Hundreds of children are abandoned in Slovakia every year: some are openly refused by their biological parents, while others are found as newborns, without a name and without a clue as to who their biological parents might be. For all of them, adoption represents a chance to find a family, but the family of a Slovak-born child does not necessarily need to be Slovak.
Some previous mishaps in the operation of the Centre for the International Legal Protection of Children and Youth (CIPC), operating under the Labour Ministry, which eventually led to changes in the leadership and the rules under which the centre operates, have drawn the public's attention to the issue of intercountry adoptions. Slovakia is one of a few European countries that still act solely as countries of origin of children sent out for adoptions (as opposed to receiving countries), and foreigners continue to show interest in adopting Slovak children.
Slovakia topped the list of 22 of the EU countries that responded to a research project conducted by the University of Nottingham, which showed that Slovakia had the highest number of openly abandoned children, 4.9 per 1,000 births, followed by the Czech Republic (4.1), Latvia (3.9), and Poland (3.7), according to the 2012 research report, Child Abandonment and Its Prevention in Europe, as published on the Better Care Network website.
The research defined open abandonment as "a child being knowingly left behind by his parent, who can be identified and whose intention is not to return but relinquish parental responsibility", while secret abandonment is defined as "a child being secretly left behind by his parent, who cannot be identified and whose intention is not to return but relinquish parental responsibility anonymously".
In 2010, there were 295 children (aged 0–3) relinquished for adoption via open abandonment.
Additionally, there were seven infants (aged 0–1) left in baby hatches and 198 children (aged 0–3) left at maternity units, i.e. secret abandonment, according to the report.
The statistics show that there were approximately 8,500 children living in foster families and some 4,000 children living in orphanages in 2011, according to the Návrat civic association, an NGO that promotes the idea that all abandoned children should be brought up in families rather than in institutional care.
Not all children living in orphanages or with foster families can be adopted, however. Most often, children who cannot be adopted are those that enter the system of institutional education at a higher age, due to various socio-economic problems of their biological family, according to Nadežda Lovecká from Návrat.
"These children have already created relations with their parents or other relatives, so it is unimaginable for their biological family to give their approval for adoption and thus cut all ties [between them and the child]," Lovecká told The Slovak Spectator, adding that only if the biological family does not show serious interest in the child in an orphanage for half a year, a motion is filed with the court to declare the child adoptable.
"That is the trouble that makes children get stranded in the system, grow up in it, and develop more and more deprivation symptoms," Lovecká said, explaining that such children might be legally adoptable, but they are often practically unadoptable because there are no foster parents or adoptive parents who would dare take up the task of raising older children, or groups of siblings, who have experienced such trauma.
The Family Act from 2005 lists several requirements for a person to be able to become an adoptive parent in Slovakia: the person must have legal capacity for legal acts in full scope; possess personal prerequisites, particularly relating to health, personality and morals; be filed in the list of applicants for adoption; and the lifestyle of the person as well as their partner must guarantee that the adoption will be in the best interests of the child.
Marriage is not a legal requirement for a person to be able to adopt a child, and single people are allowed to adopt children, too. Couples living together without being married, however, are not allowed to adopt a child as their common child, and in such cases only one of the partners can request an adoption.
"Adoptions of children by lone persons are usual, although less frequent than those by couples," Lovecká said.
Foreigners are able to adopt Slovak children as well, through the Institute of Intercountry Adoptions administered by the CIPC, but in some cases also within the national adoptions system, if the foreign national in question is a resident in Slovakia.
In Slovakia, the CIPC, which is headed by Andrea Císarová, who has been at the organisation's helm since July 2012, is responsible for overseeing intercountry adoptions and for safeguarding the process so that it adheres to the rules outlined in The Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect to Intercountry Adoption (The Convention).
As such, the CIPC is the only body to issue adoption permission, and it is also in charge of gathering, evaluating and controlling post-adoption reports.
The numbers of children adopted through intercountry adoptions, however, are not high. In 2012 the CIPC cooperated with central bodies of the following states of the Convention: Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Malta, Morocco and Andorra. However, in 2012, children were only adopted to Italy (5 children), Sweden (5) and the Netherlands (2), according to the CIPC 2012 annual report.
Last year, the CIPC documented 32 new foreign applicants requesting adoption of a child from Slovakia. On the other hand, 28 children were documented to be eligible for intercountry adoptions, according to the CIPC. Meanwhile, 10 children were deemed ineligible by the CIPC in the course of 2012 for various reasons, including serious health problems, initiated contact with siblings placed in Slovak orphanages, the child changing his or her mind over the adoption or an adoptive family having been found for the child in Slovakia.
Under the Convention, it must always be a priority for the child to remain with its biological family if possible. If not, an adoptive family is sought for the child in its country of origin, and intercountry adoption only comes into consideration as a last resort.
Thus, the children who are eventually made available for intercountry adoptions by the authorities are mostly Roma children (about 98 percent of them), and most of them are ill or disabled, according to the CIPC head Císarová.
Post-adoption reports as a protection?
After a child is adopted through the CIPC to another country, he or she still retains Slovak citizenship.
"We are asked whether they can cancel the child's Slovak citizenship, but I say no, the child must decide for itself once it is an adult," Císarová told The Slovak Spectator, adding that as Slovakia's citizens, the children have a right to be protected by the state.
For adoptive families, the process is not over once the court rules they can adopt a child from Slovakia and they leave the country together as a family. In the bilateral contracts on intercountry adoptions the receiving party is bound to submit post-adoption reports until the child reaches the age of 18, Císarová said. The CIPC uses the reports to monitor the child's wellbeing in his or her new family and country.


Phoenix, a young miner girl, has never known her parents.
She has always dreamed of something greater, of seeing the world outside her village and the magical forest that lies just beyond the walls.
One day she takes the risk-just a quick hop over the walls-but her forbidden trip changes the course of her life.
Thrust into a world of zombies, creepers, witches, and magical monks, Phoenix finds the adventure she craved, but will she find the bravery she needs to save not only her village but the entire Overworld?
Containing The Quest for the Golden Apple, Revenge of the Zombie Monks, and The Ender Eye Prophecy, The Big Book of Graphic Novels for Minecrafters will enchant readers of all ages who love playing Minecraft and love stories full of action, adventure, and bravery.


text:
var AWS = require("aws-sdk");

AWS.config.update({
    region: "us-west-2"
});

var docClient = new AWS.DynamoDB.DocumentClient()

var table = "Movies";

var year = 2013;
var title = "Prisoners";

// Conditional update (will fail)

var params = {
    TableName:table,
    Key:{
        "year": year,
        "title": title
    },
    UpdateExpression: "remove info.actors[0]",
    ConditionExpression: "size(info.actors) > :num",
    ExpressionAttributeValues:{
        ":num":2
    },
    ReturnValues:"UPDATED_NEW"
};

console.log("Attempting a conditional update...");
docClient.update(params, function(err, data) {
    if (err) {
        console.error("Unable to update item. Error JSON:", JSON.stringify(err, null, 2));
    } else {
        console.log("UpdateItem succeeded:", JSON.stringify(data, null, 2));
    }
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


It was that day when I'd almost die on sugar and cheesecream, the day when Stelios Parliaros, Number 1 patissier in Greece, prepared for all six of us bloggers the best italian sweets.
In "Sweet Alchemy" May's issue you can find all the recipes and us talking about italian fashion, design, cuisine.
Wearing twill culottes by V Society and Stella McCartney platform pumps.


The dedicated server, or bare metal, is an actual physical server. The product goes online very quickly, and monitoring is automated. As a client, the bare metal server is dedicated to you and only you. That dedication provides a layer of security and privacy that you may not have with other types of servers.


text:
February 29, 2016 February 28, 2016 Austin Miller
Weekend Recap: Mixed Bag for Baseball and Softball
Photo Credit: NUSports.com
By: Tim Hackett
It was a weekend of mixed results for Northwestern's teams on the diamond, as baseball split its weekend series with Pacific, and softball won two of five games in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, including a win over the 11th-ranked team in the country.
In Stockton, California, Reed Mason pitched five innings of one-run ball to lead Northwestern to a 3-1 win over Pacific in the series opener Friday. Then the Tigers got their first two wins of the season with wins in both legs of Saturday's doubleheader, which both came by identical 7-3 scores. Northwestern's Joe Hoscheit notched three hits and an RBI in the first game, while Matt Hopfner led the way with two RBI in the second. The Wildcats got back on track in a big way in the final game of the series, erupting for a 14-5 victory, led by four RBI from Willie Bourbon and 4.2 innings of one-run ball from reliever Jake Stolley. Northwestern's record stands at 4-4 following series splits with both Pacific and Nevada, and the Wildcats will next take on UIC on March 2, before traveling to Port Charlotte, Florida next weekend for a set of games against Saint Leo, Butler, Boston College, and Illinois State.
Out in Cathedral City, California, the softball team ran into some stiff competition in its third tournament of the year. Northwestern opened the weekend with a 5-3 loss to 12-1 Oregon State before routing New Mexico State 12-4 in six innings. In the second game, Amy Letourneau tied a school record with eight RBI in a single game on the strength of two home runs. The 'Cats faced their first ranked opponent of the weekend Saturday morning in #8 Georgia, and the Bulldogs rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh, the final run coming off a wild pitch, to win the game 5-4. Later that day, 20th-ranked Fresno State scored the tying run in the top of the 7th before hitting two homers in the top of the 8th to take a 6-4 win. But Northwestern rocked the softball world Sunday, knocking off 11th-ranked UCLA 7-2, led by two RBI from Andrea Filler and a complete-game from Letourneau. The 'Cats are now 7-7 on the season, and will head next to Fullerton, California to compete in the Judi Garman Classic against the likes of Fresno State and Arizona State.
Amy Letourneau
andrea filler
Jake Stolley
joe hoscheit
reed mason
Willie Bourbon
Published by Austin Miller
View all posts by Austin Miller
Previous NUmbers Guy: 'Cats seasons closing with a whimper
Next Nia Coffey named to 3rd consecutive 1st Team All-B1G

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Dissertations >> Charles Maxwell Young: Making Sense of Basic Income
Charles Maxwell Young: Making Sense of Basic Income
In recent years the idea of a basic income has captured the popular imagination. Despite this, there is a widespread misunderstanding of its multitudinous expressions. Basic income proposals can be separated and defined in terms how schemes are fundedii, but they also differ at the opposite end of the policy design process. There have been a great number of experiments and pilots around the world in recent years, with many more in the pipeline. Finland, Canada, Kenya, The Netherlands, Uganda, the United S and others are currently running trial schemes, with governments and local authorities eyeing up more potential projects in the UK, Barcelona, India and the United States. Similar discussions are underway in countries such as France, Portugal, Italy, Serbia and South Korea. These are each building upon historical experiments including those in Canada, the United States, India and Namibia. Given the gathering momentum and wide variety of applications of the idea, this dissertation is an attempt to draw together the manifold lessons learnt thus far and formalise a series of structures through which to understand, compare and deliver these experiments with an eye to facilitating the collaborative formation of basic income policy.
ii Young, C (2017) The Conversation about Basic Income is a Mess. Here's how to make sense of it Evonomics [Online] Available at: evonomics.com/basic-income-conversation-make-sense-charlie-young/ [Accessed 6 June 2018]
When it comes to basic income's on-the-ground application proposals and experiments vary in significant ways. The aims of this dissertation are to disaggregate historical and contemporary basic income experiments (or, more accurately, basic income-type experiments) and classify them into easily distinguishable typologies for comparison and contrast. This has been done with the intention to improve collective understanding of basic income, and will hopefully help to move the conversation beyond an assumption that basic income is a homogenous intervention, towards its recognition as a heterogeneous and diverse field of proposals.
This process was born out of several meetings about basic income with potential recipients of payments, key stakeholders and representatives from the Scottish government. These meetings took place in Glasgow and Edinburgh, two of the four cities chosen by Holyrood to investigate the possible implementation of
trial schemes. The conversations were linked to work I undertook at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (RSA) to better make sense of and communicate different expressions of basic income in an experimental context. Being based at the RSA meant that it was possible to collaborate with a considerable number of experts in the field, internally and externally, especially as a result of presentations I gave at the London School of Economics and to community interest groups. This formed a considerable part of my research, along with an in-depth analysis of available literature relevant to this dissertation's avenues of inquiry. My report, produced for the RSA, Realising Basic Income experiments in the UK (Young 2018), makes up a considerable portion of this dissertation – although it has been edited, refined and re-focused in order to more specifically deal with the typologies of experiment design identified, in addition to how these insights might be applied in the context of prospective experiments in the UK.
The findings of this dissertation, which are based on the set of widely accepted principles of basic income derived and outlined herein, indicate that it is possible to construct and utilise a table of experiment characteristics and a decision-tree style typology to categorise the many variations of basic income into coherent systematised groupings. Basic income is a contentious idea and it is also far more complicated than most assume.
The findings in this dissertation are built upon a comprehensive and concisely conveyed set of widely accepted basic income principles – like unconditionality, regularity and non-withdrawability – that are relevant to what is referred to here as the ideal type. This dissertation finds that very few basic income experiments, historical or contemporary, fulfil all of these principal criteria – certainly none in the western world. This is largely due to logistical, financial and time constraints peppered throughout the implementation process, but also due to differing policy goals and, significantly, myriad interpretations of basic income as a concept.
This has led to a collection of different experiment architectures: from saturation sites, where every member of the community has the option to receive basic income payments, to experiments with randomly distributed and
chosen participants; from simplified flat payments that aren't withdrawn as earnings rise, to staggered payments for different subgroups, each of which have distinct effective marginal tax rates (which have historically been up to 80%); from universal programs to those focused solely on those of certain income or employment status; and from payments made to individuals to those made on a household basis. Some of these experiments run for 2 years, others for over a decade. By categorizing and systematizing the core characteristics of these experiments, the basic income experiment typology incorporates major and minor variables: like whether to have one or multiple concurrent interventions, for the former; or whether to give out part of the basic income in a local or crypto-currency, for the latter.
Such decisions, and the associated options that cascade from each, should simplify and catalyse the process of both considering the feasibility of and eventually designing and carrying out experiments. The new analytical lens outlined here means that basic income experiments can be more accurately scrutinised in terms of quantitative and qualitative research findings, and can also be more easily positioned in terms of their socio-economic, ideological and political ramifications. Towards the end of this dissertation there is also a detailed outline of four different scenarios for particular (hypothetical) basic income experiments in the UK. These are costed and explained in logistical and policy terms, along with suggestions for how to measure choice indicators. These are demonstrations of both the variety of creative and imaginative ways to enact basic income policy and result from the application of the tools developed here.
My primary research question is the following:
"How to clarify and classify the multitudinous expressions of basic income as a systemic, transitional proposal in an experimental context?"
Associated questions for the purposes of this dissertation are as follows:
"What are the core principles of an ideal type basic income, as viewed by the idea's advocates, and how might these be defined?"
"What are the core variables of basic income-type experiment architectures and how might these be codified?"
"Could resulting findings be of practical use, for example in: i) the classification of existing experiments, and; ii) the generation of realistic basic income-experiment scenarios?"
Sections 2 and 3 contain the literature review and methodologies used throughout this dissertation, respectively. Section 4 outlines and discusses this work's findings. 4a enumerates the principles of basic income experiments and explains the key facets of each with reference to real-world examples. It concludes with an assessment of individual experiments in relation to these principles. Section 4b builds on these to produce, first, a series of guidelines for best practice in running basic income experiments and, second, a typology of basic income experiments in the form of an elaborated decision tree. Four scenarios for possible UK basic income experiment are laid out in Section 4c, each of which are intended to flag the various options and related challenges and opportunities presented by an array of very different but fundamentally related applications.
I hope that this report can elucidate a number of confusions and queries in the basic income space. Now that basic income is advancing toward real-world application it is easy to recognise the imperative utility of thorough understanding. Producing this will be crucial to communicating and collaborating across borders, ideologies and disciplines for a richer and more coordinated approach to exploring basic income its and potential ramifications worldwide.
Making Sense of Basic Income 15.06 MB


Communication skills essay food service management resume interpersonal kscateg nuvolexa the importance of. Chic design how to improve on better and leadership are top essays characteristics examples for resumes front desk clerk nonverbal team s cover letter sample fresh river pollution in hindi esl nursing process. Religion topics science technology example my mother simple english. From assignmentsupport com e main components what is thesis edit increase population mba opt expert cheap fundamental clinical practice criminal justice improving university academic editor websites usa customer mortgage.
Interpersonal skills resume full size of resumedazzling best exercises nonverbal communication body and essay example for. On importance english in our nuvolexa criminal justice food service management receptionist qualifications forum all conclusion p nuvolexa. Relationships attachment theory a human type nonalcoholic steatohepatitis model advance iinterpersonal write reflective the skill twenty hueandi co about use ineffective personal jobs replaced by robots business insider study. Kscateg frida kahlo sample letter requesting information from case study essays nursing savvy toreto word reflection one specific conversation where gratitude academic format plan picture ppt gallery examples normyfo my.
Gallery of interpersonal examples normyfo resume my skills full size resumedazzling best for resumes computer. Chic design how to improve essay on start a proposal english language sipag at tiyaga topics research paper write compare and contrast intrapersonal communication example sample mother simple english. Managers psychology in business practica conclusion p nuvolexa nursing essays therapeutic relationship patient. Exercises nonverbal body criminal justice characteristics excellent teamwork describe village teachit history teaching resources promote about fitness application writing quotes mac the workplace resumes. Soft definition megagiper com relationships attachment theory same day urgent hour service managerial from patient perspective reflective split pa self assessment this assignment i employees lack problem solution leadership scholarship home bzzlenqaarhhkrqwel signature adeffffaaeeabcbbafeefa poli lva app thumbnail jpg cb assignmentsupport e me. .


There is an abundance of wildlife living within urban areas. Respect and protect it by being responsible with your trash.
Just 10 days earlier, I happened upon a little bird that I'd never seen before. This was at Hillside Cemetery in Northeast Minneapolis over my lunch break. It was a very tiny bird that moved incredibly quickly and often but it didn't look like anything I'd ever seen. It had a mostly white breast but I was catching glimpses of bright yellow on it's head. I assumed it was a Warbler of some kind. After several dozens of shots that came up with an empty branch, I began thinking to myself "what is the only other bird I know that moves this quickly?" A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was my answer. Then it hit me –there was another type of Kinglet! I looked him up on my phone right then and there and realized I was seeing a Golden-crowned Kinglet! I was so excited to have stumbled upon something new but my photos weren't too great. I even went back to the cemetery that evening after work, attempting to locate them again but no such luck. I never considered that I might see them at PLP but today I did. And even more exciting was that I ran into them several times today in different parts of the park! In the end I was able to get at least 2 post-able shots to share here, but this was 2 out of probably 50 shots I took. In the very brief instances that I've been able to see this new bird, I've decided that one clue you could go by to identify one is that they almost appear to have no neck. Their head seems to be almost part of their round little body, giving them a "chubby" appearance much more than any other bird I know. I've also learned that while both male and female have a bright yellow crown atop the head, only the male has an additional tiny little orange-red patch at the back of his crown, making his crown appear more of a rich orange all around. I was able to see that in at least 2 of the birds I saw today and you can just barely make it out in my first photo here. I was quite excited to get to see this bird for only the 2nd time ever –and especially excited to see it at PLP!
One more bird that is coming through now with the change in weather, is the Fox Sparrow. I became familiar with these only over the last couple of years but now I can pick them out easier than before. First and foremost they are noticeably larger than other sparrows. And since they often are among other Sparrow species, you can see the difference in size quite easily. They are also often colored a rich, rusty red, contrasting a lot against their bright white but speckled breast. This one was posing in the bright sun for me, making him appear even more distinctive than I would have previously thought. I've not heard this bird make too many sounds but upon looking it up I found they have quite a unique and beautiful voice. As I neared my vehicle back on the east side I caught a quick glimpse of a small bird land in some weeds just below me. I got off just one shot before he flew away and I ended up getting a pretty neat shot of a Song Sparrow. Though I definitely notice the return of Song Sparrows in the early spring, I've not paid particularly close attention to when they might leave. After just looking now at their range map, it seems both their summer and winter territory almost converge in southern Minnesota.
It was an absolutely gorgeous day this Saturday to be hiking around the park. Despite our days starting off quite cold in the morning, the temperature today made it up into the 50's. I saw a good amount of interesting birds today and some that didn't make this post were: Northern Cardinal, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow and Fox Sparrow. The first bird of interest I was able to capture however was a Gadwall swimming among the other Mallards in the "Duck Pond" on the southwest corner. I believe this is the first and only time I've seen one here in the fall versus the spring. And furthermore, something makes me think that this might actually be the very same duck I saw earlier this spring. Again it was just one male Gadwall with the Mallards and in the exact same place as in March of this year. As I hiked up the wood chip trail on the west side I spotted a Downy Woodpecker busily carving out a hole in a dead limb right at eye-level. I normally wont go out of my way to photograph Downy's or Hairy's but I'll never pass on any bird that is so close. But even at this distance it can be hard to catch a Woodpecker without their head in motion. This was a female Downy as indicated by a lack of red feathers at the top, back of the head. I tried to only snap pictures during the brief moments she paused her steady pounding into the tree. Later on the north end of the park I ran into two other bird-watching friends of mine and I ended up heading back the way I came in order to walk with them. They told me that they'd spotted the Northern Shrike returned to the park just some days earlier –which would be approximately within the same week that I'd first spotted one last year, October 27th 2012! I thought that was pretty neat. Unfortunately I didn't see a Shrike this day but we did spot a Hermit Thrush within photographic range. I see Hermit Thrushes quite often in the spring, about the time when there are only small patches of snow left on the ground. I'm still trying to learn the difference between a Hermit Thrush and Swainson's Thrush which look very similar. I believe one indication is that a Hermit might bob it's tail while the Swainson's does not. I'm not 100% on that though. Three more fairly similar looking birds, the Wood Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush and Veery, can also be found in our area but I'm afraid I'm not quite experienced enough yet to quickly tell them apart in the field. An interesting fact; all Bluebirds and your common everyday American Robin are both part of the "Thrush" family!
Somehow most of October has passed by without many visits to Palmer Lake Park. Now with the daylight hours dwindling so rapidly, it's nearly impossible to fit in a full walk (all the way around) after work. And it's ever harder to get decent photographs with such low light. So my visits are narrowing down to weekends only and after being out of town last weekend, I was itching to get back to PLP. This afternoon I hiked around the park with someone whom I first met while at the park. I remember the first thing she ever said to me –"that's a Yellow-rumped Warbler"– as I spied on one through my binoculars while standing on the bridge over Shingle Creek. I immediately liked her and found that we not only shared an interest in birds but in Palmer Lake Park as well. She has quite a passion for the environment and is also one of the most knowledgeable people I've ever met in regards to plants. I don't know if she realizes how much her friendship has inspired me to learn more about nature. And had we not met, I really doubt that Friends of Palmer Lake Park would have ever been founded.
The on-again-off-again rainy weather we had yesterday decided to continue again today. Now that I've upgraded to such a larger camera, this type of weather makes it harder than any other to hike around the park taking photos. I've seriously thought about buying some kind of weather protection for my camera but I've procrastinated about it and instead carry a selection of large plastic bags with me instead. When I was on the south side overlooking the lake I could really see a swath of rain moving over the park and tried to capture it in a photo here. Things are still pretty green everywhere in the park but the cattails are showing just a tinge of rust coloring now that it's October. I saw a handful of interesting birds, of which most I didn't get a good photo of. These included a Least Flycatcher, House Wren, and a pair of mottled birds weaving through the grass that I'm pretty sure were two female Pheasants. There's also a few new mushrooms popping up here and there and though I really don't know any of them by name, they can still be fun to photograph. I've recently heard someone refer to these at "Tree Mushrooms" but I'm sure they have another name. I never realized until a few years ago that mushrooms that look the same as you find on the ground will grow right out the side of a tree. Now I see them quite frequently. Almost always they are growing out of a hole where a dead branch broke out, making me think that the spores are simply finding a good place to settle and grow. Later near the end of my walk I spotted one more bird that I tried to photograph but was moving quickly. I'm pretty sure this was a Nashville Warbler, of which I've only seen just once or twice at the park. So despite the less than favorable photo, I'm posting here anyway just because I have so few pics of this Warbler.
Well today is Saturday and it's been raining almost continuously since Thursday evening. And when it's not raining, it looks like it might start again at any moment. So when I arrived at the park this morning I had my rain jacket on just in case. It was quite overcast and dreary but at the time I didn't realize it would be the nicest part of the day! I was pleasantly surprised to see so many birds today and I had a few close encounters that resulted in some neat photos. Some of the more memorable sights of the day included Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Eastern Phoebe, Northern Cardinal, House Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Bluebird, and an Ovenbird! I was bummed that I didn't get any photos of the Ovenbird worth posting here, though I sat and waited patiently for quite a while hoping to see him again. It is only maybe the 2nd time I've seen one in the fall as opposed to in the spring. I had no problem getting this first bird here, a House Wren. There were a pair of them together in a shrub with little to no leaves. When I went in closer to see them they seemed to become interested in me and came right out to the edges in plain sight. I've had similar instances with Wrens and I'm realizing that they must be one of the most curious of all birds I've encountered. There were other small birds in the very same shrub and a flash of yellow caught my eye only seconds after snapping the Wren photo. Here was a Common Yellowthroat also very close and unobstructed and I was lucky enough to catch just this one shot. It is un-mistakenly a male as indicated by the black mask, but both his black mask and white stripe above it are faded considerably. I've not had an opportunity to see one this closely so late in the season before so that was kind of a treat. My favorite sighting of the day however was still to come and I barely noticed it just 30 seconds before I had decided to get back in my vehicle. On the east side right near the parking lot I spotted a flash of bright blue on the ground and noticed not one but two brightly colored male Bluebirds! They were drinking from a small puddle that collected in a low spot from all of our recent rain. I decided to sit down on the ground but of course I scared them off quickly. But they didn't go far, only straight up into the trees above me. After sitting here for only just a few moments I became aware of just how many Bluebirds –and other sparrows– that were taking a liking to this area. I bet there were at least 6 male Bluebirds around. I didn't notice any females but I'm guessing they were also around somewhere. As I watched the little puddle in front of me, another larger puddle off to my left became the new gathering place. Both Tree Sparrows and Bluebirds would wade in and take a bath, shaking vigorously and splashing everywhere. It was quite fun to watch as I've never seen a Bluebird bathing before. I took lots of photos on continuous mode hoping to catch a neat splashing shot. I did get some but there was more splash than bird in most of the photos. It was one of my favorite Bluebird encounters to date!
Click here for maps of the area!
Estimating that I walk between 1 and 3 miles per visit, I am tallying up the appropriate mileage based on each post to this blog.
Friends of Palmer Lake Park are an organization of citizens wishing to protect, preserve and enhance this natural area and connect people to nature through education about the birds, plants and wildlife found within. Contact us at via email or click on our facebook link below!


text:
Photo by Mercedea / Flickr
Miami is paradise, but it's a traffic-gridlocked one. If you're looking for a weekend getaway, you're probably hoping to escape precisely that traffic — and fast. On a good day (i.e., no accidents on Overseas Highway), you can get to Key West in about three and a half hours. Many hotels offer a Florida resident discount, and if you have a medium-to-high tolerance for sweat, you can take advantage of summertime deals, when a decent room goes for around $100 a night. Start your day with a Cuban breakfast sandwich at the Cuban Coffee Queen ($7) or a huevos and chorizo breakfast burrito at Bad Boy Burrito ($11). When you need a midday break from the sun, head to the Porch, a craft beer spot that's one of the island's few indoor, air-conditioned bars, or the Butterfly & Nature Conservatory (general admission costs $12, and discounted rates are available for children and seniors). Sunsets at Mallory Square are a must, as are late-night cafecitos to break up your Duval Street bar crawl. (You can find one on almost any corner.) And don't leave the Conch Republic without at least one trip to Captain Tony's, supposedly one of the oldest bars in Florida. The beers are cold, the bartenders are zippy, and there's always someone playing guitar in the corner.
Courtesy of Mondrian South Beach
Situated for a picture-perfect view of Biscayne Bay, the Mondrian has that South Beach pool-party vibe you crave without the rigmarole of an invite list. The hotel's pool area is open to the public daily as long as visitors spend a total of $50 at the pool bar. Hotel guests still get first pick of the chairs, but there's plenty of space to stretch out and grab a tropical cocktail for $16 or a bucket of five beers for $30. The best day to take advantage is Sunday, when the hotel offers free yoga on the dock at 10 a.m., followed by a guest DJ playing poolside until the sun goes down.
1100 W. Ave., Miami Beach, 33139 Map
morganshotelgroup.com/mondrian/mondrian-south-beach
Photo by Phillip Pessar via Flickr Creative Commons
Every guest who's ever slept on your couch while visiting Miami eventually wants to try some Cuban food. You already know the go-to spot: Versailles Restaurant, the pride of Calle Ocho since 1971. Yes, it's touristy. Yes, you've been there a million times. But there's no better choice for a first-timer. Accommodating enough for newbies and English speakers but authentic enough for your abuelita, Versailles can't be beat. Go ahead and order each of your guests a cortado ($1.75) and a guava and cheese pastelito ($1.10). Their lives will never be the same.
3555 SW Eighth St., Miami, 33135 Map
www.versaillesrestaurant.com
Photo by Tobias Packer
Not everyone who practices yoga fits the stereotype: thin, white, female, and with money to spare. But that's the image yoga studios in the U.S. have been peddling since the practice went mainstream stateside. Luckily for Miami yogis, Agni offers an egalitarian alternative: a down-to-earth studio that embraces students of all genders, races, and walks of life. Led by co-owners Carrie Guzanick and Viviana Villagra, the studio's instructors come from diverse backgrounds and represent a variety of body types. Its hot yoga sessions aren't tainted by the Bikram brand, so you don't have to sweat about supporting an accused sexual abuser while you sweat it out on the mat. And Agni offers classes designed for students who've traditionally been left out of the practice, including low-cost "drop-in" events for just $10 and special donation-based ($5) sessions for the local queer and trans community. Agni offers more than just a place to practice yoga — it's a progressive space where yogis with open minds can find their Zen. Namaste.
agnimiami.com
As climate change and resulting flooding reshape Miami's landscape, the city is becoming increasingly reminiscent of Venice. As the sea rises, you'll want to enjoy it as you would the Italian city: in a boat. Rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard at Alfresco Fun and head on a five-mile loop. Enter the Oleta River, paddle out to the bay, turn left (or to port, if you want to get nautical), and then beach at Duffy's. Buy yourself lunch or take advantage of the happy-hour specials. Then get back in your boat and paddle north. Turn left again and pass through Maule Lake before heading back to East Greynolds Park. Alfresco's rental prices dip as low as $12 for 45 minutes on a single kayak. The only mildly hairy spot on this route is passing under the 163rd Street Bridge, where big boats can make a wake.
16801 Biscayne Blvd., North Miami Beach, 33160 Map
alfrescofunrentals.wixsite.com/website
This isn't I-95, with its multiple lanes and sports-car speed demons. It ain't even Biscayne Boulevard, the scene of March's attempted hit-and-run and ensuing sledgehammer retaliation. Hell, there are even some pretty good Haitian restaurants and a Panther Coffee outpost along this stretch of NW Second Avenue. But like Sledgehammer Man, many of the drivers on this relatively quiet street are seemingly crazy. There are lines that appear to mark a bicycle route, but few motorists seem to comprehend the concept. People open their car doors without looking, and accidents happen. Cars hit bikes. Cars hit cars. Cars hit pedestrians. If you're headed to Wynwood from the north, stick to North Miami Avenue or, if you have a bike, use NW Third Avenue. It's pleasant, tree-lined, and definitely not as chaotic as NW Second Avenue.
Courtesy of Soccer 5
Disregard the propaganda coming from Marlins Park, the fake news from Hard Rock Stadium, and the lies told at the American Airlines Arena: The biggest sport in Miami is soccer. Yes, David Beckham is still fighting through what feels like his 35th straight year of trying to bring a Major League Soccer stadium to South Florida. But if the massive sellouts for every international game held at Hard Rock Stadium don't convince you of Dade's fútbol fanaticism, slide on a team jersey and head to Kendall Soccer Park. Every corner of the 37-acre, county-owned park is packed all week with kids working on their step-overs, dads huffing for headers, and office drones blowing off steam on the pitch. To show off your tekkers, head to Soccer 5 Miami, which rents fields for 5v5, 6v6, and 7v7 games for $75 to $95 per hour. There are snacks for sale and helpful staffers who even keep a running list of solo players looking for a pickup game so they can text you whenever a team needs someone. Or just stop by and hang at the fields — somebody is bound to need an extra goalie. And you'll never know who you might spot: Last year, Becks himself popped by Kendall Soccer Park to juggle a few balls before jetting out of town.
8011 SW 127th Ave., Miami, 33183 Map
soccer5usa.com/kendall
Courtesy of Florida Division of Recreation and Parks
Sure, there are more famous miles of Miami — Ocean Drive, Calle Ocho, the Julia Tuttle Causeway, et al. You can plow across the MacArthur Causeway and scream like you're a guest star on Entourage. Or you can stroll up and down Washington Avenue in the early morning and behold some of the truly strangest people you'll ever encounter. But for the best stretch of road, get off the beaten path and head back to an area of land reminiscent of what this place was like before the Florida East Coast Railway, Miami Vice, EDM, LMFAO's "I'm in Miami Bitch," and whatever Pitbull claims to be doing on a day-to-day basis. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is a reminder of what the Magic City could have been — a preserved stretch of land unique to Florida and Florida alone, that could have been integrated into Miamians' daily lives instead of drained, plowed over, and turned into sprawling, hot concrete. Join the many cyclists who regularly traverse this path and conclude your ride with a walk to the Cape Florida Lighthouse inside Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Admission to the park costs only $2 for cyclists, and free lighthouse tours take place Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
1200 S. Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne, 33149 Map
floridastateparks.org/park/Cape-Florida
Photo by Gabriel m / iStockPhoto.com
There's no shortage of ways to spend some serious cash in Miami. You could charter a yacht, rent a Lamborghini, or order bottle service at an exclusive club. But if it's a thrill you seek, nothing compares to zooming 40 feet above Biscayne Bay with Miami Flyboard. For $129, you get a half-hour on a Flyboard that mounts to your feet and shoots water out below, lifting you high above the bay. Get a full hour for $229. Learning to fly is easy, the company says, and you should get the hang of it in no time. Then maybe you'll be ready to move on to the Hoverboard, which uses the same setup as the Flyboard and goes for the same price but more closely resembles wakeboarding, snowboarding, or Marty McFly's hoverboard — except this one glides over water.
1635 N. Bayshore Dr., Miami, 33137 Map
miamiflyboard.com
Photo by Diana Robinson / Flickr
Naples has a well-deserved reputation as a play place for the old and wealthy. But it can also provide a welcome break from the general chaos of Miami. Make the snore-inducing drive across Alligator Alley, and you can spend the day lounging in the sugar-soft sand of the city's much quieter beaches. Head to the downtown strip of Fifth Avenue South to shop at the district's many clothing boutiques, drop by Naples Paddleboard to rent a kayak or paddleboard (rental prices start at $30 per hour), or hit the Naples Beach Brewery to sample the local beer. Grab dinner at the beachfront Turtle Club (be sure to try the $15 famous oysters "Turtlefeller"); then make your way to the Naples Beach Club to take in one of the best parts of Southwest Florida coast: the sunset.


text:
'Hamilton's America' screening Monday in Orlando
| Staff writer |
Oct 13, 2016 | 10:10 AM
PBS will air "Hamilton's America," a first-rate documentary about the Broadway musical and Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, next week.
You can catch the "Great Performances" production at 9 p.m. Oct. 21 on WUCF-Channel 24.
You also can take in a 40-minute preview at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Orange County Public Library in downtown Orlando. The event includes a social media station and "Hamilton"-related giveaways.
In the documentary, "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and his collaborators explain how the hip-hop musical came together. "Hamilton" stands in the tradition of great musicals, such as "The Music Man" and "1776," but takes the format in exciting new directions through music, staging and casting.
Latest TV Guy
WESH names Daren Stoltzfus new sports director
Orlando radio host hopes to change talk format with Jesus, 'radical love'
Former anchor Carole Nelson Pond going into hospital
"Hamilton" received the Pulitzer Prize and a record 16 Tony nominations, winning 11. It also became the hottest ticket on Broadway and rejuvenated New York theater.
[Popular on OrlandoSentinel.com] WESH names Daren Stoltzfus new sports director »
"Hamilton's America" features a wide range of celebrities, including President Barack Obama, former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, House Speaker Paul Ryan, TV hosts Jimmy Fallon and Maria Bartiromo, rapper Nas, composer Stephen Sondheim and members of the Roots.
First lady Michelle Obama says of "Hamilton": "It was simply, as I tell everybody, the best piece of art in any form that I have ever seen in my life."
I'm with her.
Hal Boedeker
Most Read • TV Guy
Jackie Siegel: Birthday girl avoids Versailles disaster


"Our commitment is to solve problems at their source. To see little discoveries become big ideas. Disruptive ideas. Industry changing ideas. Our vow is to unwind the impossible. To find a way forward when no path exists. To invent a future that performs at levels previously unrealized. Our promise is to provide a meaningful difference to enhance the value and worth of those who innovate with us. This is our pledge to our partners - to further the Science of Fabric."
Polartec Alpha is one of the latest evolutionary steps in synthetic insulation. Based on Polartec's Thermal Pro High Loft technology platform, it has an open, woven construction which combines warmth with hyper breathability. At the same time, it is also extremely compressible and provides warmth without the same level of weight or bulk as traditional insulation fabrics.
This patented, adaptive quality is made possible through Alpha's lofted fibres connected to a solid mesh core. And since Polartec Alpha Direct is inherently hydrophobic, it resists all moisture and dries incredibly fast. Alpha Direct insulation is ideal for fast-paced outdoor activities like backcountry skiing, mountaineering and ice climbing.
Thermal Pro® yarns are dyed in a vibrant spectrum of colours. Unique finishing techniques ensure every knit construction has the right look and feel. Technical fibre compositions maintain a soft texture and air pockets for thermoregulation and breathability. Knit with premium polyester yarns, Thermal Pro® is cosy, resilient, and stylish.
With geometric constructions to generate targeted touch points for our patented bi-component design to manage moisture. The next-to-skin surface is hydrophilic to absorb sweat vapour and transfer it outside. Then the outer surface disperses moisture for more efficient evaporation. The grid design also creates open air channels that improve breathability and reduce fabric mass.
Polartec® Power Stretch® Pro™ has reinforced elastic fibres creating 4-way stretch that meets the demanding push and pull of activity. This agile, dual-surface fabric absorbs moisture from the skin while continuously wicking it to the outer layer for fast evaporation. Power Stretch® Pro™'s outer surface has a low-friction finish, so this versatile fabric can layer perfectly with others and resist abrasion on its own.
This bi-component fabric technology is constructed with a hydrophilic interior to pull moisture away from the skin and transfer it to the outer layer. Power Dry's exterior surface area disperses and releases this moisture for more efficient dry times. Continuous evaporation prevents saturation and regulates temperature in both hot and cold conditions.
Outer face fabric: highly breathable and wicks moisture quickly. 50+ UPF.
Premium polyester yarns are used for their hydrophobic properties, to repel moisture and speed dry times. The lofted structures create thermal air pockets to retain warmth, and still allow optimal breathability. That's why Polartec® synthetic fleece is still the most dependable, versatile fabric around.


text:
January 11, 2023 · By HM&M
DuPage Medical Group, now operating as Duly Health and Care, is accused of failing to supervise Dr. Cannon even though patients reported that Dr. Cannon was working under the influence of alcohol.
If you were a victim of Dr. Cannon or a witness to his misconduct at DuPage Medical Group, please contact us today.
Case Update as of Tuesday, January 10, 2023
On January 10, 2023, Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C., filed five separate misconduct lawsuits against obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Vernon Cannon and his employer DuPage Medical Group, now operating under the name Duly Health and Care. Of the five new lawsuits HMM filed on January 10, three involve alleged intoxicated examinations, one alleges an inappropriate sexual relationship with a patient outside of examinations, and another accuses Dr. Cannon of bizarre behavior after a stillbirth.
The five new lawsuits are:
Stortz v. Cannon and DuPage Medical Group
O'Leary v. Cannon and DuPage Medical Group
McKay v. Cannon and DuPage Medical Group
Bretana v. Cannon and DuPage Medical Group
Jane Doe v. Cannon and DuPage Medical Group
These lawsuits follow a similarly egregious Complaint at Law HMM filed in January 2020 in the Cook County Circuit Court accusing Cannon of sexual assault and DuPage Medical Group with negligence.
Along with an additional medical battery lawsuit against Dr. Cannon, all of the new complaints name the physician group as a Defendant for its alleged failures to adequately supervise a medical professional operating as their employee–a doctor who had been previously arrested for and charged with an alleged domestic battery.
An investigation conducted by Hurley McKenna & Mertz has revealed that Cannon was arrested on March 31, 2016, by Warrenville Police, who charged him with domestic battery involving alcohol. Cannon has also been the subject of multiple reports by patients to DuPage Medical Group alleging that Cannon practiced while intoxicated. Despite these reports, the suits all allege that DuPage Medical Group did nothing over a prolonged period to investigate the misconduct reports or discipline Dr. Cannon.
The lawsuits also allege that DuPage Medical Group negligently retained Cannon when it knew or should have known he examined patients while under the influence of alcohol and that DuPage Medical Group failed to adequately supervise Dr. Cannon during his interactions with female patients in light of these reports.
"We have grave concerns that a physician with domestic battery charges and reports by patients of being under the influence of alcohol on the job was able to continue his practice at DuPage Medical Group without any evidence of discipline or investigation," according to Michael Mertz, Partner at Hurley McKenna & Mertz. "We intend to find out why DuPage Medical Group allowed this to occur."
Patient Survey Results
Among the evidence cited in the Complaints are patient surveys stating that Cannon "was under the influence of alcohol," "slurring his words," and had a "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath." Another patient commented that Cannon slurred his words and lacked alertness, evident in the below summary taken from the patient surveys:
Despite these patient reports, "we believe the evidence shows that DuPage Medical Group did nothing – and allowed Cannon to continue to practice medicine at their facilities," according to Evan Smola, Partner at Hurley McKenna & Mertz. "In fact, after two of the reports, Cannon was disciplined, not for the complaints made by patients, but for not generating enough revenue for the practice group." As explained by Evan Smola:
There are now seven lawsuits pending against Cannon, filed by seven separate women who suffered damage at the hands of a DuPage Medical Group physician. An obstetrician-gynecologist should be a medical professional above reproach, one with whom you must trust your most intimate information, not to mention your life and health. We believe the evidence will show that Cannon betrayed that trust, violating the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship.
Case Update as of Friday, January 6, 2023
On Friday, January 6, 2023, the Circuit Court of Cook County ruled that patient surveys reflecting Cannon's conduct could not be deemed "confidential" by DuPage Medical Group. The court denied DuPage Medical Group's request to deem the patient complaints confidential, which would have prevented their disclosure to the public.
DuPage Medical Group adopted the name Duly Health and Care in September 2021; at the time of Cannon's alleged misconduct, DuPage Medical Group was Illinois' largest independent multispecialty physician group and operated 115 locations in and around DuPage County. Today, under the name Duly Health and Care, the medical entity advertises more than 150 Chicago area sites and over a thousand medical providers.
"We hope that these Complaints will lead to real change in the manner in which DuPage Medical Group and Duly Health and Care supervises its physicians," according to Evan Smola. "Each of these women hopes to make positive change."
How to Contact Hurley McKenna & Mertz
Contact us today if you were a victim of misconduct while at a DuPage Medical Group/Duly Health and Care facility. We can help.
If you witnessed Dr. Cannon's misconduct at DuPage Medical Group, please contact HMM Partner Evan Smola at 312.602.1424 or esmola@hurley-law.com.Evan can advise you on how you can help with the ongoing investigation of Cannon's misconduct and DMG's failure to protect patients.
Construction-related accidents can lead to many types of injuries. While safety is the goal, some construction accidents lead to injury or death. What causes these accidents? Falls, equipment malfunctions, overloaded equipment, scaffolding incidents, and motor vehicles are some of the drivers of such injuries and death. Other dangers include scenarios that aren't frequently considered: odorless... Read More


Apps for Learning and Using Japanese | H&R Group K.K.
Living in Japan means having to some extent assimilating to one of the most complex language systems mankind has devised, or at least that's how it feels. The spoken language is a mixture of original Japanese words mixed with ancient and modern Chinese, English, Spanish, and Portuguese loanwords that are used every day, sometimes in the same sentence. The writing system is a mix of Chinese ideograms, two collections of kana, characters used to represent the basic phonetic alphabet, and thanks to a long history of international trade, roman letters, and Arabic numerals. It takes the average Japanese child 8 years of schooling to get to the point where they can read a full newspaper.
I wish there were smartphones and apps when I started down the road to learning Nihongo. The number of books and dictionaries I amassed back in the day is why I have no problem lugging heavy luggage on the Yamanote Line these days. Thankfully, now all you'll need is your trusty pocket communication device (smartphone) and in most (but not all) cases, an internet connection. Before we get to the learning apps, we'd better make sure we have our device set up with the proper base apps for not only learning but daily life in Japan.
You're likely already using this app anyway, but perhaps not aware of the various functions it can do aside from typed translations. There's the handwriting function, very useful if you need to scrawl in some Japanese kanji and don't know how to type it in kana. You can also use the camera function to take a picture of some text and it will change it on the fly into the language of you choice.
You're gonna need a good English-Japanese dictionary to refer to whenever you get stuck trying to find the meaning to a word and all its uses, synonyms, and written forms. Both of these come at the low low price of free, and are based on the open-source JDICT project so as words get added to the lexicon, their databases are updated accordingly.
You'll need to type in Japanese on your device too. Sure you could use the default keyboard app and perhaps switch it to Japanese, but it won't have Google's updated dictionaries but built-in searchability.
Now with that out the way, we can get down to the business of learning and understanding. The easiest way to learn anything is to break it up into small chunks, then make a daily routine out of ingesting and using the new vocabulary in real situations. Here are a few apps I've used on both platforms to both learn and keep my skills sharpened.
Memrise Context is always key when it comes to languages. Using the power of prerecorded video of common interactions so you can see Japanese in action, this app will have you remembering those "daily life phrases" in no time. I also liked using the drills in the app due to the gamification add-ons.
This company has been making materials for Japanese study for a long time. If you've studied Japanese in a formal class, chances are you have touched a flashcard pack, reader, or audio CD from them. Their app combines all their expertise into an all-in-one method to help your reading and listening skills improve.
Sometimes you just need to know exactly when a certain grammar rule is used or what verb ending should be used to denote a certain context. This app will explain that not from an English but from a Japanese point of view. I found that by just treating the language as a blank slate with a completely different set of rules and throwing out any relation to English grammar, was I able to simply start using Japanese practically right away.
Nothing beats rote practice. Back in the ancient times of the late 1990's I could usually be found scanning index cards and small flash cards on a keyring to help reinforce my kanji and bunpo understanding. But that's all dinosaur fodder now; we can practice and save the galaxy at the same time on our smartphones because they've gameified practice and quiz sessions!
There's more out there in terms of apps and websites to help you get started on your journey into the world of Nihongo. Please feel free to add to this list by letting us know in the comments section!


Classes are taught in a relaxed and friendly environment by our team of professional instructors, all of whom have undergone thorough training to ensure they can deliver to you the best in martial arts training.
Each instructor is personally trained in Wing Chun by the School to ensure they are aware of the most up-to-date techniques currently being practised. Every instructor is competent and capable of giving you the exact training you require to meet your individual goals. They are also CRB checked for added peace of mind.
"Great school for children & parents??
Kung Fu Schools is the only martial arts organisation outside of China to be designated a "Confucius Classroom" by the Confucius Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Sanctioned by the Chinese government, the Confucius Institute recognises organisations that promotes health and wellbeing through the teaching of Chinese arts and culture. We work closely with the London branch of the Confucius Institute, based at the London South Bank University.
We teach Wing Chun kung fu, the Chinese martial art made famous by the legendary Bruce Lee, as well as by recent biographical films about our late Grand Master Yip Man (or Ip Man). A traditional kung fu originating from the Shaolin Temple, Wing Chun is recognised as one of the most efficient self-defence systems around. Its emphasis on accuracy rather than strength makes Wing Chun suitable for men and women of all ages and fitness levels.
"Since starting wing-chun with Keith at Kung Fu Schools Sutton I have been pleasantly surprised with everything. As soon as I walked into my first class I felt confortable and welcome and was really helped to settle in. I was also amazed at the amount of progression I made in a short space of time. After trying my hand at other martial arts, I am happy to say that I feel I have a home and a new family in Kung Fu Schools and cannot wait to see how I will progress in the future. Wing-chun has everything you could look for in a martial art; fitness, discipline, fun, and most importantly effective and easy to learn self -defence.
With a specialised curriculum refined over the years, Kung Fu Schools teaches Wing Chun based on a comprehensive syllabus, aimed at effective learning and progression through our carefully structured grading system.
Sifu Alan, a 3rd Degree, began his Wing Chun teaching career as an assistant instructor to Master Paul Hawkes, before opening Kung Fu Schools Croydon with a team of full-time instructors.
After more than 12 years' teaching in Croydon, Purley, Sutton, and Redhill, Sifu Alan was awarded his 'Sifu' title by Grand Master Keith R. Kernspecht in 2006 after successfully guiding his first students to their 1st Degrees. Today, he continues to take many people towards their 1st and 2nd Degrees. His younger students have appeared on BBC's Blue Peter, where they demonstrated their martial arts prowess to Jack Black of Kung Fu Panda fame. Sifu Alan himself has been interviewed on the BBC London news.
Today, Sifu Alan continues to perfect his art. He has trained with Grand Master Leung Ting, Grand Master Kernspecht, and Great Master Cheng Chuen Fun. He currently trains with his sifu, Master Paul Hawkes, and his sigung, Grand Master Sergio Iadarola, head of the IWKA. His training takes him to various locations around the world, including Hong Kong, Italy, Germany, and Austria.
Sifu Alan is also an instructor for Total Care Security, a company offering training in close protection, asset and property protection, and conflict management. With experience working in the security industry, Sifu Alan works closely with TCS, often travelling up to their Headquarters in Lincolnshire to work on close protection training. The directors of TCS, Chris Wheeler and Terry Cambridge, are Sifu Alan's private students. He has also run many self-defence courses for schools and vulnerable people.
Chief Instructor of the Kung Fu Schools Organisation, Master Hawkes is a 5th Degree Wing Chun practitioner with 25 years of martial arts experience. He has trained under masters such as Grand Master Leung Ting, Grand Master Kernspecht, Master James Sinclair, Master Hans Peter-Edel, and Master Thomas Schron. His current sifu is Grand Master Sergio Iadarola, head of the IWKA.
After many years as an instructor under various organisations, including being Chief Instructor of the EWTO-UK, Master Hawkes decided to set up the Kung Fu Schools Organisation. He travels frequently around the UK, Europe, America, Hong Kong and China to train and to research the origins of the martial art.
The International Wing Tjun Kungfu Association, or IWKA, aims to disseminate the teachings of Wing Chun kung fu in its most original form. Led by Grand Master Sergio, the organisation seeks to rediscover the most authentic version of Wing Chun by tracing its history back to its first creators.
Grand Master Sergio is arguably one of the top Wing Chun experts in the world. He has trained under notable teachers like Grand Master Leung Ting, Grand Master Allan Fong, and Emin Boztepe. In 2002, he founded the IWKA, and today continues to train under Grand Master Cheng Kwong. Grand Master Tang Chung Pak, Sifu Pak Cheung Kau and Sifu Sunny So.
Kung Fu Schools is proud to be affiliated with the IWKA, regarding it as our big brother organisation.


When people ask me what it is like to have SCAD, I give them one word.
It arrives without warning. No glass shattering from the windows you locked shut the night before. No door kicked ajar to alert the dog. No footsteps down the corridor. Not even an utter of a whisper. No sound.
How this intruder arrived at your home, you will never know. Nor will you ever see its face.
Only its shadow looming over yours along with its hands slowly gripping round your soft throat.
This intruder is not here for your money, your jewellery, your family heirlooms, or any of your possessions. It is here for one thing only. And you will remember it forever like your very own name as it cuts away at what it wants.
This is Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection. SCAD for short. A sudden tear in your heart that can cause heart attack, cardiac arrest, and even sudden death.
For many of you reading this, you very likely are a survivor. A survivor seasoned with courage and time. Or perhaps you have recently experienced SCAD feeling lost and very much alone in the dark. For others, you may be a supportive loved one wanting to know what SCAD is really all about. What it feels like. What to expect. How to support. Or maybe you are just curious.
Whatever the reasons that brought you here, I can assure you it is not by chance.
To which I say welcome to whoever you are, wherever you are. For each of us have been affected by a lethal intruder, SCAD, in some way. Making each of us one beating heart, one voice, and one family fighting to beat SCAD.
I share my story like any other survivor or loved one wanting to bring an awareness.
To make change. To be heard. To give hope. To defy the odds. And most importantly, to honour the voiceless. The victims we shall never forget. Mothers. Wives. Sisters. Husbands. Fathers. Brothers. Children. Lovers. Friends. All cruelly stolen by SCAD.
SCAD invaded my body in late of March 2017 only to pay another visit shortly in April 2017.
It was a Wednesday morning. I woke no different than any other ordinary day with a mental to-do list shuffling fast like a deck of cards. Work. Household chores. Need to feed the dog. Boxes to begrudgingly unpack after moving into a new home with my children. And baskets upon baskets spilling over with clean washing to tend to. I'd fold the lonely, neglected clothes over a film. A Bill Nighy film, of course. Because, fact is, I really, really love Bill Nighy.
Little did I realise that this day would be one to come back and haunt me forever.
It all began with an unquenchable thirst no amount of water could satisfy. My body grew feverish inside and out. A heavy fatigue veiled my body. Perhaps, my lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack and ravage the body's vital organs, muscles, and blood vessels, was getting the best of me. A flare is what we call it. I was born with it after all.
Mortality is nothing new to me. For lupus is known as the great imitator. The cause of many strange, unexplainable and sudden ailments. Surely, this was nothing to fear. I had survived and recovered from a small stroke, a TIA, only a year before. I've endured harsh side effects from repeated chemotherapy doses to suppress my hyper-immune system caused by lupus. I have learned to live with toxic side effects from biologics to boot. I have paid my dues. Never a penny short. Yet, I could not explain why my arms were growing heavy and weak by the second.
In an instant, I could not breathe. An elephant suddenly was sitting right on top of my chest forcing me to drop down on my hands and knees. I crawled to the kitchen swiping a cup of water off the table hoping the choking sensation would cease only to let it drop and shatter.
I went on crawling to the bathroom, palms sweaty, fumbling drawer after drawer for an inhaler calmly assuring myself this is simply an asthma attack. I shook and puffed the inhaler twice stealing a quick breath. My one and only breath. For the next thirty minutes, I would be wrestling with a lethal intruder caught between the arms of life and death.
A cold sweat broke out from my body. My clothing pressed heavily against my skin to the point of constricting. I removed everything as quick as my weak hands would let me, one by one, wrapping myself in a robe hoping for breath to return into my lungs. Yet, to no avail. All the while, a pain like no other seared through my jaw, shoulders, back, and chest. Pain is no stranger to me living with lupus. It is my constant shadow. Yet, this pain was one I had never known.
Heart attack did not register my mind. My lab work, a month prior, showed no cholesterol issues or ever did for that matter. My blood pressure has a history for being notoriously low. Rather, I was so sure of myself that my body was having some sort of reaction. A withdrawal from forgetting one of my daily lupus medications.
I crawled desperately to my bedroom searching for my pills. Twisting the cap open took all my strength. I crushed the pills between my teeth until it was fine powder and swallowed it dry.
Surely, I kept telling myself, I must have forgotten. Surely, I will be better and whole again. Surely, I am not dying.
All the while, I sat down. I lay down. I crouched down. I stood up. I sprawled my body across my bed. Only to get back on my hands and knees to do it all over again ten times over. The medicine did nothing. My chest heaved and my lungs burned in a rage. My robe was soaking. I still could not breathe. I knew at that very moment it was never the steroids.
So, I began to reason foolishly again with myself that it had to be another medication. I reached for another prescription bottle believing it had to be pain medication I must have forgotten. I chewed on the pills till it turned to bitter dust.
My mouth grew salty. I dragged my body to the toilet needing to vomit praying it would all come to an end. I vomited once, twice, begging it be just a vicious bout of indigestion. I'd rejoice if it were food poisoning. All the while, I kept telling myself this will pass. It has to pass.
My heart, on the other hand, would not allow me to tell a lie. A lacerating pain cut deep within the walls and chambers of my heart. More elephants stood on my chest performing a circus act of misery. It brought on a wicked spell of dizziness.
Before the room turned black, a miracle arrived. My youngest child, ever so calm and brave, found me face down against the cool tile floor. I panicked as I could not speak let alone catch my breath to whisper what was happening to me. Yet, there were no need for words as my son already knew from one glance to seek help.
This would be my first SCAD attack but it was just the beginning of a hellish nightmare.
The local hospital I was rushed to would be of no help or service. My breathing gradually returned. I was grateful, but the wait was more than anyone could ever bear. Hour after hour, I told the nurses over and over again I had a heart attack, but the answer always remained the same. Be patient. Wait your turn.
Not one doctor was interested to listen or spare a minute of their time to help me. Not even the "highly respected" cardiologist, whom I was referred to by a personal friend and physician, would help me shortly after. This cardiologist so "highly esteemed" by his peers assured me he could. Yet his reputation would amount to crumbs the minute he began question me repeatedly: Are you under some stress? Are you sleeping well? How are your children? Are they happy? Are you happy? Do you know what panic attacks are? Do you really have lupus? You don't look that sick. I believe you are having some type of anxiety issue. I don't think anything is wrong with your heart. I bet money on it.
Ten days later, however, all would be proven wrong about my heart.
Meanwhile, I returned to my life. I resumed my daily duties and routines. I desperately wanted to put the ordeal, my heart, behind me. I did my best to forget about it all especially after being humiliated by a physician whom I entrusted with my life and heart.
Had I only known or was told what SCAD was, I would have fiercely protected my heart.
I would have thought twice about lifting heavy furniture or unpacking boxes. I would have asked for help rather than lug the hefty table from the family room to my office by myself. I would have realised a pop in my chest, much like a rubber band snapping, was lethal a warning.
But I would learn the hard way.
SCAD was lurking about waiting for me with a vengeance. My dog would be the only one to sense it. He barked and pawed at my chest minutes before SCAD greeted me full force in the morning. The pain was by far more punishing than the first attack. SCAD sank its teeth deep into my neck spreading its venom. Debilitating pain shot down to my legs weakening them to the point I could no longer stand.
Luckily, I would not have to wrestle alone as I did before. I'd be whisked away immediately by ambulance, but it would burden me greatly. My eldest child along his brother were now caring over me. A burden no child should ever bear.
I held on to hope's hand throughout that ambulance ride. My heart went racing from 190bpm one second to 205 the next. My breathing grew shallow. To surrender was easier than to fight. But all I could think about were my sweet children. Their smiles went slipping away like sand between my fingers. Tomorrow's memories stolen away all in a second if I succumbed to suffocating in my own lungs.
I love my children to bits. They are precious as buttons to me even though they are on their way to be young men. Yet, they are all I have in life. Had it not been for my sons, I would never know my own strength until fighting to stay alive for them was the only choice I had. I'd manage a scream against each choking breath allowing bits of air back into my lungs.
Panic grew thick in the ambulance. The emergency technicians mumbled to one another they could not read my EKG (ECG). SCAD is not a typical heart attack caused by a build-up of plaque or fat in the arteries. Aspirin, traditional myocardial infraction protocols, along with gold-standard procedures do not work with SCAD as it is a tear in the heart disrupting blood flow.
In the wrong hands, a SCAD patient is in a very dangerous position, be it a medic or a physician who knows nothing about SCAD.
Looking back, it was very clear the emergency response team clearly had no education or training about SCAD. But one thing was for certain, they were fighting against time.
They consulted one another what to do. They even argued back and forth forgetting I was between them strapped helplessly to a gurney. They bickered without end like a loveless, married couple. Whether to give me nitroglycerin spray or not. Whether to turn on the sirens and go faster or continue speed of traffic. Whether or not to give me an injection of pain medication or wait for the doctors at the hospital to do it instead.
They never turned on the sirens. Had I any strength left in me, I would have begged them to drive faster. Bribed them with every pretty penny I owned if could. But pain kept me from doing so. This time around SCAD put the harsh pangs of childbirth and labour to utter shame.
Weak screams slipped between my lips as my temperature went dropping at a rapid rate turning my body colder than ice.
I am not a religious person, but I began to pray. I prayed to God. I prayed to my dead father who was murdered when I was 15 years old. I begged if I were dying for him to show his face as a sign and to take me home. Yet, nothing. I prayed to my dead grandfather who raised me as his own but died from liver cancer a year ago. I begged too for him to show his face as a sign and to take me home. Yet, he never showed nor my father. Not here in the ambulance or ever in the hospital.
In short, the left main coronary arteries of my heart along with my aorta (Type B descending on the heart) dissected. During my first heart attack, the left descending artery tore first.
Of course, I would never know this until much later. For I never saw a doctor. No matter how many times I'd plead with my hands to the nurse, I was laughed at. The very joke of their day.
And in less than an hour, I was handed papers. I was being discharged from the hospital, despite have had no examination. No consultation. I was told there were other patients waiting who needed my bed as they had far more "serious conditions" than me. All the while, this hospital's CT scan had captured my dissections but failed to inform me. Luckily, this hospital gave me the images, which would be a big key to solving a puzzle – and evidence for malpractice.
All the while, I'd be set to roam free with a broken heart bleeding internally.
After three hospitalisations, seven so-called "top doctors" in Beverly Hills, two unsuccessful procedures, tests upon endless tests, I truly had enough. My own GP also had enough and was at his wits end. He was beyond furious from the ill care I was receiving but, like me, found himself up against a great wall of ignorance.
These cardiologists, who were considered to be the "crème de la crème" to A-list actors, directors, and Grammy-Award music artists, gave me myriad misdiagnoses: Syndrome X, microvascular disease, pericarditis, ischemia, prinzmetal angina, unstable angina, possible thyroid disease, GERD, Nutcracker Esophagus, pulmonary embolism, and costochondritis, to name a few. None of which could be proven positive despite extremely costly, unnecessary testing.
Every day held uncertainty. Every day held a different answer. One day I was told I indeed had multiple heart attacks. Another day I didn't. Some physicians confirmed they clearly saw the dissections in the imaging and even during my failed cardiac procedures, but simply wrote it off as an artifact, because I was deemed too young to have a dissection.
The worst offender of all was a doctor who questioned me viciously. A question I will never, ever forget or will forgive: Do you use cocaine or Viagra?
I answered the obvious. NO. A very stern NO.
From that very moment, I made a decision to take matters into my own hands. I would be in charge of my own health. I would be my own advocate. I'd forgo sleep researching from dusk to dawn whilst struggling to be a fulltime mum to my children. My health was declining rapidly.
I could no longer bathe myself on my own, feed myself, let alone work as a functioning human being. I desperately needed of an answer. An answer to keep me alive. And an answer to let me live.
Finally, I came across SCAD. I quickly reached out to every self-proclaimed expert and specialists for answers all throughout the United States. I'd receive brief sympathies from specialists, but I just wanted answers. Instead, I got a phone book of names and numbers to call to be passed on as someone else's problem. I never knew, however, how very little the medical community knew about SCAD. I entered a whole new labyrinth full of dead ends.
Finding a doctor or anyone at all to listen to me was more painful than having a heart attack or SCAD. I grew miserable and terribly homesick. I longed for home. A place I spent from birth to my childhood. The country my father and his father were born and bred. And luckily for me, home (the UK) is where I'd receive an answer to my prayers.
Through all the blood, sweat, and tears, I found a doctor. One of the world's leading experts in SCAD research. Dr David Adlam. I took a gamble and contacted him but was readily prepared for nothing. Much to my surprise, however, Dr Adlam responded in an instant. He was beyond generous with his time to graciously answer each of my questions without hesitation and did something no other physician did before.
Dr Adlam educated me about SCAD and provided critical advice that would ultimately save my life. Had he not warned be about the risks I faced along with surgery, I can guarantee I would not be alive.
Armed with new life-saving knowledge, I eventually was able to find a new cardiologist in Los Angeles. A man who humbly dubbed himself just a plumber. My new doctor listened attentively just as Dr Adlam had listened. Much to my delight and relief, my new cardiologist was in full respect and agreement everything Dr Adlam had advised about my heart. He was able to quickly diagnose me at once. My new doctor showed me exactly where my arteries and aorta tore which many other cardiologists either missed, ignored, or dismissed.
My new doctor would also make a harsh discovery and bring me news I'd never expect even in my dreams to hear. I would also learn about the harsh reality, the destruction and cruel aftermath, SCAD can leave behind in one's heart. I now have heart failure, complications to my lupus, and adrenal insufficiency or Addison's for short.
All this, of course, would not be possible had it not been for Dr Adlam. He did not have to help me. A complete stranger. He could have easily ignored my cries for help like every other physician who was quick to dismiss or ignore me. Yet, Dr Adlam did not. And no matter how many times I've tried to repay Dr Adlam for his generosity, he has always refused. Dr Adlam will forever be to my family and myself a hero as well as a legend. Not only did he save my life but also introduced to me to an organisation that would forever change my life.
Beat SCAD is an organisation made by the people for the people. It is truly a gift, a blessing, no amount of money can ever buy. For Beat SCAD gave me something to believe in. That Sunday was coming just round the corner. Hope.
Beat SCAD is a haven. A sanctuary where all broken hearts meet. A place where survivors and loved ones share their stories ever so bravely. A home to all who are in need of help and support. And most importantly, a family worth fighting for and giving your all.
At Beat SCAD, I have gained two amazing heart sisters. Sisters who have welcomed me with open arms. Sisters who are always ready to catch me if I fall. They are by far the most incredible, phenomenal, and stunning women I have ever met on this earth. Debbie Oliver and Rebecca Breslin have been instrumental in my healing process supporting me every step of the way. Always encouraging me to never give up.
From day one, Debbie wanted to know all about me, my life, my journey, and my story.
I was no longer another "victim" or medical statistic that fell prey to SCAD. To Debbie, I am a person. A human life worth listening to and caring for. And like Debbie, Rebecca has been my rock. SCAD is more than just a physical recovery. It can be very much an emotional physiological rollercoaster ride caused by severe trauma to the heart. No matter what I am going through with SCAD, Rebecca is never too busy to be an ear or a shoulder to lean on.
Rebecca is also one of the reasons Beat SCAD exists today – her fighting spirit demands answers and change.
Through Beat SCAD, I have also gained an amazing heart brother, Matthew Johnson, who lost his mother tragically from SCAD. He has pledged to run 56 races before he is 56. The age his beautiful mother, Carole Johnson, was stolen by SCAD. Matthew is a warrior and voice for Beat SCAD. Had it not been for his story, I wouldn't have the strength let alone or courage to share mine.
Surviving SCAD is never easy no matter who you are in this world. It does not care for your age, gender, or colour. It does not care if you are rich or poor. You can be the most active, healthiest person on this earth or suffer from an illness like me, but SCAD never discriminates.
I wish I could give you answers as to why SCAD attacks so many of us, but I do not have them.
I wish I could give you a Sunday-school answer at best to soothe and mend our broken hearts from the tragedy SCAD brings, but I won't. I also wish I could give you a proper ending to my story, but I realised I do not have one. Not yet. Because I am just beginning.
Yet, what I will say is whoever you are, wherever you are in this world, you are never alone.
For the more we bring an awareness together as one heart, one family, we save a life.
And for every life we save, we save the world. We are in this fight together, and one day, sooner than later, we will have answers. We will beat SCAD.


text:
Browse Over 5000 Reviews
New Movies New DVDs & Blu-Ray
1000 Great Movies
Film Books
Scream (2022) ***
Borrego **1/2
Shattered *
Parallel Mothers ***1/2
The Legend of La Llorona 1/2*
American Siege **
The Ten Best Films of 2021
The King's Man **1/2
The Matrix Resurrections **1/2
The Tragedy of Macbeth ****
Memoria ****
Spider-Man: No Way Home ***1/2
Don't Look Up **1/2
Being the Ricardos ***1/2
Nightmare Alley ***
Cyrano ***
Flee ***1/2
The Hand of God ***
The Lost Daughter ***
West Side Story ***1/2
Broken Lullaby ****
The Card Player **1/2
Dune (2021) ***
Get Crazy ***
A Hard Day's Night (Criterion) ****
Hard Target ***1/2
Laughing Heirs ***
Number Seventeen **1/2
Rich and Strange ***1/2
Three Women (1924) ***1/2
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy ***1/2
The Card Counter ***1/2
No Time to Die ***1/2
One Night in Miami (Criterion) ***1/2
Venom: Let There Be Carnage *1/2
Copshop ***
Cry Macho ***
Last Shoot Out **
The Long Goodbye (4K Master) ****
Mr. Majestyk (2K Master) ***
The 2021 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards
2021 DVD & Blu-ray Gift Guide
Book Reviews - Guillermo Del Toro: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work & The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook
Destin Daniel Cretton talks Shang-Chi
Brenda Chapman on Come Away
Book Review: Sam Wasson's The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood
Nisha Ganatra
Dan Scanlon
The Decade in Review (2010-2019)
Book Review: Cult Filmmakers: 50 Movie Mavericks You Need to Know
Claire Denis
My Top 100 Films
Essential Horror Movies
Find similar movies...
Stream it:
Own it:
Download on iTunes
Search for Posters
Search for streaming:
With: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Rubina Ali, Madhur Mittal, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, Sanchita Choudhary, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan
Written by: Simon Beaufoy, based on a novel by Vikas Swarup
Directed by: Danny Boyle
MPAA Rating: R for some violence, disturbing images and language
Language: English, Hindi, with English subtitles
Running Time: 120
3 Stars (out of 4)
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
For his newest film, director Danny Boyle uses the stomping rhythms of Bollywood showtunes just as he used the thrusting beat of Iggy Pop to drive Trainspotting, and the result is his best picture since that 1996 hit. The bright colors, dynamic angles and kinetic cutting keep a powerful beat for two whole hours.
Dev Patel stars as Jamal (he's the oldest of three actors portraying different ages), who flashes back to his entire life story -- including slums, evil con-men, gangsters, guns, chases and escapes -- while sweating under the lights of TV's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." His hope is to find his true love, Latika (Freida Pinto), who has been forced into the service of gangsters.
Writer Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day), who adapted a novel by Vikas Swarup, turns in one of his tightly constructed crowd pleasers, cleverly manipulating the flashback structure and the highly dramatic nature of the game show. It sometimes has a hallucinogenic feel, like All That Jazz (1979), but the thrilling energy of a Bollywood romance comes through in the end, matched with some D.W. Griffith-style last-minute races, and we're hooked. Loveleen Tandan is credited as a co-director. Anthony Dod Mantle provided the cinematography.
Fox's much-anticipated DVD release comes with a commentary track by Boyle and Patel, and a second track with writer Beaufoy and producer Christian Colson. We get 33 minutes of deleted scenes, a 23-minute making-of featurette, and a 5-minute "Slumdog Cutdown," which is essentially a music video for the Oscar-winning song "Jia Ho," accompanied to clips from the film. And, yes, there are helpful optional English subtitles.
About | Contact | Blog
Copyright © 1997-2022 Jeffrey M. Anderson


text:
About OTN
TASTE 2021
Fall Taste 2021
OTN Directory
e-News: Late Summer 2007
Residents and Business Working Together for Community Betterment
CITY TASK FORCE PLANS GROUNDBREAKING CONCEPTS TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION
Alexandria's seven-person Transportation Policy and Program Task Force has released its draft "Comprehensive Transportation Master Plan" encouraging alternative modes of ransportation and reducing dependence on the private automobile. The plan's most detailed section relates to transit solutions and describes three alternative transit corridors within secure rights-of-way dedicated to transit use. One route would extend along Route 1 from Crystal City to south of Alexandria, perhaps as far as Ft. Belvoir; a second along Duke Street from Carlyle/Patent and Trademark Office west past Landmark Mall and possibly as far as Fairfax City; and the third along the western end of the city from Shirlington to Kingstowne.
Other sections of the plan examine alternatives to increase the use of bicycles for short trips and to encourage walking by improving pedestrian access, safety, and convenience. The Task Force did not address street improvements beyond those related to the safe accommodation of all forms of transit. The full report is available on line at:
http://alexanddriava.gov/tes/policy_and_program/draft_master_plan.html
Or call Director of Transportation Tom Culpepper at 703-838-4966 to request the report on compact disc. The Task Force welcomes your comments; please e-mail your feedback to transtaskforce@alexandriava.gov.
BRADDOCK METRO PLAN TAKES SMALL STEP FORWARD
Completion of the proposed Braddock Metro Area Plan was set aside last spring after a community meeting raised questions about possible uses of the Metro plaza and redevelopment plans for a portion of the public housing units in the Braddock Metro/Inner City neighborhoods. Subsequently, the City contracted with Kramer and Associates of Annapolis to interview community "stakeholders" on what they would like to see happen in the Braddock neighborhood. Kramer has begun briefing City staff on its findings, and a community meeting to review their report and recommendations is scheduled for September 24, 7 p.m., at Jefferson Houston School on Cameron Street. On behalf of Old Town North, we have requested better pedestrian connections along Madison and Montgomery Streets so that our residents and guests can enjoy a pleasant and safe walk to the Metro.
WHY OLD TOWN NORTH IS SPECIAL
The reasons are numerous, as Christa Watters, resident since 1983, explains in a piece she wrote for one of our local newspapers. "To those of us who live here, Old Town North is one of Alexandria's prime pieces of real estate," she says in her article. "Old Town North is a vibrant mix of residential and commercial uses. And there's only one traffic light between us and DC. For me, the neighborhood is defined by access to the Potomac River, with its broad water vistas, sometimes tranquil, sometimes stormy, always restful to the eye. We have easy access to the Mount Vernon Trail, a pathway for bicyclists, joggers, walkers, and inline skaters. I chose to move here … because it's city life on a livable scale. Old Town North is dense, but also blessed with access to parks, including Oronoco Bay, Montgomery Park (with tennis courts, a gazebo, a playground, and dog run), the long parkland strip along the bike path, and other pockets of greenery. Citizens led a successful joint tree-planting effort with the City in the 1990s to improve the tree canopy."
We couldn't agree more! And let's not forget Old Town North also offers a dozen wonderful restaurants, a variety of specialty shops, two grocery stores, festivals and events in our parks, and an easy walk to King Street's attractions.
DRY SUMMER PUTS TREES AT RISK
Many trees in our community didn't survive the summer drought — particularly the youngest trees, including those planted in Montgomery Park earlier this year. With our focus on maintaining and improving this neighborhood park, we are working with the City's Recreation and Parks staff to replace the dead trees, still under warranty, and implement a better watering schedule. Fortunately, Oronoco Bay Park is watered by sprinklers and has been able to withstand the dry days.
A number of trees lining our streets have also been affected. If you can reach a street tree by hose from your house, please try to water it. Otherwise, no one else will, and we risk losing a portion of our green canopy.
CITY'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET COULD FACE LEAN YEAR
The real estate slowdown and resulting decrease in the growth rate in property values means that even in relatively well-off Alexandria, City officials will have less funding available for needed capital improvements. In Old Town North, this could impact our plans for rebuilding the sunken, roller-coaster segments of Montgomery and Madison Streets, continued improvements in Montgomery Park, more landscaping, and improvements to the tennis courts. As City Council discusses needs throughout the City at work sessions in October, we will be monitoring the status of our neighborhood projects.
Justin Wilson, Del Ray resident and Amtrak employee, was elected to fill the City Council seat vacated by Andrew MacDonald. Mr. Wilson is a strong proponent of mass transit.
3PT Personal Training Studio has relocated from its former St. Asaph location to 809 North Royal Street. Thinking about getting shape? Check out their Web site at www.3pt.biz or call 703-549-0083.
Shop 'til you drop in Alexandria's unique retail establishments, galleries, and eateries — and you'll be helping convince developers to include space for even more small shops in our area. So please patronize our local merchants and service providers in Old Town North, on King Street, and in the West End — and don't forget First Thursdays on Mt. Vernon Avenue, when shops are open until 9 p.m. and local performers provide live music!
WORLD WATER MONITORING DAY 2007
Tues., Sept. 18, 10 a.m. to Noon, Oronoco Bay Park
This international education and outreach event invites the public to help protect the world's water resources by monitoring local water bodies. RSVP by September 12 to wwmd@wef.org or call 703-535-5264. More information: www.worldwatermonitoringday.org.
OTNCP BOARD MEETING
Thurs., Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m., MRE Properties, 300 Montgomery Street, 2nd Floor
ALEXANDRIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Sept. 27-30, Patent and Trademark Office
For more information, call 703-838-6348 or visit www.alexandriacommissionforthearts.org.
66TH ANNUAL TOUR OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA HOMES
Sat., Sept. 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Proceeds benefit Inova Alexandria Hospital. Call 703-683-5544 or visit www.thetwig.org for more information.
PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES ("CAR TAX") DUE
Fri., Oct. 5
ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE OF ALEXANDRIA ANNUAL DINNER & SILENT AUCTION
Sat., Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m., First Street Holiday Inn
Tickets $75, invitations to be mailed in September. To donate an item for the auction or advertise in the program, contact Diann Hohenthaner at 703-838-4774, ext. 216 or dhohenthaner@alexandriaanimals.org.
PAWS FOR THE PARK — COMING IN NOVEMBER!
Watch for details in our next issue about a fun doggie event to raise funds for Montgomery Park improvements.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR e-NEWS UPDATE
To receive periodic updates of community events and this quarterly newsletter via e-mail, please send your e-mail address to info@oldtownnorth.org.
COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS?
E-mail your feedback to info@oldtownnorth.org or mail your comments to: OTNCP, c/o Montgomery Center, 300 Montgomery Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314


Is there any way to "subscribe" to the posts of a particular member?
Stalker!!! Lol, jk. Not with this forum. Best bet is to get your daily fix by hitting the "New Posts" button.
Or you can view their profile, then click on the Statistics tab, and select to Find ALL Members Threads Posted to!


Debbie joined Ellenbecker Investment Group in November of 2018 as an Investment Operations Associate with 30 years of experience in the financial industry. Her primary role is to support Anne Mank, CFP®, CPA and Heather Deaton by providing extraordinary service to our valued clients.
Debbie graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic with a Chiropractic Technician degree. She started her career in finance in 1989 while living in Chicago where she worked for the chairman of the Chicago Board of Trade. She then moved back to Pewaukee where she continued her career with Stark Investments, Robert W. Baird and US Bancorp. Debbie successfully passed the FINRA Series 3 Commodities Futures.
Debbie lives in Pewaukee with her husband, Jon, and has a son, Taylor, in college. She has a dog, two cats and enjoys spending time with family and friends, planning parties, volunteering and watching their son sail and play baseball.