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Tawimas Shaipanich
FRCPC FACP
Dr. Shaipanich is a Respirologist at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is the Medical Director of the Bronchoscopy Unit and Lead Physician of Interventional Respirology at St. Paul's Hospital. His special areas of interest are early and advanced lung cancer diagnosis, therapeutic and palliative airways and pleural intervention for lung cancer and pleural disease.
Dr. Shaipanich graduated from Rangsit University School of Medicine (MD), Thailand in 1995. He did his Internal Medicine Residency and Respiratory Medicine Fellowship at the University of British Columbia and Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine and Interventional Respirology at the Lahey Clinic, Tufts University, Massachusetts.
Susan Attridge
Del Dorscheid
James Dunne
Jodi Goodwin
Lynda Lazosky
Janice Leung
Robert D. Levy
Vivian McGie
Bradley S. Quon
Chris Ryerson
R Robert Schellenberg
Fran Schooley
Don Sin
Wan-Cheng Tan
Stephan F. van Eeden
Pearce Wilcox
Alyson Wong


There is a $400 pet deposit ($200 non-refundable). Monthly pet rent is $10 per pet. There is a weight limit of 35 pounds, and aggressive breeds are prohibited.
Parking Comment: Please call our leasing office regarding our Parking Policy.


Objects in the Mirror – Escaping the horrors of his war-torn homeland, this Liberian refugee hopes to begin anew in Australia. But his path to peace is haunted by an explosive family secret, and Shedrick must confront the ghosts of his past to reclaim his present. Charles Smith illuminates a war refugee's dangerous odyssey in this new play.
Q-tips say: We did like it. Mrs. Q says: Will not divulge the ending for those who might not have seen it yet. Well done story about the struggles of young people who leave some of their family and homeland to seek a better life from a war in their homeland. The set design, projection design were excellent. Two hours long with one 15 min. intermission. After the play, we enjoyed discussing the play at "Shaw's Crab House." (see review under Chicago restaurants).


To connect with specific requirements of our clients, we are active in Manufacturer & Supplier of Tender Coconut Water in Ernakulam, Kerala, India. The pure and sweet tender coconut possesses enormous therapeutic properties and is a thirst quenching refreshing health drink for all age groups. It is loaded with natural sugars, salts, and vitamins and is low in fat, calories and has no cholesterol. It's a highly rejuvenating tonic that can ward off fatigue in an instant. Tender coconut water has the same level of electrolytic balance as we see in our blood.
Established in 1988, DIAMOND FOOD PRODUCTS has been a leading name in offering top notch Beverages. Located in Ernakulam, Kerala, we offer the best quality Tender Coconut Water to our customers at best prices in the industry.


November 2009 through March/April of 2010 we continued with the pattern we had established, no questions asked. No more visible blood in Ellie's stool, and she continued to grow and measure in the 90 percentile. Vomiting continued, as did stool problems, but overall we didn't question it. The crying was less, the extreme pain seemed to be gone, and we just assumed what we had left was 'personality'. This view was encouraged by doctors, and I just resigned myself to having no clothing without stains.
We were instructed to delay the introduction of solids, starting at 6 months with rice cereal, and adding vegetables and fruits. Sounded pretty standard. At 8 or 9 months we could introduce cooked noodles, lean meats, and beans. The restrictions were: no milk or soy until after 1 year, no egg or tree nuts until after 2 years, and no peanuts, fish, or shellfish until after 3 years. "By postponing diet the introduction of food allergens, the development of food hypersensitivity is delayed in high-risk infants but this does not prevent the disorder". That final statement made me think that there was no hurry to get onto solids, so I figured we would wait until a year to introduce most. By April and 8 months of age, Elianna was still not sleeping through the night. She woke frequently, cried lots, ate a LOT of formula, and was a chubby, roley-poly baby. I decided that I had better introduce some food to help her sleep at night and make her feel more full.
I had no idea that this would quickly start our new adventure and change our lives forever.


Should I take a vaccine if my friend is affected by acute hepatitis (increased liver size)?
Vaccines help prevent certain serious or deadly infections in the human body. They work by making a body recognise how to fight the germs that cause infections.


The Sony Bravia KDL-32V4000 is one of Sony's new V series of LCD TVs. With an 80cm screen, this TV has to be one of the smallest full high definition units on the market, yet it still offers some unusual and interesting features. Importantly, it delivers for the first time into those spaces where larger panels don't fit – or aren't suitable – the highest resolution picture current technology allows, meaning you should no longer have to settle for an XGA-standard picture in the bedroom or study.
The full high definition panel is backed by a high definition digital TV tuner, along with an analog one. High definition external sources are handled via the three HDMI inputs (one easily accessible on the side) or two sets of component video inputs.
Also on the side is a USB socket, which is designed to allow digital photos to be shown. These images were scaled beautifully to produce an immaculate picture. They can be rotated if required. The TV can show these as a normal slideshow, but it also has a 'Picture Frame' function. With this the TV continues to show a picture for a preset time of up to four hours. Half a dozen artworks are built into the TV (including one Van Gogh-like piece) in case you don't have any handy photos yourself.
Sony has introduced a new menu system for the TV, essentially copying across the 'crossbar' layout used in the Playstation 3. This can be a bit complicated, but there is also an 'Options' key on the remote which brings up a smaller menu offering relevant features according to what you're watching.
Sony says that the TV has a contrast ratio of 3000:1, and does not say anything about any kind of 'dynamic' contrast ratio. However, it soon became apparent that the TV does employ dynamic processing, altering the level of the LCD panel's backlight to optimise picture quality. When displaying a full black screen, with the picture mode set to 'Standard', the TV drew less than 40 watts of power, or less than one-third of the amount used under the same conditions for a full white screen.
The TV also has a setting to allow it to take the ambient light into account with its settings. I found this perhaps the best-tuned feature of this kind that I've seen.
The colour was excellent, aided by the strong performance with blacks.
The TV implements '1:1 pixel mapping', meaning it applies no scaling at all to 1080i and 1080p signals. This allows each pixel to be delivered to its place on the screen without unnecessary processing, producing the sharpest possible image. You will have to dig around in the Settings/Setup/Screen Settings menu to switch this on. The TV didn't display the very top row of pixels when in this mode – a defect noticeable only with test patterns.
The deinterlacing of 576i material – such as from a basic DVD player – was fairly rudimentary, so I recommend you use a high quality progressive scan DVD player.
The only real problem with this TV is that it is quite expensive for its size. But if you are restricted in the room that you have, this TV will deliver what must be close to the best picture available.


Global Volcanism Program, 2017. Report on Pacaya (Guatemala). In: Sennert, S K (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 24 May-30 May 2017. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
INSIVUMEH reported nighttime crater incandescence and small Strombolian explosions at Pacaya's Mackenney cone during 27-28 May.


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87 Assisted Living Facilities near El Cerrito, CA
There are 87 Assisted Living Facilities in the El Cerrito area, with 5 in El Cerrito and 82 nearby.
To help you with your search, browse the 298 reviews below for assisted living facilities in El Cerrito. On average, consumers rate assisted living in El Cerrito 4.2 out of 5 stars. Better rated regions include Pinole with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Caring.com has helped thousands of families find high-quality senior care. To speak with one of our Family Advisors about assisted living options and costs in El Cerrito, call (855) 863-8283.
Top 10 Assisted Living Facilities in El Cerrito, CA
El Cerrito Royale
6510 Gladys Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530
"El Cerrito Royale was recently upgraded, and it's very nice. The meals are good. Everything seems good. The staff is very friendly. My mother's room is very nice and large. It has a bath and..." More
Rn3 Loving Care Home I
917 Elm Street, El Cerrito, CA 94530
"My mother is staying in RN Loving Care in a nice, individual room. It is very good, clean, comfortable, and uncluttered, and the staff is very helpful. My mother says the food is OK. They have the..." More
RN Loving Care Home
1229 Lawrence Street, El Cerrito, CA 94530
"RN Loving Care Home provides exceptional physical care, and goes far beyond this with an emphasis on building a trusted and compassionate relationship with our residents and their families. We..." More
Rn3 Loving Care Home Iv
8320 Buckingham Drive, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Wagaya Assisted Living
Carlton Senior Living Pleasant Hill
2770 Pleasant Hill Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
"I have an application to Carlton Senior Living Pleasant Hill. I saw the assisted living, and it was a very good experience. They're so friendly, I like the layout of the apartment, all the..." More
Sunrise of Oakland Hills
11889 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94619
"We are so happy to have been able to enroll our 95-year old mother into Sunrise of Oakland Hills, in Oakland, California. It has truly been a blessing to have a team of caregivers and..." More
Pinole Senior Village
2850 Estate Avenue, Pinole, CA 94564
"Pinole Senior Village was nice, well maintained, and clean, and the food was very good. The staff was nice and very friendly, and seemed like they were doing a good job. It was a good place for..." More
Pacifica Senior Living Oakland Heights
2361 E 29th St, Oakland, CA 94606
"I like Pacifica Senior Living a lot. The woman who gave me a tour had me talk to the man who was in charge of the memory care area and that was very nice to connect with him one on one. The place..." More
Atria Park of Lafayette
1545 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette, CA 94549
"Atria Park of Lafayette was an amazing community. I like it very much. It was very nice and the staff was nice. The layout was very nice, too. It is easier to get to because it is not far from the..." More
Find Local Costs for El Cerrito, CA
Oakmont of Cardinal Point
2431 Mariner Square Drive, Alameda, CA 94501
"My mother lives here. I wish I did. It's like a resort! The best thing is the food, it's always really tasty and the portion sizes are just right. The points are given to include the dinner..." More
The Point at Rockridge
4500 Gilbert Street, Oakland, CA 94611
"I really like The Point at Rockridge. The staff was amazing and the place was amazing. However, it was not a convenient location for the family. That was the only reason, otherwise, we probably..." More
Belmont Village Albany
1100 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706
"Belmont Village is brand new, so there were a lot of people during open house. It was kind of hectic and crazy, but my questions were answered. It's a bit pricey, but it looked beautiful. The rooms..." More
Oakmont of Mariner Point
"Excellent tour, thorough and helpful. Very impressed with the community and quality. We were given the opportunity to speak with the staff and residents which increased helpfulness of our visit. " More
Elders Inn
1721 Webster Street, Alameda, CA 94501
"The activities at Elders Inn are nice. My friend is in a very nice one-bedroom apartment with a private bath. The staff is very friendly, and the residents feel so at home there. A guy was playing..." More
The Village at Hayes Valley
624 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
"Beautiful facility. Great views and clean. Wonderful residents. The administrators are fully attentive. From working with George to book me, the receptionist to welcome me and Irving, and to guide..." More
Dimond Care
3003 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland, CA 94602
"Dimond Care was OK. It looked like an old convalescent home, but I don't have anything bad to say about them. The one-bedroom that was available was clean. The person during the visit was very..." More
Bellaken Garden
2780 26th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601
"My grandmother has lived here for over three years and I have found that their workers are truly caring toward the residents. I have visited my grandmother every week especially the past 8 months..." More
Bay Harbour Residential Care Home
510 Central Ave, Alameda, CA 94501
"Everyone was in their room when I went to Bay Harbour Residential Care Home. I didn't see anyone except one man who always sits in the kitchen. The place seemed a little small and I didn't see the..." More
Corinthians Care Home
748 Vaqueros Avenue, Rodeo, CA 94572
"Corinthians Care Home is locally owned assisted living care home with 8 residents. Corinthians Care Home is located in a beautiful quiet neighborhood. We aim to provide the highest quality of..." More
Good Shepherd Vista
5472 Foothill Blvd.., Oakland, CA 94601
"At Good Shepherd Vista, our goal is to provide our residents with the best in senior living. Our high quality care and dedicated staff ensure that the health needs of all our residents are..." More
JP's Care Home
1829 Redwood Road, Hercules, CA 94547
"PJ's Care Home is family owned assisted living care home with 6 residents. PJ's Care Home is located in a beautiful quiet neighborhood. We aim to provide the highest quality of care to all..." More
Tara Hills Care Home
908 Tara Hills Drive, Pinole, CA 94564
"Tara Hill Care Home is a locally owned assisted living care home with 6 residents. Tara Hill Care Home is located in a beautiful quiet neighborhood. We aim to provide the highest quality of..." More
The Lodge at Glen Cove
140 Glen Cove Marina Road, Vallejo, CA 94591
"The Lodge at Glen Cove is the newest community in Vallejo that caters exclusively to those with Assisted Living and Memory Care Needs. Our management team has more than 52 years of combined..." More
Lafayette Gardens
3486 Monroe Ave., Lafayette, CA 94549
"We had an opportunity to visit the facility and we would move our loved one here when the time comes. The prices were reasonable and the interior seemed cleaned and well cared for. All of the..." More
Merrill Gardens at Lafayette
1010 Second Street, Lafayette, CA 94549
"Merrill Gardens at Lafayette was new, clean, and well-maintained. The person that assisted me during the tour was very nice. They have a beauty-parlor, exercise rooms, dining room, and they provide..." More
Rhoda Goldman Plaza
2180 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
"This is the cleanest, nicest facility I have seen - on two coasts! The rooms are bright with natural light, the staff is friendly and efficient, there are usually about 6 activities a day both..." More
Aegis of Corte Madera
5555 Paradise Drive, Corte Madera, CA 94925
"I went to a place called Aegis of Corte Madera. It was very attractive and spacious. There were lots of lights. The rooms were very nice. There were singles and doubles. Everything looked very..." More
Coventry Place San Francisco
1550 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
"Coventry Place San Francisco is one of the best in the whole Coventry system. We have a gentleman named Craig D. here who initiated a 65-page document that has been approved by the company, the US..." More
Sequoias San Francisco Convalescent H...
1400 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94109
"Mom is at The Sequoia right now. It's a very nice and beautiful facility. Their cafeteria is beautiful. They have all kinds of activities going on like music and games. " More
Kimochi Home
"Kimochi Home is a senior living center that caters to the Japanese-American community as well. Most of the staff speaks Japanese and the food served is also Japanese. The people tend to be a bit..." More
San Francisco Towers
1661 PINE STREET, San Francisco, CA 94109
"I truly liked this care facility. The staff there was very professional and took great care of my great grandmother, but they also gave her time and space to herself. While we were there, she..." More
Mercy Retirement & Care Center
3431 Foothill Blvd., Oakland, CA 94601
"Mercy Retirement & Care Center is very well-run. They have group activities. The place is bright, sunny, and not depressing. The staff is very professional. They have a very nice courtyard and..." More
Heritage on the Marina
3400 Laguna St., San Francisco, CA 94123
"I saw Heritage on the Marina for the fourth time now. It's a three-tiered community with independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing. I like the cleanliness, the friendliness, the..." More
Merrill Gardens at Rockridge
5238 Coronado Ave., Oakland, CA 94618
"The people at Merrill Gardens at Rockridge were very nice and very friendly. The place was clean and new, and it looked pretty good to us. The manager explained the place to us very well, including..." More
We Care Elderly
4313 Potrero Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
"My mother lives in We Care Elderly Care right now. It's a nice place. They have six clients there, and they have two girls who come over and help out. They are excellent. Everything was just so..." More
295 Sparrow Drive, Hercules, CA 94547
"Care Home Sweet Home is ten minutes away from here. I like that It is a private home. It is very orderly and well organized. I think it is licensed to have five residents and takes ambulatory,..." More
Hilton House
6112 Hilton Street, Oakland, CA 94605
"My friend has lived in Hilton House for about 2 years now. It's just an excellent facility for people who don't have a huge amount of money. The food is great, the people that worked there are very..." More
Piedmont Gardens CCRC
110 41st Street, Oakland, CA 94611
"Piedmont Gardens, a five-star hotel specifically designed for seniors. Two thumbs up!! " More
1035 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109
"The Avenue offers assisted living with medical support and memory care, as well as retirement living. I've visited it and have referred three clients there. It's in a prime location--near the..." More
St. Paul's Towers
100 BAY PLACE, Oakland, CA 94610
"Section below this refers to the whole "continuing care" facility. ASSISTEDLIVING: My father was in assisted living at St. Paul's for several years. The staff members were exceptionally kind and..." More
Lake Park Retirement Residence
1850 ALICE, Oakland, CA 95612
"I went to Lake Park for a visit, and everything went fine. The staff has been very warm, efficient, and courteous. We felt very much at home with them. We were very impressed with this place. The..." More
The Watermark By The Bay
1440 40th Street, Emeryville, CA 94608
"She was at Bayside Park and she was there as a patient of Kaiser. They have a program that does intensive therapy. Some of the residents were more on the independent living side of the spectrum and..." More
Bell's Rest Home
865 VERMONT STREET, Oakland, CA 94610
"When we were searching for a facility, there were a few things that were absolute essentials; one was the manner with which the residents were treated. Other important factors were cleanliness,..." More
Moraga Royale
1600 Canyon Road, Moraga, CA 94556
"As a geriatric care manager, I have a lot of residents at Moraga Royale at any given time. It's a lovely place at the edge of Moraga""close to stores. Those who are ambulatory can walk across the..." More
Happy Valley Home for Our Parents
3292 Walnut Lane, Lafayette, CA 94549
"Our mother has been at this facility for nearly two years. They are genuinely caring, loving, affectionate and nurturing. The setting is lovely, with vegetable garden and gazebo in the back with..." More
Kokoro Assisted Living
1881 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
"The people at Kokoro are very nice and kind to my parents. They have many activities to engage the seniors. It's a very nice location and a very good environment. I would highly recommend it. My..." More
Greenridge Senior Care
2150 PYRAMID DRIVE, Richmond, CA 94803
"I moved my mom to Greenridge Senior Care because she needed assisted living. My mom gets personal assistance in getting up and moving about. They keep the rooms clean. It's an older building, but..." More
654 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
"We happened to be in San Francisco and visited Autumn Glow assisted living facility while searching for a place for our aunt to live in the region. The building looked well maintained. The backyard..." More
Hidden Valley Care Home
33 Hidden Valley Road, Lafayette, CA 94549
"In January my husband fell and broke a femur. He's been in Hidden Valley Care Home. He is treated as a person and he is treated very well. He has made a lot of progress. It has been a very good..." More
Lakeshore Residential Care
1901 3rd Avenue, Oakland, CA 94606
"My mother stayed in Lakeshore Residential Care for 2 weeks. It was a great facility, but it was out of our price range. Her room was way expensive and was much nicer. She had her own private room..." More
Shady Lane Rest Home
2133 Napa Street, Richmond, CA 94804
"My father resided at Shady Lane until his passing. My mother is currently there. The staff is caring and concerned. Shady Lane is not a fancy facility, but they take pride in their work. Clearly my..." More
Aegis Living Moraga
950 Country Club Drive, Moraga, CA 94556
"Aegis Living Moraga was nice, clean, and homey. The staff member who accommodated me was very helpful and she also followed up. The also have amenities." More
Raksha Care Homes
906 CORNELL AVENUE, Albany, CA 94706
"My friend who is now a resident of Raksha was originally at home. Afraid to transition from home to an assisted living community, he found comfort in being able to stay in Albany, close to his..." More
House of Psalms Assisted Living
1525 7th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94606
"House of Psalms Assisted Living is the most reasonable out of all the places I visited. There are no amenities. It's pretty much a place to stay for room and board. The place is very basic and..." More
GG's Residential Care Home
4422 Ohio Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
"My mother was at G G's Residential Care Home. I got her away from there because they had one person taking care of 11 clients. They had this cook who did everything. There are too many people in..." More
East Bay Assisted Living
1301 E. 31st St, Oakland, CA 94602
"We are an Asian Community Our Commitment: Our commitment is to provide high-quality senior care with love, respect, and professional knowledge. We promote independence, foster dignity and..." More
Evergreen Eldercare
4600 Fairfax Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601
Good Shepherd Care Home
5472 FOOTHILL BOULEVARD, Oakland, CA 94601
La Casa Verde
1405 Camino Verde, Walnut Creek, CA 94527
Woodpark
3121 Fruitvale Avenue, Oakland, CA 94602
"Honoring elders as wisdom keepers and social contributors sets the stage to look at elders in terms of all they offer to those younger in years and experience. We are passionate about learning from..." More
Caring Angels Care Home For Seniors
"Caring Angels Care Home opened its doors to the seniors of the greater East Bay in the Fall of 2003. This day was long awaited for owner Lenise Gibson. Her dream of providing the highest level of..." More
Angels Windsor House
2741 Hillegass Ave, Berkeley, CA 94605
"Finding a supporting, caring place for a loved one to live can be a challenge. That's why Angels WindsorHouse is so focused on providing the best care home experience in Berkeley. Our residents'..." More
Angeleon Care Home
2124 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
St. Clare'S Home For Seniors
893 San Pablo Ave., Pinole, CA 94564
Palm Tree Residential Care Home #2
2212 - East 19Th Street, Oakland, CA 94606
Kindred Keep I
5761 Market Street, Oakland, CA 94608
Wings Of Love Residential Care
5804 Elizabeth Street, Oakland, CA 94621
Connie'S Rest Haven
5751 Walnut Street, Oakland, CA 94605
Granada Care Home I
2359 Granada Court, Pinole, CA 94564
"Granada care home offers residents independent living options and daily support services. We offer private and semi private rooms. On-going assessments of the residents needs to..." More
Granada Care Home II
A Loving Touch Care Home Ii
310 Golden Hind Passage, Corte Madera, CA 94925
Cindy'S Care Home
2135 Lupine Road, Hercules, CA 94547
Drean Of Angel Care Llc
274 Starling Way, Hercules, CA 94547
M&E Care, Llc
461 Limerick Road, Pinole, CA 94564
Palm Tree Care Home
712 Mclaughlin Street, Richmond, CA 94805
Park Plaza Rest Home Ii
620 S 49Th Street, Richmond, CA 94804
Raksha 4 Care Home
616 Stannage Avenue, Albany, CA 94706
Redwood Residence
861 Humboldt Street, Richmond, CA 94805
Reliez Valley Care Home
656 Sterling Drive, Martinez, CA 94553
Rowena'S Homecare
3116 Joann Dr, Richmond, CA 94806
Stuart House, The
3067 Belfast Way, Richmond, CA 94806
Branley Home
121 Bonita Ct, Rodeo, CA 94572
Buenavista Home At Hercules By The Bay
112 Pearce Street, Hercules, CA 94547
Yvonne'S Home Care Service
2856 Shane Avenue, Richmond, CA 94806
Bay Care Assisted Living LLC
2352 Shannon Avenue, San Pablo, CA 94806
"Shannon Rose Care Home is a locally owned assisted living care home with 6 residents. Shannon Rose Care Home is located in a beautiful quiet neighborhood. We aim to provide the highest quality..." More
Holy Family Home
What to Consider About Assisted Living in El Cerrito
El Cerrito is located in Contra Costa County, California and is just a short distance from some of the San Francisco area's most popular tourist attractions such as Alcatraz and Tilden Regional Park. The city is home to about 25,000 residents and nearly 20 percent of those living in El Cerrito are aged 65 or older.
Seniors who require 24-hour personal care can choose from 87 assisted living facilities in the El Cerrito area. In El Cerrito and throughout California, facilities that provide assisted living services to elderly individuals are officially known as Residential Care Facilities (RCFs), and are regulated by the California Department of Social Services.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Assisted Living in El Cerrito
El Cerrito has few facilities to choose from in the event of medical emergencies or illness, with the nearest major hospital located in San Francisco.
Seniors have access to safe transit via the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which provides routes throughout El Cerrito and surrounding areas. Reduced fares are available to seniors.
Crime rates in El Cerrito are high when compared with other cities in California, with a property crime rate that's more than double the state average and a violent crime rate that's nearly 30 percent higher. Seniors and should ensure that RCFs they're considering have adequate security systems.
The cost of living in El Cerrito is more than 128 percent higher than that of the average U.S. city. Seniors who are on a tight budget might find the area too expensive.
El Cerrito's weather is mild year-round with an average high temperature of 74 degrees in July and an average low temperature of 42 in January. Seniors living at RCFs in the area can enjoy plenty of outdoor activities.
Although the air quality in El Cerrito and throughout Contra Costa County has received a passing grade from the American Lung Association, ozone pollution levels in the area are high and may negatively affect the health of seniors, especially those with respiratory illnesses.
Paying for Assisted Living in El Cerrito
Cities in California
$6,790.00 Albany
$3,500.00 Rodeo
$3,000.00 Hercules
$3,000.00 Berkeley
$2,898.00 Pinole
Assisted Living costs in El Cerrito start around $0 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of assisted living is $4,000 per month, according to the latest figures from Genworth's Cost of Care Survey.
It's important to note that assisted living rates in El Cerrito and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.
Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in El Cerrito
Seniors who reside in RCFs in El Cerrito may be eligible for financial assistance under California's Assisted Living Waiver, which operates as part of the state's Medi-Cal program and covers the cost of assisted living for eligible senior.
Supplemental Security Income recipients may also be able to receive additional funding assistance from California's Optional State Supplement, which can be used to pay for the cost of room and board in RCFs.
Learn more about these programs, plus who's eligible, on our Assisted Living in California page.
More Ways to Pay for Assisted Living
While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:
For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in California page.
Free Assisted Living Resources in El Cerrito
El Cerrito and the surrounding area are home to numerous government agencies and non-profit organizations offering help for seniors searching for or currently residing in an assisted living community. These organizations can also provide assistance in a number of other eldercare services such as geriatric care management, elder law advice, estate planning, finding home care and health and wellness programs.
To see a list of free assisted living resources in El Cerrito, please visit our Assisted Living in California page.
Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in El Cerrito
El Cerrito-area assisted living communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all assisted living communities in California are required to follow. Visit our Assisted Living in California page for more information about these laws.
What to Consider About Assisted Living in El Cerrito, CA Paying for Assisted Living in El Cerrito, CA Free Assisted Living Resources in El Cerrito, CA Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in El Cerrito, CA
Assisted Living near El Cerrito, CA
Other Options in El Cerrito, CA
Recent Reviews of Assisted Living in El Cerrito
Review of Rn3 Loving Care Home I
Terrible home care from the food to care level. Provides very cheap food to residents. Residents mostly dementia and can't complain. Owner does all grocery shopping from grocery outlet or 99 cents ... Read more
My mother was there for four and a half years. They took great care of her. She's very comfortable there. She had seen all dementia. They alerted me as soon as anything was wrong and coordinated wi... Read more
cgs2
Review of El Cerrito Royale
El Cerrito Royale was recently upgraded, and it's very nice. The meals are good. Everything seems good. The staff is very friendly. My mother's room is very nice and large. It has a bath and shower... Read more
Assisted Living near Contra Costa County, CA
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Senior Care in Sacramento, California

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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music / Electronic
Video: Ratatat, "Party With Children"
By Julianne Escobedo Shepherd
We at the FADER have long been of the opinion that birds possess the most demonic stares of all the animal kingdom. Their beady gaze can drill a hole into your heart and steal your soul for their nests. If you make eye contact with one for too long, you will carry the burden of a pox that lasts until the next migratory period, at least. However, it's okay to look at a bird on YouTube, for the curse does not translate to social media networks. Ratatat knows as much, for their terrifying video for "Party With Children" serves as a warning to all that would venture into the lair of a winged creature: though it appears to nonchalantly clean its feathers, pecking absentmindedly, it is in fact sharpening its beak, preparing for the moment it will strike and rip apart your eternal being for its own dastardly gain. We fear for the fate of whoever directed this, but praise that person as a hero who risked life and limb to spread the truth to the world. For further proof of the evilness of birds, watch the scary cautionary video we made last November after the jump.
Ratatat Julianne Escobedo Shepherd
Electronic, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Ratatat
Hear Aly & AJ groove out with Wild Nothing and Nancy Wilson on new single "Listen!!!"


Disasters can happen at any time, which is why it is important for your company to have a business continuity plan. In the event your business gets hit with an unforeseen disaster, you'll be able to minimize damage, downtime, and impact to your business operations. If you don't have a contingency plan to protect valuable data and technology, you may face serious consequences, the worst of which is shutting down your business for good.
Create a fake scenario that affects your business – whether it's setting off fire alarms or announcing another disaster. Employees should act as though the scenario is genuine, and refer to their duties in the business continuity plan, going through it step by step. Monitor the time it takes to get everything under control, from contacting customers to checking business resources and temporary meeting locations.
Having a business continuity plan is good, but testing it regularly is equally important. Contact us today and see how we can help you cope with unexpected disasters.
Published on 2nd March 2015 by Jeanne DeWitt.


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Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics (1)
Neurosurgical Focus (1)
Dewan, Michael C. (6)
Rattani, Abbas (5)
Park, Kee B. (4)
Warf, Benjamin C. (3)
Shrime, Mark G. (2)
Yunusa, Ismaeel (2)
Adeleye, Amos O. (1)
Agrawal, Amit (1)
Aldana, Philipp R. (1)
Alkire, Blake C. (1)
Davis, Matthew C. (1)
Dempsey, Robert J. (1)
Faruque, Serena (1)
Fieggen, Graham (1)
Glancz, Laurence J. (1)
Gormley, William B. (1)
Gupta, Saksham (1)
Haglund, Michael M. (1)
Harkness, William (1)
Hung, Ya-Ching (1)
Johnson, Walter D. (1)
Johnston, James M. (1)
Lepard, Jacob R. (1)
Mahmud, Muhammad Raji (1)
Maixner, Wirginia J. (1)
Mekary, Rania (1)
Mekary, Rania A. (1)
Misra, Basant K. (1)
Punchak, Maria (1)
Robertson, Faith C. (1)
Rosenfeld, Jeffrey V. (1)
Rubiano, Andrés M. (1)
Wellons, John C. (1)
Wittayanakorn, Nunthasiri (1)
https://thejns.org/browse?access=all&authf_1=Baticulon%2C+Ronnie+E.&pageSize=10&sort=datedescending
By Author: Baticulon, Ronnie E. x
Pediatric neurosurgery in Asia and Australasia: training and clinical practice
Ronnie E. Baticulon, Michael C. Dewan, Nunthasiri Wittayanakorn, Philipp R. Aldana, and Wirginia J. Maixner
There are limited data on the pediatric neurosurgical workforce in Asia and Australasia. The training and clinical practice of pediatric neurosurgeons need to be characterized in order to identify gaps in knowledge and skills, thereby establishing a framework from which to elevate pediatric neurosurgical care in the region.
An online survey for pediatric neurosurgeons was created in REDCap (Research Electronic Database Capture), collecting demographic information and data on pediatric neurosurgical training and clinical practice. The link to answer the survey was sent to the mailing lists of the Asian Australasian Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery and the Japanese Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, disseminated during the 2019 Asian Australasian Pediatric Neurosurgery Congress, and spread through social media. The survey was open to neurosurgeons who operated on patients ≤ 18 years old in Asian Australasian countries, whether or not they had completed fellowship training in pediatric neurosurgery. Descriptive statistics were computed and tabulated. Data were stratified and compared based on surgeon training and World Bank income group.
A total of 155 valid survey responses were analyzed, representing neurosurgeons from 21 countries. A total of 107 (69%) considered themselves pediatric neurosurgeons, of whom 66 (43%) had completed pediatric neurosurgery training. Neurosurgeons in East Asia commonly undergo a fellowship in their home countries, whereas the rest train mostly in North America, Europe, and Australia. A majority (89%) had operating privileges, and subspecialty pediatric training usually lasted from 6 months to 2 years. On average, trained pediatric neurosurgeons perform a higher number of pediatric neurosurgical operations per year compared with nonpediatric-trained respondents (131 ± 129 vs 56 ± 64 [mean ± SD], p = 0.0001). The mean number of total neurosurgical operations per year is similar for both groups (184 ± 129 vs 178 ± 142 [mean ± SD], p = 0.80). Respondents expressed the desire to train further in pediatric epilepsy, spasticity, vascular malformations, craniofacial disorders, and brain tumors.
Both pediatric and general neurosurgeons provide neurosurgical care to children in Asia and Australasia. There is a need to increase pediatric neurosurgery fellowship programs in the region. Skill sets and training needs in pediatric neurosurgery vary depending on the country's economic status and between pediatric-trained and nonpediatric-trained surgeons.
In Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics Volume 27: Issue 1 (Jan 2021)
Pediatric neurosurgical workforce, access to care, equipment and training needs worldwide
Michael C. Dewan, Ronnie E. Baticulon, Abbas Rattani, James M. Johnston Jr., Benjamin C. Warf, and William Harkness
The presence and capability of existing pediatric neurosurgical care worldwide is unknown. The objective of this study was to solicit the expertise of specialists to quantify the geographic representation of pediatric neurosurgeons, access to specialist care, and equipment and training needs globally.
A mixed-question survey was sent to surgeon members of several international neurosurgical and general pediatric surgical societies via a web-based platform. Respondents answered questions on 5 categories: surgeon demographics and training, hospital and practice details, surgical workforce and access to neurosurgical care, training and equipment needs, and desire for international collaboration. Responses were anonymized and analyzed using Stata software.
A total of 459 surgeons from 76 countries responded. Pediatric neurosurgeons in high-income and upper-middle-income countries underwent formal pediatric training at a greater rate than surgeons in low- and lower-middle-income countries (89.5% vs 54.4%). There are an estimated 2297 pediatric neurosurgeons in practice globally, with 85.6% operating in high-income and upper-middle-income countries. In low- and lower-middle-income countries, roughly 330 pediatric neurosurgeons care for a total child population of 1.2 billion. In low-income countries in Africa, the density of pediatric neurosurgeons is roughly 1 per 30 million children. A higher proportion of patients in low- and lower-middle-income countries must travel > 2 hours to seek emergency neurosurgical care, relative to high-income countries (75.6% vs 33.6%, p < 0.001). Vast basic and essential training and equipment needs exist, particularly low- and lower-middle-income countries within Africa, South America, the Eastern Mediterranean, and South-East Asia. Eighty-nine percent of respondents demonstrated an interest in international collaboration for the purposes of pediatric neurosurgical capacity building.
Wide disparity in the access to pediatric neurosurgical care exists globally. In low- and lower-middle-income countries, wherein there exists the greatest burden of pediatric neurosurgical disease, there is a grossly insufficient presence of capable providers and equipped facilities. Neurosurgeons across income groups and geographic regions share a desire for collaboration and partnership.
In Neurosurgical Focus Volume 45: Issue 4 (Oct 2018): Reducing Inequities in Global Neurosurgery Delivery
Epidemiology of central nervous system infectious diseases: a meta-analysis and systematic review with implications for neurosurgeons worldwide
Faith C. Robertson, Jacob R. Lepard, Rania A. Mekary, Matthew C. Davis, Ismaeel Yunusa, William B. Gormley, Ronnie E. Baticulon, Muhammad Raji Mahmud, Basant K. Misra, Abbas Rattani, Michael C. Dewan, and Kee B. Park
Central nervous system (CNS) infections cause significant morbidity and mortality and often require neurosurgical intervention for proper diagnosis and treatment. However, neither the international burden of CNS infection, nor the current capacity of the neurosurgical workforce to treat these diseases is well characterized. The objective of this study was to elucidate the global incidence of surgically relevant CNS infection, highlighting geographic areas for targeted improvement in neurosurgical capacity.
A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed to capture studies published between 1990 and 2016. PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched using variations of terms relating to CNS infection and epidemiology (incidence, prevalence, burden, case fatality, etc.). To deliver a geographic breakdown of disease, results were pooled using the random-effects model and stratified by WHO region and national income status for the different CNS infection types.
The search yielded 10,906 studies, 154 of which were used in the final qualitative analysis. A meta-analysis was performed to compute disease incidence by using data extracted from 71 of the 154 studies. The remaining 83 studies were excluded from the quantitative analysis because they did not report incidence. A total of 508,078 cases of CNS infections across all studies were included, with a total sample size of 130,681,681 individuals. Mean patient age was 35.8 years (range: newborn to 95 years), and the male/female ratio was 1:1.74. Among the 71 studies with incidence data, 39 were based in high-income countries, 25 in middle-income countries, and 7 in low-income countries. The pooled incidence of studied CNS infections was consistently highest in low-income countries, followed by middle- and then high-income countries. Regarding WHO regions, Africa had the highest pooled incidence of bacterial meningitis (65 cases/100,000 people), neurocysticercosis (650/100,000), and tuberculous spondylodiscitis (55/100,000), whereas Southeast Asia had the highest pooled incidence of intracranial abscess (49/100,000), and Europe had the highest pooled incidence of nontuberculous vertebral spondylodiscitis (5/100,000). Overall, few articles reported data on deaths associated with infection. The limited case fatality data revealed the highest case fatality for tuberculous meningitis/spondylodiscitis (21.1%) and the lowest for neurocysticercosis (5.5%). In all five disease categories, funnel plots assessing for publication bias were asymmetrical and suggested that the results may underestimate the incidence of disease.
This systematic review and meta-analysis approximates the global incidence of neurosurgically relevant infectious diseases. These results underscore the disproportionate burden of CNS infections in the developing world, where there is a tremendous demand to provide training and resources for high-quality neurosurgical care.
In Journal of Neurosurgery Volume 130: Issue 4 (Apr 2019)
Operative and consultative proportions of neurosurgical disease worldwide: estimation from the surgeon perspective
Michael C. Dewan, Abbas Rattani, Ronnie E. Baticulon, Serena Faruque, Walter D. Johnson, Robert J. Dempsey, Michael M. Haglund, Blake C. Alkire, Kee B. Park, Benjamin C. Warf, and Mark G. Shrime
The global magnitude of neurosurgical disease is unknown. The authors sought to estimate the surgical and consultative proportion of diseases commonly encountered by neurosurgeons, as well as surgeon case volume and perceived workload.
An electronic survey was sent to 193 neurosurgeons previously identified via a global surgeon mapping initiative. The survey consisted of three sections aimed at quantifying surgical incidence of neurological disease, consultation incidence, and surgeon demographic data. Surgeons were asked to estimate the proportion of 11 neurological disorders that, in an ideal world, would indicate either neurosurgical operation or neurosurgical consultation. Respondent surgeons indicated their confidence level in each estimate. Demographic and surgical practice characteristics—including case volume and perceived workload—were also captured.
Eighty-five neurosurgeons from 57 countries, representing all WHO regions and World Bank income levels, completed the survey. Neurological conditions estimated to warrant neurosurgical consultation with the highest frequency were brain tumors (96%), spinal tumors (95%), hydrocephalus (94%), and neural tube defects (92%), whereas stroke (54%), central nervous system infection (58%), and epilepsy (40%) carried the lowest frequency. Similarly, surgery was deemed necessary for an average of 88% cases of hydrocephalus, 82% of spinal tumors and neural tube defects, and 78% of brain tumors. Degenerative spine disease (42%), stroke (31%), and epilepsy (24%) were found to warrant surgical intervention less frequently. Confidence levels were consistently high among respondents (lower quartile > 70/100 for 90% of questions), and estimates did not vary significantly across WHO regions or among income levels. Surgeons reported performing a mean of 245 cases annually (median 190). On a 100-point scale indicating a surgeon's perceived workload (0—not busy, 100—overworked), respondents selected a mean workload of 75 (median 79).
With a high level of confidence and strong concordance, neurosurgeons estimated that the vast majority of patients with central nervous system tumors, hydrocephalus, or neural tube defects mandate neurosurgical involvement. A significant proportion of other common neurological diseases, such as traumatic brain and spinal injury, vascular anomalies, and degenerative spine disease, demand the attention of a neurosurgeon—whether via operative intervention or expert counsel. These estimates facilitate measurement of the expected annual volume of neurosurgical disease globally.
Estimating the global incidence of traumatic brain injury
Michael C. Dewan, Abbas Rattani, Saksham Gupta, Ronnie E. Baticulon, Ya-Ching Hung, Maria Punchak, Amit Agrawal, Amos O. Adeleye, Mark G. Shrime, Andrés M. Rubiano, Jeffrey V. Rosenfeld, and Kee B. Park
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)—the "silent epidemic"—contributes to worldwide death and disability more than any other traumatic insult. Yet, TBI incidence and distribution across regions and socioeconomic divides remain unknown. In an effort to promote advocacy, understanding, and targeted intervention, the authors sought to quantify the case burden of TBI across World Health Organization (WHO) regions and World Bank (WB) income groups.
Open-source epidemiological data on road traffic injuries (RTIs) were used to model the incidence of TBI using literature-derived ratios. First, a systematic review on the proportion of RTIs resulting in TBI was conducted, and a meta-analysis of study-derived proportions was performed. Next, a separate systematic review identified primary source studies describing mechanisms of injury contributing to TBI, and an additional meta-analysis yielded a proportion of TBI that is secondary to the mechanism of RTI. Then, the incidence of RTI as published by the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 was applied to these two ratios to generate the incidence and estimated case volume of TBI for each WHO region and WB income group.
Relevant articles and registries were identified via systematic review; study quality was higher in the high-income countries (HICs) than in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Sixty-nine million (95% CI 64–74 million) individuals worldwide are estimated to sustain a TBI each year. The proportion of TBIs resulting from road traffic collisions was greatest in Africa and Southeast Asia (both 56%) and lowest in North America (25%). The incidence of RTI was similar in Southeast Asia (1.5% of the population per year) and Europe (1.2%). The overall incidence of TBI per 100,000 people was greatest in North America (1299 cases, 95% CI 650–1947) and Europe (1012 cases, 95% CI 911–1113) and least in Africa (801 cases, 95% CI 732–871) and the Eastern Mediterranean (897 cases, 95% CI 771–1023). The LMICs experience nearly 3 times more cases of TBI proportionally than HICs.
Sixty-nine million (95% CI 64–74 million) individuals are estimated to suffer TBI from all causes each year, with the Southeast Asian and Western Pacific regions experiencing the greatest overall burden of disease. Head injury following road traffic collision is more common in LMICs, and the proportion of TBIs secondary to road traffic collision is likewise greatest in these countries. Meanwhile, the estimated incidence of TBI is highest in regions with higher-quality data, specifically in North America and Europe.
Global hydrocephalus epidemiology and incidence: systematic review and meta-analysis
Michael C. Dewan, Abbas Rattani, Rania Mekary, Laurence J. Glancz, Ismaeel Yunusa, Ronnie E. Baticulon, Graham Fieggen, John C. Wellons III, Kee B. Park, and Benjamin C. Warf
Hydrocephalus is one of the most common brain disorders, yet a reliable assessment of the global burden of disease is lacking. The authors sought a reliable estimate of the prevalence and annual incidence of hydrocephalus worldwide.
The authors performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to estimate the incidence of congenital hydrocephalus by WHO region and World Bank income level using the MEDLINE/PubMed and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases. A global estimate of pediatric hydrocephalus was obtained by adding acquired forms of childhood hydrocephalus to the baseline congenital figures using neural tube defect (NTD) registry data and known proportions of posthemorrhagic and postinfectious cases. Adult forms of hydrocephalus were also examined qualitatively.
Seventy-eight articles were included from the systematic review, representative of all WHO regions and each income level. The pooled incidence of congenital hydrocephalus was highest in Africa and Latin America (145 and 316 per 100,000 births, respectively) and lowest in the United States/Canada (68 per 100,000 births) (p for interaction < 0.1). The incidence was higher in low- and middle-income countries (123 per 100,000 births; 95% CI 98–152 births) than in high-income countries (79 per 100,000 births; 95% CI 68–90 births) (p for interaction < 0.01). While likely representing an underestimate, this model predicts that each year, nearly 400,000 new cases of pediatric hydrocephalus will develop worldwide. The greatest burden of disease falls on the African, Latin American, and Southeast Asian regions, accounting for three-quarters of the total volume of new cases. The high crude birth rate, greater proportion of patients with postinfectious etiology, and higher incidence of NTDs all contribute to a case volume in low- and middle-income countries that outweighs that in high-income countries by more than 20-fold. Global estimates of adult and other forms of acquired hydrocephalus are lacking.
For the first time in a global model, the annual incidence of pediatric hydrocephalus is estimated. Low- and middle-income countries incur the greatest burden of disease, particularly those within the African and Latin American regions. Reliable incidence and burden figures for adult forms of hydrocephalus are absent in the literature and warrant specific investigation. A global effort to address hydrocephalus in regions with the greatest demand is imperative to reduce disease incidence, morbidity, mortality, and disparities of access to treatment.


JOANNA FUHRMAN is the author of two books of poetry, Freud in Brooklyn (2000) and Ugh Ugh Ocean (2003) both published by Hanging Loose Press. Her third book, Moraine, is forthcoming from Hanging Loose in 2006. She lives in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.


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Trigger Witch [Nintendo Switch] | REVIEW
If you took one glance at Trigger Witch, it'd be easy to mistake it for a cute Zelda-like adventure that takes you through a luscious fantasy setting. In fairness, the Zelda-inspiration is apparent across a lot of elements of the game's design when playing too, so it's a fair observation to make. I don't remember blasting enemies to smithereens with an arsenal of brutal guns in Nintendo's famous series though, so it's clear that Trigger Witch does something VERY differently.
It makes for a fun and charming experience too, even if it is one that can feel a little unspectacular across a lot of elements of its design.
Trigger Witch puts players in the role of Colette, a young witch who lives in a world where her kind rely less on magic and more on the wonderful weaponry. Who needs spells when you can just fill your enemies with holes, right? Colette was meant to graduate in order to become a full-fledged witch, but instead finds her day ruined when a mysterious 'Man in Black' appears and causes all kinds of havoc. Thus, Colette must prove her worth and bring him down, in turn bringing peace (or at least some form of it) back to her home kingdom.
As you would imagine, Trigger Witch's tale is quirky throughout, with the unique bullet-friendly take on a fantasy setting certainly a VERY different one to the norm. It acknowledges and embraces this though, with the silly setup making for plenty of comical moments in-game. It's clear that the game doesn't take itself too seriously, but you can tell the developer had fun putting together the story and shaping a world that's fun to uncover – especially with its fantasy setting that is typically associated with a different kind of game. Used to blasting away enemy soldiers or aliens in your typical twin-stick shooter? Well, it's all cutesy looking monsters here, and it's kinda glorious…
"Trigger Witch's tale is quirky throughout, with the unique bullet-friendly take on a fantasy setting certainly a VERY different one to the norm."
Trigger Witch's core gameplay mechanics are based around twin-stick shooting, with players moving Colette around with the left-stick and aiming her guns with the right-stick. There's a wide arsenal of weaponry to unlock including the likes of handguns, shotguns, machine guns, and flame throwers, with each weapon upgraded by finding the special weapon parts that are hidden across the environment. Some of these weapons can be ESPECIALLY powerful and extravagant whilst upgraded, which makes it all the more enjoyable to blast away at the fodder that linger across the world. It gets all of the basics right when it comes to shooting, with the controls intuitive and your guns feeling like they do pack a punch.
You know how I said that Trigger Witch has some obvious Zelda-like inspirations? Well, that's clear with the game's dungeon design, which see players exploring maze-like environments, evading traps, solving small puzzles, and defeating the hordes of enemies that inhabit them. Nothing is ever overly complicated from a design perspective and players shouldn't struggle to get through the dungeons, but they still add a fun twist to the twin-stick shooting formula that ensures there's more to Trigger Witch than just shooting everything in sight.
"There's a wide arsenal of weaponry to unlock including the likes of handguns, shotguns, machine guns, and flame throwers, with each weapon upgraded by finding the special weapon parts that are hidden across the environment."
Don't worry though – there's still PLENTY of shooting to be done. There are a ton of foes out there itching to take Colette down, so you've constantly got to be shooting and moving in order to survive their attacks. Admittedly, it would have been nice to have seen a bit more variation to each enemy's attacks (they can get predictable with their standard melee and ranged attacks), but each showdown with them still managed to be fun. The boss battles particularly stood out as impressive encounters, with these showdowns requiring a bit more of a thought-process and calculated shooting in order to take down.
Trigger Witch is a whole lot of fun to play and brings a surprising amount of variety within its gameplay – there's even room for a vertical shooting mini-game as well and plenty to discover, so there's a lot going on in the world. I couldn't help but to find everything a bit simple in design though, with a lack of depth found across almost all elements of its design. Outside of the brilliant fantasy/twin-stick shooting crossover, there's not much originality to be found across the gameplay mechanics. It's not a particularly difficult game either, with only two or three deaths suffered across my nine-hour playthrough.
"I loved exploring Trigger Witch's open world in order to scavenge all collectibles, clearing the challenges of each dungeon, and slaying any enemies in my path…"
You know what, though? I still had a really good time playing. I loved exploring Trigger Witch's open world in order to scavenge all collectibles, clearing the challenges of each dungeon, and slaying any enemies in my path, whilst the charming narrative and vibrant aesthetic helped bring everything to life. I haven't even touched upon how pretty everything in the game is, with the 16-bit style world packed with little details and varied biomes that ensure there's plenty of different things to see. Again (and I feel like a broken record at this point), it's quite Zelda-like in design, which can ONLY be a good thing.
One of Trigger Witch's best features is the drop-in local co-op, which allows you to play through the entire adventure with a friend. Trigger Witch's manic gameplay suits this perfectly, whilst the accessible nature of the gameplay means another player can drop in and be a natural immediately. My younger nephew saw me playing the game and HAD to try it – he was annoyed when his mother made me change the bloody gore of the enemies into confetti (which is a cool family-friendly feature, might I add), but a fun time was had blasting through the game world.
Trigger Witch offers a unique take on the twin-stick shooting genre that's a heck of a lot of fun to play (and unexpectedly cute). Don't get me wrong, it doesn't do anything you wouldn't have seen before from a gameplay perspective, but the distinct world, the clever dungeon designs, and the satisfying gameplay loop ensure that a good time is had throughout – especially when playing with a friend in local co-op.
It might offer a very different take on the typical twin-stick shooting formula, but there's plenty of fun to be had blasting your enemies to smithereens in Trigger Witch. Who needs fancy spells when you got a flame thrower and dual-uzis, right?
Developer: Rainbite
Publisher: eastasiasoft
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch (Reviewed), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Website: https://www.eastasiasoft.com/games/Trigger-Witch
PreviousA Township Tale [Quest 2] | REVIEW
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adult dogs, but the Advanced formula offers a higher crude protein north shore commercial door coupons content which may be beneficial for active and working breeds. The products this brand has to offer are all centered around quality proteins like chicken, turkey, and beef with wholesome carbohydrates like brown rice and pearled barley. Organics Canned Food: Though they do not offer much of a variety in terms of their dry food products, there are eleven different canned food options to choose from. To be specific, there are two dry food recipes and eleven canned food recipes. Actived: Monday Aug 13, 2018, link. These ingredients, combined with the supplementation of chelated minerals and dried fermentation products, suggests that they are indeed a quality brand. Here is a list of Newmans Own dry dog food recipes: Dry Recipes: Adult Dog Formula, advanced Dog Formula. It is possible that these two ingredients make a significant contribution to the total protein content of this recipe, though it is hard to tell whether that is the case. A quick review of the ingredients that go into their two dry food formulas reveals the use of a number of organic ingredients including whole grains and other digestible carbohydrates.
A quick review of their canned food products also reveals the use of organic ingredients and a dearth of artificial additives. Get Deal, hSN coupons, save.55 on any one bag of Meow Mix Cat Treats. Fat is the most highly concentrated source of energy available to dogs as well. When it comes to their product offerings, they have a limited selection of dry food, canned food, and dog treats. Finally, there are four Organic 95 recipes featuring different proteins like chicken, turkey, and liver. This brand may not offer the largest variety, but all of their products seem to offer good quality and excellent nutritional balance.


DES MOINES — Iowa bettors would not be allowed to make in-game "prop" wagers on contests involving Iowa athletes, their colleges or their opponents under a change expected to be approved Wednesday by a House committee — a change backers say will boost the chances of sports gambling becoming legal in Iowa.
The agreement to limit the in-game proposition bets in legislation seeking to authorize betting on professional and college sporting events and on daily fantasy sports was designed to address a concern raised by officials representing state universities and colleges in Iowa, said Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, a backer of House File 648.
Kaufmann said he is confident the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has the wherewithal to police such betting that usually involves small wagering amounts on things like whether the first free throw of a basketball game is successful or if a player scores a certain number of points.
But he said he agreed to make the change out of "political reality" in attempting to forge a bipartisan coalition that can get the bill to the governor's desk.
Keith Saunders, a legislative liaison who represents the University of Iowa and the Board of Regents, told a subcommittee this week the concern is for protecting the integrity of college athletes. The state universities were registered as undecided on the bill but Saunders expressed support for the amendment to limit "in play" betting on individual players, Iowa-based teams and their opponents.
Kaufmann said he expected the overall bill, which contains a 6.75 percent tax on revenue, to be taken up Wednesday in the House Ways and Means Committee. Backers envision a system where Iowa residents at least 21 years old initially are required to establish a sports betting account in person at a state casino.
Wes Ehrecke, president and chief executive of the Iowa Gaming Association, which represents the state's casinos, said his members supported the amendment to remove in-game bets on in-state players or their opposing teams.
Opponents of the legislation, including faith-based groups, said they do not support any form of gambling expansion in Iowa because of the potential for addiction.
"It will be a bipartisan bill if it comes out of this chamber," he noted.


When you consider the work Dr. Wiley did and the growth of the institution, his successor has a very large pair of shoes to fill. The loss of his knowledge, contacts and vision may be lost in small or large part. The question is how did the school prepare for this untimely and devastating event.
We don't know the specifics of the plan to continue Endicott's growth, both academic and financial. A long term dean and administrator has been named interim president. Further information has not been made public.
Our question concerns what financial preparation took place that will cover the cost of finding and/or acclimating a replacement and keeping the fund-raising goals achievable. It will take a while to do this, resulting in a potential economic loss in addition to the leadership loss.
If Endicott had acquired key person insurance on Dr. Wylie for its benefit, some or all the economic loss would be avoided and the Board could focus on the difficult task of moving forward.
An unexpected loss of a key administrator, fund raiser or donor can create a serious pause in the plans of a not-for-profit institution. Protection from this at some level is achievable and when properly planned, affordable.
This important protection is not a simple process. The need for transparency and conservation of expense suggests that a study needs to be done that measures the risk to be protected, determines the appropriate underwriting and establishes a program that meets the needs of the institution without raising concerns of its benefactors, students, faculty and community.
With appropriate key person insurance in place, an organization is able to provide for recruitment expense, near term replacement of potential philanthropic fund loss, and income replacement for the deceased person's family (as a benefit or by cost sharing). Here again, independent thoughtful consideration and planning are important.
MKA has been insuring key people in not-for-profit organizations for more than 40 years. It is only after careful preparation with staff and Boards that a program is implemented. We continue to work with the organization after a plan is implemented for appropriate reporting and administration.
For further information contact Barry Koslow, JD 781-939-6050 (o) 781-724-6695 (m) bkoslow@mkaplanners.com.


All weekend (and through Monday) our city's sea lions will be celebrated at Pier 39, where they arrived 26 years ago.
As the story goes, the sea lions began to arrive after the Loma Prieta earthquake hit San Francisco in October 1989, and a few months later, "the boisterous barking pinnipeds started to arrive in droves and completely took over K-Dock." They've remained there since, feasting off the Bay's fish supply, and at one point hit a high population of nearly 2,000. Their numbers fluctuate seasonally.
The weekend celebration is mostly focused around the Sea Lion Encounter Tours (daily at 12, 2 and 4 p.m.), but there will also be naturalists from Aquarium of the Bay to school you more on the sea lions.
You are also welcome to watch the sea lions on the livecam right here.


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3.1 Members of the Board of Directors
3.2 Education, professional activities and affiliations
3.3 Composition, election and term of office
3.4 Internal organisation
3.5 Committees of the Board of Directors
3.6 Assignment of powers of authority
3.7 Information instruments of the Board of Directors vis-à-vis the Group Executive Board
3.8 Controlling instruments of the Board of Directors vis-à-vis the Group Executive Board
The Board of Directors of Swisscom Ltd currently comprises nine members, none of whom holds or has held an executive role within the Swisscom Group in any of the three business years prior to the period under review. The Board members have no significant commercial links with Swisscom Ltd or the Swisscom Group. The Swiss Confederation, represented on the Board by Hans Werder, is the majority shareholder. Customer and supplier relationships exist between the Swiss Confederation and Swisscom. Details of these are given in Note 37 to the consolidated financial statements.
Members of the Board of Directors at 31 December 2014 are as follows:
Taking office at the
Appointed until
Hansueli Loosli 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 1955 Chairman 2009 2015
Frank Esser 1 1958 Member 2014 2015
Barbara Frei 7 1970 Member 2012 2015
Hugo Gerber 2 1955 Member, representative of the employees 2006 2015
Michel Gobet 1 1954 Member, representative of the employees 2003 2015
Torsten G. Kreindl 3, 6 1963 Member 2003 2015
Catherine Mühlemann 1 1966 Member 2006 2015
Theophil Schlatter 3, 8 1951 Deputy Chairman 2011 2015
Hans Werder 2, 3, 9 1946 Member, representative of the Confederation 2011 2015
1 Member of the Finance Committee.
2 Member of the Audit Committee.
3 Member of the Remuneration Committee (Hansueli Loosli without voting rights).
4 Since 21 April 2009 Member of the Board of Directors, since 1 September 2011 Chairman.
5 Chairman of Nomination Committee (ad hoc).
6 Chairman of Finance Committee.
7 Chairwoman of Remuneration Committee.
8 Chairman of Audit Committee.
9 Designated by the Swiss Confederation.
Details on the qualifications and career of each member of the Board of Directors are provided below. This section also discloses the mandates of each Board member outside the Group as well as other significant activities such as permanent functions in important interest groups.
Pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, the Board members may perform no more than three additional mandates in listed companies and no more than ten additional mandates in non-listed companies, with a total of no more than ten such additional mandates being permitted. These numerical restrictions shall not apply to mandates performed by a Board member by order of Swisscom or to mandates in interest groups, charitable associations, institutions and foundations as well as employee benefit foundations. The number of these mandates is, however, limited to seven or ten. Prior to accepting new mandates outside the Swisscom Group, the Board members are obligated to consult the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Details on the regulation of external mandates, in particular the definition of the term "mandate" and information on other mandates that do not fall under the aforementioned numerical restrictions for listed and non-listed companies, are set out in the Articles of Incorporation (Article 8.3 of the Articles of Incorporation), which can be accessed on the Swisscom website under "Basic principles".
No member of the Board of Directors exceeds the set limits for mandates.
Hansueli Loosli
Swiss citizen
Education: Commercial apprenticeship; Swiss Certified Expert in Financial Accounting and Controlling
Career history: 1982–1985 Mövenpick Produktions AG, Adliswil, Controller and Deputy Director; 1985–1992 Waro AG, Volketswil, latterly as Managing Director; 1992–1996 Coop Switzerland, Wangen, Director of Non-Food Product Procurement; 1992–1997 Coop Zurich, Zurich, Managing Director; 1997–2000 Coop Switzerland, Basel, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Coop Group Executive Committee; January 2001–August 2011 Coop Genossenschaft, Basel, Chairman of the Executive Committee
Mandates in listed companies: Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bell AG, Basel
Mandates in non-listed companies: Chairman of the Board of Directors, Coop-Gruppe Genossenschaft, Basel; Chairman of the Board of Directors, Transgourmet Holding AG, Basel; Chairman of the Board of Directors, Coop Mineraloel AG, Allschwil; member of the Advisory Board, Deichmann SE, Essen; member of the Board of Directors, Heinrich Benz AG, Weiach
Mandates by order of Swisscom: Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of economiesuisse
Mandates in interest groups, charitable associations, institutions and foundations as well as employee benefit foundations: –
Other significant activities: –
Frank Esser
German citizen
Education: PhD in business administration, Dr. rer. pol.
Career history: 1988–2000 Mannesmann Deutschland, latterly from 1996 as a member of the Executive Board, Mannesmann Eurokom; 2000-2005 Société Française Radiotéléphonie (SFR), Chief Operating Officer (COO), from 2002 CEO; 2005–2012 Vivendi Group, member of the Group Executive Board
Mandates in listed companies: Member of the Board of Directors, AVG Technologies N.V., Amsterdam; member of the Supervisory Board, Rentabiliweb Group S.A.S., Brussels; member of the Board of Directors, InterXion Holding N.V., Amsterdam, since June 2014
Mandates in non-listed companies: –
Mandates by order of Swisscom: –
Barbara Frei
Education: Degree in mechanical engineering, ETH; doctorate (Dr. sc. techn.), ETH; Master of Business Administration, IMD Lausanne
Career history: Since 1998 various managerial positions in the ABB Group, in particular 2008–2010 ABB s.r.o., Prague, Country Manager; 2010–2013 ABB S.p.A., Sesto San Giovanni, Country Manager and Regional Manager Mediterranean; since November 2013 Drives and Control Unit, Managing Director
Mandates in listed companies: –
Mandates in non-listed companies: Member of the Board of Directors, ABB Beijing Drive Systems Co. Ltd., Beijing
Hugo Gerber
Education: Diploma in postal services; IMAKA management programme; diploma in personnel and organisational development, Solothurn University of Applied Sciences, Northwestern Switzerland
Career history: 1986–1990 Swiss Association of Christian Postal Workers (ChPTT), Central Secretary; 1991–1999 Association of the unions of the Christian transport and government personnel (VGCV), General Secretary; 2000–2003 Transfair Union, General Secretary; 2003–2008 Transfair Union, Chairman; since 2009 independent consultant; July to December 2014 Federal Administrative Court, St. Gallen, Deputy Head of Human Resources on an ad interim basis
Mandates in non-listed companies: Member of the Board of Directors, POSCOM Ferien Holding AG, Berne
Mandates in interest groups, charitable associations, institutions and foundations as well as employee benefit foundations: Member of the Board of Trustees, RUAG Pension Fund, Berne
Other significant activities: Member of the Board of Directors, Worklink AG, Berne
Michel Gobet
Education: Degree in history
Career history: PTT Union, General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary; since 1999 syndicom Trade Union, Central Secretary
Mandates in non-listed companies:Member of the Board of Directors, Swiss Post Ltd, Berne; member of the Board of Directors, GDZ AG, Zurich; member of the Board of Directors, Swiss Travel Fund (Reka) Cooperative, Berne
Other significant activities: Member of the World Executive Committee, the European Executive Committee and the European ICTS Steering Committee, UNI Global Union, Nyon
Torsten G. Kreindl
Austrian citizen
Education: Doctorate in industrial engineering (Dr. techn.)
Career history: Chemie Holding AG; W. L. Gore & Associates Inc.; Booz Allen & Hamilton, member of the Management Board, Germany; 1996–1999 Deutsche Telekom AG CEO, Broadband Cable Business, and CEO, MSG Media Services; 1999–2005 Copan Inc., Partner; since 2005, Grazia Group Equity GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany, Partner
Mandates in listed companies: Independent Director of Hays plc, London
Mandates in non-listed companies: Member of the Supervisory Board, Pictet Digital Communications/Pictet Fund Management, Geneva; member of the Board of Directors, Starboard Storage Systems Inc., Boulder, Colorado, USA
Catherine Mühlemann
Education: Lic. phil I; Swiss Certified PR Consultant
Career history:1994–1997 Swiss Television DRS, Head of Media Research; 1997–1999 SF1 and SF2, programme researcher; 1999–2001 TV3, programme director; 2001–2003 MTV Central, Managing Director; 2003–2005 MTV Central & Emerging Markets, Managing Director; 2005–2008 MTV Central & Emerging Markets and Viva Media AG (Viacom), Managing Director; since 2008 Andmann Media Holding GmbH, Baar, partner, until December 2012 owner
Mandates in non-listed companies: Member of the Supervisory Board, Messe Berlin GmbH, until June 2014; member of the Board of Directors of Switzerland Tourism; member of the Supervisory Board, Tele Columbus AG, Berlin, since September 2014
Theophil Schlatter
Education: Degree in business administration (lic. oec. HSG); Swiss Certified Public Accountant
Career history: 1979–1985 STG Coopers & Lybrand, public accountant; 1985–1991 Holcim Management und Beratung AG, controller; 1991–1995 Sihl Papier AG, CFO and member of the Executive Committee; 1995–1997 Holcim (Switzerland) Ltd, Head of Finance/Administration and member of the Executive Committee; 1997–March 2011 Holcim Ltd., CFO and member of the Group Executive Board
Mandates in non-listed companies: Chairman of the Board of Directors, PEKAM AG, Mägenwil; member of the Board of Directors, Schweizerische Cement-Industrie-Aktiengesellschaft, Rapperswil-Jona
Hans Werder
Education: Dr. rer. soc.; lic. iur.
Career history: 1987–1996 Berne Directorate of Public Works, Transport and Energy (BVE), General Secretary; 1996–2010 Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), General Secretary
Mandates in non-listed companies: Member of the Board of Directors, BLS AG, Berne
With the exception of the representative of the Swiss Confederation, the Board of Directors of Swisscom Ltd is elected by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting. Under the terms of the Articles of Incorporation it may comprise between seven and nine members, and, if necessary, the number can be increased temporarily. It currently comprises nine members. The Annual General Meeting elects the members and the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the members of the Compensation Committee individually for a term of one year. The term of office runs until the conclusion of the following Annual General Meeting. It is possible to be re-elected. If the office of the Chairman is vacant or the number of members of the Compensation Committee falls below the minimum number of three members, the Board of Directors nominates a chairman from among its members or appoints the missing member(s) of the Compensation Committee to serve until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting. Otherwise, the Board of Directors constitutes itself. The maximum term of office for members elected by the Annual General Meeting is generally a total of twelve years. Members who reach the age of 70 retire from the Board as of the date of the next Annual General Meeting.
Under the Articles of Incorporation of Swisscom Ltd, the Swiss Confederation is entitled to appoint two representatives to the Board of Directors of Swisscom Ltd. Hans Werder is currently the sole representative. The maximum term of office or age limit for the federal representative is determined by the Federal Council. Under the terms of the Telecommunications Enterprise Act (TEA), employees must be granted appropriate representation on the Board of Directors of Swisscom Ltd. The Articles of Incorporation also stipulate that the Board of Directors must include two employee representatives. These are currently Hugo Gerber and Michel Gobet.
The Board of Directors is convened by the Chairman and meets as often as business requires. If the Chairman is unavailable, the meeting is convened by the Vice Chairman. The CEO and CFO Swisscom Ltd are regularly invited to the meetings of the Board of Directors. The Chairman sets the agenda. Any Board member may request the inclusion of further items on the agenda. Board members receive documents prior to the meeting to allow them to prepare for the items on the agenda. The Board of Directors may invite members of the Group Executive Board, senior employees of Swisscom, auditors or other internal and external experts to attend its meetings on specific issues in order to ensure appropriate reporting to members of the Board. Furthermore, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the CEO report to each meeting of the Board of Directors on particular events, on the general course of business and major business transactions, as well as on any measures that have been implemented.
The Board of Directors has three standing committees and one ad hoc committee tasked with carrying out detailed examinations of matters of importance. The committees usually consist of three to six members. Each member of the Board of Directors also sits on at least one of the standing committees. Subject to being appointed to the Compensation Committee (without voting rights), the Chairman is a member of all standing committees; they all are chaired by other Board members, however. The latter brief the Board of Directors on the committee meetings held. All members of the Board of Directors also receive copies of all Finance and Audit Committee meeting minutes. The duties and responsibilities of the Board of Directors are defined in the Organisational Regulations, those of the standing committees in the relevant committee regulations, which can be accessed on the Swisscom website under "Basic principles".
The Board of Directors and the committees conduct self-assessments, usually once a year. New members are given a task-specific introduction to their new activity. The Board of Directors supports ongoing education for Board members. A one-day mandatory training course was held at the beginning of 2014. Each quarter, the members of the Board of Directors also had the opportunity to explore in-depth the upcoming challenges facing the Group and business divisions as part of so-called company experience days. In addition, various members of the Board of Directors attended selected presentations and seminars during the year. Wherever possible, the Board of Directors attends the Swisscom Group's annual management meeting.
The following table gives an overview of the Board of Directors' meetings, conference calls and circular resolutions taken in 2014.
Circular resolutions
Total 10 3 1
Average duration (in hours) 8:10 0:50 –
Participation:
Hansueli Loosli, Chairman 10 3 1
Frank Esser 1 7 2 1
Barbara Frei 10 3 1
Hugo Gerber 10 3 1
Michel Gobet 10 3 1
Torsten G. Kreindl 10 3 1
Catherine Mühlemann 9 3 1
Richard Roy 2 3 1 –
Theophil Schlatter 10 3 1
Hans Werder 10 3 1
1 Elected as of 7 April 2014.
2 Resigned as of 7 April 2014.
Torsten G. Kreindl is Chairman of the Finance Committee; the other members are Frank Esser, Michel Gobet, Hansueli Loosli and Catherine Mühlemann. The CEO, CFO and the Head of Group Strategy & Board Services usually attend meetings of the Finance Committee. Depending on the agenda, other members of the Group Executive Board, the Management Boards of the strategic Group companies or project managers are also called upon to attend the meetings. The Committee prepares materials for the attention of the Board of Directors on transaction-related matters, for example, in connection with establishing or dissolving significant Group companies, acquiring or disposing of significant shareholdings, or entering into or terminating strategic alliances. The Committee also acts in an advisory capacity on matters relating to major investments and divestments. The Finance Committee has the ultimate decision-making authority when it comes to approving rules of procedure and directives in the areas of Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Venturing. Details of the Committee's activities are set out in the Finance Committee Rules of Procedure, which can be accessed on the Swisscom website under "Basic principles".
The following table gives an overview of the Finance Committee's meetings, conference calls and circular resolutions taken in 2014.
Total 3 – –
Average duration (in hours) 2:50 – –
Torsten G. Kreindl, Chairman 3 – –
Frank Esser 1 2 – –
Michel Gobet 3 – –
Hansueli Loosli 3 – –
Catherine Mühlemann 3 – –
The Audit Committee is chaired by Theophil Schlatter, who is a financial expert; other members are Hugo Gerber, Hansueli Loosli and Hans Werder, representative of the Swiss Confederation. The CEO, CFO, Head of Accounting, Head of Internal Audit and the external auditors also attend the Audit Committee meetings. Depending on the agenda, other management members are called upon to attend. The Audit Committee is also authorised to involve independent third parties such as lawyers, public accountants and tax consultants. The members of the Audit Committee neither work nor have worked for Swisscom in an executive capacity, nor do they maintain any significant commercial links with Swisscom Ltd or the Swisscom Group. Customer and supplier relationships exist between the Swiss Confederation and Swisscom. Details of these are given in Note 37 to the consolidated financial statements. The majority of members are experienced in the fields of finance and accounting.
The Audit Committee handles all financial management business (for example, accounting, financial controlling, financial planning and financing), assurance (risk management, the internal control system, compliance and the internal audit) and the external audit. It also handles matters dealt with by the Board of Directors that call for specific financial expertise (the dividend policy, for example). The Committee is therefore the Board of Directors' most important controlling instrument and is responsible for monitoring the Group-wide assurance functions. It formulates positions on business matters which lie within the decision-making authority of the Board of Directors and has the final say on those business matters for which it has the corresponding competence. Details of the Committee's activities are set out in the Audit Committee Rules of Procedure, which can be accessed on the Swisscom website under "Basic principles".
The following table gives an overview of the Audit Committee's meetings, conference calls and circular resolutions taken in 2014.
Theophil Schlatter, Chairman 5 – –
Hugo Gerber 5 – –
Richard Roy 1 1 – –
Hans Werder 5 – –
For information on the Compensation Committee, refer to the section "Remuneration Report".
The Nomination Committee is formed on an ad hoc basis for the purpose of preparing the groundwork for electing new members to the Board of Directors and the Group Executive Board. The Committee is presided over by the Chairman and the composition is determined on a case-by-case basis. The Committee carries out its work based on a specific requirements profile defined by the Board of Directors and presents suitable candidates to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors elects the members of the Group Executive Board or submits the proposal for presentation to the Annual General Meeting for the election and approval of members of the Board of Directors. No Nomination Committee meetings were held in the 2014 financial year.
The Telecommunications Enterprise Act (TEA) makes reference to the Swiss Code of Obligations in respect of the non-transferable and irrevocable duties of the Board of Directors of Swisscom Ltd. Pursuant to Article 716a of the Code of Obligations, the Board of Directors is responsible first and foremost for the overall management and supervision of persons entrusted with managing the company's operations.
It decides on the appointment and removal of members of the Group Executive Board of Swisscom Ltd. The Board of Directors also determines the strategic, organisational, financial planning and accounting guidelines, taking into account the four-year targets set by the Federal Council in accordance with the provisions of the Telecommunications Enterprise Act (TEA) and the will of the Swiss Confederation in its role as principal shareholder.
www.swisscom.ch/targets_2014-2017
The Board of Directors has delegated day-to-day business management to the CEO in accordance with the TEA, the Articles of Incorporation and the Organisational Regulations. In addition to its statutory duties, the Board of Directors decides on business transactions of major importance to the Group, such as the acquisition or disposal of companies with a financial exposure in excess of CHF 20 million, or investments or divestments with a financial exposure in excess of CHF 50 million. The division of powers between the Board of Directors and the CEO is set out in annex 2 to the Organisational Regulations (see function table in the Rules of Procedure and Accountability), which can be accessed on the Swisscom website under "Basic principles".
The Chairman of the Board of Directors and the CEO meet once or twice a month to discuss fundamental issues concerning Swisscom Ltd and its Group companies. The CEO also reports in detail at each ordinary meeting of the Board of Directors on the general course of business, major events and any measures taken. The Board of Directors also receives a monthly report on all key performance indicators relating to the Group and all segments containing important Group companies. In addition, the Board of Directors receives quarterly detailed information on the course of business and on the financial position, results of operations, cash flows and risk position of the Group and the segments. It also receives projections for the income statement, cash flow statement and balance sheet for the current financial year. Internal financial reporting is carried out in accordance with the same accounting principles and standards as external reporting. Reporting also includes key non-financial information for controlling and steering purposes. Each member of the Board of Directors is entitled to request information on any matters relating to the Group at any time, provided this does not conflict with any abstention provisions or confidentiality obligations. The Board of Directors is informed immediately of any events of an exceptional nature.
The Board of Directors deals with the oral and written reports of the assurance functions of risk management, the financial reporting internal control system (ICS) and compliance management once a year. The Audit Committee examines the reports of the Risk Management unit, the ICS and Internal Audit on a quarterly basis. In urgent cases the Chairman of the Audit Committee is informed without delay about any significant new risks. He is also informed in a timely manner if there is a significant change in assessed compliance or ICS risks or if serious breaches in compliance (including violation of rules that are designed to ensure reliable financial reporting) are detected or currently being investigated.
The Board of Directors is responsible for establishing and monitoring the Group-wide assurance functions of risk management, the internal control system, compliance and internal audit.
3.8.1 Risk management
The Board of Directors aims to safeguard the company's enterprise value through the implementation of Group-wide risk management. A risk-aware corporate culture is designed to support the achievement of this objective. Swisscom has therefore implemented a Group-wide and central risk management system based on COSO II and ISO 31000. It maintains level-appropriate and comprehensive reporting and appropriate documentation. The objective is to identify, assess and address significant risks in good time. To this end, the central Risk Management unit collaborates closely with the Controlling department, the Strategy department, other assurance functions and line functions. Swisscom assesses its risks according to their probability of occurrence and their quantitative effects in the event of occurrence. It manages these risks on the basis of a risk strategy and evaluates the risks in terms of their impact on key performance indicators reported by Swisscom. Swisscom reviews and updates its risk profile on a quarterly basis. The Audit Committee and the Group Executive Board are informed about significant risks, their potential effects and the status of remedial measures on a quarterly basis, and the Board of Directors on an annual basis. Significant risk factors are described in the Risks section of the Management Commentary.
3.8.2 Financial reporting internal control system
The internal control system (ICS) ensures the reliability of financial reporting with an appropriate degree of assurance. It acts to prevent, uncover and correct substantial errors in the consolidated financial statements, the financial statements of the Group companies and the Remuneration Report. The ICS encompasses the following internal control components: control environment, assessment of financial statement accounting risks, control activities, monitoring activities, information and communication. A central ICS team assigned to Group Business Steering and Internal Audit periodically monitors the existence and effectiveness of the ICS. Significant shortcomings in the ICS identified during the monitoring activities are reported together with the corrective measures in a status report to the Audit Committee on a quarterly basis and to the Board of Directors on an annual basis. Corrective measures to remedy shortcomings are monitored centrally. The Audit Committee assesses the performance and reliability of the ICS on the basis of the periodic reporting.
3.8.3 Compliance management
The Board of Directors has set the objective of protecting the Swisscom Group, its executive bodies and employees against legal sanctions, financial losses and reputational damage by ensuring Group-wide compliance. A corporate culture which promotes the willingness to behave in a way that complies with the relevant regulations should support the achievement of this objective. Swisscom has therefore implemented a Group-wide and central compliance system based on COSO II and IDW PS 980 (principles for the proper auditing of compliance management systems, 2011). Within the framework of the system, Group Compliance each year identifies areas of legal compliance using a risk-based approach which require monitoring by the central system. Within these areas of legal compliance, the business activities of the Group companies are reviewed in a periodic and proactive manner in order to identify risks in good time and determine the required measures. The employees affected are informed of these measures and their implementation is monitored. The suitability and effectiveness of the system is reviewed annually by Group Compliance. Within the Health business division (Curabill) of Swisscom Switzerland Ltd and in the area of billing for added-value services, an audit of the implemented measures is also performed by external auditors (financial intermediation). Group Compliance informs the Risk Management unit of identified significant risks on a quarterly basis and reports to the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors each year on its activities and risk assessments. Should there be significant changes in the risk assessment or if serious breaches are identified, the Chairman of the Audit Committee is informed in a timely manner.
3.8.4 Internal auditing
Internal auditing is carried out by the Internal Audit unit. Internal Audit supports the Swisscom Ltd Board of Directors and its Audit Committee in fulfilling their statutory and regulatory supervisory and controlling obligations. Internal Audit also supports management by highlighting areas of potential for improving business processes. It documents the audit findings and monitors the implementation of measures.
Internal Audit is responsible for planning and performing audits throughout the Group in compliance with professional auditing standards. It conducts an objective evaluation and audit of the appropriateness, efficiency and effectiveness of, in particular, the governance and control systems of the operational processes as well as the assurance functions of risk management, the internal control system and compliance management in all organisational units of the Swisscom Group.
Internal Audit possesses maximum independence. Organisationally it is under the control of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and reports to the Audit Committee. At its meetings, and at least on a quarterly basis, the Audit Committee is briefed on audit findings and the status of any corrective measures implemented. In addition to ordinary reporting, Internal Audit also informs the Audit Committee of any irregularities which come to its attention.
Internal Audit liaises closely and exchanges information with the external auditors. The external auditors have unrestricted access to the audit reports and audit documents of Internal Audit. Internal Audit closely coordinates audit planning with the external auditors. The integrated strategic audit, which includes the coordinated annual plan of both the internal and external auditors, is prepared annually on the basis of a risk analysis and presented to the Audit Committee for approval. Independently of this audit, the Audit Committee can commission special audits based on information received on the whistle-blowing platform operated by Internal Audit. This reporting procedure approved by the Audit Committee ensures the anonymous and confidential receipt and handling of objections raised relating to external reporting, financial reporting and assurance function issues. The Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Audit Committee are informed of notifications received and a report is drawn up at least once a year for the Audit Committee.


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