission Chairman Jonathan Mapes circumvented answering direct questions to me. Instead, he eluded and avoided telling the public at large that Springvale will become a mere neighborhood similar to Deering neighborhood, where Councilor Brad Littlefield lives.
There is no mention of suburb environs in the proposed charter, which would allow the chairman's dream come true — a "little city" and suburbanite Alberta M. Sevigny living in a suburb or an environ!
Alberta M. Sevigny
Tuttle will be loyal to constituents
To the editor:
As a selectman in Waterboro, I am concerned about the legislature's tendency to reduce the state budget by sliding responsibilities onto Maine's municipalities. Two examples of this failure of responsibility come to mind. The first are education mandates that have no funding attached to them and force towns to raise revenue. The second has been the practice of returning roads to the towns to maintain and not providing adequate funding. These actions put an extra burden on our property taxes.
John Tuttle has assured me he will not support sending unfunded mandates down to the municipalities if elected to the State Senate. Like many of my neighbors, I, as a citizen, am disappointed with legislators who are close-minded and resistant to any views not proposed by their party. This creates reckless gridlock when trying to pass needed legislation.
John Tuttle told citizens attending a candidates' night in Waterboro that he will be loyal to his constituents, not his party, and that he knows how to achieve compromise when it is needed.
I support John Tuttle's candidacy for State Senate.
Jon Gale
You can trust John Tuttle
To the editor:
It is my pleasure to write this letter of endorsement for John Tuttle. I have known John for many years, and I have always found him to be an honest and hardworking person. With the cadre of politicians we read about, and hear about, in today's media, you might ask yourself, "Who can I trust?" Of anyone on the 2012 ballot, you can trust John Tuttle.
John has a long resume of community service. As a member of the Maine House of Representatives for District 143 for many years, John has worked hard to represent his district's needs in Augusta. John knows Augusta, and, more importantly, John knows how to get things done in Augusta.
When the Sanford Regional Vocational Center needed a way to expand its services to the greater community, John introduced, and saw to the passage of, legislation to allow participating school districts to pay into a capital improvements fund. This helped to keep Sanford's taxes low and provided a better education to the students. When the Sanford School Committee was looking into the development of a new vocational high school, John set up a meeting with school board members and local school administrators with Governor Baldacci. Governor Baldacci supported the cause and provided Sanford with $25,000 in seed money for the project.
John comes through for his community. John called me once asking for a donation of money to help fill an elderly woman's oil tank. This is just one example of how people reach out to John for help in everyday matters, and he's there to help them.
John's combination of legislative experience and dedication to the community make him the best choice to serve you as your State Senator.
Robert G. Stackpole
Grateful for Bowles' efforts
To the editor:
As chairman of the Maine State Board of Corrections (BOC), I am writing to publicly thank Commissioner David Bowles of Sanford for his service and contributions to the board.
Created four years ago, the BOC has struggled with its role as overseer of the Unified Correctional System established by the Legislature in 2008. Lacking adequate funding and being possessed of a vaguely worded statute governing its authority, the BOC has worked diligently to find its proper role in overseeing county jails and coordinating with the State Department of Corrections for proper and safe placement of state and county inmates.
To that end, the Governor's appointment of Commissioner Bowles to the BOC in 2011 has significantly helped our board in a number of areas. First, Commissioner Bowles brought with him considerable legislative experience and knowledge of the workings of our legislative oversight committee as well as a relationship with key members of state government. Just recently, those relationships played an important role when Commissioner Bowles and I were able to meet with the Attorney General and Commissioner of the Department of Administration and Finance to discuss legal and financial issues confronting our organization.
In addition to these valuable personal relationships, Commissioner Bowles' understanding of state government finance has helped the board work through our complex financial reporting. Additionally, he has been able to help our other board members understand the financial ramifications to the counties of our decisions impacting county jail operations.
As one of five counties with a "flagship jail," York County has benefited greatly from Commissioner Bowles' membership on our board. I look forward to his continued involvement and support as we work towards our mission "to develop and implement a unified correctional system that demonstrates sound fiscal management, achieves efficiencies, reduces recidivism and ensures safety . . ."
Mark A. Westrum
Correctional Administrator
Two Bridges Regional Jail
Maine State Board of Corrections