Dove Medical Supply LLC,* Summerfield, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $49,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for various commercial laboratory supplies under the electronic catalog laboratory program. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1). This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Maximum dollar value is for the life of the contract. Location of performance is North Carolina, with a Sept. 13, 2022, performance completion date. Using customers are Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2017 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-17-D-0018).
Pioneering Decisive Solutions Inc.,* California, Maryland (W15QKN-13-D-0015 P00005); Total Technology Inc.,* Cherry Hill, New Jersey (W15QKN-13-D-0016 P00006); and McConnell, Jones, Lanier and Murphy LLP,* Huntsville, Alabama (W15QKN-13-D-0017 P00008), will share in a $36,000,000 modification for basic engineering services. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 24, 2018. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.
Ibis Tek,* Butler, Pennsylvania, was awarded an $18,061,974 modification (P00034) to contract W56HZV-13-C-0036 for the purchase of family of medium tactical vehicles 58-gallon and 78-gallon armor B-kits and painting the B-kits. Work will be performed in Butler, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2018. Fiscal 2017 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $18,061,974 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
DRS Systems Inc., Melbourne, Florida is being awarded a $32,200,860 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost only modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-4206) for the procurement of provisioned item orders, and an increase in engineering services and associated support ceiling for the DDG 1000 Integrated Power System Low Voltage Power System. The DDG 1000 Low Voltage Power System includes several zones of power conversion modules, known as Integrated Flight Through Power (IFTP); distribution system load centers; and a diesel generator set. Under this contract, DRS supports the IFTP installations and commissioning for the DDG 1000 Class of ships. Work will be performed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is expected to be completed by September 2022. Fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $730,000 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
BAE Systems Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a $23,972,577 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-14-C-4412) for scheduled selected restricted availability (SRA) for USS Port Royal (CG 73). A scheduled SRA is an opportunity in the ship’s life cycle primarily to conduct repair and alteration to systems. This repair modification will include execution planning, repair and alteration requirements. A focal point of the work is aluminum superstructure repair. Work will be performed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by February 2018. Fiscal 2017 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $23,972,577 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity.
GPA Technologies Inc.,* Ventura, California, is being awarded a $23,668,395 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for engineering and technical support solutions for the Advanced Ocean Technology Program within the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Capital Improvements Ocean Facilities Program. The work to be performed provides for research and development of ocean engineering and naval architecture solutions in support of design, installation, operation and maintenance of both fixed ocean systems and towed systems. Support solutions may require the skill sets of naval architecture, engineering design, design analysis and review, prototype fabrication, system testing and integration, system installation, computer hardware and software development, technical manual production and documentation. Work will be performed at various sites within and outside the U.S., and its territories, and is expected to be completed by February 2023. Fiscal 2017 Navy working capital contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-17-D-1953).
BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is being awarded $18,347,260 for modification P00022 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00030-15-C-0007) to provide services for ongoing supply support Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) as it migrates many SSP-unique supply processes and automated systems to a standard Navy system using the Navy Enterprise Resource Planning application. Work will be performed in St. Mary’s, Georgia (49.6 percent); Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (29.4 percent); Rockville, Maryland (16.3 percent); Silverdale, Washington (2.1 percent); Portsmouth, Virginia (1 percent); Fairfax, Virginia (1 percent); and Bridgewater, Virginia (0.6 percent), with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2018. Fiscal 2017 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,691,431; United Kingdom funds in the amount of $3,347,063; and fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $308,766 are being obligated on this award. Funds in the amount of $14,691,431 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P., Minneapolis, Minnesota, is being awarded a $16,825,448 firm-fixed-price contract for the production of two 57mm MK 110 Mod 0 gun mounts and associated hardware. The MK 110 Mod 0 gun mount consists of a 57mm gun, ammunition hoist, power distribution panel, muzzle velocity radar, barrel-mounted television camera and a ruggedized laptop computer gun control panel. The 57mm MK 110 Mod 0 gun mount is required to defeat medium and short-range surface targets, and provide warning and disabling fire in support of anti-surface warfare. These gun mounts will be installed on Coast Guard Cutters. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky, and is expected to be completed by November 2019. Fiscal 2017 weapons procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $16,825,448 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.Code 2304(c)(1) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-17-C-5375).
RIX Industries, Benicia, California, is being awarded an $11,868,823 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract action to order up to 18 MARC 350A low pressure air plants (LPAPs) in support of ship alteration (S/A) 9299K during an upcoming Navy refueling and complex verhaul of CVN-73 in 2017 and CVN-74 in 2020. Work will be performed in Benicia, California, and work is expected to be completed by August 2022. Fiscal 2016 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $5,408,820 will be obligated on the first delivery order placed at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N64498-17-D-0011).
KJS MP JV LLC,* Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded an $8,825,322 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operating support services at Naval Support Activity Mid-South. The work to be performed provides for base operating support services to include facility investment, custodial, pest control, integrated solid waste management, grounds maintenance and landscaping, pavement clearance, electrical, wastewater, water, base support vehicles and equipment, and environmental. The maximum dollar value including the base period and seven option periods is $70,429,976. Work will be performed in Millington and Memphis, Tennessee, and is expected to be completed by September 2018. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Subject to funds availability - fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy, Army, Army Reserve, Defense Agencies); fiscal 2018 revolving fund (Civil Corps of Engineers); fiscal 2018 defense health program; fiscal 2018 Navy working capital funds; and fiscal 2018 Defense Commissary Agency account funds in the amount of $6,906,380 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the base period. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with seven proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-17-D-1723).
Sierra Range Construction, Visalia, California, has been awarded a $9,900,000, two-year ordering period, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity, firm-fixed-price contract for new paving and preventative maintenance projects. This contract provides a vehicle for the execution of a broad range of paving maintenance and construction requirements. Work will be performed at Travis Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 14, 2019. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and six offers were received. Fiscal 2017 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $348,315 are being obligated at time of award. The 60th Contracting Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity. (FA4427-17-D-0002).
BAE Systems, Greenlawn, New York, has been awarded an $8,720,500 firm-fixed-price contract for Advanced Identification Friend or Foe systems for the F-16. This contract provides for Group A and B kits, and field-programmable gate arrays. Work will be performed in Greenlawn, New York, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 13, 2018. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2016 National Guard and Reserve equipment appropriation funds in the amount of $8,720,500 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity. (FA8232-17-C-0011).
Boeing Co., Huntington Beach, California, has been awarded a $7,127,000,000 increase in indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity ceiling with modification (P00041) to a previously awarded contract for C-17 sustainment due to increase in fleet and number operating bases. Work will be performed worldwide and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2021. No funds are being obligated at the time of this modification. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, C-17 Contracting Branch, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8526-12-D-0001).


December 26, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has rescinded on Obama-administration guideline that advised local courts against imposing excessive fines and fees on poor people.
December 19, 2017 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police have arrested two adults and a juvenile in connection with the December 12th stabbing death of Kyle Khamphan and the attempted murder of a juvenile victim, says Lt. Rob Rainsweier, public information officer for ECPC.
November 24, 2017 (San Diego) – San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Fischer has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation of complaints filed by several women alleging sexual misconduct including sexual assaults.
By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association.
November 23, 2017 (San Diego) - Sheriff Bill Gore recalls sitting at work this summer, listening to Carl DeMaio on his KOGO radio talk show.
Even though the former San Diego City Council member was an early endorser of Gore for sheriff in 2010, DeMaio “really blasted me” over permits to carry a concealed weapon, Gore told a Republican women’s club this week.
November 21, 2017 (Santee) – Travis Haddix has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing his wife multiple times in the parking lot of Olive Garden in Santee.
November 14, 2017 (San Diego) -- Another mass shooting has occurred, this time northern California, where a gunman killed four people and injured 10 before being shot dead in a shoot-out with law enforcement on Tuesday.
November 13, 2017 (Alpine) - A suspect who fled from Sheriff’s deputies after allegedly trying to steal gas or tampering with county gas pumps on Tavern Road in Alpine this morning has crashed the Toyota Camry he was driving and wound up air lifted to a trauma center.
November 7, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – A man suspected of savagely stabbing a female delivery driver, 35, this morning at a convenience store in La Mesa has been taken into custody. Sheriff’s deputies are investigating whether he may be linked to another woman found stabbed this morning in El Cajon.
The chilling sequence of events began shortly after 3 a.m. when a Frito Lay delivery truck driver was stabbed repeatedly outside of the 7-Eleven store on Avocado Boulevard in unincorporated La Mesa. She staggered into the store, where she collapsed after telling a clerk she’d been attacked, 10 News reports.
November 3, 2017 (Ramona) – Sheriff's deputies from the Ramona Station responded to a call of an assault with a deadly weapon last night at 5:53 p.m. at the Stage Stop Liquor store located at 578 Main Street in Ramona.
November 1, 2017 (Santee) – Grady Neel has been arrested for reportedly shooting a man in the upper torso Monday night near 9872 Shirley Gardens Drive in Santee.
Sheriff’s deputies found the suspect walking in the complex. He was unarmed and taken into custody without incident. The gun used in the shooting was later found by deputies in Neel’s residence, says Lieutenant Anthony O’Boyle.
Photo: A Probation Officer administers a test that checks for alcohol on an offender.
November 1, 2017 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Probation Department will use a half-million dollar grant to keep high-risk DUI offenders from getting behind the wheel again.
Nationally, nearly one-third of all drivers arrested or convicted of drunk driving are repeat offenders and 50 to 75 percent of convicted drivers continue to drive on a suspended license, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
November 1, 2017 (El Cajon) – El Cajon resident Darius Demon Lake, 27, is under arrest for suspicion of committing eight bank robberies in San Diego County and one in Temecula, Walt Miller with the El Cajon Police Department reports. A second suspect, Brian Lee Barkley, also of El Cajon, was arrested for participating in one of three El Cajon bank heists. “During that robbery, physical evidence was left by both suspects linking them to the robberies,” Miller says.
October 26, 2017 (Spring Valley) – The AM/PM gas station at 9065 Campo Road was robbed at gunpoint yesterday at 5:29 p.m. According to Sheriff’s Sergeant Michael Hettinger, the suspect pointed a handgun at a cashier and a second employee, ordering them not to move. He took an undisclosed amount of money and is believed to have fled in a black Ford Explorer driven by an accomplice.
October 24, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - Looking to get rid of unwanted and expired prescription drugs? The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department will collect and dispose of these medicines during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
October 21, 2017 (El Cajon) –A $1,000 reward is offered for information leading to arrest of a suspect who assaulted and strangled a woman last night on a hillside trail east of Starlight Mobile Home park iat 351 East Bradley n unincorporated El Cajon. The victim reported that the suspect wrapped a cable-like rope around her neck, nearly causing her to lose consciousness.
Fortunately she was able to escape from the suspect’s hold; she last saw him running toward the hillside, says Sergeant Miguel Lopez.
Sheriff’s dispatch received a 911 call at 9:16 p.m. Friday night, October 20th reported the assault with a deadly weapon. The suspect was described as a black male, approximately six feet tall, in his mid-thirties wearing a blue plaid shirt and baggy jeans.


Eight weeks into the legislative session, the Alaska House and Senate are poised to take up two pivotal bills: one to use permanent fund earnings to pay for state services and another to approve spending for next year’s state operating budget. Lengthy debate is expected on both measures.
On Monday, the Alaska Senate took up Senate Bill 26 to use the permanent fund as an endowment for state government. The bill specifies a $1,000 dividend for Alaskans over the next three years, while drawing 5.25 percent of the fund’s annual market value to help pay for the state budget. It also caps state spending at $4.1 billion. Debate on the bill will be taken up Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the House majority – a coalition of 17 Democrats, three Republicans, and two independents – will defend its work on the state operating budget from minority budget amendments, most of which call for more reductions.
Seaton added that his caucus believes it has now found the right size of government.
The House majority budget increases spending from what Gov. Bill Walker proposed, adding $1.2 million for pre-K programs, $2.1 million for the Alaska Marine Highway System, and restoring the positions of three state prosecutors – two in Anchorage and one in Bethel.
The Senate majority has promised deep cuts, with 5 percent reductions to the four largest agencies in the state budget: Health and Social Services, Education and Early Development, Transportation and Public Facilities, and the University of Alaska.
“The phrase that I, at least, have been using is we’re asking people to cut a nickel,” said Sen. Lyman Hoffman, co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee — adding that last year the state’s revenue sharing program was cut in half.
A Senate budget subcommittee on the university followed through on that commitment Monday, cutting $16.3 million from the budget.
Subcommittees on the other three large departments are expected to release their proposed cuts soon. Smaller state agency budgets, meanwhile, have remained largely uncut in the Senate.
KTVA 11’s Liz Raines can be reached via email or on Facebook and Twitter.
The post 2 months in, 2 critical bills up for consideration in Alaska House, Senate appeared first on KTVA 11.


Spike TV has given a series order to half hour comedy Blue Mountain State.
The college football comedy follows three incoming freshman at (fictional) college football powerhouse Blue Mountain State University. The series is from Brian Robbins' Varsity Productions (Varsity Blues, Smallville) and Lionsgate.
"Blue Mountain State contains four key ingredients to being a guy...football, partying, women and hazing," said Spike president Kevin Kay, announcing the pickup. "We're thrilled to be working with Brian Robbins, Varsity Pictures and Lionsgate on this outrageous comedy that combines college football with Animal House. And we think it's a perfect fit for Spike's young, male audience."
Spike has given a 13 episode order to Blue Mountain State, which will premiere on the network this summer.


Radical Iraqi Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr has said he would present a joint list of candidates with Sunni Arabs in the volatile al-Anbar governorate to contest the 15 December legislative elections.
Sadr's organisation on Wednesday said it decided to ally itself with the Sunnis due to "the difficult situation facing the country, to prevent the occupier and enemies of Iraq from attaining their goals, to consolidate national identity and to reaffirm its unity".
Sadr and his followers vehemently oppose the US-led occupation of Iraq, and have aligned with Sunni Arabs who are believed to form the backbone of the persistent anti-US street war in Iraq.
Al-Anbar is the most volatile province in Iraq and includes the Iraqi fighters' strongholds of Ramadi and Fallujah, which overwhelmingly rejected the Iraqi constitution that was approved by referendum on 15 October.
Sadr's office, in a statement released in the Shia holy city of Najaf south of Baghdad, said: "The deputy Fattah al-Sheikh has been designated to form a list in al-Anbar for the elections."
Shaikh told AFP he would "run in al-Anbar at the head of a list that includes eight Sunni candidates.
"Consultations have taken place in recent days to create a national Islamic force" to run against a secular bloc being mooted by former prime minister Iyad Allawi, he said.
The talks are continuing, he added.
Three Iraqi Sunni parties announced on Wednesday they are forming a coalition to run in the next elections on 15 December.
constitution despite opposition from the Sunni Arab elite.
Arab country," he added, according to the official SPA news agency.
and more narrowly rejected in a third.
government for the first time in Iraq's modern history.
to a strict interpretation of Islam and regard the Shia as an aberration.
Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Baqer Sulagh who is himself a Shia and follower of Iraq-based Iranian Shia cleric Ali Sistani.
democracy and equality," Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah said.
"more understanding, solidarity and unity" among the Iraqi people.
seven months later by a US-led international coalition.


TiE Silicon Valley, the not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering tech entrepreneurship, has its annual flagship conference, TiEcon, coming up on May 5th and 6th.
This year’s speakers include Tim Draper of DFJ, biotech billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, Dave McClure of 500 Startups, Bonny Simi of JetBlue Technology Ventures, Mohit Aron of Cohesity, Florian Leibert of Mesosphere, Sheng Liang of Rancher Labs, Estonia CIO Siim Sikkut, and more.
In addition, Jyoti Bansal of AppDynamics will be sharing his entrepreneurial journey on starting the company as an engineer and exiting as one of largest enterprise software acquisitions by Cisco for $4.7B. He will be receiving TiE Silicon Valley’s inaugural Entrepreneur of the Year award on Saturday, May 6th.
Supplementing the inspirational speaking sessions, TiEcon is introducing two programs: a mentoring session called Words of Wisdom and a one-day International Startup Bootcamp for entrepreneurs the day before the conference. The goal of the programs is to offer entrepreneurs structured opportunities to build their businesses during TiEcon in addition to the content and networking opportunities.
At previous TiEcons, mentorship sessions were held around the lunch hour in roundtable formats. Given the popularity of the sessions, they’re now being held throughout the conference in conjunction with the sessions and by area of mentorship.
To register, entrepreneurs receive details after registering for the conference. The cost of the mentoring sessions is included in the conference pass.
Don’t miss out. Register for TiEcon right here.
The pre-conference Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs is a one-day workshop with the goal of preparing them for seeking funding and engaging investors. This bootcamp will prepare them to get the most out of the conference ahead. Topics will include fine-tuning your business plan and how to tailor a pitch to appeal to investors and other potential startup collaborators.
This workshop is taught by Naeem Zafar, who teaches entrepreneurship and innovation at UC Berkeley and is a Professor of the Practice at Brown University. Zafar will outline how to seek the right funding from the right source at the right time using his framework published in one of his many books. Participants will attend this workshop in the morning and then compete to be selected as one of the best six to present to a panel of investors that same afternoon. Working in groups with seasoned mentors, finalists will selected using an elimination process that is both fun and instructional.
The program cost is $750 and includes a 2-day conference pass (including preferred access to the the Words of Wisdom mentorship sessions) as well as a book on how to start a company and get it funded.
To register, just visit Startup Bootcamp.


Insurance, medical care, and healthcare costs vary around the world.
Lawmakers in the United States spent the past few months trying and failing to roll back some health-insurance requirements, but much of the rest of the worldhas been living under universal healthcare for decades. Nearly all developed nations provide insurance or require their citizens to buy a policy.
But how those programs work and how much people pay varies widely. In some cases, patients would leave the hospital with no bill at all. In others, they'd owe lots of money.
Business Insider has 14 editions around the world, so we asked our international colleagues what would happen if they were to break an arm in their countries.
You can also go to a local emergency unit, also known as a walk-in center, for which there are both private (for-profit) and public (nonprofit) options. Doctor's offices and primary care units do not provide urgent care.
How long would it take to get there and to get treatment once you're there?
Most Swedes live within an hour's drive from the nearest hospital or local emergency unit. You can call the emergency number 112 to get an ambulance to remote locations. Once you've checked in, urgent care at a hospital usually takes four to six hours in all, depending on severity. Local emergency units are faster and provide care within a couple of hours.
How much would the broken arm cost you? How much would it cost you if you didn't have insurance?
All emergency healthcare in Sweden is funded by the government (i.e., the county council). The patient will need to pay $35 to $45 for a hospital emergency-clinic visit. If they have If P&C insurance, this fee could be covered afterward. The Swedish — and Nordic — principle of equal healthcare access for all means you can't pay extra to get preferential treatment.
How does your insurance work? Do you pay for it? Do you get it from your employer, the government, or somewhere else?
All Swedish residents, including expats, are covered by a government-funded universal healthcare insurance. Employers and labor unions may offer private group insurance, but these will generally not cover urgent cases such as fractures.
Some 650,000 out of 10 million Swedes currently have private healthcare insurance — a number that is likely to increase because of a shortage of nurses and other skilled medical staff.
A patient can freely choose between public and private primary healthcare providers, as far as local capacity permits. This policy has resulted in a steady increase in the amount of private healthcare options in Sweden. Healthcare in Sweden is decentralized to local county councils and municipalities. About 90% of the work of Swedish county councils concerns healthcare, but they also deal with other areas such as culture and infrastructure.
If I were to break my arm, I would go to a public hospital.
It depends on the seriousness — on average, for such an accident, within a day.
In Italy, you don't need to have insurance. Some employers — for example, journalists — have special insurances that enable them to go to private hospitals, but that's something more, an additional option. Because if you break an arm, you can go to a public structure and obtain there everything you need.
I would go to the National Health Service's A&E (accident and emergency) department, which is funded by the British government.
In London, there would generally be one that is accessible. The waiting times can vary. It could be hours.
The medical care would have no cost. It's funded by taxpayers through an NHS tax.
Employers can provide supplementary private medical insurance. You may be taxed at a higher rate by signing up for private health insurance. You generally have to visit an NHS general practitioner before your private health insurance will approve a private visit. Each treatment/office visit is assessed individually by your insurer.
You can either go to a hospital or to the office of an orthopedic surgeon. Doctor's offices are privately owned; hospitals can be either privately owned or owned by the government. There are also many hospitals that are operated by universities.
If you live in the city, the drive is short. In rural areas, it can take a while. There is a dramatic shortage of doctor's offices in these areas. You never know how long you have to wait. Sometimes you get treatment pretty fast; sometimes the waiting room is full of other injured patients. I've heard from someone with a severe sepsis who had to wait a whole day in the hospital.
People in Germany are legally required to have insurance. The only other option is private insurance, which is often used by wealthy people because they get better treatment. You pay nothing for a broken arm or other injuries or health issues. There are, however, certain extra treatments that are not covered by insurance, like dental cleaning or plastic surgery. Those are treatments that are not necessary.
One-half of the insurance is paid by your employer, the other half is subtracted from your salary. The amount depends on your salary. If you earn more, you pay more. You can choose the insurance company yourself. If you are unemployed or unable to work, your insurance is covered by the government.
The first place to go is urgent care (usually part of a hospital), which is funded by the Dutch government.
Usually, people live within half an hour of an urgent-care facility. You can call the emergency number 112 to get an ambulance; if an experienced person is available, they can also determine to have a private car take you to urgent care.
Once you arrive, the waiting time depends on the relative urgency of your case at that moment. So it can vary between no time and about one hour.
In the Netherlands, each year people have to pay the first €350 ($400) of medical costs out of pocket. Everything above that is covered under the "basic health insurance policy," which includes basic hospital care like treating a broken arm. So for a broken arm, it depends on your total medical costs during the year.
The basic health insurance policy is obligatory. Every Dutch adult has to have one, and it costs, on average, €109 per month in 2017.
The government determines what is covered under this insurance, but people get the basic insurance from private insurance companies. Private insurance companies are not allowed to exclude applicants for the basic insurance policy on medical grounds. However, the government gives financial compensation to private insurance companies with a lot of high-risk customers.
There are some differences in the price of the basic health insurance, but these are relatively small, as every insurer offers the same package.
Additionally, you can get extended insurance which covers things that fall outside the basic policy. People can decide for themselves if they want or need one. Prices differ, and private insurance companies have the right to refuse people.
I would go to A&E at a hospital. The first choice would be the hospital nearest to me at the time, and it usually doesn't matter if it is a public or private hospital because I am covered by insurance. Having said that, most people would usually opt to go to a public hospital even if they are insured, because these are larger and more cost-friendly.
The timing of the incident also matters, as private hospitals may not have 24-hour staff on standby for specific procedures. So I would opt for a government-owned hospital if the accident occurred late at night.
How long it would take depends on where you live. As Singapore is a small nation, most people will find themselves within five to 20 minutes of the nearest hospital. In any case, it would not take more than 30 minutes to get to the hospital unless there is a very bad traffic jam at the time.
Waiting times vary. In my experience, it can take less than one hour to be seen by a doctor, or it can take up to seven hours, especially late at night, if the hospital happens to be busy.
Including basic tests and X-rays, the A&E consultation itself would cost about 115 Singapore dollars ($85). The cost of additional or follow-up treatments differs according to the type of specialist seen and where treatment is sought — a government clinic versus a government hospital versus a private clinic.
In Singapore, we are covered by a government-administered insurance called MediShield Life, which provides coverage for treatments at public hospitals. This insurance can be upgraded with Integrated Shield Plans offered by private insurers. This will allow us to be insured for treatment in private-class wards and private hospitals as well.
Many people in Singapore also have private insurance or are covered under an employer-sponsored insurance, which will usually be sufficient to cover any outstanding amount on the bill.
We can also pay for certain medical treatments with our Medisave accounts. The Medisave is a national savings scheme administered by the government-run Central Provident Fund Board that involves mandatory monthly savings, taken from our salary, and compulsory contributions made by employers.
The first place to go is the hospital (orthopedics). You can go to family-run clinics or hospitals run by family, local, or prefectural governments.
Usually, it takes around half an hour to go to the nearest hospital. Once you arrive at the hospital, the waiting time can vary from five to 30 minutes. If you have a serious injury, you'll have to go to a bigger hospital, which can have longer waiting hours.
Depending on the family income and the age insured, patients typically pay 10% to 30% of the cost, with the remaining covered by the government. The total cost of the broken arm is around 68,000 yen ($600). Of this, you pay 20,000 yen, with the remaining 48,000 yen covered by the government.
A person pays a certain amount of money every month to a public insurer. If you go to a hospital and get some medical services and you pay the 30% of it, the hospital charges the medical fee to a screening/payment institution, which then passes it on to the public insurer.
The associations comprise several public insurers that manage the funds raised by the premiums people pay. Every Japanese citizen, including the unemployed, is required to participate in National Health Insurance. During their working years, most people get their insurance through their employers as a benefit. A certain portion of your monthly paycheck is deducted by your employer, which pays your premium to the public insurer.
Patients ages 75 or older pay only 10% of the medical costs. In some cities in Japan, children under 15 can receive free medical treatments because the government pays for them.
How long does it take to get there and get treatment once you're there?
It is based on how severe the case is. If it's not, you may have to come back after administering first aid.
How much would the broken arm cost you?
At least N200,000 ($654). Additional cost would be added based on the severity of the injury.
How does your insurance work?
My insurance comes from my employer and covers expenses I may incur from this operation or treatment.
You can either go to an urgent care center or the emergency room.
In a city, it might not take very long to get to a center or ER. In more rural areas, it can be harder to find a center. According to ProPublica, average ER wait times for the Us are between 38 and 80 minutes until treatment gets started. So in many cases, it could take a few hours to get your broken arm treated.
It fluctuates across the country, but according to Amino, a consumer healthcare company, in the Bay Area a broken arm could cost more than $1,200 if you have a high deductible health plan. If you’re uninsured, the cost could be even higher.
The majority of Americans have either private or public insurance. The government funds the healthcare plans for millions of Americans through Medicare (for those 65 and up) and Medicaid. Medicaid provides insurance primarily to pregnant women, single parents, people with disabilities, and seniors with low incomes.
Those who aren’t covered through the government either get insurance through their employers or the individual marketplace set up under the Affordable Care Act. The private plans all come with monthly fees, or premiums.
According to Gallup, 11.3% of Americans have no health insurance at all. They face steep — sometimes crippling — costs if they suffer a medical emergency.


‘Tis the season for award show nominations.
The Screen Actors Guild has unveiled its list of nominees for the upcoming 17th annual awards festivities, which airs live on TBS and TNT on Saturday, Jan. 30. Mirroring the recently announced Golden Globe Award nominations, programming on cable dominates overall, with 26 of the 45 shows or individuals singled out on cable. Only three of the nine categories—Comedy Series Cast, Actor in a Comedy Series and Actress in a Comedy Series—have more broadcast network occupants.
Leading the pack is ABC’s Modern Family, with four nominations (including Comedy Series Cast), followed by three each for Fox’s Glee and HBO made-for movies Temple Grandin and You Don’t Know Jack. Freshman TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland snagged two: Comedy Series Cast and beloved Betty White for Actress in a Comedy Series.
For extended coverage of SAG nominees, as well as predictions, go to the Programming Insider.


In recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has ordered that all State of Hawaii flags be flown at half-staff alongside the flags of the United States at state offices and agencies as well as the Hawaii National Guard from sunrise to sunset Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
The President also called upon all governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, and encouraged all Americans to display the flag at half-staff from their homes and businesses on that day.
Day after day, police officers in every corner of America suit up, put on the badge, and carry out their sworn duty to protect and serve. They step out the door every morning without considering bravery or heroics. They stay focused on meeting their responsibilities. They concentrate on keeping their neighborhoods safe and doing right by their fellow officers. And with quiet courage, they help fulfill the demanding yet vital task of shielding our people from harm. It is work that deserves our deepest respect — because when darkness and danger would threaten the peace, our police officers are there to step in, ready to lay down their lives to protect our own.
This week, we pay solemn tribute to men and women who did. Setting aside fear and doubt, these officers made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the rule of law and the communities they loved. They heard the call to serve and answered it; braved the line of fire; charged toward the danger. Our hearts are heavy with their loss, and on Peace Officers Memorial Day, our Nation comes together to reflect on the legacy they left us.
As we mark this occasion, let us remember that we can do no greater service to those who perished than by upholding what they fought to protect. That means doing everything we can to make our communities safer. It means putting cops back on the beat and supporting them with the tools and training they need. It means getting weapons of war off our streets and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals — common-sense measures that would reduce gun violence and help officers do their job safely and effectively.
Together, we can accomplish those goals. So as we take this time to honor law enforcement in big cities and small towns all across our country, let us join them in pursuit of a brighter tomorrow. Our police officers serve and sacrifice on our behalf every day, and as citizens, we owe them nothing less than our full and lasting support.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2013, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 12 through May 18, 2013, as Police Week. I call upon all Americans to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also call on Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day. I further encourage all Americans to display the flag at half-staff from their homes and businesses on that day.
tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.


Independent candidate fears threat to her life, accuses govt of posting cops in plain clothes.
Bengaluru: In a stinging complaint to the Election Commission, independent candidate Mrs Sumalatha Ambareesh on Monday feared a threat to her life, and accused the state government of eves dropping on conversations over her phones as well as posting policemen in plain clothes outside her residence to report on visitors to her residence.
In the complaint she said these policemen in plain clothes were clicking pictures of visitors to her place since a month, but refused to speak up when confronted by her. Besides, tapping of her telephone was gross misuse of government machinery and therefore the Election Commission should initiate appropriate action against the accused.
She said she feared threat to her life in the wake of an attack by miscreants on the residence of actor Darshan after he extended support to her and participated in rallies which she addressed in Mandya constituency.
Quoting her supporters, she complained that leaders of JD (S) offered Rs 1000 to each house in the district plus Rs 500 for every individual to attend today's rally held after Mr Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, filed his nomination papers in Mandya. This clearly reflected the manner in which JD (S) leaders were making arrangements for people to attend rally.
She slammed Mr Kumaraswamy for playing audio cassettes to confuse voters and said it was unbecoming of him to indulge in such tactics.


For years, thousands of residents of New Providence’s eastern district piled into cars and trucks to trek west as more and more restaurants opened miles away from the oldest established residential district in New Providence.
During the first quarter of this year, two experienced restaurateurs are opening Billfish Grill at Palm Cay, bringing a convenient feast in the east to the area’s close-to-home, dine out-deprived populations.
For chef Lise Watson-Russell and Peter Rounce, of Graycliff Bahamas, Billfish Grill is an opportunity to do what they both label as novel – create a casual dining experience with exceptional food inside a residential community known for its active social calendar, lifestyle and marina.
“We are creating a restaurant inside a residential enclave with a large (194-slip) marina. It’s a far cry from designing a restaurant that caters to corporate clients, business lunches or dinner meetings,” says Mr. Rounce.
Mrs. Russell and Mr. Rounce agree all the elements are in place.
Taking a break to talk about their vision, menu and plans this week as construction crews behind them worked to complete the makeover of Palm Cay’s three-story clubhouse into a full-fledged restaurant, they started with location.
Both are excited about being the creators of the first new high-end restaurant east of the Paradise Island Bridge in recent history and what they believe to be the first ever on the southeast coast.
They are not worried about going where gourmet never dared to go before. They have a vision inspired by the near-perfect setting – endless waterfront views.
With a degree in Hospitality, Mr. Rounce’s specialties are finance and marketing. He points to the 280 degree view – 1,200 feet of white, soft sandy beach on one side, the swimming pool and kiddy pool straight ahead, the long pier and Atlantic Ocean beyond. Off to the other side, the marina, harbourmaster’s office and eventually cottages and more.
For Mrs. Watson-Russell, who earned her Culinary Arts degree from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and gained her reputation at Goodfellow Farms before opening Chives at the New Providence Community Centre on Blake Road, it’s all about the food.
“It really comes down to the freshness and healthiness of ingredients, the blending of flavours and the presentation, but of all three components, it’s the freshness that creates the finest taste,” she says.
While a beachfront bistro and café to be called Chives Dockside at Palm Cay will satisfy the quick grab and go appetite for a light breakfast and coffee or salads and sandwiches for residents driving kids to school or boaters heading out for the day, the more upscale Billfish Grill will feature a menu that ranges from freshly caught fish cooked to order to thick rib eye steaks, from a new twist on pulled pork prepared in a wood-fired grill that’s great for pizza, too, to a variety of conch and crawfish dishes in season.
The restaurant will seat 126 between inside dining and al fresco (outdoor eating) on several patios.
Billfish Grill is expected to open in the first quarter of 2014.


Their ranks torn by infighting, their U.S. support long gone, their leadership coopted by the Turks, fighters who once thought they’d overthrow Assad have no hope left.
Following weeks of battles and bombardment, the Syrian opposition forces in the city of Daraa and surrounding countryside agreed to withdraw and surrender their weapons to the Assad regime at the end of June. The birthplace of the Syrian war, Daraa was both symbolically and, because of its proximity to the Jordanian border, strategically important.
Indeed, the war is winding down, and some of the biggest losers are the rebels the Americans once thought of as, relatively speaking, the good guys. These were the men fighting the Assad regime while remaining hostile to the burgeoning local al Qaeda affiliate and the so-called Islamic State.
Raed is one of thousands of opposition fighters in northwestern Syria mulling his future as the Russian and Iranian-backed forces of Bashar al-Assad capture opposition-held territory piece by piece. He is currently with the Syrian Liberation Front, although he’s bounced around among several groups over the years.
Ziad watched many of his fellow fighters change their appearance and habits. Spiky hair and western clothing were traded for long beards and long robes. Many stopped smoking, a vice beloved by many FSA soldiers but outlawed by the strict brand of Sharia law enforced by HTS. Women were more likely to wear a niqab, the veil covering the entire face, rather than just a hijab, or headscarf, previously the norm in his town. Female-specific education centers sponsored by HTS appeared, which seemed to exist primarily to hand out niqabs to neighborhood women.
“They have had so much influence over our young people,” Ziad said. “But what’s worse is they harmed the opposition."
Adbullah’s Facebook pictures show his transformation from child to jihadi fighter. A 13-year-old Abdullah rides a horse in a t-shirt and jeans, while a 16-year-old Abdullah wields an AK-47, wears a long robe, and holds his index finger to the sky in the sign of the tawhid, the oneness of God.
Interviewed in late 2016, Abdullah vowed to never stop fighting and never leave Syria. “I will fight until my country and my people are free,” he said.
Among a long list of obstacles causing disillusionment among the remaining Syrian opposition, infighting is just one. In January of this year, Raed and Ziad were summoned by their FSA commanders to join “Operation Olive Branch.” That Turkish-led offensive targeted Afrin, a Syrian border city mostly inhabited by Kurds and controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are closely allied to the United States in anti-ISIS operations in other parts of the country. The Turkish government’s highest priority is the fight against Kurdish rebels inside and outside Turkey’s borders, not against Assad or ISIS.
Soon after the offensive was underway, reports of widespread looting by the Turkish-backed FSA rebels emerged.
To Raed and Ziad, the war’s end and the opposition's loss seem a foregone conclusion. Raed estimated that more than 30 percent of his fellow fighters have simply put down their guns. Some of them search for work in Syria, picking up odd jobs when they can to survive. Many who could afford to have gone to Turkey.
Abdullah found a job doing telephone marketing in Istanbul. His Instagram shows him transformed yet again, hair cropped close, posing in front of Istanbul’s monuments in a polo shirt and khaki pants.
Ziad, newly married with a child, feels the same way. “I want to stay, but I feel the war is over. I want my family to be safe."


Conflicting events often prevent us from doing everything we'd like to do.
That''s what happened to me a few weeks ago. Because of another commitment, I wasn't able to attend Connie Barnard's Multiple Sclerosis fund-raiser in Bruch Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church in Wooster.
Later I learned that Barnard's "Friends Lunching with Friends" was so successful the Wooster resident was able to take $7,000 to the recent MS Walk in Cleveland.
The local organizer and her daughter, Brooke (who suffers from MS), are extremely grateful to the 160 men and women who attended and supported this first fund-raising effort.
"The cause of MS remains a mystery," said Barnard. "The cure is still unknown, but what a wonderful gift my friends and their friends gave towards research programming and support."
During the recent Relay for Life auction at Memories Party Center, Jo Howey told me she was pleased that Wayne County Sheriff Tom Maurer has adopted the "Popcorn Friday" tradition started by her late husband, Jamie ... only it's being called "Popcorn Wednesday" and it's held weekly at the Sheriff's Department.
She attended the first "popping."
By the way, the Wayne County Board of Realtors auction raised $14,243.45 for the American Cancer Society.
Alice Grosjean, who is celebrating her 102nd birthday today, was honored with a birthday cake when Travelers Club of Wooster held a guest luncheon and program Tuesday afternoon at Wooster Country Club.
The club was founded in 1891. Grosjean has been a member for a total of 64 years.
When Wooster fabric artist Sonja Henney Tugend and her husband, David, returned to Wooster 2 1/2 years ago to retire, she was thrilled to find the Walnut Street School she attended as a youngster had been transformed into Wayne Center for the Arts.
She's currently excited because a solo exhibit of her work titled "Tradition Transformed: Contemporary Art Quilts" opens tonight in the Arts Center's Gault Gallery with an artist reception from 6-8 p.m.
Also opening tonight and running consecutively in the Roberta Looney Gallery is an exhibit by the Contemporary Cloth Artists -- a group Tugend formed in the spring of 2000 for quilt artists in the greater Cleveland/Akron area. Both exhibits will be on display through the end of June.
If you haven't seen the Embracing Our Differences outdoor display on the grounds of the Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, be sure to check it out. You can view the original works of art and quotations about diversity during daylight hours through June 9.
The third annual Ed Arn Veterans' Roundtable will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. in the one-room schoolhouse at the Wayne County Historical Society.
Featured will be veterans who served in World War II.
Panelists include Earl Hawkins, Lloyd Boyer, Joe Palermo, Joe Deluca, Al Neilson and Cliff Cotterman. Mark Sheppard will serve as moderator.
For more information, call (330) 264-8856 or visit www.waynehistorical.org.
In 1939, the National Conference on School Transportation decided on the color for buses -- now known as "National Glossy School Bus Yellow." Despite the organization's effort to standardize the bus color, it wasn't nationally completed until 1974 when Minnesota finally adopted the color, switching from Minnesota Golden Orange.


Watch out potholes, Google is coming for you!
Potholes that spoil a day out in the car are being targeted by a new patent filed by Google in the US.
The solution contains two sensors that are used to automatically detect bumps in the road before generating a 'health report' that is broadcast into the cloud for further inspection.
Inside the solution is a GPS sensor and vertical accelerator. The latter records how bad the pothole is before the GPS sensor tags it with the vehicle location before uploading all of this information to the cloud.
Specialised software then goes through this to delete any duplicate reports or anomalies. Only then can the so-called health report for individual roads be created and it's so far unclear how this will be used to help repair the roads in question.
Google is by no means the first to the punch with this system. Street Bump, in Boston, uploads accelerometer and GPS smartphone data to a server and sends out alerts to drivers using roads that are affected. Unlike Google, that system is not completely automatic and trips need to be logged into it manually.
Potholes are a bigger problem than you might think. In 2014, a total of £144 million was spent in the UK alone on fixing pothole damage to roads and on top of that some £23 million was paid out in compensation to drivers with damaged cars. That's before you take into account the inconvenience of cars being out of action for a prolonged period of time.
Anything that makes the process easier will be welcomed by all sides, however, you'd like to imagine a world where the self-driving cars of the future actually fix the potholes themselves. It's not like they'e doing much else with their time, is it?


May not involve any current Rangers players.
International games don't get any more historic or competitive than Scotland v England and we're looking forward to the two nations clashing tomorrow night.
It’s got us thinking about some of the greatest players to have competed in the fixture. As a result of our rumination, we’ve picked a series of greatest Scotland and England teams, made up of players from the biggest clubs on either side of the border.
First up is Rangers, a Scottish giant whose success in the late eighties and early nineties was largely built on English talent. We think that these two sides are pretty evenly matched. What’s your verdict?


JURGEN KLOPP has leapt to the defence of Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet following their 2-2 draw with West Brom on Saturday.
Divock Origi rescued the Reds a point in stoppage time after Jordan Henderson had given the home side the lead on 21 minutes.
The Baggies were gifted a way back into the game on the half hour mark as Mignolet failed to deal with a corner that gave Craig Dawson the chance to scramble home from close range.
Jonas Olsson put the visitors in front on 73 minutes before Origi spared Klopp's blushes with a late strike.


There is some debate over exactly when the first Thanksgiving was celebrated on our soil. Many trace it to a 1621 celebration in Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. That feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. It was, according to historians, actually celebrated between the Pilgrims and Indians.
It’s been going on ever since. The message is timeless: giving thanks for an array of reasons. And it isn’t just good harvests that are celebrated nowadays. We celebrate family and friends. We celebrate the kindness of strangers. We celebrate small and big things that occur in our lives. We celebrate smiles and sometimes even frowns. Whom do you wish to say “thanks” to? Think about it and then do it. Don’t assume they already know that you are grateful. Sometimes it ends up being too late. And, doesn’t it always feels good to be thanked? If you have to look around to think of someone or something to be thankful for today, c’mon, take the blinders off and open your range. It is out there, often closer than you sometimes might think.
We celebrate our prayers and we celebrate good fortune. We celebrate earning a paycheck and providing for loved ones. We endure all the bad and sad that inevitably comes in some shape or form in all of our lives with some kind of acceptance, often through staunch faith. We accept that no life is perfect and no life was ever promised to be perfect.
We visit cemeteries and we visit the inner sanctions of our hearts and souls to celebrate loved ones who have passed. They may be gone but the memories–goodness, all those memories!–will live forever.
We celebrate the awe and wonderment in the sparkling eyes of an infant and the unspoken wisdom coming through the eyes of the elderly. Be thankful for our children. They are our future makers. Be thankful for our seniors. They were history makers — the shapers of this great land of ours. Be thankful for the freedom that allows you to sit down today with family to eat a sumptuous (and usually too filling!) meal and perhaps catch a game on the TV. Or, better yet, play a pick-up game of football in the backyard with the kids and grandkids. Thank your newspaper carriers who had to lug extra-sized editions around, stuffed with holiday inserts. Thank, truly thank, police officers. Cops have had it bad in our society and it is unwarranted. They serve you. And they do it very well around here. Thank all of those have to work today, many getting ready for Black Friday although that apparently has morphed, sigh, into Thanksgiving Day itself.
Enjoy gobbling down the turkey and all the trimmings. Save room for some pie. Forget the diet for a day. Forget about politics for a day (if that is actually possible!) For those keeping up with the tradition of breaking the wishbone–a tradition that came to us from the English, who got it from the Romans, who got it from the Etruscans thousands of years ago — have fun with that and here’s hoping your special wish comes through.
In 1775 the Continental Congress created the first national Thanksgiving celebration. It became a federal holiday in 1863 via proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. The practice of pardoning two turkeys on Thanksgiving — those lucky birds! — began with President Harry Truman. The Macy’s parade tradition began in 1924 with helium-filled balloons coming in 1927. Thanksgiving is always celebrated in the United States on the final Thursday of November.
The Pilgrims had it right nearly 400 years ago. Be thankful. We should all take stock today and think of all the reasons to be grateful. Start a list and you will likely not finish it by the end of the day or at least by your second serving of pie. Happy thanksgiving from the Salem News staff to you and yours on this very special day. Thank you for supporting your community newspaper — we have served our fair city during all or parts of three centuries. Yes, that is a lot of printer’s ink! We are proud of that. Bring on the holiday season!


“We were missing layups, and when you don’t convert on those in this type of game, it’s going to come back and haunt you pretty quickly,” Okawville coach Michelle Hasheider-Burianek said.
Okawville’s shooting woes continued in the second half as Calhoun took a 26-point lead.
“Our role players stepped up tonight, and our defense played well. Okawville is a tough young team and will probably be right there again next year,” Calhoun coach Aaron Baalman said.
Okawville junior Madison Hackstadt had 17 points, including three 3-pointers.
Calhoun was led by junior Junie Zirkelbacch with 19 points, including a perfect 6 for 6 from the free-throw line. Senior Jordan Holland added 15 points.


There was a 3 p.m. Nov. 15 deadline to finish a statewide machine recount of more than 8 million ballots in Senate, governor, agriculture commission races.
The state-mandated recount of more than 8 million ballots showed little change in three contested statewide races.
The U.S. Senate and agriculture commissioner's race are now headed toward hand recounts. The race for governor is all but over unless courts intervene.
While the numbers of votes changed slightly, the percentage margins remained the same as Saturday's first unofficial statewide tally. The new results do not include results from Palm Beach County, which did not complete its recount by the 3 p.m. deadline.
Nor did it include Broward County, which completed the recount on time but was two minutes too late filing results with the state.
By law, the numbers both counties filed with the state Saturday stand.
Nelson's lawyer filed a lawsuit in Leon County asking that all of the 600,000 ballots in Palm Beach be recounted by hand.
With the governor's margin outside the 0.25 percentage point margin needed for a hand recount, that race is all but over barring some extraordinary intervention from the courts.
There still are votes to be counted: Election officials can continue to count overseas ballots until Friday. And a federal judge opened the door for voters whose mail or provisional ballots had been rejected because of signature problems to get them counted until Saturday. But the uncounted ballots are likely too few to change a race where DeSantis leads Gillum by more than 30,000 votes.
The machine recount in Broward County — where incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson hopes to gain a sizable amount of ground on Gov. Rick Scott — showed little change.
The original results released By Broward on Saturday in the Senate race showed Democratic incumbent Nelson with 471,334 votes, compared to Scott's 211,119. After the recount, the candidates lost votes — Nelson had 469,949 votes and Scott had 210,513 votes.
Both counts gave Nelson about 69 percent of the vote, marking no real change for the senator who hopes to overcome Scott's statewide lead of about 12,600 votes.
The Nelson campaign has pointed to some 25,000 "undervotes" as something that could flip early election results.
"Undervotes," where a voter opts not to choose any candidate in a race do happen, but rarely in such high profile races. In fact, the first race to appear on a ballot — in this case, the Senate race — generally draws the highest number of votes.
But Elias believes there is still a machine error of some sort accounting for the apparent undervotes and that the hand examination will show that.
“That will narrow the margin, and very well may overturn it altogether," Elias said in a phone conference with reporters.
Election officials will now begin the process of examining Senate and agriculture commissioner ballots that show undervotes or overvotes, where machines detected more than one vote.
It was not immediately clear how many such ballots there are to be counted. The deadline to complete the hand recount is noon Sunday.
Palm Beach Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher said despite a "heroic effort," the county did not have time to complete the task.
She blamed old, faulty equipment that has faltered throughout the recount process for missing the deadline.
A federal judge earlier in the day refused to suspend the election recount deadlines.
U.S. District Judge Mark Walker on Thursday rejected a request by Nelson and Democrats to give counties more time to finish recounts.
In a six-page order filed Thursday afternoon, Walker said he could not offer relief because of "a complete dearth of evidence" concerning the progress or expected completion of the recounts in Palm Beach County.
Earlier Thursday, Walker issued a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by Nelson over ballots thrown out because of mismatched signatures — declaring a state law unconstitutional and offering a middle path to give voters a few days to correct their ballots.
Walker said voters whose ballots were rejected should have until 5 p.m. Saturday to go to their local elections office to verify that they, in fact, had signed the ballots.
Lawyers representing Scott immediately filed a notice of appeal with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. The appeals court Thursday afternoon declined to stay Walker's order or to schedule an emergency hearing on the matter.
In any case, those affidavits could only affect vote totals if Walker's decision to extend the deadline to file "cure forms" until Saturday stands.
Keith told the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida she was aware the deadline to submit those forms had expired, even though she was telling them there was still time to fix their absentee ballots. She then directed people to email Katharine Priegues, a field organizer with the Florida Democratic Party, with the subject line "I want to help" for instructions on what to do.
"I was trying to show that, if given notice, voters would try to fix their ballots," Keith said. "I was putting the word out because I was anticipating a challenge of that deadline (in court)."
That same day, however, state Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo wrote on a private Facebook page efforts to fix ballots should be focused on provisional ballots, which were handled separately with a Nov. 8 deadline for voters to fix any issues.
In open court earlier, Walker, the federal judge overseeing many of the recount lawsuits, pulled no punches as he placed the blame clearly on the state for Florida’s latest electoral turmoil.


The Pistol Annies -- the country trio comprised of Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley and Miranda Lambert -- include plenty of heartbreak on their third studio album, Interstate Gospel. However, they take a lighter look at a breakup with the uptempo "Got My Name Changed Back," the project's single.
The Annies know a little something about love and loss: Collectively, the bandmates have four marriages and two divorces under their belts. As Monroe explains to The Boot, the song is an important moment of levity on an album that often delves into the lowest points of losing a relationship. Read on to learn the story behind "Got My Name Changed Back," and why it was so important to the Annies to include the track on their third album.
We wrote that at Miranda's farm. We wrote a lot of our songs out there, and then we also wrote some of them on the road with her, but I have no idea what started ["Got My Name Changed Back"].
Angaleena always says that this song is about absolutely no one in our band! But seriously, we know a lot of people that can relate to it. Two out of three of us have been divorced. So I think it was funny when we started the conversation and started singing it, but it was also important to me that we put that on our record. Because divorce, from what I've witnessed -- and you know, I've seen two of my closest friends go through it -- it looks like one of the hardest things, and I hope I never have to go through that pain.
Being a friend of a lot of people who have been through [divorce], I know sometimes you just need a little silver lining and, for one second in that day, to just laugh out loud and not be heartbroken. I think it was important for us to provide that to anyone who needs it -- even people who aren't getting divorced. I mean, I get into this song, and I've never gotten my name changed back.


That was a major departure from his previous calls for mass deportation of all 11 million undocumented immigrants. It was a sign that Trump — who is trailing badly in the polls — may be willing to accept a path to legalization for some, even as he continues stirring up his audiences with vows to build a wall with Mexico.
But that’s not the main reason why Trump is softening his immigration rhetoric — because he surely knows that he has near zero chances of significantly raising his support among Hispanics.
Latinos won’t forget that Trump started his campaign with a June 16, 2015, speech in which he claimed that most Mexican undocumented immigrants are criminals and rapists.
Latinos won’t forget that Trump has forcefully called for a “deportation force” to expel the 11 million undocumented immigrants, even if that means separating parents from their young children.
Latinos won’t forget that Trump has disqualified U.S. Judge Gonzalo Curiel because “he’s Mexican,” despite the fact that Curiel was born in Indiana.
And if some Latino voters forget about Trump’s previous statements about Latinos, the Hillary Clinton campaign will surely keep them fresh in the final weeks of the race by beaming Trump’s own offensive remarks in her TV ads.
My opinion: Yes, Trump is carrying out a slow-motion reversal of his rhetoric on illegal immigration. But, no, he’s not doing it because he has any hope of increasing his dismal polling numbers among Latino voters.
He’s doing it because he desperately needs to increase his support among those white Anglo voters who are not racist, nor xenophobic, nor sexist, who don’t laugh at people with physical disabilities, and who — while being Republicans — are afraid of voting for somebody who comes across as a soulless egomaniac autocrat. The changes in Trump’s rhetoric on immigration are cosmetic, and aimed at making him look more “humane” among some anxious white Anglo voters.


SPREAD OUT! Impressive brick home on nearly a .5 acre cul de sac lot in Deer Creek. Home features downstairs study/& or guest room w/wood floors, open formal dining w/wood floors, 15+ ceiling height in the large great room. You will love the open kitchen w/tons of great work & cabinet space, granite counters, & open breakfast rm. Master suite is down & offers spa like bath, w/ step in tiled shower, large jetted tub & huge walk in closet. Upstairs offers an open loft space for hanging out, & 3 spacious guest bedrooms. Backyard is one to envy with room for family tag football, patio & more. Make your appointment today.


In other Google news, Google Reader added a nice little feature today for bloggers. You can turn your list of feeds, or any subset you choose to make public, into a blog roll. That will help spread Google Reader technology across the Web, and give Google another data point about blogs and feeds which could become another factor for it to consider in its blog search algorithm. Adding a blog to a public blogroll, after all, is an explicit endorsement from readers rather than from other bloggers (linkers). Of course, if Google did start factoring this into its blog search, it would be pretty easy to game—just create a ton of blogrolls with your blogs on them and start clicking away. Oh well.


League added that the company, which this spring joined Publicis Groupe, the third largest communications group in the world, is committed to operating in the county and bringing additional head-of-household jobs.
Level now operates as Level, a Rosetta Co., after being acquired last year by Rosetta, one of the nation’s top interactive advertising agencies. Rosetta, along with Level, later joined Publicis Groupe as an autonomous, independent brand.
“(They) will be a broad range of creative, technical and more on the program and project management sides,” she said of the new positions.
League said the ability to attract talent is one reason why the company is based in San Luis Obispo.
San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill said the commitment of Level to expand locally falls in line with the county’s economic strategy of retaining and attracting new businesses to the area, businesses that bring high-paying jobs.
The Economic Vitality Corp. of San Luis Obispo County has been managing the county’s first economic strategy project, designed to provide opportunities to improve and strengthen the local economy. Hill is co-chairman on the project with Supervisor Frank Mecham.


Onlookers watch as a wildfire burns Wednesday near Lake Elsinore, Calif. Evacuations have been ordered for several small mountain communities near where a forest fire continues to grow in Southern California.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A dull haze and the faint smell of smoke from distant blazes have blanketed many California cities for two weeks, forcing summer campers to stay inside, obscuring normally bright skylines and leaving cars covered with ash.
Kaela Baylis of Sacramento used to take her nearly 2-year-old son outside twice a day, but only has gone in the morning the last 10 days.
Two major wildfires – one called the Mendocino Complex Fire that is the largest in California history – are burning more than 100 miles north of Sacramento and another huge fire near Yosemite National Park is a little farther to the southeast.
Firefighters made significant progress against the Mendocino Complex for the first time Wednesday but said the blazes likely will persist through September.
The fires have combined to produce unhealthy air that has drifted as far east as Salt Lake City, 450 miles away.
The skies there were so murky that earlier this week residents couldn’t even see the nearby mountain range that hovers over the valley. Utah air quality officials warned children and seniors to limit time outside.
Thursday marked the Sacramento region’s 14th straight “Spare the Air” day, when people are encouraged not to drive and add further pollutants to the air – the longest stretch since at least 2001.
John and Rosalie Gonzales strolled through a Sacramento park Wednesday with their toddler granddaughter, whom they were visiting. For the last few days at their home in the San Francisco Bay Area community of Albany, they have awakened to ash on their cars from the Mendocino Complex Fire.


Fans can bid on this authentic camo "Valor" jersey and stick used by Darren Helm (#43) during pregame warm-ups for the Red Wings' Military Appreciation Night (1/15/19). Both the jersey and stick are autographed. Proceeds will benefit the Volunteers of America Michigan's Supportive Services for Veteran Families program and facility. Please Note: If the player does not participate warm-ups during Military Appreciation Night, the winner will be given an authentic warm-up issued jersey and stick.


Connecticut Open House Day on Saturday is the perfect time to explore local tourist attractions. Here are more ideas for things to do this weekend.
On Saturday and Sunday, the annual Pirates Day Weekend at Fowler Pavilion in Milford will feature a variety of pirate-themed activities for children and their families. Find out more.
After years of renovations and upgrades, the Norwalk Historical Society will celebrate the grand re-opening of the Mill Hill Historic Park on Saturday. Find out more.
Singer Neil Diamond will perform onstage at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday. Find out more.
World Gin Day is Saturday, and to celebrate Hartford will hold the first ever GinFest at The Society Room. Find out more.
Neil Simon’s iconic Broadway musical, “Sweet Charity,” is on stage at the Kweskin Theatre in Stamford through June 24. Find out more.
Killam & Bassette Farmstead in Glastonbury invites the whole family to a Fresh From the Farm tasting event on Sunday. Find out more.
Dramatic comedy “Body Awareness” is on stage at Ridgefield Theater Barn through June 24. Find out more.
Over 300 cars are expected at the Woodbury Lions Club Car Show on Sunday at Hollow Park in Woodbury. Find out more.
Musicians from around the world will gather at Mystic Seaport maritime museum to celebrate the traditions of the Golden Age of Sail at the 38th annual Sea Music Festival, Thursday through Sunday. Find out more.
THC, The Hops Company, in Derby hosts a raw bar on Fridays through September 1. Find out more.
The annual Danbury City Fair is back and running everyday through June 11. Find out more.
Check out the “National Parks Adventure” IMAX film at the Maritime Aquarium on Saturday and Sunday. The film continues through June 30. Find out more.
The 30th annual Connecticut LGBT Film Festival runs through Saturday in Hartford. Find out more.
The new musical “Deathless” is running through July 2 at the Terris Theatre in Chester. Find out more.
On Friday, the R/V Spirit of the Sound will head out to the Norwalk islands as part of the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s “TGIF Cruises.” Find out more.
Spectrum/The Stairwell Gallery at Gunn Memorial Library in Washington is hosting Anita Healy’s first solo show, “Breathe,” through July 22. Find out more.
Connecticut’s largest comic book and pop-culture convention, ComiCONN, takes place at Foxwoods Resort Casino at Mashantucket on Saturday and Sunday. Find out more.
Fairfield’s new Museum Commons opens Saturday. Find out more.
On Friday, the Milford Arts Council’s Eastbound Theatre will open its new show, Amy Herzog’s “4,000 Miles.” The funny play runs until June 18. Find out more.
"MEGAN LEAVEY," played by Kate Mara, hits theaters on Friday. Find out more.
"Thoroughly Modern Millie," starring Taylor Quick, runs through July 2 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam. Find out more.
The Bruce Museum's Canvas and Cast exhibition in Greenwich displays highlights from the Bruce Museum's growing permanent collection and runs through June 18. Find out more.
Visit Ambler Farm in Wilton for a Sunset Hoedown on Saturday. The evening features a BBQ catered by Barcelona, a signature drink, square dancing, hayrides, s’mores, and more. Find out more.
Polo season has begun at the Greenwich Polo Club with matches on Sundays through September 10. Find out more.
On Saturday, the Connecticut Sun host the Atlanta Dream at the Mohegan Sun Arena for their annual Pride Night. Former NBA star Jason Collins will address the crowd at halftime. Find out more.
The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum in Norwalk features an exhibit on "Wedding Traditions and Fashion from the 1860s to the 1930s" through November 12. Find out more.
“Cambodia: Looking Back on the Future” at the Flinn Gallery in Greenwich takes a look at contemporary art in the country. The exhibit will be on display until June 14. Find out more.
Widow Browns Cafe in Danbury is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend, with special anniversary parties on Friday and Saturday. Find out more.
Fishermen and disabled military veterans will participate in the 6th annual Annual Hooks for Heroes Charity Fishing Tournament at the Halloween Yacht Club in Stamford on Saturday. Find out more.
The Danbury Railway Museum will be the host venue for the Steel & Wheels car show to benefit the Connecticut chapter of the ALS Association on Saturday. Find out more.
On Saturday, join Chef Pat Siciliano at Bar Sugo in Norwalk for a pizza making class. Find out more.
The Glass Hour is hosting its annual Summer Party on Saturday in New Canaan. It will also be the occasion to also celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Glass House opening as a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Find out more.
A holy relic of Saint Anthony of Padua will visit St. Mary Church in Greenwich on Saturday and Sunday. Find out more.
The Hofners will be among 20 bands performing at the “Fab 4 Music Festival” at the Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford on Saturday. Find out more.
The mysterious romp, “The 39 Steps,” will play out at the Westport Community Theatre from June 9 to June 25. Find out more.
Treehouse Comedy Productions presents comic Mitch Fatel at the Cast Iron Chop House in Trumbull on Friday. Find out more.
, Griffin Hospital will host an AARP Driver Safety Program, a refresher course for drivers age 50 and older. Find out more.
“Heartbreak House,” a comic play written by George Bernard Shaw, is running at Hartford Stage through Sunday. Find out more.
Kosher Like Me will host the first ever Southern Connecticut Jewish Food Festival on Sunday. It will take place at Temple Israel in Westport. Find out more.
Spectrum/Minor Memorial Library in Roxbury will open an exhibit and sale, “An Expression of Spirit: Three Generations,” with a reception Saturday. The show and sale will run through July 22. Find out more.
Food historian Sarah Wassberg will discuss food and its relation to wedding traditions Sunday at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum in Norwalk. Find out more.


How Far is Atul Blue Sapphire?
Atul Projects India Ltd. (APIL) is a prominent player in real-estate construction and leasing. The Company started out under the entrepreneurial leadership of Mr. Nathalal Delvadia in 1970, and has been creating landmarks ever since. Under the leadership of its current CMD, Mr. Atul Patel, Atul Projects India Ltd. has been continuing to scale impressive heights.
The Company is dedicated to creating upgraded lifestyles with high-quality, yet – high value-for-money properties. Towards this end, APIL has completed over two hundred landmark projects spanning the arenas of residential, office, retail and hospitality spaces across Mumbai, and a few projects in Pune, Rajkot and Dubai. The Company also leases out commercial properties, from individual units to large corporate buildings for multi-national conglomerates.
APIL is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company. Our team of qualified and skilled architects, designers, management team, consultants and workers helps meet the high standards we set.
We avoid the use of energy intensive materials, and make structures that facilitate rainwater harvesting & waste management and allow abundant natural light and fresh air.
We believe that the best testimony of our commitment to designing, planning and executing projects to utmost quality standards is in our projects themselves.


If you felt depressed at the end of December, you might feel better knowing you were not alone. Last week, Barron's gave its accounting of how its nine Round Table, big-name, money managers did with their picks in 2018. Their results were far from pretty.
Scott Black selected four losers out of five picks. Those who invested equal dollar amounts in all of them saw average total return losses of (-25.68%). Ouch.
Abbey Joseph Cohen didn't even manage one winner out of five -- but she did, at least, manage to show average total return losses of just (-11.86%).
Henry Ellenbogen, a man I'd never heard of, earned the silver medal of this group, with five out of six winners, an 83.3% success rate. Owning all his selections would have garnered an average 5.43% gain. That modest figure was actually pretty impressive, considering the way the year ended.
Mario Gabelli gets a lot of face time on CNBC and in print media. His 3 out of 10 success rate was unimpressive, though, as was his average negative (-10.16%) total return on his picks for 2018.
Jeff Gundlach is mainly known as a bond manager. Last year's income-oriented picks didn't fare well as alternatives to equities. Four out of five of his recommendations declined. His average annual total returns weighed in at (-10.80%).
That was far better, though, than the results of William Priest's picks. All 100% of his selections went down, by an average of (-25.46%).
Oscar Schafer was the clear winner of last year's derby. He showed 60% winners in a tough, tough, environment and posted overall average gains of 9.88%. That was helped tremendously by his selection of little-known Evertec (EVTC) , which zoomed upwards by more than 100%. That more than compensated for big losses in the equally obscure names ANI Pharmaceuticals (ANIP) and CommScope Holding (COMM) .
Manager Paul Wick saw all his "long idea" picks decline. Those were total disasters, dropping about 30%, on average. His short recommendations, though, proved spectacular. They plunged by an average of 56.15%.
If you put equal dollars into all six recommendations, you lost an average 6.22%.
Meryl Witmer did better than most, although she failed to make money. Her four picks showed the least variation of all nine stock pickers. Her worst stock, CarMax (KMX) , dipped by 11.7%, while her best selection rose by 11.6%.
Owners of all four ended up down 2.18% on average during 2018.
Barron's didn't total up all their experts' results, so I did that for you. About 31% of the 561 picks went up while around 67% fell back. Those rare investors who bought all long ideas while shorting all negative recommendations would have seen their portfolio decline by about 8.56% overall.
Based on those less than stellar numbers, you might want to take this week's Barron's cover story with a grain of salt. It features a blend of repeat and new money managers' current crop of best ideas for 2019.
At the time of publication, Price was short EFX puts.


There's a delightful little saying we have here in Australia, which goes a little something like (NSFW) "glass the c#@t". It's not pretty, but there you have it. Anyway, it features in this new trailer for Yakuza 4.
This is the second in Sega's new attempts to try and package the notoriously fickle Japanese crime series as something Westerners may actually purchase,and I like it. It may not be the most Japanese of trailers, sounding more like a bad Tarantino movie clone than a gangster game set in the seedy under-belly of Tokyo, but when engaging in localisation, sometimes liberties have to be taken.
While Yakuza 4 was out in Japan earlier this year, it won't be out in the West until March 2011.


In December 1960, more than 100 UT students lined up outside the Texas Theatre to purchase tickets. According to an article published in the The Daily Texan, the students began their first of many peaceful protests by repeating the same mantra as each approached the ticket booth.
“I would like to buy a ticket if everybody is being admitted,” the students said.
Ticket sellers denied the request repeatedly, and the group of African-American and white students would return to the end of the line only to try again.
In response to the policy they deemed unfair, a group of people came together to protest in December 1960. Despite inclement weather and the Texas Theatre manager’s efforts to keep them at bay, the students were persistent in their efforts to make a change.
The “stand-ins,” which continued through May 1961, lasted anywhere from one to four hours. In response to the demonstrations, theater manager Leonard Masters moved the ticket selling operation indoors.
In light of the stand-ins, UT student Gwen Jordan spoke to the Texan about student life as an African-American.
Students such as Jordan fought to integrate the theater and other establishments on the Drag, but they found the disapproval of more than just business owners. Upset by these efforts, student Egan Tausch shared his thoughts on integration.
In spite of the opposition, students continued their demonstrations, eventually receiving support from former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. As UT students returned from winter break, they opened up their copies of the Texan to see Roosevelt’s approval of the protests.
With Roosevelt’s support, the protests continued until Masters, the theater manager, agreed to a one-month trial period during which African-American students were admitted into the theater. At the end of the trial period, the theater threw out its old policy and opened its doors to all students.
Last week, the joy of the year’s second snow day was slightly hindered by the University’s apparent inability to let us know ahead of time that campus would be closed. A text message at 8:20am announcing a delay until noon is hardly helpful to students who have 8am classes, and a follow-up text at 11:26am announcing a closure for the day is just as bad for commuters already on the roads. So we appreciate the fact that the University sent us not one, but two emails this afternoon, in which she advised the entire UT community that there might be severe weather over the next two days — although a slim chance of light freezing drizzle is hardly what most of us would consider severe. Nevertheless, horns up to whomever makes these weather-related decisions. If a light dusting of snow or a sprinkle of freezing drizzle does indeed bring the entire city to a grinding halt once again, it’s nice to be prepared.
On Wednesday, the nation’s second-largest pharmacy chain, CVS, announced that it will stop selling tobacco products in the next few months — a bold move considering tobacco sales are responsible for $2 billion of the company’s yearly revenue. According to numerous news outlets, CVS explicitly cited health reasons for its decision, claiming that removing tobacco products is an important step as the company increasingly commits to providing more healthcare services. A recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General estimates that the country still spends $132 billion to $175 billion annually on treatment for smoking-related diseases, and claims that tobacco is still the nation’s leading cause of preventable, premature death. Given the substantial toll that drugs take on our nation, it’s no surprise that health care groups and President Barack Obama alike have praised CVS for the decision. Needless to say, we agree wholeheartedly.
With the passage of a new city ordinance that will ban the use of disposable bags next year, some Austin grocers may have to alter parts of their stores in order to comply with the ban.
The ordinance was passed last week after several years of discussion over prohibiting paper and plastic bags and will go into effect in March 2013.
CVS manager Phil Wallace said the ban may present challenges for his store because of the integration of plastic bags in the checkout system.
While revising the physical layouts may be an inconvenience, Wallace said he believes the plastic bag ban is a positive step for customers to develop environmentally conscious habits.
While the concept of reusable bags is relatively new to stores like CVS, Wheatsville Food Co-op has promoted the idea for a while now, said brand manager Raquel Dadomo.
Wheatsville also has a system that rewards customers for bringing their own reusable bags, Dadomo said. Each customer who brings a reusable bag receives a nickel which can go toward their purchase or toward a nonprofit organization the store is sponsoring that particular month, she said.
This reward system encourages shoppers to use recyclable bags, she said, and the donation program raised around $1,000 last year. Wheatsville’s policy helps customers give back to the community and also reflects the store’s environmentally conscious ideals, she said.
Dadomo said Wheatsville customers are also in support of the bag ban. The store has conducted surveys through its Facebook and Twitter pages to gauge how the community is feeling about the bag ban, and the store has received much positive feedback about it, she said.
Advertising freshman Jennie Lee Gruber, a frequent Wheatsville shopper, said she sees reusable bags as a good habit and not as an inconvenience.
Gruber also said recyclable bags are an easy-to-use container for college students who don’t have as many groceries or a whole family to support.
African penguin Howard carries a valentine heart written by a visitor to the California Acadmey of Sciences in San Francisco, Monday.
For those that are single, Valentine’s Day will be a day of bitter resentment and devouring boxes of chocolate, but couples that do not share such sentiment do exist. Yet, with hell weeks imminent for many a student, some couples may have had difficulty planning anything for Valentine’s Day. For those, here are a few last-minute plans in Austin to celebrate the romantic day beyond a hastily signed card bought at CVS.
For the art-inclined, Painting with a Twist will be offering casual painting lessons tonight starting at 7 p.m. and costs $35. Each lesson features a set painting and this class will be painting a tree against a maroon background. Although no pottery lessons will be offered, guests can bring their own wine and snacks and share a dinner while painting. In addition, group seating can be arranged for the double daters.
Of course, any of the many, many restaurants in Austin would be a good choice, but why not go for something a bit different for Valentine’s Day? The Marriott Hotel will be having a murder mystery dinner. Dinner patrons will have to solve what they call a “hilarious” murder prize. A special package allows you to choose your date to be a prime suspect, because nothing says true love than suspicion of murder. The base package at $59 includes a four-course dinner, a potential prize to be “Top Sleuth” and entertainment after the show. Mugs, T-shirts, wine and Champagne can also be added to your package at additional cost.
Austin’s drive-in theater, Blue Starlite, will be having a special Valentine’s Day showing of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” at 9 p.m. Whether it is a nostalgic rush of high school days or simply being able to sing “Moon River” without any popcorn thrown at you, enjoying the film in the privacy of your own car with your significant other is a nice way to end the day. Blue Starlite is also offering a special Valentine’s Day package for $50, which includes gourmet popcorn, candy sweethearts, roses and soda pop.
Also celebrating its first anniversary, Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater will be having a special Valentine’s Day concert featuring Bob Schneider and The Moonlight Orchestra at 8:30 p.m. An Austin local, Schneider tailored this concert for maximum romance and will be playing classic romantic staples, taking his traditionally acoustic sound and bringing in horns, strings and upright bass. Special guests Kat Edmonson, Danny Malone and Lex Land will also be on hand. To those who want to remember the night, a kissing photo booth will available. Tickets start at $25. And for the charitable kind, a portion of the ticket will go to Health Alliance for Austin Musicians.