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Polio survivors in the US still struggle with the aftershocks of the disease decades later
Decades after the vaccine, adults with post-polio syndrome are struggling with symptoms—and looking for answers.
By Frieda Klotz / Undark | Published Jan 7, 2023 7:00 PM
During the polio epidemic, some patients had to use iron lungs—large ventilators. Getty Images
This article was originally featured in Undark.
Brad Fuller was a toddler when he contracted polio in 1952 and was sent to a hospital miles from his northeast Pennsylvania home. He stayed there for nine months, enduring long stints in an iron lung, a large metallic ventilator that helped him breathe. Fuller's parents were allowed only rare visits. His earliest memory is of a nurse holding him in a mineral pool, instructing him to kick his legs.
That year marked the epidemic's peak, when roughly 58,000 American children and adults developed polio and 3,000 of them died. In this respect, Fuller was lucky. The disease spared him, leaving only a weakened left leg and right arm. He was able to play tennis and football and train as a clinical psychologist. He built a career leading non-profits while teaching part time at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. Despite his childhood ordeal, Fuller said, he felt invincible.
Then, in his 40s, a new doctor offered to treat his post-polio. Fuller was taken aback. It was the first time he'd heard the term. But the symptoms, like increased muscle weakness and poor balance, had been creeping up. At one point, he'd fallen and injured his knee. He now wears a full leg-brace and because he falls so often, he has taught himself to land easily. "I think if I was a typical person" — a person without a background in mental health — "I would have immediately gone into denial," he said.
Scientists believe that the poliovirus has been around for thousands of years, but it did not cause epidemics until the late 1800s, when countries like the United States and the United Kingdom began to experience waves of increasing severity. By the 1940s and early 50s, the polio terror was killing or paralyzing more than a half million people globally each year. To treat the overwhelming number of sick people, hospitals created the first intensive care units. Many of those ICU patients were children and young adults.
Then came a pair of highly effective vaccines, the first of which was licensed in 1955. Case rates plummeted within a matter of years, and the virus was soon eradicated from entire countries. The vaccines are widely viewed as a triumph of public health. "My mother would have given anything to have a vaccine" for her children, recalls Fuller. But for those who had already been infected and survived, there was a downside. Polio "supposedly disappeared," Fuller said. "That means research stopped."
This history is bittersweet for patients who now struggle with post-polio syndrome, or PPS, which affects 25 to 40 percent of survivors. As adults, these individuals face an array of new symptoms stemming from their initial infection — everything from pain and renewed muscle weakness to fatigue to problems speaking and swallowing. PPS affects up to 300,000 people in the U.S., and globally the figure could be as high as 15 to 20 million people, according to some estimates. Most polio survivors in developed countries are 65 and older, said Marny Eulberg, a physician with PPS who ran one of the first dedicated clinics in the U.S. Survivors in the developing world are often younger.
Fuller was fortunate in another respect. His physician recognized the signs of PPS. Many patients struggle for years to find an explanation for their various symptoms, only to find out, once they receive a diagnosis, that there are no approved treatments and few specialists who can help them manage their condition. The exact cause of PPS remains unknown, and it has confounded researchers seeking a cure. Further research could elucidate polio's long-term effects and stall patients' physical decline, say the handful of scientists still studying the condition, but funding is scarce.
"The sentiment in all the funding bodies is polio has disappeared. So are we going to put money in it?" said Frans Nollet, a leading figure in European post-polio research who heads a specialty clinic at Amsterdam University Medical Centers. "It's difficult," he continued. "People think the disease has vanished, but the patients are still here."
Like polio itself, post-polio syndrome is thought to have been around since ancient times. But it didn't capture the medical world's attention until the generation of young polio patients from the 1940s and 50s reached adulthood.
That's when Marilyn Fletcher, a physician and polio survivor, approached the National Institutes of Health for help. In 1982, after repeated phone calls and visits to the federal agency, Fletcher landed a meeting with the neurologist Marinos Dalakas. At least 20 polio survivors in and around Washington D.C. were experiencing new symptoms, she told him. These individuals had even coined a new term, "post-polio syndrome," to describe their condition. Thousands of people across the U.S. could have similar symptoms, Fletcher maintained. Those in D.C. were frustrated that the medical community was ignoring them.
Dalakas was initially skeptical and took no action. But a month later, he received a call to meet Fletcher at the Surgeon General's office. Everett C. Coop, newly appointed to the position, "expressed his concern about the emerging phenomenon of PPS as described by Dr. Fletcher," wrote Dalakas in a 1995 paper. Soon thereafter, Dalakas headed up a first-of-its-kind survey to learn more.
The survey was sent to 2,800 individuals with medical records indicating a polio-related disability. At least 2,500 people replied, often sending letters and personal photographs along with their questionnaires. "Many of the responses contained details which were highly emotional and stimulating," Dalakas recalled in an email to Undark. For example, a 50-year-old man who'd contracted polio at 19 was struggling to drive or even dress himself. The devastating toll of PPS quickly became clear to Dalakas.
But how to define this new condition was less obvious. Collectively, the study participants reported a wide variety of ailments, with the onset of new symptoms occurring years to decades after the initial infection, often when survivors were in their 30s, 40s, or 50s. Because of this heterogeneity, experts disagree even today about what constitutes PPS. An official diagnosis requires a 15- or 20-year period of stability without new weakness or impaired movement.
Yet Frances Quinn, who contracted polio as a 1-year-old, said her symptoms have never truly been stable. At age 14, she felt growing weakness in her upper right arm and in her thumb. Her health care provider, she said, attributed these changes to adolescence and her accompanying loss of baby fat. "There's a lot of stuff said about PPS that's not really based on good science," said Quinn, who worked as a physicist in the U.K. government for most of her life. "PPS is diagnosed when the patient decides that something is wrong and also finds someone who will listen to them."
Katharina Stibrant Sunnerhagen, a professor of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, raised similar objections. "My problem is that, for instance, if you had polio as a 1-year-old, when is your condition steady?" Childhood and adolescence encompass periods of rapid physical growth and development. Strictly speaking, an individual who survives polio as a baby must wait until the completion of puberty before their 15- to 20-year period of stability can even commence.
PPS was formally redefined by the World Health Organization in February of 2022, when it updated its International Classification of Diseases. The WHO now calls PPS "post-polio progressive muscular atrophy." Critics have argued that the redefinition does not reflect the spectrum of symptoms patients may endure, increasing the risks that patients will receive the wrong sort of care. Why change it at all? asked Quinn. "It took 40 years of work to get PPS recognized and creating more names only adds to confusion." Some sufferers also worry that disability payments could be affected although, for now, practitioners in the U.S. and U.K. still refer to the older classification.
Government recognition of PPS as a disability has been important because symptoms often appear in mid-life, making it difficult for some patients to sustain their careers. Carol Ferguson, a polio survivor and mother, used to work at a Pennsylvania bed-and-breakfast but was obliged to quit when she could no longer stand all day. "My physicians made it very clear that that part of my life was over," she said.
Some post-polio patients originally had mild symptoms. Others needed leg braces, calipers, or an iron lung. For the latter group, the reemergence of symptoms can feel like a deal gone sour. Eulberg contracted polio in 1950, when she was four. She recalls being promised that if she just worked hard enough, she would be able to walk without a leg brace. In junior high that promise was fulfilled. But decades later, her muscles started to weaken and she realized she needed a brace again. It "felt like a failure," she told a Medscape reporter in 2020.
There are also unexpected risks. In rare instances, anesthesia can prove fatal for those with PPS, who may need as little as half the dose of typical adults because of an increased sensitivity to sedatives and other drugs. They may have difficulty breathing or swallowing, or be slow to rouse after treatment, possibly having the same vulnerabilities as other patients with neuromuscular disorders. John MacFarlane, a campaigner and former president of the European Polio Union, had given a talk about PPS to the British Medical Association. While leaving the conference building, his wheelchair tipped into a pothole and toppled over. He later needed an operation to pin and plate his arm. He told Undark that it took him 14 hours to wake up after surgery.
For many years, Ferguson, the former B&B worker, didn't even realize that she'd been infected with the poliovirus. When she came down with a fever at the age of two, just a year before vaccines became available, she recalls, her parents assumed it was a "summer flu." Ferguson developed a drop foot at age 11, and a doctor suggested polio as the possible cause. But Ferguson's mother was dubious, and the disease was not mentioned again. Feelings of self-blame may have contributed to the situation, said Ferguson. At the time, many parents believed that if they simply kept a clean house, their children would not fall ill.
Ferguson grew up a clumsy kid who stumbled a lot. As an adult, she fell while ice skating and had to undergo a minor surgery. She woke up three days later in intensive care. The anesthesiologist, she recalls, probed for details that might explain why it had taken so long for her to wake. When she mentioned her summer flu, he warned, "Don't ever leave that out of your medical history again." The physician suspected that the flu had actually been polio and that Ferguson was experiencing the condition's lingering effects. But he did not provide an official diagnosis of PPS.
For that, patients must undergo a battery of blood tests, scans, and X-rays to rule out other health conditions. Ferguson recalls starting along this path and encountering several doctors who thought she had multiple sclerosis; another was sure she had a brain tumor ("That's the kind of thing that really messes with your head," she said). When those conditions were eventually ruled out, a neurologist at the University of Pennsylvania conducted a diagnostic test called an EMG, which evaluates the function of motor neurons. Ferguson recalls lying in bed with needles in her leg, her husband holding her hand to ease her pain as the test recorded electrical activity in her muscles. She told Undark that partway through, the physician called his students to the room to show them what a case of "old polio" looked like.
For Ferguson, it was a moving moment. Her journey to diagnosis had come to an end. "We finally had it," she said. "Everything else had been ruled out."
For help managing her symptoms, which included deepening fatigue and a weak leg, Ferguson went to a polio clinic in Englewood, New Jersey. Like other clinics, this one provided access to an array of specialists, including rehabilitative physicians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nutritionists, and orthotists — specialists who make braces and splints. Ferguson had been walking 10,000 steps a day, trying to keep healthy. At the clinic, she learned that she was over-using frayed muscles. This kind of insight, and the clinic's care more broadly, are what ultimately "saved me," Ferguson said.
Despite their benefits, polio clinics have been shutting down, said Carol Vandenakker-Albanese, a professor of health sciences who runs a clinic at UC Davis. Many physicians who once specialized in treating the disease have retired, she said, estimating that only about two dozen polio specialists currently practice in the U.S. With most survivors now in their 60s and 70s, few young clinicians want to take up the mantle.
Four specialists told Undark that there is a concerning lack of knowledge among their medical colleagues about PPS. Despite a steady trickle of published studies since the 1980s, many doctors are too busy to keep up with the science and simply "don't believe in PPS," said Richard Bruno, who trained in psychophysiology and led the Englewood clinic where Ferguson was treated. In Sweden, a patient told Sunnerhagen that when she asked her family physician if ankle pain could stem from childhood polio, the doctor replied, "Polio is a vaccine."
Ferguson now volunteers with a Pennsylvania-based support group that she helped establish, which offers a list of recommended specialists and publishes newsletters and personal stories. Support groups exist in other states too, providing patients with an opportunity to swap details about symptoms and possible treatments and share tips for educating their doctors and advocating for themselves. In Germany, a doctor with PPS has argued that patients could benefit from medical cannabis, and he has developed a protocol to help patients with their symptoms. But, he said, insurers and other physicians are reluctant to accept the therapy.
Brad Fuller, the survivor whose first memory is of being in a mineral pool, would like to see the U.S. government offer more support to PPS patients. Some of them need braces or wheelchairs in order to continue living productive lives, but such mobility aids, he said, are "outrageously expensive."
"Basically," said Eulberg, who councils patients at the clinic she founded in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, "we're telling polio survivors, 'Yes, it would be wonderful if every health care provider you encountered knew a lot about polio, but that ain't going to happen. You're going to have to be your own advocate.'"
In 2001, Antonio Toniolo, a microbiologist and physician, experienced a serious car accident. To recover from his injuries, he spent two years visiting a rehabilitation clinic, where he encountered middle-aged polio survivors who were seeking help for their muscle weakness. At the time, Toniolo was working at the University of Insubria Medical School in Italy. The survivors, he recalls, started referring to him as "Doctor" and asking, "What do you know about polio?"
Then, as now, the cause of PPS was not well understood. Researchers know that the initial infection kills some of the body's motor neurons, the cells that facilitate communication between muscles and the brain. Over time, some of these neurons regrow dramatically, reaching 7 or 8 times normal size, but they are unable to maintain themselves and eventually start to die off. But why this die-off happens, and why some patients are more affected than others, remain a mystery.
Throughout the 1980s and 90s, researchers focused on defining PPS and on trying to understand its underlying causes. After studying that literature, Toniolo began to wonder if the poliovirus might still be present in the blood of survivors — something earlier research had suggested — and causing their new symptoms. In 2013, he gathered blood and spinal fluid from 100 post-polio patients and compared the samples with those from a control group of about 50 survivors who weren't experiencing PPS. He found traces of poliovirus in samples of about two-thirds of the PPS patients, compared with very few of the control group's samples. The still-circulating virus, he posited, could cause inflammation or even cell death in those patients. This would mean the condition might respond to antiviral drugs.
Toniolo shared this preliminary data at a couple of PPS-related events and in a mid-study report published in 2015. But the research was never finalized or published in a scientific journal. "This was expensive research that needed funds and competent people," he wrote to Undark in an email. "Thus, due to lack of funds and my retirement at the end of 2018, the work has not been completed."
As of yet, nobody has tested whether PPS might respond to antivirals. A major multi-center study led by Dalakas is focusing on whether certain proteins in the blood of healthy donors could help neutralize proteins called cytokines that scientists have detected in the blood and spinal fluids of some PPS patients. Researchers hope that the therapy, called IVIG, will calm the cytokines and stabilize the immune system, thereby improving patients' quality of life.
The treatment has been trialed in Sweden without conclusive results and was available for a while in some countries, Nollet from the Amsterdam University Medical Centers said, but because it was considered not sufficiently proven, insurers were reluctant to cover it. Whatever the outcome of this study — which is sponsored by a Spanish company, Grifols — it will be helpful for patients to know whether it works or not, said Nollet, whose clinic is among those taking part.
The Swedish government is rearranging care of rare diseases so that polio survivors will be treated at expert centers, a decision driven by recent events: Last summer, health officials reported that the poliovirus had paralyzed an unvaccinated man living in an under-vaccinated community in New York. It was the first U.S. case in years. As of early October, the virus still appeared to be spreading in several under-vaccinated parts of the state. In 2022, for the first time in decades, poliovirus was also detected in Israel, Malawi, Mozambique, and the U.K., alarming public health officials and spurring calls for vaccination campaigns.
Observing the cases in New York helped the Swedish government understand that a polio outbreak "is something that can actually happen again, even here," said Sunnerhagen, whose own PPS research is part of an application for special status at her university hospital. Her clinic serves about a thousand post-polio patients, a largely Swedish cohort alongside a younger group of individuals who immigrated to Sweden from countries where the disease was never eradicated. "We need to spread the knowledge," she said, to draw attention to the fact that polio patients are still present in society. Sunnerhagen doesn't expect all physicians to be experts in the condition but she hopes that they will at least know to make the referral.
For now, patients are still driving much of their medical care.
Ferguson said she understands why a physician might be stumped by a multi-symptom disease triggered by a long-ago infection. "But to totally deny that this exists is heartbreaking," she said. "I'm a living example that a very mild or unapparent case of a virus can leave lifelong damage."
This article was originally published on Undark. Read the original article.


The outdoor altar is a beautiful site for celebrating Holy Eucharist. Set in the southern end of the yard, the altar is covered by a canopy of kiwi vine with broad green leaves.
Every summer, staff of the Diocese of Oregon worship outdoors amidst the sound of the gurgling streams and chirping birds. One year an albino deer wandered onto the field during the Eucharist!
As Rick Grimshaw, Vice-President of the Board of Trustees of the Diocese of Oregon, shared at last year's diocesan Convention, diocesan leadership has for several years been contemplating the best stewardship plan for Elk Rock Gardens. This historic property was generously gifted to the diocese by Peter and Laurie Kerr more than 60 years ago and houses the diocesan office (The Bishop's Close) and a privately-managed public garden.
Today the Diocese of Oregon is very pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent to sell the Bishop's Close and Elk Rock Gardens to Mr. Jordan Schnitzer. Mr. Schnitzer is a lifelong Portland resident with significant experience in civic, religious, non-profit, and community-based organizations and causes, including sixteen years on the Board of Trustees for the Portland Japanese Garden.
Mr. Schnitzer intends to develop a long-term master plan to restore and revitalize Elk Rock Gardens in a way that honors the history and tradition of the garden as well as the legacy of the Kerr family's intention in donating it to the diocese, maintaining it as a private/public green space with a deed restriction that prevents any subdivision of the property for redevelopment.
In addition to the important preservation of this beautiful and beloved garden, Mr. Schnitzer agreed to a favorable lease-back option for the diocese for up to five years, which allows us time to enter into a diocesan-wide conversation planning for the future location of the diocesan office.
We give thanks for Mr. Schnitzer's generous commitment to the future of Elk Rock Gardens and invite your prayers for the diocesan leadership and staff as we journey together into the next location from which we can best serve the Episcopal churches of western Oregon.
Read more of Lori Osterberg's review on AFAR.
It may be fall, but there are still signs of new life popping up around the garden. The fall crocus are beginning to force their way up through the damp soil, pushing aside the cover of autumn leaves.
The bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) is beginning to shed its leaves, which can grow up to 30 inches long. This tree is located on the western side of the lower parking lot.
The Willamette Week featured Elk Rock Garden as one of Portland's hidden gems.
Read the full article in Willamette Week.
Some two hundred years ago the trees you see in this photograph began to grow in what is now Elk Rock Garden on the grounds of the Bishop's Close. During a recent storm the roots became waterlogged and all three of the major trunks came down. Today the company tasked with cutting them up and removing them from the grounds finished their work. Except for the tracks of heavy moving equipment, only the memory of these beautiful trees remains.
The July issue of the digital magazine, Garden Time, featured an article about the garden.
The Elk Rock Garden at Bishop's Close is a treasure of a botanical garden tucked into a Dunthorpe neighborhood overlooking the Willamette River. Originally the home of Peter Kerr, a native of Scotland, the state, along with an endowment for maintenance and upkeep was donated after his death by his daughters in 1957 to the Episcopal Bishop of Oregon on the condition that the garden be open to visitors. Because of this generous gift, we have the pleasure of visiting this gem of a garden year-round.


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by Jon DeVore — Thursday, 6/18/09 , 9:00 pm
Can't actually abide liberals.
One of the rarest commodities in the establishment media is someone who was a vehement critic of George Bush and who now, applying their principles consistently, has become a regular critic of Barack Obama — i.e., someone who criticizes Obama from what is perceived as "the Left" rather than for being a Terrorist-Loving Socialist Muslim. It just got a lot rarer, as The Washington Post — at least according to Politico's Patrick Gavin — just fired WashingtonPost.com columnist, long-time Bush critic and Obama watchdog (i.e., a real journalist) Dan Froomkin.
Personally I blame Craigslist and non-objective bloggers. Luckily there are so many liberal voices in today's national media.
In addition to his Rupert Murdoch perch at Fox, Krauthammer remains as a regular columnist at the Post, alongside fellow right-wing Obama haters such as Bill Kristol, George Will, Jim Hoagland, Michael Gerson and Robert Kagan — as well as a whole bevy of typical, banal establishment spokespeople who are highly supportive of whatever the permanent Washington establishment favors (David Ignatius, Fred Hiatt, Ruth Marcus, David Broder, Richard Cohen, Howie Kurtz, etc. etc.). And that's to say nothing of the regular Op-Ed appearances by typical Krauthammer-mimicking neoconservative voices such as John Bolton, Joe Lieberman, and Douglas Feith — and the Post Editorial Page itself.
What we really need more of now is establishment Washington ideas, that will be wonderful. Maybe then we could have some Goldman Sachs alums fix the economy and some big pharma and AMA folks could pitch in with health care reform.
Meanwhile we can keep the rabble distracted with immigration, abortion and guns.
They fall for it every time.
Tom Foss spews:
Thursday, 6/18/09 at 9:21 pm
What is even worse is that the WA Post continues to ignore offenses by their neo con cabal against basic facts and truth and journalistic integrity. It can no longer be called a major source of real journalism. Will and Krauthammer have left the realm of facts and reality.
If you want to read critcisms of Obama from the left, though, all you have to do is follow the Nation. Hell, if Troll and cyniclown read the "Nation" instead of Kraut head and Rich Lowry, they might have an intelligent criticism.
manoftruth spews:
so, the list of right wingers you gave is maybe what, about 20? so that leaves the other 60,000 journalists in this country as liberals.
you are all fools
Thursday, 6/18/09 at 10:52 pm
Of all the fawning sycophants that populate the rightwing media, Krauthammer is one of the more annoying, because he strikes you as being intelligent enough to know better.
@2 I love to hear you whine.
Bob Herman spews:
Friday, 6/19/09 at 9:00 am
@manoftruth: Ahhhh, generalizations. The tool of idiots. Your argument would be so much more compelling if, you know, you used specific examples. That's the typical crap of conservatives, though…a lot of assumptions with little to no standing.
Another TJ spews:
Bob Herman,
What takes his "argument" from silly to downright embarrassing is that the list of conservatives and villagers Greenwald cited are just at the WaPo. As you say, when we start looking at specific examples (i.e., the real world), the "liberal media" becomes easily identifiable for what it is: a myth.
Puddybud is shocked SHOCKED spews:
Friday, 6/19/09 at 11:08 am
Wow the WA Post has some conservative commentators and that's the moral standard for a conservative newspaper? The same paper who on October 17, 2008, the Post endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States.
What Puddy thinks is strange is why didn't these two leftist loons get mentioned… E.J. Dionne and Eugene Robinson with the others above.
Did y'all fergit Deborah Howell, Washington Post ombudsman state in a November 19, 2008 column,"I'll bet that most Post journalists voted for Obama. I did." That's a Nuff SAID comment right there. But as you know Jon DeVore (where is that blog picture again) will read left-wing kook-aid and throw it up for all to read like the little automatons the HA swineflu weasel crew has become.
ABC,
CBS,
NBC,
CNN,
CNBC,
MSNBC,
PBS,
NPR.
All right-wing networks full of right-wing kooks – right?
Friday, 6/19/09 at 12:50 pm
Where did Bob Herman and his yes doggie Another Total Jerk run off to?
Hey Dr Darryl did you see this in the libtard media?
"The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals court said Monday sharing an obscene sexual fantasy over e-mail is a federal crime that enjoys no protection under the First Amendment."
Looks like Steve and his email list for goat sex acts could be in trouble now. Whodathunkit?
Steve spews:
Friday, 6/19/09 at 1:04 pm
@10 Heh- Funny.
Q: What do you call it when Mr. Klynical is standing on the sidewalk with two goats under his arms, talking with Marvin?
A: A pimp, two whores and a john.
Heh-
The media is libtard otherwise they would be telling the peeps how oil has more than doubled since the messiah has been on the job and gas has gone up around $0.80 on average since then.
Where dem stories? MIA
Steve, how would you know the goats are two whores?
Because they're with Mr. Klynical, of course!! Criminy, you must be denser than a black hole, Puddy!
Sorry Steve, the explanation doesn't work.
Try again sunny!
delbert spews:
At least the WaPo admits it, albeit AFTER the election.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....02895.html
And ABC is deep in the tank for BO:
http://www.cprights.org/2009/0.....sis-of.php
Saturday, 6/20/09 at 8:37 am
Hey Jon, how is that Allen Stanford rant working out for ya? Puddy hasn't seen the update recant story yet and it's been months. Puddy sees he was indicted yesterday. Hmmm… did a "almost prominent" HA Swineflu Weasel blogger "suggest" Stanford was from Texas so he must be a Republican supporter.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahaha
Just like this liberal media rant.
What is it with Donkey Jock Straps and Ponzi Schemes?
Who knew Jonny-man.
"He was a courtly State Department intelligence analyst from a prominent family who loved to sail and peruse the London Review of Books. Occasionally, he would voice frustration with U.S. policies, but to his liberal neighbors in Northwest D.C. it was nothing out of the ordinary. "We were all appalled by the Bush years," one said."
greedy U.S. oil companies, inadequate health care and "the utter complacency of the oppressed" in America. Sounds like the standard libtardo Donkey rant of the HA swineflu weasel crew.
Donkey spies. Treason. They were such an endearing couple. Yep, such conservative media bias.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Dracula Season 2: Everything We Know
Nishitha Dutta
'Dracula,' created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, is a drama-horror TV series eponymous to the 1897 novel by Bram Stoker. Jonathan Harker (John Heffernan), an emotionally withdrawn solicitor, finds himself in Count Dracula's (Claes Bang) castle in Transylvania, with regards to legal assistance required for the purchase of some property.
His arrival leads to a series of misadventures that reroute the course of his life. The origin of the show is based on the foundational structure of the book, but as the story progresses, its deviation from the novel is visible in the small details that slowly take shape. With its chilling visuals and haunting aftertaste, could there be another season of the show? Here's what we know.
Dracula Season 2 Release Date
The first season of 'Dracula' was released on January 1, 2020, and ended on January 3, 2020, after airing on BBC One over three consecutive days. The three episodes of the first season were collectively released on Netflix on January 4, 2020. The episodes have a runtime of 88–91 minutes each.
A documentary for the show titled 'In Search of Dracula with Mark Gatiss' ran on BBC Two on January 3, 2020, with the creator passing insights about the story of Count Dracula. The first season garnered positive reviews, although it was considered as a miniseries. Based on statements given by the creators, fans are speculating that the creators might be interested in renewing the show for a second season.
Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat playfully talked about how Dracula's character is about resurrection, which seems subtly suggestive of its potential return. Gatiss seemed enthusiastic about his character Renfield, who is Dracula's morally depleted lawyer, making a comeback. Claes Bang also expressed deep interest, which reveals the possibility of the show getting "resurrected." However, there is no official mention of a release date yet. If another installment were to be greenlit, then we can expect 'Dracula' season 2 to release sometime in early 2022.
Dracula Season 2 Cast: Who Can Be in it?
Claes Bang as Count Dracula would most likely be back if there is ever a season 2 based on Gatiss' statement of reviving Dracula. The same can be said about Dolly Wells' character as Sister Agatha and her identical descendant, Dr. Zoe. The second season must be interrupted with a striking plot twist to retain both these characters, which means that Mark Gatiss might return as the infamous Dracula's lawyer. However, there are fewer chances for John Heffernan, who plays Jonathan Harker, to be recast in the second season.
Dracula Season 2 Plot: What Can it Be About?
The first season of Dracula was successfully wrapped up in terms of the storyline. The viewers were given complete closure with both Dracula's and Zoe's characters perishing in their collective embrace of death. Zoe's character dies because of cancer, and Dracula's death is caused by Zoe's cancerous blood that he drinks to overcome his dread. Given the supernatural character of the plot, they may be both alive.
The creators of the show are reputed to be creative with their scripts. Even if they've used up the best parts of the original book, they'll still find a way to redirect the story into a new plot. The second season might potentially reveal that Dracula somehow survives his poisoning, and it will most likely be a story of character growth and redemption. It is even possible that his past might swerve up into the surface with developments surrounding the history of events associated with him.
Read More: Dracula Ending, Explained


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Plays.
Posted on May 4, 2019 September 26, 2019 by admin
Ego Actus and Lungtree Productions presented an Equity Showcase Code production of Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies, directed by Joan Kane.
The show opened March 8, 2018 at Theater for the New City.
Time Stands Still is set in Brooklyn and revolves around Sarah, a photo journalist who has returned from covering a war in Syria after being injured by a roadside bomb, and her reporter boyfriend James who is swamped by guilt after leaving Sarah alone there. They receive a visit from their friend Richard, a photo editor, who introduces them to his new girlfriend Mandy, who is much younger than he. The play focuses on their relationships and Sarah and James' prospects at a more conventional life.
The cast featured Maggie Alexander, Timothy Weinert*, Connie Castanzo*, and Malcolm Stephenson*.
The crew included set by Mark Marcante, costumes by Cat Fisher, lights by Bruce A! Kraemer, sound by Ian Wehrle, projections by Kathryn Lieber, make-up by Virna Smiraldi, props by Max Kilsheimer, with photos of Syria by Simon S. Safieh and stage manager Dana Robbins, press rep Andrea Alton.
"Under the direction of Joan Kane, the play is staged wonderfully and leaves the audience engaged throughout all the humorous moments of the play, as well as the more emotional ones." Anthony J. Piccione, On Stage Blog, March 17, 2018
"As the truth is slowly revealed, we see characters struggling to hold in more information than they care to share. All of this is a triumph for director Joan Kane." Ed Malin in Theater in the Now, March 15, 2018
Our production of Time Stands Still averaged 85 on Show-Score.com and was a Trending Show.
Photo Credit Martin Harris
The Politics of Gender


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Contact and Directories
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2021 College of Engineering Awards Recipients Announced
January 13, 2021 by Jeff Martin
Dean Sharon L. Walker is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 College of Engineering Awards. These individuals have been chosen for their exceptional performance and outstanding contributions to the College.
Top row (l to r): Antonios Zavaliangos, Christopher Peters, Amir Yaghoob Farnam, Charles Haas
Second row: Vibha Kalra, Youngmoo Kim, Dionne Gordon-Starks, Emily Bogunovich
Faculty Awardees
Antonios Zavaliangos, PhD, A.W. Grosvenor Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, has been at the forefront of service to the University. He has served as the College of Engineering representative on the Budget Planning and Development (BP&D) committee of the Faculty Senate since 2017, including two years as chair. He has also served on the Drexel University strategic planning Executive Planning Committee and co-chairs the integration subcommittee. This past year, Zavaliangos also served on the Executive Committee for the college strategic planning process and as co-chair of the Aligned Means and Conditions committee and the Graduate Programs Committee. He has previously served as department head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and as a Provost Fellow.
Outstanding Teaching Award
Christopher Peters, PhD, teaching professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has consistently displayed excellence in student engagement, senior design participation, and curricular innovation. Over the last 12 years, Peters has taught 30 distinct courses and has supervised more than 40 senior design teams. Additionally, he was instrumental in setting up the college's nuclear engineering minor. During the past several months, he developed a special project-based course, providing a valuable laboratory-like experience for students to complete from home.
Outstanding Early-Career Award
Amir Yaghoob Farnam, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, conducts research spanning fundamental materials science to product development, and has built a strong reputation in the field of lightweight aggregates made from waste materials, such as bottom/fly ash, waste glass, and municipal solid waste ash. Farnam frequently collaborates across the college and with different industries.
Outstanding Career Research Award
Charles Haas, PhD, LD Betz Professor of Environmental Engineering in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, is a leader in the fields of water treatment, risk assessment, bioterrorism, environmental modeling and statistics, microbiology, and environmental health. He is Distinguished Fellow of the International Water Association, Fellow of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, and Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Among other accolades, Haas is the recipient of the Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize, administered by the National Water Research Institute, considered to be the most prestigious research award in the field of water research. This past year, he has been a prominent voice in the discussion about the airborne spread of COVID-19 and its associated risks.
Outstanding Innovation Award
Vibha Kalra, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, has established an outstanding innovative research program centered on nanomaterials for energy storage. Her research spans from fundamental science to technology translation and commercialization. Vibha has collaborated with and/or been funded by many companies including Applied Materials, Saft Batteries, Arkema, Elmarco, Murata Manufacturing, among others. She has a sponsored research agreement signed with a company that marks the largest dollar amount of industrial funding from a single grant at Drexel. In addition to other accolades, Kalra is the recipient of the 2020 Provost Award for Outstanding Mid-Career Research Achievement.
Inclusive Excellence Award
Youngmoo Kim, PhD, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of the Expressive and Creative Interactive Technologies (ExCITe) Center, has a sustained commitment to broadening participation and inclusion in STEM. He runs two summer camps for Philadelphia area students, including a free STEAM camp for middle schoolers in the West Philadelphia Promise Zone, which serves over 75 neighborhood students annually. Youngmoo is also dedicated to educating the general public about the digital divide. He currently serves as a member of Drexel's anti-racism task force, and chairs the task force subcommittee focused on graduate student issues.
Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award
Christopher Schade, PhD has served as an instructor for Processing Metallic Materials (MATE 366, both lecture and lab), Powder Metallurgy (MATE 560), and Solidification Processing (MATE 530) for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering since the fall of 2014 and consistently receives high praise from his students. He frequently supplements classroom learning with guest lecturers, including technical experts in a variety of fields. Additionally, Schade has helped to facilitate a close collaboration between Drexel and his company, Hoeganaes, to expand Drexel students' real-world experiences. During the pandemic, he has adapted his teaching and the loss of an in-person lab with creative recordings of labs at Hoeganaes and has enlisted his colleagues to interact with students in small groups, providing students with a meaningful engineering experience.
Staff Awardees
Outstanding Professional Staff Award
Dionne Gordon-Starks serves as Senior Academic Advisor in the Undergraduate Advising Center. In addition to her advising duties, she has taught UNIV E101 for incoming students in the college and has expanded her teaching efforts to help students in the First Year Exploratory Studies program and CIVC 101 Civic Engagement. She focuses on encouraging her students to collaborate and support one another. Gordon-Starks has been a tireless advocate for women and underrepresented minority students and has taken on the extra load of supporting African American students during this particularly difficult year. She is a member of the college's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Outstanding Academic Advising Award
Emily Bogunovich, Assistant Director in the Undergraduate Advising Center, serves as the lead advisor to fourth- and fifth-year mechanical engineering and mechanics (MEM) students. While helping to ensure that this large number of students is on track to graduate, Emily has also continuously taken on more responsibilities and a greater number of students due to staff changes. She serves on the MEM curriculum committee and has recently been asked to serve on their strategic planning committee. She additionally manages the BSE program, the NAE Grand Challenges Scholars program, and teaches UNIV E101, among other duties.
Student Awardees
Outstanding PhD Student Awards
Mohammad Balapour, a PhD student in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, is a student leader and exceptional researcher in the Advanced and Sustainable Materials group. His research work, centered on finding scientific sustainable solutions to manage waste material for the benefit of society, has resulted in five journal publications and four conference presentations/papers. In 2018, he was the most cited PhD student in the college, with more than 200 citations. In addition to research, he has served as a teaching assistant and mentor to graduate and undergraduate students alike. He is the recipient of several Drexel scholarships and was an NSF I-Corps Entrepreneurial Lead Fellow in 2019.
Asia Sarycheva is a PhD student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering conducting research in the Nanomaterials Group. Her research focuses on developing MXene-based antennas, and she documented the first MXene sensor for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. She is an expert in Raman spectroscopy, acting as a super-user for the research group. Sarycheva has published 29 research papers at Drexel, including seven as first author, and has an h-index of 17. In addition to her academic and research achievements, she has a profound interest in leadership and engaging the next generation of scientists and engineers through innovative and hands-on educational outreach. She has served as president of the Materials Research Society (MRS) student chapter, a mentor to other students, an organizer for the ASM International Materials Camp, and a regular volunteer at Philly Materials Science and Engineering Day, among other activities. She is a 2020 recipient of the Drexel Graduate College Teck-Kah Lim Award for outstanding promise, impact and scholarly achievement.
Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award
John Card is a student in the construction management program and a recently elected member of the national Sigma Lambda Chi Honor Society. He is an exemplar for other students, often taking the lead in class projects and discussions. He participated on a team of multi-disciplinary Drexel students in Puerto Rico to design, build, and operate a charcoal-based water filtration system that can inexpensively provide potable water to citizens after a natural disaster. He is also a recent recruit to Drexel's award-winning inter-collegiate Construction Management Heavy Civil Competition Team. Prior to enrolling at Drexel, Card served in the United States Marine Corps.
Outstanding BS/MS Student Award
Renee Saraka is a BS/MS student in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering working in the Tang Lab, developing a new project on the effects of coating and drying parameters on the performance of lithium-ion batteries. An independent researcher, Saraka has mastered a number of key lab skills including advanced microscopy, complicated image analysis with Matlab and ImageJ, and carefully controlled rheological characterization. She learned new analytical and experimental techniques at her first co-op and taught the other more senior students within the lab these new skills. Saraka currently has a first-author publication under revision in ACS Applied Energy Materials. She has served as president and secretary of Alpha Omega Epsilon, Drexel's sorority for science and engineering students, as a peer mentor for the Steinbright Career Development Center, and is a SuperNova Undergraduate Research Fellow.
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If the thought of delicious, locally-grown cherries makes your mouth water, then you're going to love Manjimup's Cherry Harmony Festival. Thousands of visitors come every year to enjoy a lunch set among the cherry trees, chat to local producers and indulge in their products, get inspired by cooking demos and entertained by music, street theatre, fashion parades and even a vintage car procession. A ricochet circus and jumping castle will keep the kids amused too. Wood chopping and cherry pip spitting competitions will be taking place, so start practicing!
The Volvo Ocean Race, which began in 1973, will see teams sail 45,000 nautical miles around the globe – that's an impressive feat across four oceans, touching six continents and 12 cities – and, for the first time in 10 years, the race is returning to Melbourne's shores. If you want to see the teams set off and enjoy on and off water entertainment and activities for the whole family at the free interactive Race Village, make sure you get down to the Docklands. You'll also be surrounded by Melbourne's best cafes and bars.
Experience everything Tasmania has to offer at the Annual Taste Festival, where local food, produce, arts, culture and sports are celebrated over a fun-filled week. You can learn about the origins of Tasmanian food through the interesting lectures, programs and guided tastings. Of course, you'll also get to sample an array of delicious food, home-grown beer, wine and cider. The kids will enjoy the family fun zone on Hobart's Parliament House Lawn, where they can participate in sporting activities, outdoor board games, cooking classes, jumping castles, rides and more. Acts and buskers will provide entertainment throughout the day, while Tasmanian talent will grace the dance stage at night.


Manchester United 1, Everton 0: Anthony Martial keeps Louis van Gaal's men on tails of Manchester City | City A.M.
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal diverted praise to teenager substitute Timothy Fosu-Mensah after his introduction helped inspire a win over Everton that boosted his team's Champions League prospects.
Van Gaal threw on the 18-year-old left-back for struggling Argentina defender Marcos Rojo at half-time and the switch paid off as Fosu-Mensah set up striker Anthony Martial for the only goal.
United's 1,000th Premier League goal at Old Trafford completed back-to-back wins, following last month's victory at Manchester City, and kept them just one point behind their neighbours in the race for fourth place.
Martial's 13th goal since a £36m summer move from Monaco ensured that United marked the renaming of the South Stand after Sir Bobby Charlton with a fitting result.
Neither side registered a shot on target in the first half but Martial scored just nine minutes after the restart when he turned in a deflected low cross from Holland Under-19 international Fosu-Mensah.
Everton defender Phil Jagielka came closest to equalising soon after with a header that hit the crossbar but the visitors were unable to avoid slipping to a third consecutive league defeat.
Toffees manager Robert Martinez defended his campaign and insisted his players had a bright future after the travelling supporter booed off their team.
"We all are [booing]. I think you could hear our boos in the dressing room. It is exactly the same," he said.
"We are a club that there has been a bit of a change of generation. A lot of players have come in but incredible young talent needs know-how and lessons and to develop.


Chef Khoi Nguyen and the children pick the winner.
For the second consecutive year, the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) sales team hosted a Gingerbread Workshop at the Westin Peachtree Plaza for its meeting and convention clients. Among the attendees were representatives from top Atlanta companies and associations.
Guests were broken up into eight teams and given one hour to design a festive gingerbread house. Attendees competed in various categories, including creativity, most festive and best overall. Prizes included hotel packages, restaurant gift cards and tickets to Atlanta attractions.
New this year, the clients' children served as contest judges and were treated to a kitchen tour of the Westin Peachtree Plaza led by Executive Chef Russell Sleight.


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> Press Release > Oklahoma's 2017 Best Online Schools
Oklahoma's 2017 Best Online Schools
San Francisco (PR WEB) April 14, 2017 - The Community for Accredited Online Schools, a leading resource provider for higher education information, has selected Oklahoma's best online colleges and universities for 2017. Based on an analysis of government-supplied data, 23 four-year schools are honored, with University of Oklahoma Norman Campus, Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma State University, University of Tulsa and University of Central Oklahoma taking the top five. 12 two-year colleges are also recognized, with Tulsa Community College, Northern Oklahoma College, Murray State College, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Rose State College coming in as the top five.
"Students in Oklahoma have a lot of options when it comes to earning a certificate or degree, but the schools on our list have distinguished themselves as being the best of the best when it comes to online education," said Doug Jones, CEO and founder of AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org. "In addition to providing exceptional learning opportunities, these schools also provide outstanding academic resources for online students."
To earn a spot on the Community for Accredited Online Schools list, colleges and universities must be accredited, public or private not-for-profit institutions. Each college is also judged based on data points such as financial aid availability, student resources, counseling services, student/teacher ratios and graduation rates.
For more details on where each school falls in the rankings and the data and methodology used to determine the lists, visit:
https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/oklahoma/#best-college-ranking
The Best Online Four-Year Schools in Oklahoma for 2017 include the following:
Langston University
Northeastern State University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Christian University
Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Oral Roberts University
Randall University
Rogers State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southern Nazarene University
Southwestern Christian University
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
The Best Online Two-Year Schools in Oklahoma for 2017 include the following:
Carl Albert State College
Murray State College
Northern Oklahoma College
Redlands Community College
Western Oklahoma State College
About Us: AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org was founded in 2011 to provide students and parents with quality data and information about pursuing an affordable, quality education that has been certified by an accrediting agency. Our community resource materials and tools span topics such as college accreditation, financial aid, opportunities available to veterans, people with disabilities, as well as online learning resources. We feature higher education institutions that have developed online learning programs that include highly trained faculty, new technology and resources, and online support services to help students achieve educational success.


We are a locally owned, regional insurance broker and risk management consultant with national reach. As a part of United Agencies, we have the market impact of national broker but with the ability to tailor specific services to meet the local needs of our clients.
Drawing on an extensive base of professional expertise, we have developed specific techniques to help solve complicated risk management problems most notably in the areas of Worker's Compensation claims management, Employee Benefits Plan Administration, Loss Sensitive Insurance Program Design, and Coverage Analysis.
Tailoring those techniques to meet the needs of specific business sectors has led us to focus on Manufacturing, Retail, Construction and Non-Profit clients, including Religious Institutions.
Since our formation in 2007, we have grown to over thirty employees, including eleven that have over 30 years of experience in risk management and insurance. We invest in our employee's education with our staff processing professional designations such as CPCU, CIC, ARM, AINS, CISR, CLCS, and CRIS.
High Ground/ United Agencies is headquartered in Torrance California, and the vast majority of our clients are located around Southern California, but we serve several clients with multi state operations and work with a handful of international companies.
We Got You Covered. Connect with Us.


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Matt Mays Main Stage, Yellowknife NWT, July 19
Photo: Randi Beers
By Randi Beers
It's been a month since summer solstice, so one a.m. in Yellowknife is starting to get a little dusky again. It's dark and chilly and the mosquitos come out, and the only way to fend off the elements is to mosh to Matt Mays, and this is exactly what a large group of Folk on the Rocks goers did on Saturday night.
He charmed the crowd, especially a young woman who joined him on stage to dance to one of his songs. This got many other young women pushing to the front for their own chance to dance with the Maritimer. It wouldn't be a stretch to compare Mays to a Canadian Bruce Springsteen, a fact he himself acknowledged, twice, by dedicating a song to the Boss and covering "Glory Days." He also showed himself to be a gracious guest by shouting out a local musician who invited him to jam on his houseboat the night before. Indio Saravanja joined him on stage for a song in return for the hospitality.
To top it all off, it wouldn't be a rock show if the man himself didn't break the official "no crowdsurfing" rules by crowdsurfing, much to the chagrin of security, and the delight of fans.
FOLK ON THE ROCKS
More Matt Mays
Check Out Our Folk on the Rocks Profile
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Canadian Artists Remember Their Best, Worst and Most Mortifying Day Jobs
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Canadian Artists Recall the Meanest Things People Have Ever Said to Them
The many moving parts of a live performance can present unique challenges for touring artists; worn-out equipment, bad sound, unruly weather...
Canadian Artists Weigh In on What Canada Means to Them
While colonial powers come under scrutiny amid global uprisings against systemic oppression, Canadians have been forced to reckon with our d...


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Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5
A Year's Worth of Horrific Holidays: each episode is inspired by a holiday from the month in which it is released.
Studio: Blumhouse Television
TV Status: Returning Series
Networks: Hulu
The story of the Egyptian Pharaoh, one of the most renowned leaders in human history. This ambitious special-event series tells the story of Tut's rise to power and his struggle…
Set in 1832 West Yorkshire, England and inspired by the true-story and coded journals of Anne Lister, this series follows her attempt to revitalize her inherited home, Shibdhen Hall. Most…
An intimate portrait of the war against violent extremism, and the men and women devoting their lives to it. With unprecedented access to the U.S. Armed Forces, Chain of Command…
Don't Forget the Driver
Coach driver and single dad Peter Green leads a life of ordinary routine until the discovery of a dead body on the docile Bognor shoreline and an unsettling meeting with…
Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television that was first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975 and 1979. Twelve episodes were made. The show was written by John…
The origin story of younger, hungrier, former Green Beret Bryan Mills as he deals with a personal tragedy that shakes his world. As he fights to overcome the incident and…
Genre: Action & Adventure, Crime
The six-person crew of a derelict spaceship awakens from stasis in the farthest reaches of space. Their memories wiped clean, they have no recollection of who they are or how…
A relevant, timely and distinctive coming-of-age story following a half dozen interrelated characters in the South Side of Chicago. The story centers on Brandon, an ambitious and confident young man…
In the near future, creatures from ancient Aboriginal mythology endowed with extraordinary physical traits have emerged and must coexist with humans. Known as 'Hairypeople' they battle for survival in a world that wants…
Shortly after arriving in New York City, 22-year-old Tess lands a job at a celebrated downtown restaurant. Swiftly introduced to the world of drugs, alcohol, love, lust, dive bars, and…
Trailer: Into the Dark
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Contents ----- Incorrect details Wrong images Others


It may only be a 50-kilometre ferry ride from mainland Canada, but Vancouver Island – a strikingly diverse landmass of boundless natural beauty – is a whole world away from the buzzing metropolis Vancouver. As distinct as it is large (500km long and 100km wide), Vancouver Island boasts a temperate rainforest and a thriving ecosystem which includes more whales, bears, marmots, eagles and salmon than you can shake a camera at.
Here's how to make the most of Vancouver Island's two biggest wilderness draws: whale watching and hiking.
A whale watching boat tour is a must. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto.
With orca ('killer') whales residing in the island's southern waters and around the southern Gulf Islands, and minke and humpback whales joining them on the northeast coast, Vancouver Island is one of the world's best whale watching destinations. Throw in the fact some 20,000 Pacific grey whales migrate along its west coast every year and you can see why famed underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau was such a big fan.
Though it's possible to view these majestic creatures in the distance from shore, a boat tour is the best way to get up close and personal. Vessels range from high-speed zodiacs to fully equipped cruisers. You can even go out in a kayak if you want a truly thrilling encounter. Victoria and Sidney are especially good locations for water-based trips as the whales residing there often let boats get very close.
Go for a sunset paddle near Victoria.
There are plenty of tour operators offering regular and tailor-made whale watching tours to leisure travellers. Most of them ply their trade along the island's east coast (from Victoria to Campbell River and Port Hardy); on the west coast (out of Tofino and Ucluelet) and from the B.C. Gulf Islands and Discovery Islands. Try Eagle Wing Tours, an award-winning company with a strong commitment to sustainability. Their friendly, knowledgeable guides, long tours and comfortable boats make them a cut above the rest.
Boot up for a hike around Tofino.
With its varied landscapes (sandy beaches, dense forests, craggy coasts) and stunning natural scenery (striking mountain peaks, Arcadian countryside), Vancouver Island is a hiker's dream. If hitting the trail is your thing, you'll be pleased to know there are short hikes, day hikes and overnight hikes you can try, regardless of how fit or experienced you are. Tour operators also offer half-day, full-day and multi-day hiking packages, many of which are guided and provide overnight accommodations if necessary. Go with a company like The Natural Connection for a personalised guided tour suited to your level of fitness and experience. Tours incorporate elements of Shinrin-Yoku, or 'forest bathing', to help you become fully immersed in nature.
Feel the sand under your feet at Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park. Credit: Getty Images/Cultura RF.
Whilst you'll need little more than some comfy shoes and something to munch on if hiking somewhere like Long Beach, being suitably informed and prepared is a must when heading into more wild and remote areas. The most important concern to keep in mind is the island's wildlife. Vancouver Island is home to a number of black and grizzly bears, as well as small populations of cougars and wolves (mainly in and around Tofino and Ucluelet).
You might see black bears on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Credit: DesignPics / Picfair.
Suffice to say, encounters with these magnificent yet unpredictable creatures can be very dangerous. Be sure to check for bear activity information on trailhead signs or with park rangers before setting out, make sure you stay alert and carry some easily accessible bear spray, just in case. Take time to familiarize yourself with all safety protocols when it comes to bears, cougars and wolves before setting out.


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Dr Robyn Schofield
Associate Investigator
Email: robyn.schofield@unimelb.edu.au
PhD in vertical distribution of BrO, School of Environmental Sciences at Auckland University and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research at Lauder, Central Otago, New Zealand.
Robyn joined the School of Earth Sciences as part of the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Group at the University of Melbourne in 2011. Her current research interests are:
Inverting spectroscopic observations of photochemically changing species
Radiative transfer modelling
Stratospheric ozone loss kinetics
Tropical tropopause layer processes driving stratospheric composition
Microphysical modelling
Previously she spent two years in Boulder, Colorado as a CIRES visiting fellow working at the NOAA Chemical Sciences Division looking at spectroscopy of clouds, aerosols, sulfur, nitrogen and ozone trends.
Robyn then worked at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Potsdam as a Humboldt Visiting Fellow looking at polar ozone loss kinetics and then as a Marie Curie International Incoming Fellow looking at tropical tropopause layer transport of chemical species to the stratosphere.


Tracking the consequences of Israel's apparent conviction that it should never be bound by the rules and conventions that constrain the behavior of other countries sometimes leads one into dark places. The daily torments inflicted on the Palestinians is increasingly a horrific tale that has no apparent end, while Benjamin Netanyahu struts and boasts of his power to do more and even worse, openly calling for war with Lebanon, Syria and Iran on a world stage where no one seems willing to confront him.
The British government's own definition relies on guidance provided by the IHRA, which asserts that "Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews" and elaborated that it could be considered antisemitic to accuse Jews of being "more loyal to Israel or their religion than to their own nations, or to say the existence of Israel is intrinsically racist." In other words, even if many Jews are more loyal to Israel than to the countries they live in and even though Israel is intrinsically racist, it is now illegal to say so in Great Britain.
Last November there was a major scandal when Britain's Overseas Development Minister Priti Patel was forced to resign after she held 14 "unofficial" meetings with Israeli government officials, including Netanyahu. The meetings were during a "vacation trip" in Israel arranged by a British Jew with the improbable name Lord Polak who functions as a lobbyist for the Jewish state. During her visit, Patel visited an Israeli military hospital in the occupied Golan Heights. When she returned to Britain, she began to work on the feasibility of sending U.K. aid money to the Israeli Army for its alleged humanitarian work. None of the meetings were reported to the British Foreign Ministry.
The British experience as well as a recent case involving New Zealand illustrate just how insensitive Israel is to the interests of other nations and should serve as a warning to Americans of how Netanyahu and company are heedless of fundamental rights like freedom of speech and association. A prominent New Zealand singer who goes by the name Lorde canceled a planned tour to Israel based on her concerns about the mistreatment of the Palestinians. End of story? No. She was promptly lambasted by the usual suspects including Howard Stern and "America's Rabbi" Shmuley Boteach and was then punished by the Grammys ceremony in New York City on February 8th, where she was told that she would not be allowed to sing one of her own songs even though she was up for album of the year. She was the only finalist who was blocked in that fashion and no one in the media, predictably, linked the two events and recognized that she was almost certainly being punished for not performing in Israel.
Based on past experience, Shurat HaDin might even win the case inside Israel while finding that the ruling will not be accepted or enforceable in New Zealand as it is in violation of that country's constitution. But the real intent is to intimidate critics and, as in some cases brought in the U.S., to force opponents to spend money on defense lawyers, making critics of Israel reluctant to go public or even willing to settle out of court. Friends of Israel make sure that any criticism of the country they love above all others becomes toxic. Florida State Senator Randy Fine is, for example, currently demanding that Tampa and Miami cancel upcoming April concerts by Lorde to punish her for her "anti-Semitic boycott" of Israel. He is abusing his position as an elected public official to silence someone he doesn't agree without of deference to a racist foreign country that has nothing to do with the United States.
Israel's complete hypocrisy was highly visible in yet another news story last week. The Polish government has passed controversial legislation, subject to judicial review, to criminalize any claims that Poles were responsible for the Second World War prison camps that the Germans set up in their country. This has been strongly and vociferously opposed by Netanyahu speaking for the Israeli government, which is apparently concerned that its claim on perpetual and universal victimhood is being challenged. Washington is also, to no one's surprise, lining up with Israel, threatening that the new law might damage bilateral relations with Warsaw.


a child in school would be detrimental to the health of that child or others.
should be read in conjunction with the SEN Code of Practice.
the monitoring of Individual Healthcare Plans.
members of staff will be inducted into the arrangements.
with medical conditions will fully engage with learning and not fall behind.
in the case of any child who has a medical condition that may require support at school.
respond accordingly when they become aware that a pupil with a medical condition needs help.
implementing a child's Individual Healthcare Plan and provide advice and liaison.
provide advice on developing healthcare plans.
Parents/carers will provide the school with up-to-date information about their child's medical needs.
nominated adult are contactable at all times.
staff to support children with medical conditions at school.
with medical needs is implemented effectively.
be made to ensure that arrangements are put in place within two weeks.
some form of medical evidence and consultation with parents.
to enable pupils with medical needs to participate in school trips and visits or in sporting activities.
Any member of school staff providing support to a pupil with medical needs will receive suitable training.
recognise and act quickly when a problem occurs. Parents can also contribute by providing specific advice.
medicines and procedures. This will also be reflected within Individual Healthcare Plans.
that alternative options can be considered.
staff who will stay with the child until the parent arrives.
Should parents or pupils be dissatisfied with the support provided they should discuss their concerns directly with the school. If the issue is not resolved, a formal complaint via the school's complaint procedure should be made.
(Details of rectal valium or similar medication should be included in above) Additional instructions/ information (e.g. before/ after food, interaction with other medicines, possible side effects, storage instructions): I understand that I must provide the medicine in a suitable container clearly labelled with:  Child's full name.  Full name and strength of medicine.  Prescribed dosage & time of administration.  Method of administration.  Date of Issue.  Expiry Date. Please Note: Any unused medication will be returned to you for your own disposal. I accept that the school has a right to refuse to administer medication.
INCLUDES CALPOL/ CHILD NUROFEN/ PARACETAMOL (SIGN THE ABOVE FORM).


The Dwarf Craft 3'6" is compact and agile freeride foil board. A wide, scooped nose helps rebound off the water when touching down and a moderately concave deck gives a fast and responsive feel with subtle movements and shifts of weight. A full deck pad lets you ride the board strapless, with foot hooks or with two or three straps, depending on personal preference. An aggressively beveled bottom profile gives the board ideal performance on edge. Slingshot's signature sliding track system lets you adjust the position of the foil to fine-tune performance depending on rider ability and preference and the conditions.


Clubpenguinsoup: Coins for Change Results!!!!
Hiya penguins its Superchick 7 again only this time i am here to tell you guyz about the results of the beloved charity program Coins for Change that just recently ended.Thanks to all the penguins who donated to coins for change to help make a difference to kids in need all over the world. Without further ado here rare the results.
There you have it another season of giving coming to an end. Here is the pic of the results, but first here is the pic that was posted earlier of the causes that corey hi and i donated to.
Thats all for now. See you guyz at the PARTY!!!!


After 20 years performing around the world, Cirque du Soleil's "Saltimbanco" will make its final curtain call in December in Montreal, Canada, the international home of Cirque. From October 31 - November 4, Boston will have its final opportunity to experience this classic production that's been seen in more than 45 countries. "Saltimbanco" will be presented at the Agganis Arena for seven performances only.
"Saltimbanco"-- from the Italian "saltare in banco," which literally means "to jump on a bench" -- explores the urban experience in all its myriad forms: the people who live there, their idiosyncrasies and likenesses, families and groups, the hustle and bustle of the street and the towering heights of skyscrapers. A signature show, it is inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colorful inhabitants. The show's eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world, an imaginary city where diversity is a cause for hope.
With a cast of 50 high-caliber artists hailing from 20 different countries, "Saltimbanco" features dazzling acrobatics and unbelievable athleticism during solo spots and epic ensembles. From the seemingly impossible balancing, jumping and spinning during the Russian Swing, to the gravity-defying Bungees and Trapeze, and the celebrated Clowns, "Saltimbanco" is entertainment for the entire family.
For tickets, call 1-800-745-3000 or visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/saltimbanco.


Located on Treasure Island's intracostal waterway with easy access to Treasure Island beach known for warm blue green waters and sugar white beaches! Lounge by our beautiful waterfront SOLAR HEATED pool and hot tub, fish off the dock. This spacious 2 bedroom, each with KING sized beds, 2 bath condo will impress you as soon as you walk in to beautiful polished travetine tile, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, all new furnishings and in the unit laundry will have your enjoying your vacation stay. The balcony offers pool and partial intracoastal water views for your enjoyment. The kitchen is fully equipped for all your eating-in meals. Linens/bath towels/beach towels are provided. The Palms has charcoal grills and a dock for fishing. Come and relax, soak up the sun, walk to the local beach shops, search for shells, see the dolphins and bring back memories!
Perfect location as this complex is very convenient to everything: brand-new Publix grocery store right next door Just a few steps away you will find a bunch of local shops, restaurants, bars and much more. No need to drive anywhere. If you want to explore further-beautiful downtown St. Petersburg has a lot to offer: shopping, dining, entertainment, museums and more, all just 10 minutes away. And don't forget to visit John's Pass, where you can go on a cruise, see the dolphins, cruise with pirates, rent boats and jet-skis, shop and dine-all only 2 miles away! The Palms will have you leaving here satisfied, with stories to share and lasting memories.
Please note no smoking, no pets. 2-vehicle parking by permit. Welcome short and long stays, security deposit may be in addition to posted rates depending on stay.
Please contact me with information regarding Palms of Treasure Island 108.
"Our stay was wonderful! This condo is exactly what the pictures show and a great value! The realtor office is about 2 min from the condo where you check in and out. Was hoping they would of provided a little more info on checking out etiquette and details of the place but we figured it out. The condo was beautiful and clean and had everything we needed. It's right next door to publix which was extremely convenient. The beach is exactly across the street from the public entrance. If you happen to stay on a Sunday night make sure to check out the sunset drum circle! So much fun! Great community! We also enjoyed the fact that johns pass (shops, restaurants, and pier) was a quick 5 min drive. As far as the amenities of the condo. The pool and jacuzzi was a nice touch and my boyfriend and I loved the dock! So peaceful! Couldn't of asked for a better place. I was pretty surprised how quiet the complex was considering it was a holiday weekend (July 4th). The only thing that I thought was odd was that the cleaning guy walked into our condo without warning an hour before our check out time. He was nice about it.. but it caught me off guard. Not sure if the host has changed it but when we booked the cleaning fee was not included and we were contacted after about the charge. Not an issue with us though. Also the whole time we were there I didn't see a single employee.. which I thought was a tad strange especially since the elevator broke on the last night.. all in all this was an amazing place! We will be back!"
"Beautiful and clean! Super location surrounded by beaches, restaurants, and right next to grocery store. Thanks for being a great host. Communication before and during the stay was excellent!"
We absolutely enjoyed our stay in Unit #108!! Our family of 5 stayed here in September and there was plenty of room for us all. The owners have thought of everything. Their property is impecccably decorated, well supplied and clean! We thoroughly enjoyed the view from the balcony and spent a lot of time out there dolphin watching. The pool was enjoyable and the beach...just a short walk across the street. We really loved having the Publix right next door...easily accessible to get all of our supplies. Plenty of delicious restaurants in walking distance...rarely took our car out once we arrived! I would highly recommend this property!!


Planetary Ball Mills are used wherever the highest degree of fineness is required. High Energy Ball Mill Emax, an entirely new type of mill for high energy input. can be compensated in order to avoid disturbing oscillations of the machine.
Now, in order to get an efficient milling action, 80-110 % of the pores in the ball what will be the best ball-to-powder (B2P) ratio to ball-mill any new material?


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The Ascend Difference
A Typical Scenario
IT Project Delivery
Technology Notes
For IT Consultants
Ascend IT Solutions was founded by CEO John Kramer. John's technology experience is broad and deep, spanning the areas of hardware and software design and proposal and project management. John has earned numerous degrees: bachelor of science in electrical engineering, master of science in electrical engineering (under a fellowship from Texas Instruments), and master of business administration.
For over twenty years, he has provided technical and business consulting services for companies large and small, including Texas Instruments, Dow Chemical, 3M, and MCI/Worldcom to name a few. He also served as acting interim CIO for a private equity portfolio company.
John founded Ascend in 2002, to provide reliable, essential services to the retail, telecomm, manufacturing and food industry sectors. From zero-revenue startup to multi-million-dollar companies, he has helped businesses advance to the next level. He understands a crucial principle: that for a company to grow its business, it has to take advantage of the appropriate technology in a cost-effective way, to achieve a strategic competitive advantage.
John is a member of Eta Kappa Nu, the honorary electrical engineering society, and Beta Gamma Sigma, the honorary business society. John has received recognition in both business planning and project management.
Contact us now to schedule a free consultation from Ascend IT Solutions. Together, let's advance your business.
Contact Us to Schedule a Free Consultation
3505 Lake Lynda Dr.
Copyright ©2002 - 2018 Ascend IT Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Topic Data security
SubTopic Enterprise data governance
Data security and cloud computing
Encryption technology
Petya Petrova - Fotolia
Clumio eyes security, BaaS expansion with VC funding
Clumio CTO Chad Kinney and CSO Glenn Mulvaney discuss their company's roadmap and how Clumio addresses ransomware threats in a way that's different from other backup providers.
Merging storage and security together effectively has been an elusive goal for many technology vendors over the years, but Clumio believes it has a winning formula -- and one that can effectively mitigate ransomware threats.
Clumio, a backup-as-a-service provider based in Santa Clara, Calif., recently celebrated $135 million in Series C funding. The startup was founded in 2017 with the goal of leveraging cloud-native services to build a scalable and agile BaaS offering that could also meet enterprises' needs for data protection and analytics needs.
In this Q&A, Clumio CTO Chadd Kinney and CSO Glenn Mulvaney discuss the origin story of the company, how they plan to utilize their recent funding round, and how Clumio addresses ransomware threats.
Tell me how the company was founded.
Chad Kinney: The company was founded about two years ago. And the core concept behind it was to fundamentally remove the complexity of traditional data protection to start with, and do so by delivering a service offering that was delivered via the public cloud.
A few things we realized early on were, as customers were journeying to the public cloud, SaaS-based offerings, and path-based offerings, they needed a way to be able to protect their data set along the way. And we realized that people were running into roadblocks and moving data to the public cloud because data protection was not able to deliver the same type of functions and features that they delivered on premises, and there was a big barrier there that we were breaking through to help customers be able to journey along the public cloud.
The second part was, as we got to the public cloud, security became a big key focus. Our ability to be able to secure this information through both encryption and encryption-in-flight as well as various other ones Glen will go through on the core platform itself was something that customers were very much hyper-focused on as they moved data more and more into the public cloud.
So far we've raised about $186 million in a series of A, B and C. Most recently we just closed a series C of $135 million.
How do you plan to use that $135 million to grow the company?
Kinney: A lot of the key focus right now is expediting the introduction of new data sources for the platform itself. Today we back up VMware on premises, VMware running in AWS, as well as elastic block storage for AWS. And so, continuing to expand the data sources is a key thing we're moving forward with as part of this investment -- to get customers access to new data sources faster.
Give me a rundown of what the platform is all about.
Kinney: Fundamentally, we've built this platform for the public cloud, on top of AWS. We've built in a bunch of great efficiencies in the way the data is ingested. With anything that runs on the public cloud, if you compare that with something that runs on premises, typically you do duplication and security is retrofitted to the data center itself. And the world has shifted dramatically where people are looking to utilize the public cloud heavily and remove the things completely out of the data center. We were able to provide what we call a cloud connector that gets deployed in a customer's environment -- it's a virtual appliance so there's no hardware or anything like that. We do duplication and compression and encryption before the data is sent over the wire. We leverage the capabilities of S3 within Amazon, and we use their scale as data gets ingested over the platform itself. Then we use various stateless functions within the platform to churn through the data, as well as DynamoDB for a lot of the metadata functions and various other structures in AWS, and the agility and scale of that core platform to allow us to still be able to ingest data incredibly quickly and be able to provide services on top of that platform.
Glenn Mulvaney: From the security side, leveraging a lot of those public cloud controls we have in Amazon, we've implemented a model where data encryption is always on in the platform. It's not an option to turn it off and data is always encrypted and compressed. And the way it starts, which I think is a critical feature of the platform, is that the data is encrypted before it leaves the customer environment; it's encrypted in the customer environment, it's transmitted over a secure channel and then it's stored securely in S3. And there's different encryption keys used in each of those steps.
In terms of security in a more general fashion, we think of it in a couple of different ways. Fundamentally, we think of it as technology, people and processes, so we've talked about the technology a little bit in terms of how we handle encryption, but for the people and the processes, what we have implemented is the ISO 27001 framework, and we just completed our stage 2 audit last week. The ISO 27001 framework gives us a solid foundation for principles and controls for internal processes, and it also guided how we trained our employees about security awareness. We really used that as a guideline to integrate a lot of security into our software development lifecycle and into our QA lifecycle and broadly across all of the employees at the company, including sales and marketing and customer success.
Do you see yourself as more of a security vendor or a backup vendor or both?
Kinney: I'd say a little bit of both. I'd say we're a security-first company where we really spent a lot of time thinking about what we're doing as a core platform setting ourselves up for success. If you had to put a name on it, I'd say we're more of a data platform company than anything.
What effects have ransomware attacks had on the backup and data protection market in general?
Mulvaney: I think with the prevalence of ransomware attacks happening at all levels of organizations of all sizes, people are thinking a lot more seriously about their data protection and about their ability to recover from some sort of ransomware attack. I think there's certainly a lot of opportunity for Clumio to help a lot of organizations like that and to be able to give them a truly secure ability to recover from something like a ransomware attack. Certainly the prevalence of these [attacks] is increasing at a rate we hadn't anticipated, and I think that's helping in the market for data protection to actually drive people to think much more seriously about what their backup compliance policies look like.
How does Clumio address ransomware threats in a way that's different from other backup providers?
Kinney: Let me give you the most recent example, which is an interesting one. We recently announced the capability to be able to back up elastic block storage from AWS and when you look at the solutions that are out there today, most people protect data with snapshots and the snapshots live in the same account as the production data. Most people rely on these snapshots for quick recovery but they're also relying on them for the backup. And when malware hits or a bad actor hits on that particular account, they functionally get access to both the production data as well as the backup of that data in the same account and so it's opened up possibilities for people to run into data loss issues.
With our solution what we're fundamentally doing is we're copying the data and creating an air gap solution between the customer's environment and Clumio, which enables people to protect their data outside of their account and protect them from malware and ransomware attacks. We store all data in S3, which is unbeatable so no data, once backed up, can even change itself in any factor, so it gives customers the ability with our recovery mechanism to restore data into another AWS account, alleviating any sort of malware issues that may occur within one of their other AWS accounts.
What do the next 12 months look like for the company?
Kinney: The motivation for us is to continue to expand more and more into the public cloud. Today we solve the key focus around private cloud, which is VMware. As people are moving to the public cloud some are choosing to use VMware running in AWS which is using a button to quickly move assets into the public cloud. They're also going and re-architecting applications into the public cloud, like using elastic block storage and other platform and service-based offerings. We are going to continue to expand in both SaaS-based offerings the usual suspects in that as well as more and more cloud-native capabilities so we can follow customers along that journey.
Beyond the additional data sources, we're adding additional functions on top of those datasets; we're investing in things like anomaly detection and reporting over the next 12 months and we are slowly bringing those into the platform as they come to bear.
Mulvaney: From the compliance side in 2020, obviously we're thinking about looking closely at CCPA [California Privacy Protection Act] and I think with that going into effect on January 1 we're going to see that there's probably going to be more emerging new standards for certifications for protections and personal information handling already the ISO 27001 was revised in 2019 and previously was only revised in 2014 so I think protection of personal data is going to be a paramount part of our roadmap and in 2020 we're looking very closely at doing high-trust certification and beginning implementation for Fedramp.
Dig Deeper on Data security strategies and governance
5 cybersecurity vendors to watch in 2020
6 enterprise data storage startups to watch in 2020
By: Garry Kranz
Major funding, SaaS trends top data backup news in 2019
By: Paul Crocetti
Clumio extends support to AWS EBS with $135M funding bump
By: Johnny Yu
How does your organization address ransomware threats?
Avoid the Hype in AI—Identifying the Right Solutions for Your Business Needs –Intel
Rethinking the Data Centre with Intel Optane Technology –Intel
5 cybersecurity vendors to watch in 2020 – SearchSecurity
Clumio backup seeks to simplify with SaaS – SearchDataBackup
Clumio extends support to AWS EBS with $135M funding ... – SearchDataBackup
Alexander Culafi - 19 Dec 2019 2:53 PM


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Catholic volleyball heads to state
Catholic volleyball team wins Region 1-4A championship in three sets over Fernandina Beach
Catholic volleyball heads to state Catholic volleyball team wins Region 1-4A championship in three sets over Fernandina Beach Check out this story on pnj.com: http://on.pnj.com/1uar2on
Bill Vilona, bvilona@pnj.com Published 4:56 p.m. CT Nov. 8, 2014 | Updated 12:23 a.m. CT Nov. 9, 2014
Catholic's volleyball team celebrates after winning the Region 1-4A title game against Fernandina Beach Saturday at Catholic High School.(Photo: John Blackie/jblackie@pnj.com, John Blackie/jblackie@pnj.com)Buy Photo
The breakthrough season for Catholic High's volleyball team became complete Saturday with shrieks of joy and grateful perspective.
The Crusaders maintained control from the first set to the clinching point in winning the Region 1-4A championship against Fernandina Beach before a large crowd at Catholic's gym. In sweeping to their first state final four in 18 years, Catholic (27-3) led for all except one serve point in three sets.
"My heart is still racing from the end of it," said senior Hailey Fredriksson, after emerging from celebration of her team's three set win, 25-16, 25-21, 25-16 against the Pirates. "We were dominating from beginning to end. It was just amazing. It was such a great effort by the whole team."
Catholic senior Sina Faulk, 18, was one month old when the Crusaders reached the final four in 1996 — the school's only previous trip to the state volleyball championships. They will play Gainesville P.K. Yonge — the top-ranked Class 4A team — on Wednesday in the Class 4A semifinals in Kissimmee.
"I didn't know it had been that long, but I knew we had only gone one other time," said Faulk, who had 13 digs and 14 kills as part of her glowing performance line.
That perspective further enriched what has been a stellar experience. After dominating local teams during the season, the Crusaders have not lost a set in any post season match.
"Words can't really describe this... it's just an amazing win," said junior Kiley Brady, who had 14 kills.
The unbeaten streak in sets includes two wins in the district tournament, then all three region playoff victories. The Crusaders are 15-0 during this stretch of sets.
"It's big.. I am very happy for the girls," said Catholic High coach Giulio Simonelli. "They have been working hard for three years and finally this year they put it together. I am very happy for the school.
"I am blessed to have these kids. I can only be as good as the players I have. The girls did it. They believed. I told them at the beginning of the season, this is a strong group."
The strength showed throughout Saturday's region championship game. The Crusaders jumped to a 12-4 lead in the first set, forcing Fernandina Beach to call the first of five timeouts in the game. A 20-11 lead was built as Catholic finished with a nine-point win.
In the second set, Fernandina Beach took a 10-9 lead. It proved the only time the Pirates led in the entire game. Catholic scored the next five points and won by four.
"We knew from the way they played this season that the second set was their strongest set and we had to play twice as hard," Faulk said.
The final set defined the team's performance. After Faulk chased a return nearly into the stands, her save sailed toward Fredriksson, who delivered a return between Pirates defenders for an emotion-boosting point.
"I saw Sina hustle over to the bench and I thought if she gets it, someone has to put it over the net," Fredriksson said. "I saw it coming to me. I just wanted to get it over."
Fernandina Beach (19-11) had reached the region title game by beating Jacksonville Bolles, one of the Crusaders' frequent blockades in getting to the state tournament.
"It was such a tough game," Brady said. "Even though we beat them in three (sets), every volley was hard fought."
The Crusaders will begin preparing Sunday for their trip to Kissimmee. The venue at Silver Spurs Arena is located 12 miles from Walt Disney World. Only one Pensacola area team, Pace High (1997) has won a state volleyball title.
In listing qualities for his team, Simonelli began rattling off, "Incredible work ethic... total commitment, great leadership and the desire to succeed.
"In the end it comes down to the desire to succeed. We played well in transition. and then controlled the tempo. We played faster than they did and it was a lot easier for us. Any time they had the ball we had an answer."
The ability to counter put an exclamation point on Catholic's season.
Region 1-4A Volleyball Championship
At Catholic High
Catholic def. Fernandina Beach 25-16, 25-21, 25-16.
CATHOLIC (27-3) : Emily Emmons 5 digs, 15 assists, 1 kill. Ellen Floyd 2 aces, 1 block, 6 digs, 23 assists, 1 kill. Sina Faulk 2 aces, 1 block, 13 digs, 3 assists, 14 kills. Kiley Brady 2 aces, 3 blocks, 1 dig, 14 kills. Mirella Gatterdam 2 digs, 4 kills. Hailey Fredriksson 2 blocks, 5 digs, 10 digs. Nicole Wilson 1 block, 1 dig. Madison Yarborough 12 digs, Brook LaBounty 1 dig, 1 assist.