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|Charter Announces First Quarter 2015 Results
Key highlights:
"Our first quarter results continue to demonstrate the sustainable growth trajectory of our operating strategy to provide high quality products and service at an attractive price," said
During the first quarter of 2015, Charter's residential customer relationships grew by 86,000, with triple play sell-in improving year-over-year, to 64% of total residential video sales. Commercial customer relationships grew by 12,000 in the first quarter of 2015. Residential PSUs increased by 160,000, while commercial PSUs increased 21,000 during the first quarter.
As of the end of the first quarter of 2015, 85% of Charter's residential customers received Charter Spectrum products. Charter Spectrum is an industry-leading suite of video, data, and voice services, launched in 2014, that includes over 200 HD channels, in addition to minimum offered Internet speeds of 60 Mbps, and a fully featured voice service, delivered at a highly competitive price. At the end of first quarter, virtually all of Charter's passings were fully digitized, with access to more HD channels than satellite TV offers, and 96% of video customers subscribed to the Company's expanded basic video product.
Residential video customers decreased by 7,000 in the first quarter of 2015, versus a gain of 18,000 in the year-ago period. During the first quarter 2015, Charter had 15,000 fewer bulk digital upgrade net additions than it did during the first quarter of 2014.
For the past two years Charter has significantly increased the competitiveness of its video product, by including more HD channels and video on demand offerings, attractive packaging of advanced services, improved selling methods, and enhanced service quality. In the coming months, Charter will introduce its new cloud-based user interface, Spectrum Guide, to its video customers in certain markets. Spectrum Guide makes video content search and discovery easier for customers, and fully enables Charter's on-demand offering. In addition, Spectrum Guide will function on nearly all of Charter's deployed set-tops.
Charter added 125,000 residential Internet customers in the first quarter of 2015, compared to 136,000 a year ago. As of March 31, 2015, 85% of Charter's residential Internet customers subscribed to tiers that provided speeds of 60 Mbps or more. The Company continues to see strong demand for its Internet service as consumers value the speed and reliability of Charter's Internet offering.
During the first quarter, the Company added 42,000 residential voice customers, versus a gain of 52,000 during the first quarter of 2014.
First quarter residential revenue per customer relationship totaled
First quarter 2015 revenues rose to
Video revenues totaled
Internet revenues grew 16.4% compared to the year-ago quarter to
Voice revenues totaled
Commercial revenues rose to
First quarter advertising sales revenues of
Operating Costs and Expenses
First quarter total operating costs and expenses increased by
First quarter programming expense increased by
Costs to service customers grew by
Adjusted EBITDA
First quarter Adjusted EBITDA of
Net Loss
Net loss totaled
Capital Expenditures
Property, plant and equipment expenditures totaled
Charter currently expects 2015 capital expenditures to be approximately
Cash Flow
During the first quarter of 2015, net cash flows from operating activities totaled
Free cash flow for the first quarter of 2015 was
Total principal amount of debt was approximately
Conference Call
Charter will host a conference call on Friday, May 1, 2015 at
The conference call will be webcast live via the Company's investor relations website at ir.charter.com. The call will be archived under the "Financial Information" section two hours after completion of the call. Participants should go to the webcast link no later than 10 minutes prior to the start time to register.
Those participating via telephone should dial 866-919-0894 no later than 10 minutes prior to the call. International participants should dial 706-679-9379. The conference ID code for the call is 24023770.
A replay of the call will be available at 855-859-2056 or 404-537-3406 beginning two hours after the completion of the call through the end of business on
Additional Information Available on Website
The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in the Company's Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2015 which will be posted on the "Financial Information" section of our investor relations website at ir.charter.com, when it is filed with the
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Metrics
The Company uses certain measures that are not defined by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") to evaluate various aspects of its business. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net loss or cash flows from operating activities reported in accordance with GAAP. These terms, as defined by Charter, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to net loss and free cash flow is reconciled to net cash flows from operating activities in the addendum of this news release.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net loss plus net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock compensation expense, loss on derivative instruments, net and other operating expenses, such as merger and acquisition costs, special charges and (gain) loss on sale or retirement of assets. As such, it eliminates the significant non-cash depreciation and amortization expense that results from the capital-intensive nature of the Company's businesses as well as other non-cash or special items, and is unaffected by the Company's capital structure or investment activities. However, this measure is limited in that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues and the cash cost of financing. These costs are evaluated through other financial measures.
Free cash flow is defined as net cash flows from operating activities, less purchases of property, plant and equipment and changes in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures.
Management and the Company's board of directors use Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow to assess Charter's performance and its ability to service its debt, fund operations and make additional investments with internally generated funds. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA generally correlates to the leverage ratio calculation under the Company's credit facilities or outstanding notes to determine compliance with the covenants contained in the credit facilities and notes (all such documents have been previously filed with the
About Charter
This communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, the factors described under "Risk Factors" from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "should", "planned", "will", "may", "intend", "estimated", "aim", "on track", "target", "opportunity", "tentative", "positioning", "designed", "create", "predict", "project", "seek", "would", "could", "continue", "ongoing", "upside", "increases" and "potential", among others. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this presentation are set forth in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the
Risks Related to the transaction with
Risks Related to Our Business
All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We are under no duty or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release.
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To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/charter-announces-first-quarter-2015-results-300075866.html
Media: Justin Venech, 203-905-7818; Analysts: Stefan Anninger, 203-905-7955


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subset: commoncrawl


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By Caitlin Mack '12, '13 (T5)
This year, a record-breaking 11 University of Rochester students and two alums have been awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Grants to advance their studies, perform research, and teach English abroad while serving as young ambassadors to their host countries. Faculty member Mary Jane Curry at the Warner School of Education was also selected for a Fulbright Scholarship to lecture and research in Chile. In addition, one student has been named an alternate to Bangladesh, and two additional students are waiting for their application results. Fulbright Scholarships, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, offer opportunities for career-launching study, teaching, and research abroad.
Students from the University chosen to participate in the 2013-14 Fulbright U.S. Student Program include:
Asad H. Arastu '12
Turkey, English Teaching Assistantship
Rohini Bhatia '13
India, Research Grant
Rebekah Carpio '13(E)
England, Research Grant
Gabrielle Cornish '13
Russia, English Teaching Assistantship
Meredith Doubleday '13
Russia, English Teaching Assistantship
Madeleine Klingler '13
Russia, English Teaching Assistantship
Cameron La Point '13
Japan, Research Grant
Ankit Medhekar '13
Spain, English Teaching Assistantship
Andrew Otis '11
India, Research Grant
Veronica Price '13
Germany, English Teaching Assistantship
Jyothi Purushotham '13
India, Research Grant
Laurel A. Raymond '13
Turkey, English Teaching Assistantship
Anja Weinrib-Weiss '13
Thailand, English Teaching Assistantship
Anaise Williams '13 (alternate)
In addition, the following University of Rochester students were selected for fellowship awards for 2013-14:
Amgen Scholarship
Aaron Cravens '14
Beinecke Scholarship
Daniel Gorman '14
Carnegie Junior Fellowship
Katherine Garner '11/T5'12
Critical Language Scholars
Emily Hein '14
Nathaly Luna '13
Simone Zehren '14
Samantha Whalen '15
Alexander Turpin '12(E)/T5'13
DAAD-RISE Scholar
Kristin Abramo '15
Kevin Allan '14
Alexandra Born '15
Sarah Koniski '14
Louis Papa '14
Robert Rietmeijer '15
Zhongwu Shi '15
Qianli Sun '15
Jamie Strampe '15
Davis Project for Peace Fellowship
Fatima Bawany '15
Goldwater Scholars
Amanda Chen '14
Chantel Gaudet '14 (honorable mention)
Public Policy & International Affairs Fellow
Jonathan Johnson '14
Visit the University's Newsroom and check upcoming issues of @Rochester for full profiles of the 2012-2013 fellowship winners.')


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Vault's Law Blog covers news and trends relating to legal careers. Law Blog contributors offer insights on the legal industry and provide career advice for law students, attorneys and JDs.
Contributors have included:
On Friday, August 2, Vault hosted its third Annual Diversity Awards
in Washington, DC. At the awards ceremony, Vault recognized the
top-ranked law firms for diversity. Once again-for the fifth
straight year-Carlton Fields was ranked the No. 1 firm for Overall
Diversity. The 2014 Diversity Rankings are based on the results of
Vault's annual Associate Survey, in which nearly 17,000 associates
took part this year. As part of the survey, law firm associates
were asked to rate their employers... Read More >
Just in time for early interviews, Vault has released its third
annual Law Firm Summer Associate Program Rankings. As part of our
Associate Survey earlier this year, Vault asked first- through
third-year associates who had worked as summer associates at their
current firms to rate the program both in terms of how well it
prepared them for full-time practice and how much fun they had. The
average of these two scores determined which firms ranked on our
Best Overall Summer Associate Programs... Read More >
We recognize that prestige is just one factor among many for law
students and associates searching for the right law firm. For some
candidates, quality of life weighs far more heavily in their
considerations than a firm's reputation in the community. That's
why each year Vault compiles its "Quality of Life" rankings, in
addition to its rankings of the most prestigious law firms. As part
of this year's Law Firm Associate Survey, nearly 17,000 associates
rated their own firms on a 1 to 10... Read More >
Vault.com has just released its annual Regional Law Rankings, which
reflect the prestige of firms within specific legal
markets-including Atlanta, Boston, California, Chicago, Miami, the
Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, New York City, Northern California,
Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, Texas and Washington,
DC. While the Vault Law 100 provides a broad overview of the most
prestigious firms nationwide, our Regional Rankings offer
jobseekers a more targeted perspective on the top... Read More >
Vault.com has just released its annual Practice Area Rankings,
which reflect the prestige of firms within specific practice areas,
as determined by associates at peer firms. To help you hone your
job search, Vault ranks law firms not only in overall prestige, but
also in a variety of practice areas. These rankings are based on
the opinions of associates who took our annual Law Firm Associate
Survey earlier this year. In our survey, associates are asked to
vote for up to three firms they... Read More >
How Overqualified Attorneys Can Market Themselves Competitively by
Diane Rifkin, Rifkin Consulting We didn't fall over the fiscal
cliff, but our economy is still not on solid ground. As the economy
still struggles forward, the legal community has seen some high
profile law firm collapses that sent shockwaves through the
industry. The legal industry is struggling and attorneys are
struggling to find their place within the industry. When the only
jobs you can find are new Associate... Read More >
There is still time to sign up for this afternoon's Ask the Experts
webcast, hosted by LexisNexis. A panel of experts-along with
moderator Rachel Marx Boufford, Vault's Law Editor-will answer
questions including: How do I make myself stand out from other
applicants? How early in law school should I start looking for a
job? How do you conduct a job search as a 3L? What questions should
I ask interviewers? How do you demonstrate your "fit" with an
employer? Can women wear either a... Read More >
On Friday, July 27, Vault hosted its Annual Diversity Awards in
Washington, DC. At the awards, Vault recognized the top law firms
for diversity, and for the fourth year in a row, Florida-based
Carlton Fields was ranked No. 1 for Overall Diversity by associates
at the firm. As with all Vault rankings, the diversity rankings
reflect the insider opinions and perceptions of associates. This
year, nearly 17,000 law firm associates from across the country
responded to Vault's survey, and were... Read More >
The bar exam (in many states) is next week, and if you're signed
up, you're probably a bit stressed out by now. Here are some
important Dos and Don'ts for the last few days leading up to the
exam. Do: Spend this weekend reviewing your outlines.Don't: Overdo
it at the last minute. As you've probably heard your test prep
instructors say, bar study is a marathon, not a sprint. Do not try
to tackle completely new subjects this weekend in an attempt to
make up for missed study days. Instead,... Read More >
Each year, in addition to its overall prestige, regional, practice
area and diversity rankings, Vault also compiles "Quality of Life"
rankings. Associates are asked to rate their own law firms on a 1
to 10 scale in several categories: satisfaction, culture, hours,
compensation, associate/partner relations, transparency, formal
training, informal training and mentoring, pro bono, business
outlook, selectivity, green initiatives and office space. In
addition to individual rankings for these... Read More >
The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential...
The Vault Guide to Finance Interviews, Ninth Edition is a must-have...
It takes more than a solid résumé and cover letter to make...
Case interviews are a crucial part of the hiring process in the...
Free sample resumes and expert advice
Free sample cover letters and expert advice
Sample interview questions and expert advice
Get networking tips and expert advice
About Us
Get Involved
Helpful Resources


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JERUSALEM (AP) — President Barack Obama is calling on Israel to reverse what he says is an "undertow of isolation."
In a speech Thursday in Jerusalem to scores of university students, Obama says peace in the Middle East is necessary because it is the only true path to security. He says the only way for Israel to endure and thrive in the region as a Jewish and democratic state is through the realization of an independent and viable Palestine.
Given the frustration of the international community, the president says Israel "must reverse an undertow of isolation" to aid the process.
Obama is on his first visit to the close U.S. ally Israel as president. He spoke after a trip to the West Bank, where he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOOD' ah-BAHS').


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The shift to hospice care was 'magical'By SHAWNE K. WICKHAM
New Hampshire Sunday News
January 11. 2014 10:28PM
MERRIMACK - The stained-glass wall in the chapel of the Community Hospice House depicts a menagerie of creatures peacefully enjoying the forest, water and skies. It's a scene brimming with life.And life is the focus in this place where people come to die.
Dee Pringle's husband, Gene, spent his last two weeks of life here four years ago. Her husband had ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and was receiving medical treatment at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
Dee, a retired teacher who lives in Amherst, was taking care of him at home. "And I was good," she said. "I was really good."
But as Gene's disease progressed, his doctors recommended hospice care. For three months, hospice nurses provided support and care to Gene at home. Then they recommended a move to the 10-bed hospice house run by Home Health & Hospice Care, a nonprofit agency in Merrimack.
And just like that, the burden of medical care shifted to the professionals, Pringle said. "My role was just to be with him."
She calls it "magical.""Those last few days that are precious, the medical parts are being taken care of and you don't even have to think about that because the trained people have taken over."
It was also a great relief to her husband, she said. "He could relax."Pringle can't say enough about the services provided at the house, from food managers who cater to residents' likes and needs, to visits from musicians, therapy dogs and Reiki massage therapists.
She still gets together with members of a bereavement support group she met after her husband's death and attends some of the monthly educational programs the agency offers.
Her son, Chris, said having the professional staff at the hospice house take over the medical care of his father in his last days was a comfort to the entire family.
Home Health & Hospice Care has its roots in a women's organization that cared for sick mill workers and their children in Nashua in the late 19th century. The Good Cheer Society became one of the first visiting nurse associations in the nation.
Dee Pringle chairs the modern-day Good Cheer Society, which provides financial and other support for the hospice house.
Barbara Lafrance is director of hospice and palliative care for Home Health & Hospice Care. She said she wishes more families knew what hospice can do for them when a loved one is seriously ill.Income is never a barrier to care, she said. While the agency receives reimbursement for patients who have Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance coverage, it provides indigent care for those who do not.
Too often, Lafrance said, the final weeks and months of a person's life are filled with diagnostic tests and aggressive treatments that do little to prolong life — but add enormously to health care costs.
She would like to see more physicians raise the topic of end-of-life care with their patients. "You have to start the conversation in the primary care office when it's not a crisis."
Otherwise, she said, "it's almost like it's too late."
Pringle recalled a woman she met through her bereavement support group.
"Her husband died in the ambulance on the way to the (hospice) house," she said. "It was just the wrong way to go."
Health Human Interest Social issues Amherst Merrimack Nashua Obamacare


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
The following activity occurred Monday, March 4, to Sunday, March 10, as reported by the Lewiston Police Department. LPD logged a total of 81 response calls during this period.
Monday, March 4
•1300 block of Youngstown-Lockport Road, AED response. Patrol assisted Youngstown Volunteer Fire Co. EMS with a bus driver, unconscious.
•5400 block of Elm Drive East, larceny. Male, 27, reported four tires and rims taken out of the driveway.
•200 block of Oneida Street, criminal mischief. Female, 48, reported tires on a vehicle were slashed.
•4100 block of Lower River Road/Joseph Davis State Park, shooter complaint. Patrol checked area with negative results.
•4000 block of Dickersonville Road, shooter complaint. Subject GOA.
Tuesday, March 5
•400 block of Mohawk Street, check welfare. Caller reported turkey vultures on the house. Patrol cleared.
•5900 block of Hewitt Drive, unwanted party. Male, 43, listed as person involved reported on location to remove clothing. Subject left without incident.
•Scovell Drive, two-vehicle accident. Statements taken from drivers; one vehicle towed. Report filed.
•700 block of Powell Lane, aggravated harassment. Female complainant and female suspect listed on the report. Investigation to continue.
•Walmore Road, one vehicle accident. Truck drove into a ditch when exiting the parking lot. Vehicle towed with hold.
Wednesday, March 6
•Water Street, intoxicated/reckless driver. Patrol observed a female driver, reportedly taking a male home.
•Bond Lake Park, suspicious vehicle. All OK.
•200 block of South First Street, larceny. Male, 61, reported the larceny of pills. Report filed.
•500 block of Center Street, check welfare. Caller reported a white female with a black jacket asking for a ride to Niagara Falls. Subject GOA.
•200 block of Oneida Street, criminal mischief. Statement taken from a female; plate number logged.
•Ridge Street, found property. Caller reported finding a needle.
•800 block of Cayuga Street, suspicious vehicle. Patrol reported vehicle as unoccupied; all OK.
•School House Road, disabled vehicle. Male (no age listed) arrested for aggravated unlicensed operation. Uniform traffic ticket issued for Lewiston Town Court. Vehicle towed; report filed.
•4700 block of Hyde Park Boulevard, assist. LPD on location with Niagara Falls Police Department for a robbery at a gas/convenience business. LPD K-9 unit on location for a track to a Monteagle Ridge address. NFPD investigating.
Thursday, March 7
•Bond Lake Park, suspicious vehicle. Sent on their way.
•2900 block of Saunders Settlement Road, robbery in progress at a gas/convenience business. Suspect listed as a white male, 20s, wearing a hockey mask, tan jacket, dark pants, grey hoodie, black sneakers and glasses. Suspect fled west on foot. Niagara County Sheriff's Office handled the report.
•5700 block of Joanne Drive, LPD K-9 track. Track started at the location; negative results reported.
•2900 block of Saunders Settlement Road, LPD K-9 requested. Suspect shown on store video running behind a gas/convenience business. Patrol reported a black baseball cap and a sneaker were recovered at scene and secured for evidence.
•2200 block of Saunders Settlement Road, Niagara-Wheatfield Middle School, alarm response. Call avoidable.
•1400 block of Ridge Road, criminal mischief. Statement taken from a male, 56; suspect unknown.
•4000 block of Dickersonville Road, larceny/burglary. Statement taken from a male, 45; suspect unknown.
•4000 block of Dickersonville Road, suspicious activity. Building checked; all appeared secure.
•West Street, traffic control. Patrol reported issuing one uniform traffic ticket, unspecified.
•5100 block of Bronson drive, larceny. Statement taken from a female, 72. Female, 38, listed as a suspect. Suspect arrested on charges of grand larceny, fourth; and forgery, third. No further information.
•4000 block of Creek Road, Lewiston-Porter High School lot, hit-run. One vehicle parked; other left scene. Investigation to continue.
•Indian Hill Road, MVA rollover. Male, 27, arrested for aggravated unlicensed operation, third; uniform traffic ticket issued for Lewiston Town Court. Driver transported to Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center for treatment. Report filed.
•Creek Road Extension-Hillview Drive, vehicle/traffic stop. Male, 26, placed under arrest for aggravated unlicensed operation, second. Driver released on uniform traffic tickets for Lewiston Town Court. Report filed.
•2700 block of Saunders Settlement Road, West Street Elementary, alarm response. LPD assisted state police on scene. All secure.
Friday, March 8
•Niagara University. Clet Hall, fire alarm response. Upper Mountain Volunteer Fire Co. on scene.
•2100 block of Ridge Road, criminal mischief complaint. Statement taken from a male 68. Investigation to continue.
•2000 block of Adams Circle, follow-up. Patrol followed up on complaint concerning criminal mischief in the neighborhood.
•400 block of Center Street, two-vehicle accident. Statements taken from drivers; no tows. Report filed.
•800 block of Center Street, unruly patron. Subject taken to an address on the 400 block of Harper Drive.
Saturday, March 9
•800 block of Center Street, larceny at a bar/restaurant. Statement taken from a female, 24. Report filed.
•Lewiston Road/Fort Grey Drive, vehicle/traffic stop-arrest. Male, 42, arrested for driving while intoxicated, obstruction and other vehicle/traffic charges. Uniform traffic tickets issued for Lewiston Town Court. Vehicle towed with 12-hour hold placed. Report filed.
•600 block of North Ridge Drive, assist EMS. Elderly female difficulty breathing transported to Mount St. Mary's EM-Star by Lewiston No. 1.
•2000 block of Adams Circle, follow-up, criminal mischief complaint. Patrol spoke with a male, 44. Subject advised patrol was looking for a male. Investigation to continue.
•900 block of Balmer Road, assist. LPD on location with state police on a stolen vehicle report. Vehicle located in Niagara Falls.
•4700 block of Garlow Road, unwanted party. LPD on location with NCSO. Subject left without incident; all OK.
•Saunders Settlement Road, eastbound from Miller Road, reckless driver. Driver located at NCCC; NSCO handled.
Sunday, March 10
•North Seventh and Center streets, criminal mischief. Rear passenger window of a vehicle smashed. Nothing reported taken.
•Black Nose Spring Road at Myers Lake, suspicious vehicle. Patrol reported the arrest of a male, 17, for unlawful possession of marijuana. Appearance ticket issued for Lewiston Town Court. A male suspect fled into the woods. Report filed.
•2200 block of Upper Mountain Road, physical domestic. Male, 52, listed as a victim and a female, 41, listed as a suspect. Suspect reportedly stuck the victim over the head with a 2-by-4 board. Suspect placed under arrest and remanded to custody of NCSO for transport to Niagara County Jail.


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Archived diary entries - click to read in full above
Tudor Day- 02-10-2018
Today we had the visit from Lady Eyre....READ MORE
A Norman invitation to Peveril Castle- 25-06-2018
The Lord and Lady of Peveril Castle sent us an invitation to join them for a day of entertainment at their castle....READ MORE
A Norman Feast- 18-06-2018
The Lord and Lady of Peveril invited their knights and their people who live in the bailey to join them in a celebration of thanks for their hard work to look after the castle....READ MORE
Royal Wedding at Hope- 17-05-2018
On this sunny afternoon' the Owls had the honour to be invited to a Royal Wedding held in the Puffins Class....READ MORE
Robots in School!- 08-05-2018
Today we had a workshop where we learnt how to make a robot move....READ MORE
Geography in the playground- 01-05-2018
Today we learnt how to use a compass to find North' East' South and West....READ MORE
Flat Stan First Aid- 16-04-2018
Flat Stan came to school today to teach us a few first aid skills....READ MORE
Easter Extravaganza- 23-03-2018
Retelling the Easter story' reflecting on its message' baking bread and 'walking on eggs' were but a few activities to celebrate Easter....READ MORE
Sports Relief 2018- 21-03-2018
Lots of active lessons this morning to celebrate Sports Relief 2018: carousel of skills in the morning (gymnastics; jumping; dodging; hopping; starting; stopping; football target practice) ready for the afternoon football tournament....READ MORE
World Book Day - Dress as a bear!- 08-03-2018
In our House teams we had a fun day packed with different activities for World Book Day....READ MORE
Surviving the Stone Age- 12-02-2018
On a cold and snowy day' we re-enacted surviving the Stone Age at Creswell Craggs....READ MORE
Christmas Dinner- 13-12-2017
Could this be the best school dinner ever?....READ MORE
Christmas Traditions- 11-12-2017
With Mrs Bland we learnt about many Christmas traditions such as the reasons for red and green being the main colours of Christmas or how the Christmas crackers were invented....READ MORE
Skeleton Martyn visits school!- 30-11-2017
We had the visit of an unusual 'body' for our science lesson today! Archie's mum introduced Martyn to us and explained how it helps her with her job....READ MORE
Children in Need- 17-11-2017
What a surprise! Pudsey bears are all over in our school today....READ MORE
Basketball WOW day- 08-11-2017
What a fantastic day inspired by Paul Sturgess! We were all so keen to have a go and show him what we could do....READ MORE
Harvest Festival- 01-11-2017
Our classroom welcomed our parents to join in our Harvest celebration....READ MORE
Black History day- 02-10-2017
Today we have been learning that a lot of black people were slaves in the past....READ MORE
Scooter Smart- 19-09-2017
Today Ronald the Rhino came out of the classroom to learn with us to be safe on the roads when we ride our scooters....READ MORE
Sports Day- 30-06-2017
Great PE skills demonstrated today for Sports Day 2017....READ MORE
Trip to the Butterfly House- 13-06-2017
What a great day we had at the Butterfly House! We learnt about habitats and the animals that live there....READ MORE
Outdoor Maths and Science- 23-05-2017
Today we went to the Conservation Area for our lesson....READ MORE
Easter Extravaganza- 06-04-2017
A fun day with music' songs' games' Easter egg and hat competitions on a sunny afternoon! Happy Easter to everybody!....READ MORE
World Book Day- Bedtime stories in the classroom- 02-03-2017
How relaxing and comfortable is the day at school when you wear your pyjamas or dressing gown' cuddling your favourite soft toy and listening to stories read by the teacher or by a friend....READ MORE
National Space Centre- 28-02-2017
We had a fantastic day at the National SpaceCentre....READ MORE
Romans days in Hope- 07-02-2017
It is 60AD and the Roman governors who rule Britain want to increase taxes....READ MORE
A dragon in school!- 27-01-2017
Here we go' riding a mighty beast that will fly across the playground and whiz us into our classrooms!....READ MORE
Could this be Santa already?- 15-12-2016
Silence stroke the classroom when Santa appeared unexpectantly this afternoon....READ MORE
Rodney the Rat- 14-12-2016
The Puffins and the Owls performed Rodney the Rat (by James Wright) at the Methodist Hall....READ MORE
Skipping and World games- 17-10-2016
We had so much fun this morning' learning new games to play at playtime....READ MORE
Harvest Time is here!- 14-10-2016
The Owls wanted to link what they had learnt in science and shared with the audience what they had found out....READ MORE
Olympic Owls!- 21-07-2016
Today we came to school in our favourite sports kit and talked about our favourite sport....READ MORE
Robin Hood in our school?- 21-07-2016
Today we had a lesson on how to use a long bow....READ MORE
Fencing Dad at school!- 20-07-2016
As part of our Olympic week we invited Poppy's dad to show us fencing skills....READ MORE
Peveril Day at school- 11-07-2016
What a bad day to walk to Castleton to 'reconquer' Peveril castle from the Normans! We decided that the conditions were not the best so we practised our skills in school instead....READ MORE
Did astronauts really come to school?- 26-05-2016
As part of our Rocket Science project following Tim Peak's travel to the International Space Station' a team of 'astronauts' came to school to ask us to think of ideas of how we can make Tim's landing back onto Earth as safest as possible....READ MORE
Celebrating Her Majesty's 90th- 13-05-2016
Today many people joined in to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday....READ MORE
Rugby Pro in school- 21-03-2016
Rick' who used to play for the Sale Sharks' has come to our school to share with us what professional rugby players think of bullying....READ MORE
Sports Relief- 18-03-2016
Some of us decided to run a few laps around the playing field and some of us decided to challenge ourselves in trying different footwear!....READ MORE
Magic Science for World Book Day- 03-03-2016
Wingardium Leviosa! With Madame Hooch the children used magic science to lift brooms or move wands wihout touching them and invisible ink was used to write secret messages....READ MORE
The Nativity Story Live- 07-12-2015
The Owls have teamed up with the Puffins in re-enacting the story of the Nativity at Topley Farm....READ MORE
Let's get cooking!- 13-10-2015
We couldn't believe our eyes when we passed the gate of our Conservation Area today....READ MORE
Scooter Smart- 29-09-2015
We had great fun learning to manoeuvre our scooters around the playground!....READ MORE
Welcome Back!- 07-09-2015
Barney and his friends welcome you back to a new year of learning adventures....READ MORE


text:
Whenever the Lord's Church has been established, the Lord has called prophets and apostles. Their sure witness of the living Christ is one of the greatest blessings to the Church and to the world.
Along with the scriptures and the gift of the Holy Ghost, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles make known the Lord's specific concerns for us and what we need to do.
We have the responsibility to listen and to follow, and we have a promise that blessings will come as we believe and act on the prophets' words.
If we will be attentive to the prophets' words, we will forever remain safely on the path leading to the tree of life.


text:
Paris Spa By Mandara
Type of Activity
Spa & Fitness
Daily6:00AM - 7:00PM
Contact Number
(702) 946-4366
When you need to unwind in the city of romance, the Paris Las Vegas Spa by Mandara delivers. Located on the 2nd floor wedding and spa level from the guest elevators, this Las Vegas spa offers a variety of soothing, harmonious spa and salon treatments. Massages, facials, airbrush tanning, and hair and nail treatments are also available. The sanctuary-like respite has Balinese influences and treatments influenced by ancient European rituals.
On the menu are ancient rituals using the healing power of flowers and plants. Top therapists work with your beauty, energy and wellness goals to nourish body and soul in a relaxing haven. For the ultimate in scientific skin therapy, facials are performed by talented spa artisans. To try a little of everything, book a full day signature Spa Ceremony experience to let you escape daily stress.
Fitness buffs, take note. The workout facilities at Paris Las Vegas Spa by Mandara offer the latest in cardiovascular and strengthening equipment. Daily, weekly or monthly passes are available for purchase, which includes use of the fitness equipment and spa amenities.
If you spend more than $50 on spa treatments, you will receive a complimentary Fitness Center day pass valid on the day of spa service. Fitness facilities are available for ages 18 and up.
Spa Treatment Picks
Couples: Paris For LoversSolo Journey: Elemis Aroma Spa Seaweed Massage, the only treatment with two wrapsParties and groups: Nirvana Bliss For A day
Expert Tips
- Immerse yourself in aromatherapy oils and hot stones
- In-suite and poolside cabana massages available
- One of only two Elemis spas on the Strip
Why You'll Love It
Rejuvenation in luxury
State-of-the-art fitness equipment
A divine sanctuary
Escape your world and indulge in ours
Why You'll Love It
"Paris Spa by Mandara offers the latest in body treatments and fitness regimens."
"Paris Spa by Mandara combines sensual Balinese elements with luxurious European decor, creating a peaceful sanctuary ideal for pampering. Guests are invited to enjoy juices, coffee, fruit and water in the relaxation rooms throughout their visit."
"Mandara Spa is one of the largest and fastest growing luxury hotel and resort spa treatment and management companies in the world providing a relaxing and rejuvenating environment, with a wide variety of therapeutic and exotic skin and body spa treatments, products and packages to choose from."


text:
The sunlight along a Truro road faded to dusk Wednesday Girard Smith was looking for a house, a very special house — the one he believes was the model for Edward Hopper's "October on Cape Cod."
TRURO — The sunlight along Old County Road faded to dusk Wednesday as Girard Smith peered through the truck windshield.
Smith, 82, was looking for a house, a very special house — the one he believes was the model for Edward Hopper's "October on Cape Cod," an oil painting from 1946 that sold at auction for $9.6 million Wednesday in New York.
The painting, roughly 26 by 42 inches, is a deserted roadside view, as seen perhaps from a passing car. The house is white with green shutters, a narrow Cape Cod style but sitting sideways on the lot with a door in front.
The small barn nearby has a green door in the painting and behind it all is a lush grove of trees that stretches across the canvas. The painting has a gray-tinged, autumn light and depicts profound silence and stillness, according to Christie's auction description.
Hopper and his wife lived in New York City but built a summer house in the 1930s on an ocean bluff in Truro that has gained notoriety recently because of a dispute over development.
The painting sold on Wednesday was a rare one, among the last few to be held in private ownership, according to Christie's. Currently, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York owns more than 2,000 Hopper oil paintings, watercolors, drawings and prints.
The look of the forest, though, is key, Smith said Wednesday. He had a gut feeling about the location once he'd seen the painting in a September story about the auction in the Times.
Back in the 1940s, only one side of the Old County Road — the landward side — had those kinds of trees and that kind of volume, Smith said.
"These trees on the right-hand side never existed then. Zero, I mean, zero," Smith said, referring to the ocean side of Old County Road as the truck passed by on Wednesday. The area had all been denuded by early settlers, he said.
And he would know.
His mother, Marie Stephens, and her husband, Robert, lived up the hill from Hopper and his wife, Josephine, on Stephens Way.
From age 12 on, starting in 1942, Smith spent summers at his mother's house in Truro, and the Hoppers visited often. Especially where food was concerned, Smith joked.
"Jo didn't cook," Smith said. "Jo didn't clean. Jo had cats."
The Hoppers went out to dinner every single night — not just once in a while, said Smith, who lives in Brewster now but volunteers at the Highland Light in North Truro and with the Truro Council on Aging.
Hopper might have driven south along Old County Road, toward Wellfleet, Smith said as he peered out the windshield on Wednesday. From Stephens Way, back then, Old County Road was the regular route to Wellfleet, where there was the rare restaurant, Smith said.
As the truck headed south, up and down and around more curves on Old County Road, passing Prince Valley Road, Smith grew silent.
"We're coming to the area," he said.
"And look."
The truck rounded a curve.
"See that house," he said.
He was quiet.
There was the house he had in mind. Perhaps it's not the one, he said. It was along the side of the road, as in the painting.
Yellow — not white, and expanded for sure, but with the narrow chimney, the narrow rectangular shape in the front, the peaked roof, the small barn next door, and the trees — a forest — still intact.


text:
USe the link https://kwandrivia.net/ from now on, the old one directs to errors and has issues, this is the new one.
You can now link your characters account to your main one. Use the drop down menu in the top right corner then go to profile, from there edit your profile, then go to Linked Accounts. Then begin adding from there. The dropdown menu in the top right is where you can find your linked accounts.
You can now link your characters account to your main one. Use the drop down menu in the top right corner then go to profile, from there edit your profile, then go to Linked Accounts. Then begin adding from there. The dropdown menu in the top right is where you can find your linked accounts.
Ubel Gegand
This is the land of the dead, main roleplay for deceased characters. Enter at your own risk...
Ubel Gegand is the capital city of Excelsior, it is the heart of the underworld and the place every killed person of Kwandrivia finds themselves in after death. Here they are forced to explore the tainted and torn landscape of a world supposedly forgotten. Ubel Gegand is ruled by the Nein Morgenroete, an organization once ran by the last living Tartarian, Ignatius Light. After Ignatius's defeat, the Soulmarcher Mirg seized control and began restoring order to the chaos brought on by the Tartarian's tyranny. The city's orange-red flames of torment have been extinguished and replaced by blue-green spirit-flames, flickering and casting cool shadows on the once tortured souls, now free to roam the lands of Excelsior.
Ruler: Mirg the Soulmarcher
City Style: Netherworld
Aspects: Hollofication, Soul Possesion
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Nein Morgeneroete
The farther into Ubel Gegand ones goes the deeper into a large pit they will find themselves. At the very bottom of this ice cold pit is the Nein Morgenroete. The Nein Morgenroete is the headquarters of the Nein Morgenroete Organization. This organization watches over the souls of the dead who are trapped in Excelsior. Here one can come to see the ruler of Excelsior, a Shrew, Mirg the Soulmarcher.Topics: 1
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Re: Victory Steps: Excelsior'…
Sun Jan 03, 2016 11:09 pm
Frosty Crypt
The boarders of Ubel Gegand are made up of residences for the souls of the dead. Here, any deceased can make their home. The atmosphere is cool, even cold, with the ushering in of a new lord of the land, bent on extinguishing the fires of the old tyrannt, Ignatius.
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Hall of the Shadow Shrine
Here once stood a burning cathedral, now turned to ashes. A new cathedral was built on the ruins, bathed in shadow. Inside these doors are pews and an alter covered in a black veil. The place is saturated with Soulforce and was remade to be the one place that souls could communicate with the land of the living. It also has a strange connection to a certain shrine in the Murkwood Keys, one that can only be taken advantage of by the Soulmarcher and those he gives passage.
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Soul Academy
A more newly created addition, a large school built into Ubel Gegand to house the Soul Academy. Here Soul Meisters and Soul Weapons are partnered and learn to combat as an effective team.Topics: 1
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text: NAMI Praises New Mexico Govenor for Signing Parity Bill Feb 15 2000 Arlington, VA - New Mexico today became the first state in 2000, and the 29th overall, to enact into law legislation aimed at ending unfair discrimination and providing more equitable coverage for mental illness in health insurance plans. Laurie Flynn, executive director of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), singled out for praise Republican Governor Gary Johnson, who twice vetoed previous versions of the bill. "Governor Johnson kept an open mind and recognized the importance of parity in principle," Flynn declared. "The challenge was in the details. We are grateful for the efforts he made to find a middle ground. We hope that today will mark the beginning of a continued, common effort to address the needs of people with severe mental illnesses in the state." NAMI also recognized the leadership of State Representatives Eddie Sandoval (D-Bernallilo) and Robert Burpo (R-Albuquerque) in enacting HB 452. Sandoval has been a leader of the parity movement, and Burpo initiated discussions after last year's veto that led to a bipartisan compromise. As a result, the law includes safeguards to allow businesses to "opt out" of parity requirements if annual premiums increase by certain amounts attributable to the coverage. Also attending the signing ceremony for HB 452 was United States Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), who also has sponsored national parity legislation now pending in Congress. "Legislation is still needed at the federal level to reconcile patchwork patterns among the states and to ensure that people who work for employers with self-insured plans also are covered," Flynn explained. "Severe mental illnesses are biological brain disorders," Flynn said. "In essence, they are physical illnesses. They deserve the same insurance coverage as other physical illnesses. We are proud of NAMI New Mexico's perseverance on this issue, and what they have achieved for the people of the state. Last year, the number of states with parity laws increased from 19 to 28. This year, we hope that New Mexico will set the pace for the rest of the nation—leading to enactment of the Domenici bill. Parity is the right way to go, because it's simply the right thing to do."


text:
Euphoria - Ayr Natural
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text:
February 04, 2013 01:00 ET
A growing number of couples are living together outside of marriage. Both unmarried couples and friends buying property together may want to consider life insurance.
LEEDS, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - Feb. 4, 2013) - Official statistics show that the total figure of cohabiting adults has increased over the last 15 years in England and Wales.*
Figures show that in 1992 there were 2.7 million cohabiting adults - in 2007 this had risen to 4.5 million. Reports suggest that this number will continue to rise amongst the 'never married' adult group.
Figures also show that there is a decline in the number of people under the age of 30 who are cohabiting, yet an increase in adult couples aged over 30 who are living together.
Further research shows that between 2001 and 2010 the number of opposite sex cohabiting couple families increased from 2.1 million to 2.7 million.**
This means that the total number of children growing up in households where adults are unmarried has increased from 1.3 million to 1.8 million in the same time.
It is not just unmarried couples living together who are pushing up the trend. Groups of friends are collectively pooling their cash together to buy properties and live together for longer.
Mortgages are often considered one of the largest financial commitments that anyone can make in their lifetime. For this reason many co-habiting people may want to opt to take out a mortgage life insurance policy. A policy could safeguard finances in the event of death. Should one of the part homeowners suddenly pass away or suffer from a life threatening illness, the cover could provide financial support and peace of mind when you need it most.
Notes to editors
* Estimating the cohabiting population in 2007, ONS research http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/family-demography/cohabitation-estimates--england-and-wales/cohabitation-estimates/estimating-the-cohabiting-population.pdf
** Families and Households, 2001 to 2010, ONS research http://www.ons.gov.uk:80/ons/rel/family-demography/families-and-households/2001-to-2010/index.html
About Asda Life Insurance:
Asda Money is a trading name of Asda Financial Services Limited. Asda Financial Services Limited uses a selection of companies to provide its products and services. Please refer to www.ASDA.com/money for details of our product partners and the relevant terms and conditions for each of our products and services. Calls may be recorded and/or monitored.
Advice on Asda Life Insurance is provided by LifeSearch Limited, who is an appointed representative of Baigrie Davies and Company Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
* £5 price based on £100,000 of level term cover over 20 years for a non-smoking female aged 30 and in good health. Prices correct as at October 2012.
Paul Stevens+44 (0)1925 611 email@example.com
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text:
Cluster Two: Arts and Humanities
Cluster shows students what it means to live lives enriched by reflection, imagination and creativity. It does so by offering each individual a multidisciplinary experience within the arts and humanities, those areas of endeavor that humans have long valued for their intrinsic worth and that invite a deeper appreciation of the human experience. The broadly stated goals for for Cluster Two are:
- To introduce students to cultural, historical, aesthetic and theoretical expressions of and questions about human experience.
- To expose students to multiple academic disciplines in the arts and humanities and their methods and unique perspectives.
- To inspire a deeper awareness of how the interplay between culture and expression affects both collective and individual identities.
- To foster appreciation of the aesthetic and formal qualities of literary, visual and performing arts.
- To engage students in thinking critically and communicating clearly about enduring questions concerning human life, culture and history.
Cluster Two Structure
Students complete nine credits by choosing one course from each of three groups: Human Questions and Contexts; Visual and Performing Arts; and Literature.
Group One: Human Questions and Contexts
Students will take one course from the list below. GAMST 200 takes an interdisciplinary approach to questions about American identity and shows how they reflect a complex interplay of cultural, historical, religious and ideological perspectives. The GANTH and GHIST courses introduce students to the great cultures of the world by surveying the common patterns of experience that characterized Western, Middle Eastern, Asian, African, Meso- and South American societies in the past. The GHUM courses are interdisciplinary, in-depth explorations of specific topics, cultures, periods or themes. The GPHIL and GREL courses explore the great inquiries into human existence and the ways different cultures across different time periods constructed their responses to questions concerning humans' existence and their relationship to nature, ultimate reality and the universe. Thus all of the courses in Group One emphasize central questions about the human condition and ways of studying values and beliefs as they are shaped by class, gender, race, historical events, philosophy and religion.
Choose one of the following:
GAMST 200. Introduction to American Studies
GANTH 205. Buried Cities, Lost Tribes: The Rise and Fall of Early Human Societies
GHIST 101. World History to 1500
GHIST 102. World History Since 1500
GHUM 102. God, Meaning, and Morality
GHUM 250. Foundations of Western Culture
(Topics vary by section. Examples include: Ancient Greece, Rome)
GHUM 251. Modern Perspectives
(Topics vary by section. Examples include: The Enlightenment, Romanticism, and Human Rights)
GHUM 252. Cross-Cultural Perspectives
(Topics vary by section. Examples include: East Asia, West Africa, Latin American Cultures, Islamic Civilization)
GPHIL 101. Introduction to Philosophy
GREL 101. Religions of the World
Group Two: Visual and Performing Arts
Students will take one course from the list below. GARTH 205 and GARTH 206 are global art history surveys that introduce students to the visual arts, whose history often has been interconnected with developments in music, dance and theatre/film. These surveys are organized chronologically, but focus distinctly on artistic perception and experience. The global music surveys explore history and the arts through the study of music: its development, aesthetics, forms and styles, and its context within the cultural communities that produced it. GART 200 and GMUS 200 are introductions to art or music in general culture; GTHEA 210 studies theatre as an art form including acting, directing, design, costuming, lighting; GMUS 203 explores America's music landscape and examines the interconnections among music, art and literature in historical periods.
Choose one of the following:
GART 200. Art in General Culture
GARTH 205. Survey of World Art I: Prehistoric to Renaissance
GARTH 206. Survey of World Art II: Renaissance to Modern
GMUS 200. Music in General Culture
GMUS 203. Music in America
GMUS 206. Introduction to Global Music
GTHEA 210. Introduction to Theatre
Group Three: Literature
Students will choose a course from the list below. The literature surveys provide students with extensive reading experiences of representative genres and authors and various critical approaches to literary texts, as well as opportunities to explore the complex ways that the literature both reflects and helps change or create the cultural and intellectual contexts of the times in which they are written. Students are expected to learn strategies for reading and interpreting any literary text so that they come to deepen their appreciation of the aesthetics, rhetorical strategies and meaning of a range of literary texts. Through the humanistic study of literature, students will also obtain a better understanding of themselves and their own culture as well as those of others.
Choose one of the following:
GENG 221. Literature/Culture/Ideas
GENG 222. Genre(s)
GENG 235. Survey of English Literature: From Beowulf to the 18th Century
GENG 236. Survey of English Literature: 18th Century to Modern
GENG 239. Studies in World Literature
GENG 247. Survey of American Literature: From the Beginning to the Civil War
GENG 248. Survey of American Literature: From the Civil War to the Modern Period
GENG 260. Survey of African-American Literature
GHUM 200. Great Works
(Topics vary by section. Examples include: German Literature in Translation, Western Classics)
The courses in Group Three are designated as writing-infused. Students will write a minimum of 5,000 words (approximately 15 pages double-spaced in a standard font) in assignments that may include both informal and formal, ungraded and graded forms. The extensive opportunity to produce and receive feedback on various genres of academic writing will help students sharpen their responses to interesting and thought-provoking texts and promote more engaged and sophisticated reading strategies.
Cluster Two Learning Objectives
After completing Group One, Human Questions and Contexts, students will be able to:
- Use critical and comparative analysis to question their own and others' beliefs about and responses to the world or universe.
- Apply the methods of the discipline(s) studied to material from the humanities.
- Identify, evaluate and produce arguments using appropriate concepts and techniques and formulate logical arguments on the same basis.
- Demonstrate an understanding of broader cultural, historical or conceptual contexts of particular issues, ideas, objects or events – past and present.
- Experience humanities events (such as exhibits, films, performances or public lectures) more discerningly.
After completing Group Two, Visual and Performing Arts, students will be able to:
- Explain how artistic works and culture are interrelated.
- Recognize that the arts are accessible and relevant to their lives.
- Demonstrate disciplinary literacy (vocabulary, concepts, creative processes) in a major art form.
- Produce an informed response to the form, content and aesthetic qualities of artistic works.
- Experience arts events more discerningly.
- Acknowledge relationships among the arts.
After completing Group Three, Literature, students will be able to:
- Generate increasingly nuanced questions (interpretations, ideas) about literature and explain why those questions matter.
- Use appropriate vocabulary and tactics to analyze specific literary expressions of culture and the relationship between the reader, the author and text.
- Define ways that texts serve as arguments and identify rhetorical and formal elements that inform these arguments.
- Recognize appropriate contexts (such as genres, political perspectives, textual juxtapositions) and understand that readers may interpret literature from a variety of perspectives.
- Articulate a variety of examples of the ways in which literature gives us access to the human experience that reveals what differentiates it from, and connects it to, the other disciplines that make up the arc of human learning.


text:
ianboydyoung on Family Tree Circles
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Journals and Posts
AYRSHIRE LINEAGE PART 2 McCREADIE MILROY YOUNG its amazing what your children get you to do when you retire
Gilbert Milroy McCreadie died and was buried at Watton at stone Hertfordshire in 1965
he lived at and ran Bardolphs farm , he had three children one was my mother. Gilbert was born ( I think) in Barr Ayrshire some where around 1882/86 his Parents were Andrew McCreadie and Agnes McCreadie (nee Milroy) who I know nothing about . if any one know more that would be great , thank you ...
The picture below is Andrew and Agnes McCreadie
AYRSHIRE LINEAGE McMILLAN, McILWRAITH , BOYD, have some gaps to fill !
looking for the final resting place of Thomas Boyd, born 1856/7 Ayr-Coylton died 1944 ?? he married Agnes McIlwraith 1881. and info for his parents I am guessing their names are
William Boyd and Ann Logan and another step back could be George Boyd and Helen Lamb
thank you.
The people in the photo are Thomas Boyd the young girl on his knee is Annie Logan Boyd
to the right is Agnes Boyd (Agnes McIlwraith) the three sons are Thomas John and William
the daughter standing is Agnes (Nellie) and finaly the lady with the hair accessory I believe and I am happy to be corrected is Agnes's mother her maiden name is Helen McMillan b1831
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text:
Mike Cote's Business Editor's Notebook: Taking control of health care starts with the patientBy MIKE COTE
October 22. 2017 12:22AM
My wife and I recently racked up more than 40,000 points on an airline credit card, enough to cover another trip to visit our new grandson. We can thank a nasty bout of sciatica for that, and my failure to shop around for physical therapy.
More than ever, we're all responsible for our health care and are expected to become better consumers. Many companies, including mine, offer financial incentives for employees to find low-cost providers.
After the medication my doctor prescribed didn't end the symptoms and relieve the pain I was experiencing - the kind that leaves you writhing on the floor in the middle of the night - I opted for physical therapy and visited a treatment center within my physician's network. My therapist delivered great care and guidance over several visits and gave me a copy of an exercise regimen I can maintain on my own to avoid further flare-ups.
But I could never get a straight answer from the front desk on precisely what each session would cost, and had to wait a month for the first bill to show up. That's just way the system is set up.
By the time I got the bill, I was more than halfway through the sessions so I opted to stay with the same provider. I made arrangements to pay monthly installments so I wouldn't drain our health savings account.
After a couple of months making payments, I received an offer from the provider: If I paid off the bill in full within 30 days, I could receive a 35 percent discount. That deal shaved my bill by nearly $400. The resulting payment was still large enough, however, to cover more than half the required purchases my wife and I needed to make on the credit card to collect those travel points.
If the care had been priced at 35 percent less in the first place, I could have paid it all off at once. Welcome to health care in the 21st century.
Changing the system
I was thinking about that episode a few weeks back as I listened to Nick Vailas make a passionate plea about changing the health care system. The 50 people in a meeting room at the Puritan Backroom Restaurant included small-business owners, health care providers and insurance industry professionals.
They were invited by Member Medical, a health care membership program Vailas founded last year that offers users unlimited access to urgent care for a monthly fee at ExpressMED clinics in Manchester and Salem.
Vailas is best known for being the CEO and founder of Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center, an outpatient treatment center. He's spent his career bumping up against a hospital-driven health care system, working on ways to offer services that cost less than those providers typically charge.
"There is tremendous capacity outside the wall of a hospital today that for the past 20 years some entrepreneurs have developed, including myself," Vailas said.
His assessment of the health care system was bleak: "I think we can all agree that the health care system is dysfunctional and pretty much broken and usually expensive."
Vailas thinks small businesses in New Hampshire should band together and create a low-cost provider network.
"We need to organize as businesses and purchase in a group way our health care premium and become self-insured. There are taxes you avoid just by becoming self-insured off the top, anywhere from 6 to 8 percent to the better when it comes to self-insuring," Vailas said. "Allow us to create a system that is referred to as reference-based pricing ... where providers get paid for the value of the service, not on a fee schedule."
Such a plan could require legislative action.
State Sen. Andy Sanborn, R-Bedford, noted that state law allows only five entities in New Hampshire, such as bankers and auto dealers, to form associations.
"The most underinsured people in the state are in the hospitality industry - 45,000 people - yet the state of new Hampshire, the politicians, won't allow like industries to associate," Sanborn told the group.
"Number two, we need cost transparency, one bill that everyone can read ... that allows every single person when they come out of their medical care to get a very simple bill that tells them how much money it costs."
Dr. Eric Kropp said he left a hospital system six years ago to found a private practice in Concord. Patients pay a monthly fee for his services. Now he has more time to spend with them, and he can keep costs low by better directing their care, he said.
"When you look at countries that are very successful it's a very high rate of utilization of primary care and low rate of the utilization of specialists. It's the opposite of what we have in this country," Kropp said. "When your employees or patients go to the emergency room or urgent care for some situation, very often that's a portal to more expense sides of care. A strained wrist might be a follow-up with orthopedics, where if I saw it in the office they would follow up with me."
Greater transparency and a system that champions the free market is the path to improving health care, Kropp told the group. But personal responsibility is the primary driver.
"The only way we're going to change health care in this country is by starting with the individual," he said. "That's every one of us and the choices we make."
Contact Business Editor Mike Cote at 206-7724 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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WCSU Graduate Commencement Speech
Juanita T. James
Commencement, May 10, 2013
Western Connecticut State University
Thank you, Dr. Schmotter.
It is such an honor to be with you for this ceremony that acknowledges your hard work, perseverance and pursuit of higher education.
You, more than others, know that life is about learning and discovery.
It's also about giving back. Perhaps you were here in October when the Dalai Lama spoke about the art of compassion — that feeling of deep sympathy for another who is suffering, and the desire to alleviate it.
I want to share with you how helping others has made a difference in my life.
I was an only child, but I grew up with lots of teenagers.
My mother's younger brothers and sisters, then dozens of cousins, lived with us — one or two at a time — in our little house in Brooklyn, while they went to college.
Mom always said, "If you want to do something for someone, do it from your heart — and don't talk about it."
So I grew up believing that this is what you do — you help others out of love, you don't make a fuss — and you go to college.
When I arrived at Princeton, I was one of the first class of women, and one of very few African-Americans.
I remember reading scathing Letters to the Editor in the school paper, ranting that the institution was being ruined by accepting women and minorities.
It was not the most welcoming experience, and I was terribly lonely and homesick. Yet the town of Princeton's black community welcomed me, and became my refuge.
They introduced me to Princeton Community House, which encouraged Princeton students to volunteer and work with local children.
That's how I met 7-year-old Lakay Broadway. I tutored Lakay in math and reading throughout my four years at Princeton.
I loved tutoring her, befriending her and watching her grow and improve as a student — and knowing I played a part in that.
In fact, tutoring Lakay was so rewarding, I decided to become a French teacher.
However, I didn't get a teaching job after I graduated. I was hired by a French electronics company, and I discovered I liked business.
After a few years, a Princeton alumna recruited me to join the board of a nonprofit.
I found out I really liked board work. I could bring business skills like strategic planning, communications, time management and event organization to the nonprofit world.
It was exhilarating to work beside board members from totally different professions, yet be connected by this common cause.
Then, several years and nonprofits later, I became involved with Childhood Learning Centers in Stamford, and fell completely in love.
It ran a Head Start program and day care, serving several hundred children from low-income homes.
I was a board member, then board president, and a volunteer who read aloud to the kids.
While I was president, we, along with the mayor and school district, launched a city-wide initiative to provide every 4-year-old in Stamford with a quality preschool experience.
I loved every aspect of it — the strategy to create the plan, the challenge of partnering with the Board of Education and raising awareness of the importance of early childhood education.
It was such a feeling of accomplishment when we grew to serve several thousand children and help them start school on a level playing field.
Since my long-ago Princeton years of tutoring Lakay, I've been involved with dozens of nonprofit organizations as a volunteer, board member or contributor.
Along the way, I've been blessed to make lifelong friends, apply what I've learned to benefit others and feel a sense of meaningful purpose.
It's incredibly enriching to be a part of something bigger than yourself, something that changes lives, something that helps make the world better.
Now, at the Fairfield County Community Foundation, I'm inspired every day by the generosity of people who not only want to reduce suffering, but help people reach the height of their potential.
I'm moved by the outpouring of compassion, most recently expressed within hours of the Sandy Hook tragedy, when so many called to ask, "How can I help?"
I'm humbled by the opportunity to impact the entire county with the direction and scope of our work.
Giving back has helped me form and solidify my values and gain clarity on what's important.
It has guided me to seek work that has meaning and gives meaning to others. It has become a part of who I am and what I care about.
Without consciously realizing it, I've followed my mother's advice: "If you want to do something for someone, do it from your heart — and don't talk about it."
Well, except for the part about "don't talk about it."
As you advance in your careers, I encourage you to find ways — apart from your job — to help others from your heart.
You don't need to start with a big commitment in order to make a difference.
You give one hour of time. You can donate canned goods. You can send a check.
The more you do this, chances are you'll feel such satisfaction, you'll want to get more involved. Perhaps by helping with an event … serving on a board … or tutoring a 7-year-old girl.
I guarantee that as you change lives, yours will be transformed as well.
Congratulations to all of you and to your families for your achievement.


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|Episode Description
|Monday, Apr 21, 2014 - 1:00 PM
"Being Happy with Me"
Being Percy - Percy is impressed when he sees that all the engines make way for Gordon when he enters Brendham Docks. Percy thinks the engines never listen to him nor make way for him on the tracks. Percy decides that he is going to be more like Gordon so he starts to imitate him. D
Mountain Time
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Solving Employee Issues
FSD asked operators what their top human resources issues were, and they said absenteeism, motivating employees, improving customer service and providing training on a budget.
The foodservice industry is a people business, and people are both an operation's biggest asset and its largest headache. Keeping employees motivated and engaged and providing them with the training they need and the benefits they desire are never-ending challenges for foodservice directors. The editors at FoodService Director asked readers what are their biggest employee issues, and then sought answers from their peers to the five most common challenges they face. In the solutions that follow, you may glean a nugget or two that will help keep your employees satisfied and working for you.
My absenteeism rate for non-salary employees has risen alarmingly in the last couple of years. How can I encourage employees to make them more conscientious?
The answer for Tamara Almquist, manager of environmental and food services/safety director at Geisinger Marworth in Waverly, Pa., is allowing employees to make their own schedules. Every other week the staff gets together and makes up the schedule for the next two weeks. A supervisor is present but remains a silent observer unless a problem arises. "They have a list of rules they have to follow like no overtime and you can only work so many days in a row," Almquist says about the process. "I only have two shifts. The employees can work whichever shift they want; people aren't assigned specific shifts. It does help when someone knows they have something going on and instead of me scheduling them the morning shift and they can't get day care they can schedule themselves the evening shift. It's definitely helped with morale and people are less likely to complain about the hours that they are working."
Incentives can help decrease absenteeism. However, many operators say this isn't an option for them. Ariane Maori Shanley, director of food and nutrition services at South Kitsap School District in Port Orchard, Wash., says any attendance incentives she gives relate back to the job. For example, she will pay for registration to a conference for employees with a good attendance record.
Jeff Denton, director of child nutrition at Ponca City School District in Oklahoma, uses attendance incentives like iPods or digital cameras for staff members who do not miss a day. But he cautions: "Be sure to clearly define an absence. It gets complicated if you don't. We say missing any part of your shift or being paid when you are not there, whether personal, business, funeral or emergency leave, is an absence. We had a problem caused by employees making up the hours when someone had to cover for them during the busy time."
Many directors agree with Denton that making sure documentation and procedures are clearly stated helps with absenteeism.
Karen Brown, director of child nutrition at Sumner School District in Bonney Lake, Wash., has employees sign a detailed procedures notebook so that they know what is expected of them. "Then if an issue arises, no matter the violation, it is easy to reference the procedures notebook and address the problem. I have been able to change a lot of behaviors before they turn into problems."
Mark Eggleston, director of hospitality services at Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, Wash., holds 30-, 60- and 90-day check-ins with new hires, "to assess their needs as a new employee and what types of things we can do to help them continue to remain a valued staff member." If an employee misses more than three unscheduled absences in a six-month window, a manager sits down with the employee to discuss the problem. "Obviously everyone gets sick or has an emergency absence, but a full-time staff person should not exceed three in a six-month window. That's where accountability comes in."
Peer pressure works well for some operators. Pat Farris, supervisor of School Food Services at the St. Tammany Parish School Board in Covington, La., says, "Employees need to realize the importance of a good attendance record. Each year the cafeteria manager should sit with the entire staff and remind them that they are part of a team. When someone is out, the other team members have to perform their duties."
What can I do to motivate/incentivize my employees during a wage/salary freeze to keep them from looking elsewhere for jobs?
"Try to downplay the freeze as much as possible and avoid conversations about it," says Stanley Hord, director of child nutrition for Tuscaloosa (Ala.) County Schools. "Do little things that can take their mind off the freeze. One of the main things to remember is to not let the quality of food and/or service slip during this time. A goal for the kitchen staff should be improved food cost, increased health scores and reduced customer complaints. Create some competition among facilities in regard to check averages, sales of items, cost per meal—all the variable costs and anything that can be controlled. Ranking them and doing an average works well. Everyone wants to be above average and they will strive to not be on the bottom."
Competition between locations also works well for Deon Lategan, director of dining services at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. In order to instill unit pride, Lategan says his department encourages employees to participate in several creative team-building events.
"We do a staff Olympics where operations compete for prizes but more importantly for bragging rights," Lategan says. "Each year we change up the events. This year we had a mop toss, a word search, build a structure out of Legos and a septacycle race. We also hold culinary competitions where the winner wins a huge skillet trophy that is displayed in work areas. We structure it as a "Chopped"-type competition where each unit gets a mystery basket full of ingredients and they have to prepare lunch for the rest of the department. There is a lot of trash talk leading up to the event—last year's winners coined the phrase 'take the pan if you can.' Staff get to interact in ways they don't normally do on a day-to-day basis. These activities help bring everyone together as a team of equals. The payoff has been excellent and makes the effort well worth the time."
At SAS, in Cary, N.C., Julie Stewart, food service manager, has felt the pinch of no pay increases or bonuses, so her department has thought of non-monetary ways to motivate and recognize employees.
"We have taken two approaches to motivating employees," Stewart says. "First are the things we do for employees. This includes providing the best environment we can. We have on-site healthcare, a recreation and fitness center, day care and other personal services for employees. When we get positive comments, we make sure that we share them with employees. Second are the things we do with employees. We try to create a work family environment that encompasses teamwork. We incorporate a little fun into staff meetings and try to celebrate together. For example, our holiday dinner is something all the employees look forward to. We all get to dress up, go out to eat and let someone cook and serve us for a change."
Making sure employees are heard is another important factor when dealing with motivation, according to Julie Spelman, R.D., director of culinary and nutrition services for Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, Ariz.
"We recognize employees by announcing their wow cards during our departmental meeting," Spelman says. "Wow cards are completed by a patient or staff member recognizing a person or department for his/her service. It is a way for guests or staff to show their appreciation. When employees perform exceptionally under exceptional circumstances, we are allowed to give them 'spot' awards, which may consist of $25 or $50 gift certificates. We also save all of the small gifts and promotional items that we get at food shows and use them as giveaways.
During the past 18 months, the University of Georgia's dining department has implemented two initiatives to incentivize employees.
"We started a lunch where seven employees from across our operations are chosen to eat with our director of food services," says J. Michael Floyd, executive director of food services. "This group is selected at random to be a cross selection of various job titles. The lunch is held in a different location twice each month with a different group of employees each time."
Floyd says the luncheons provide an opportunity for employees to ask questions and to give the senior management team input. Plus, the employees take the opportunity to meet other employees in the department and use this event as a networking opportunity, says Floyd.
"This is an easy way for us to let our team members know that they are an important part of our division," Floyd says. "One of the items that came out of this luncheon was that many of our employees were not aware of the other areas of campus. We now give a campus tour to our employees on a regular schedule."
At the University of New Hampshire, in Durham, Jon Plodzik, director of dining, says it's all about engagement with the staff.
"We are all in this together, so they need to know that we care and understand their struggle, too," Plodzik says. "We talk about the great things we do have like free employee meals and the camaraderie we share as an organization. We try to find fun in daily activities from little jokes like fake cockroaches on the workbench to singing in the servery. At the end of the year we held a less expensive dinner for all of the staff. Our beverage contractor helped us buy a pile of smaller gifts for staff and we pulled together all of the promotional T-shirts and items we collected over the year. I made sure we had enough so that everyone could select something. Keeping folks focusing on what is great about our organization and letting them know we really do care keeps them loyal during this difficult time."
I have young managers with a lot of skills and ideas but turnover in my department is really low. How do I motivate the younger staff members who don't see promotions in their near future?
"I like to send them to conferences like the Chef Culinary Conference at the University of Massachusetts [in Amherst]," says Craig Mombert, executive chef at Davidson College in Davidson, N.C. "It sends a signal to them that we view their skills as valuable enough that we want to develop them. They come back from these conferences so pumped up and they get to share what they've learned with other staff. We build up a sense of loyalty with them."
David Riddle, executive director of Dining Services at Texas A&M University, in College Station, believes a similar approach can work for non-chef personnel. "We look to increase their scope of responsibility, unless of course they're already overwhelmed," he says. "Now, some employees will simply say, 'You're just giving me more work to do.' But a good employee, one who is dedicated, will recognize that it is a sign of trust, that we believe he or she can handle the job. I have one dining hall manager to whom we gave responsibility for a satellite kiosk. Not only did it take her out of her comfort zone, it also got her out of the dining hall on another part of campus, so she didn't feel so isolated."
Riddle adds that sometimes, such added responsibility can also be rewarded with a slight increase in pay.
In institutions where the foodservice director also oversees other departments, employees can be used in several different types of settings.
"I try to utilize non-cooking skills that my employees may have in other areas of the hospital," says Geisinger's Almquist. "I have cross trained employees to work in different departments. This gives them a break from their normal workday, gets them used to working with different staff members and gives a new appreciation to the job they currently have. I have also signed up some of my supervisors to serve on different committees and asked employees to serve on task forces for the hospital, such as high-risk analysis, safety committee, etc. This gives a new purpose to their contribution, away from the normal department purpose."
Almquist adds that her department benefits from having the ability to experiment.
"In most acute care hospitals, standardization and sticking to specific recipes is a must," she notes. "In my establishment we are more relaxed and less constrained. My employees are able to be innovative, creative and express themselves with different items."
Of course, cross training employees does have the downside of making them able to leave the department. But Almquist doesn't see that as a negative.
"The employees that have moved out of the department in the last two years have stayed with the company and moved up to higher paying positions within the organization," she explains with pride. "I have not lost an employee to an outside company in almost two years."
Overlake Hospital's Eggleston agrees with Almquist's assessment.
"One of the things we've done as an organization is encourage individuals who work in foodservice to advance themselves in other areas of the hospital—especially those younger individuals who have degrees and are looking to advance in the healthcare profession. We feel they are still retained even though they move on to another department within the organization," Eggleston says.
"We even went so far as to perform mock interviews with some of our top performers to prep them for outside interviewing and assisted them with resumes and cover letter updating," he adds. "We have a significant Filipino population here, who have a very different approach to resumes and interviewing. We even helped one young man with his outfit preparation."
How can I improve the customer service skills of my front-line staff?
Erin DeLain, director of culinary services, R.D., at St. Brigid's at Hi-Park in Red Wing, Minn., says empathy is the best way to get her staff members to provide good customer service to the residents in this senior living community. "It's effective to put the front-line staff in the position of the customer and role-play as to how they are to be treated or not treated," DeLain says. "In long-term care we can blindfold a staff member, put cotton in their ears to make them hard of hearing, place a large marshmallow in the corner of their mouths and then feed them to stimulate what it's like to be one of our residents. We also put Vaseline on fake glasses and made staff wear them so they had altered vision. This creates empathy and changed how customer service is performed."
St. Tammany's Farris agrees with DeLain about getting employees to see things from the customers' perspective. "Sometimes we do not know how we come across to our customer," she says. "The best way to show employees is to video them from the customers' perspective. Is the serving line attractive? Is the employee smiling? Is this a place the customer would want to return?"
Ponca City's Denton is starting a new program to solicit student feedback about customer service. A program called ee—eyes and ears—is starting in August, which will be similar to a secret shopper program. "The plan is to select unidentified students to watch for quality and listen to how the staff interacts with them," Denton says.
South Kitsap's Maori Shanley says student focus groups are important so that her staff can directly hear what the students say about them instead of hearing it from her. "They hear the feedback from the customer versus from me and that has really motivated my staff," she says.
At Flagstaff Medical Center in Arizona, Jeanine Drake, director of nutrition services, has two customer service coaches who do in-service training each month. "They made a Power Point with messy pictures of the department and then clean pictures of the work area to show staff how it looks to our customers. They have also done skits where [the employees] are the patient, doctor and nutrition assistant and role-play poor customer service versus positive customer service." Drake also holds motivational staff rallies to encourage good customer service.
"My philosophy is see something, do something," says Sumner's Brown. "If I am in a building and I see someone doing something they shouldn't, I address it there quickly and then decide if I need to talk to them again. Depending upon the severity of the issue, usually saying something at the moment takes care of the problem. If it is more severe, I will send them a note asking them to make an appointment and come talk to me about it. This usually keeps problems small and takes care of them before they turn into a union-involved problem."
Other directors say hiring the right people to be the "face" of your operation is the best way to ensure good customer service. Peter Cayan, R.D., director of food and nutrition services at Glens Falls Hospital in New York, is starting a pilot floor-ambassador program to make sure that any patient foodservice needs are quickly addressed.
"Of the five questions asked by Press Ganey about foodservice, the No. 1, by far, that drives the overall foodservice number has nothing to do with food at all but the 'courtesy question,'" Cayan says. "We are establishing an ambassador program on the floor that will allow quick action to get issues resolved. We are focusing on getting people to the floors that have very customer-oriented skill sets. There are people who are just not good customer service people. We have seven times a day that we have the ability to impact what a patient's perception is. We're going to screen people to get the right people on the floors. We could also possibly be paying them more to do this."
Our training budget has been slashed. How can I continue to provide continuing education or in-house training to my staff without breaking the bank?
"We are working with our prime vendor representative to provide education programs that we can do in house," says Jennifer Hesmondhalgh, executive chef for WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Ga. "Also the local board of health is always willing to help educate."
Hesmondhalgh also says to check in with colleges and culinary schools because those institutions often will give their students credit for developing a curriculum and teaching a class. Check with local or professional organization such as ACF, NRA and ADA, Hesmondhalgh says, because those organizations are usually willing to come out and teach a topic as a service program for their organization. She also has come up with innovative ways to lean on her talented staff as well as her past education to provide training for her staff.
"I have brought in my old textbooks and developed mini classes from those," Hesmondhalgh says. "Another great no-cost way to get training is if you have any employees who really excel at something—fried chicken, pie making, rolls, sushi, etc. Have them teach a class to their co-workers. We have also started a monthly book study, where we focus on time management, self improvement, nutrition, etc. Also if you have the time and access there are tons of free training ideas on the web."
At the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Joie Schoonover, director of dining and culinary services, says her department creates its own miniconference for its employees every January.
"We utilize vendors, manufacturers and campus resources as workshop speakers," Schoonover says. "We usually have a keynote speaker at the end of the day and show off new products to the staff. The workshops have covered sushi making, presented by our prime vendor's chef; sustainability, presented by an on-campus resource; cake decorating, presented by General Mills; and cheese making, presented by the Milk Marketing Board."
Other topics and presenters included conflict resolution, which was presented by two staff members from the department of university housing; financial planning, which was presented by a staff member from the university's school of human ecology; and food allergens, presented by a staff member from the university's college of agricultural and life sciences. Schoonover says one year the department gave out reusable bags and another year a backpack but those gifts are really the biggest costs involved with the miniconference.
"We might spend $1,000 on a keynote speaker, but overall we have been able to spend between $1,000 to $2,000 for an all-day workshop for approximately 130 of our staff. Overall, it is a very minimal cost for a very well received day. I have staff hug me each year and tell me it is their favorite day of the year and how they very much appreciate what we have done for them."
Rich Turnbull, associate director at Oregon State University, in Corvallis, says his department conducts in-house culinary training, which has been successful.
"Our director of culinary development has created a curriculum that provides a hands-on opportunity for our culinary-track employees to learn new skills," Turnbull says. "Next year we will be adding in-house customer service training and team-building training sessions."
Lisa Poggas, nutrition and environmental services director at Parker Adventist Hospital in Parker, Colo., says her department has never had much of a training budget, so they have conducted just-in-time training whenever they could.
"We bring in other professionals from the hospital—like speech therapy, vendors, pharmaceutical reps, etc.—who are willing to provide free training, which is beneficial," Poggas says. "For my dietitians, we do allow one paid day of educational training, which I strongly encourage them to take advantage of. It's their choice if they want to do a webinar, attend a conference or whatever."
Matthew Biette, director of dining services at Middlebury College in Vermont, admits providing training has been a particularly difficult area to tackle, but his department is still trying to target some training opportunities.
"We have in-house training with our human resources department that covers many policy issues and we bring in some people for things like ServSafe," Biette says. "Also look for local chefs who are doing some interesting things and you could coordinate a training session in-house with him/her. The people who receive the training may also head to the restaurant in thanks to see how things are displayed, sold or presented."


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Deer & Deer Hunting reader Jeff Zuelsdorf sent in this awesome iPhone video of a buck he shot on Oct. 26.
Here's his note:
I shot this Buck at 5:20 pm, Oct. 26 near Richland Center, Wis.
Deer & Deer Hunting is a real inspiration to all of us…
He was 15 yards out, went 60 yards and piled up.
This is shot from my iPhone on a FlexCam bracket.
P.S. It switches to slow-motion before the shot.
That's a pretty cool video, and we're seeing more hunters using the bow-mounted smart phone mounts. It's neat to see the action from the hunter's – really, the bow's – point of view, isn't it?
If you think that's neat, be sure to check out our D&DH Shot Simulator software that lets you set up your deer and shot when you were hunting or create scenarios from tree stands or ground blinds. After you make the shot on the animated deer, either with bow or firearm, the Shot Simulator software allows you to learn exactly which organs were hit by peeling away the layers of the animation whitetail.
You can learn a ton of information about angles, internal impact, and more. Shot Simulator is a fantastic tool you can use on your computer to provide more information about your in-field experiences. CHECK IT OUT HERE NOW.