CalSTRS Enhances Corporate Governance Principles with Expanded Board of Directors Accountability Standards
Changes highlight dynamic nature of CalSTRS’ Governance Program through increased corporate board accountability to protect interests of long-term shareholders.
Testing Post August 23, 2016 Krista Noonan
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System last Thursday, July 14, approved policy changes to the Corporate Governance Principles which establish the high-level framework, proxy voting activities and shareholder priorities. The recent changes focus primarily on climate change risk management expertise, board diversity, governance structure and composition of public company boards, as well as holding corporate directors accountable to represent and protect the interests of long-term shareholders.
The changes emphasize CalSTRS support of boards of directors possessing a diverse mix of skills, attributes and experience, which includes the management of risks faced by various public companies. Having a wide and diversified range of skills, expertise and exposure to market trends is critical in maintaining the knowledge-base and accountability standards of corporate boards.
“This action reflects how important board diversity, structure and overall effectiveness are to good corporate governance…”
Anne Sheehan,
CalSTRS Director of Corporate Governance
“These principles guide our proxy voting, which is one of the most important tasks we undertake as a long-term shareholder in support of our fiduciary duty to our members,” said CalSTRS Director of Corporate Governance Anne Sheehan. “This action reflects how important board diversity, structure and overall effectiveness are to good corporate governance, which in turn is the keystone to long-term, healthy corporate performance.”
One of the recently approved changes focuses on increasing board competency and expertise in climate change risk management. CalSTRS has identified this topic as a priority, especially in the wake of the global financial crisis, which caused investors’ expectations of boards to increase and with that, the importance of mitigating climate change risks and maximizing opportunities to impact and modify business practices. As a long-term shareholder, CalSTRS is continually assessing and mitigating portfolio risks, and has increasingly called for climate-competent corporate boards and directors. Additionally, last week in a separate discussion, CalSTRS committed $2.5 billion to a low-carbon global equity index, which further aligns with the organization’s climate-focused commitments under the COP 21 Paris climate change talks of 2015.
“Diversity is not simply a social issue.”
Board diversity is also highlighted as one of the recent policy revisions with the addition of language defining CalSTRS’ right to hold boards of directors accountable and, ultimately, voting against the directors, if after engagement, no action has been taken to address the lack of board diversity. According to Ms. Sheehan, “CalSTRS has a long-standing diversity initiative in place because we believe diversity is not simply a social issue. It is about mitigating risk, improving accountability, and enhancing the long-term sustainable value and company performance for shareholders. And, to be effective in impacting corporate performance, research shows that diversity starts at the board level and permeates throughout leadership and staff positions.”
CalSTRS also made several additions to the language addressing executive compensation standards. While many of the additions were implicit in the previous policy, increased emphasis was placed on equity awards outside the normal incentive plan, as well as the use of peer groups in determining executive pay structures. As executive compensation continues to be a perennial issue in the United States, it is vital that investors stay alert and vigilant to ensure there is an alignment between management interests and those of the shareholders.
Lastly, CalSTRS continues to stress the importance of a one-share, one-vote structure. A recent trend includes a number of companies entering the public markets with unequal voting rights, and even well established companies have issued new classes of stock which perpetuate these unfair voting structures. CalSTRS wants to make its position clear: Voting rights should be aligned with economic interests.
“CalSTRS’ Corporate Governance Principles are dynamic, living documents that are responsive to the marketplace.”
Anne Sheehan
Lightframe Link
“CalSTRS’ Corporate Governance Principles are dynamic, living documents that are responsive to the marketplace,” Ms. Sheehan added. “We are constantly reevaluating our principles and policies to bring them in line with the market and relevant to the issues that are of utmost importance to shareholders, which reinforces our mission to support the financial security of California’s educators.”
About CalSTRS
The California State Teachers’ Retirement System, with a portfolio valued at $188.7 billion as of June 30, 2016, is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world. CalSTRS administers a hybrid retirement system, consisting of traditional defined benefit, cash balance and voluntary defined contribution plans. CalSTRS also provides disability and survivor benefits. CalSTRS serves California’s 896,000 public school educators and their families from the state’s 1,700 school districts, county offices of education and community college districts.
Follow us on Twitter @CalSTRS
Profile August 29, 2013
Krista Noonan
As Director of Communications for the California State Teachers’ Retirement System from 2011-2019, Krista was responsible for state, national and international strategic communications, media relations, internal communications and multi-media efforts.


People v. Hunter
E070848 (Cal. Ct. App. Jun. 17, 2019)
Peoplev.Hunter
COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION TWOJun 17, 2019
THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. DAVID ROY HUNTER, JR., Defendant and Appellant.
Richard Jay Moller, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Senior Assistant Attorney General, and Michael Pulos, Teresa Torreblanca, and Nora S. Weyl, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
RAMIREZ P. J.
ORDER MODIFYING OPINION AND DENYING PETITION FOR REHEARING [NO CHANGE IN JUDGMENT]
The court has reviewed the petition for rehearing filed June 28, 2019. The petition is denied. The opinion filed in this matter on June 17, 2019 is modified as follows:
In the last paragraph on page 12, the following is deleted:
He has forfeited this as grounds for reversal by failing to raise it under a separate heading, as required. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.204(a)(1)(B); People v. Luo (2017) 16 Cal.App.5th 663, 678, fn. 6; People v. Roscoe (2008) 169 Cal.App.4th 829, 840.) In any event,
and replaced with:
Except for these modifications, the opinion remains unchanged. This modification does not effect a change in the judgment.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
P. J. We concur: RAPHAEL
J. MENETREZ
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. (Super.Ct.No. BAF1601512) OPINION APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Elaine H. Kiefer, Judge. Affirmed. Richard Jay Moller, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Senior Assistant Attorney General, and Michael Pulos, Teresa Torreblanca, and Nora S. Weyl, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Defendant David Roy Hunter, Jr. got angry when his seven-year-old son made a couple of mistakes during a piano lesson. There was sufficient (though controverted) evidence that defendant choked his son and also spanked him twice.
A jury found defendant not guilty of felony child abuse (Pen. Code § 273d, subd. (a)) or misdemeanor child abuse (Pen. Code § 273a, subd. (b)), but guilty of the lesser included offense of misdemeanor battery. (Pen. Code, § 242.) He was placed on probation for two years, on conditions including 90 days in a work release program.
Defendant contends that the prosecutor committed misconduct by stating, in closing argument, that the jury could convict him based on the spanking alone, rather than the choking; or, alternatively, that his defense counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to object to these statements. We will hold that the prosecutor's statements were correct, and hence defense counsel was not ineffective.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
A. Background.
Defendant's ex-wife (mother) lived with their seven-year old son (son) at an apartment in Hemet. She let defendant visit their son there, sometimes overnight. Defendant was teaching their son to read music and to play piano.
B. The Mother's Account.
On November 6, 2016, defendant came over to the apartment for an overnight visit with his son. The mother left to stay overnight with a couple that she was friends with.
Later that evening, defendant sent the mother a text message telling her to phone their son immediately. When she did, the son was crying. He said, "I'm stupid," "I messed up." "I don't know how to spell my name. I don't know when is my birthday." He added that defendant had spanked him. Defendant picked up the phone and said that their son was being "insolent and devious."
Still later that evening, defendant texted the mother again, saying, "[Y]ou need to come to . . . stay with your child, 'cause I'm leaving." She left and drove home. She picked up her son, then drove back to her friends' house.
On the way there, the son said that defendant had choked him. She pulled over, looked at his neck with a flashlight, and saw marks on his neck. At her friends' house, one of them also looked at the son's neck and saw bruises.
C. The Police Interview of the Son.
The next morning, November 7, a police officer interviewed the son.
The son said that, as part of a piano lesson, defendant told him to write notes under a line. When defendant asked him a question, he "messed up" and got the answer wrong. Defendant spanked him. When he "messed up" again, defendant spanked him again. After he fixed his mistake, defendant grabbed him by the neck with both hands. For about five seconds, he could not breathe.
The officer saw "redness and scabbing" on the son's neck, but no finger marks. He did not see any marks on the son's buttocks. He took photos of both areas.
D. The Forensic Interview of the Son.
Later on November 7, a forensic interviewer interviewed the son.
He said he made two mistakes writing music, and defendant spanked him. Defendant also choked him with one hand (i.e., not two). For about five seconds, the son could not breathe. It was only after the choking that the son fixed his mistake.
E. The Physical Examination of the Son.
Also on November 7, a forensic pediatrician examined the son. He told her that defendant had long fingernails and had scratched his neck.
She found a horizontal abrasion that wrapped around his neck, and multiple vertical abrasions just above it. The horizontal abrasion was consistent with being choked. The vertical abrasions could have been caused by the son trying to "rake off" defendant's hand. In her opinion, these injuries were not consistent with self-harm.
She also found two purple bruises on the son's buttocks and upper leg, consistent with being spanked. They were visible in photos that she took at the time. However, she had not indicated them on a diagram of his injuries that she made at the time.
F. The Son's Trial Testimony.
By the time of trial, the son was eight. He testified that he and defendant were writing music in a binder. When he "got it wrong," defendant got mad and first choked him, then spanked him.
G. Key Defense Points.
The mother had used corporal punishment on occasion. If taking away her son's privileges or giving him a timeout did not work, she would spank him with a wooden spoon.
The son had been committing acts of self-harm, such as hitting himself in the head and pulling his hair.
Defendant had "very short" fingernails; the son had long fingernails.
The mother told police that she did not see the marks on the son's neck until she got to her friends' house.
One of these friends testified that it was he who drove the mother to her house to pick up her son and then back to his house. The son did not say the father had choked him. The mother did not look at her son's neck until they got back to the friend's house.
The mother did not call the police until the next morning. She explained, variously, that this was because the son was tired or because the police were busier at night.
The police officer who interviewed the son was not trained in interviewing children. He asked leading questions. An expert testified that this can give rise to false memories.
At the time of the crime, the mother was in the country illegally. Afterward, she applied for a U visa, based on her status as the mother of a domestic violence victim. As a result, she was required to testify truthfully in defendant's prosecution.
THE PROSECUTOR'S ARGUMENT THAT DEFENDANT
COULD BE CONVICTED BASED ON THE SPANKING ALONE
Defendant contends that the prosecutor misstated the law in closing argument by asserting that the jury could find defendant guilty based solely on the spanking.
A. The Closing Arguments.
In closing argument, the prosecutor repeatedly stated that the jury could find defendant guilty of the charged crimes based on either the choking or the spanking.
Regarding count 1 (misdemeanor child abuse), he said, "So you can decide . . . if it's the spanking, or if it's the putting his hands on his son's neck . . . ." "[I]t could be the spanking, but if . . . you say, well, the spanking seemed to be justified or we're just not sure if the spanking was justified, the neck injuries can show that he's guilty of this crime."
Regarding count 2 (felony child abuse), he said that the "traumatic condition" element (see Pen. Code, § 273d, subd. (a)) had been proven by "the bruising and abrasions on [the son's] body
He also said, "[Y]ou have to ask yourself what is [defendant] guilty of based on the spanking and based on the strangling . . . ." "[Y]ou have to decide whether he's guilty . . . and based on which act . . . ."
The prosecutor did not discuss the elements or evidence of the lesser included offense of battery; he merely told the jury, "[I]f you find the defendant guilty of both these charges, you don't need to consider the lesser."
Defense counsel did discuss battery; he said, "So Mr. Hunter is not guilty of the two main charges. He's also not guilty of a battery, because he's allowed to spank his child. And that's all he did here is spank his child."
B. The Jury Instructions.
The jury was instructed on a parent's right to discipline a child, as follows: "A parent is not guilty of [felony or misdemeanor] child abuse . . . and the lesser crime of battery if he used justifiable physical force to discipline a child. Physical force is justifiable if a reasonable person would find that punishment was necessary under the circumstances and that the physical force used was reasonable. [¶] The People must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the force used was not justifiable. If the People have not met this burden, you must find the defendant not guilty of [felony or misdemeanor] child abuse . . . and the lesser crime of battery." (CALCRIM No. 3405.)
C. Analysis.
Defendant argues that the prosecutor's argument misstated the law because, as a matter of law, the spanking shown in this case was within his right to discipline his child.
"[I]t is misconduct for a prosecutor, during argument, to misstate the law [citation] . . . ." (People v. Whalen (2013) 56 Cal.4th 1, 77.) However, "[a]s a general rule, '"[a] defendant may not complain on appeal of prosecutorial misconduct unless in a timely fashion, and on the same ground, the defendant objected to the action and also requested that the jury be admonished to disregard the perceived impropriety."' [Citation.]" (People v. Centeno (2014) 60 Cal.4th 659, 674.) Here, defense counsel forfeited the claimed prosecutorial misconduct by not objecting and not requesting an admonition.
Defendant alternatively contends, however, that this failure to object constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. We therefore address the issue under this rubric.
"'"To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that (1) counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing professional norms, and (2) counsel's deficient performance was prejudicial, i.e., there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's failings, the result would have been more favorable to the defendant. [Citation.] . . ."' [Citation.]" (People v. Rices (2017) 4 Cal.5th 49, 80.)
"A parent has a right to reasonably discipline by punishing a child and may administer reasonable punishment without being liable for a battery. [Citations.] This includes the right to inflict reasonable corporal punishment. [Citation.] [¶] However, a parent who willfully inflicts unjustifiable punishment is not immune from either civil liability or criminal prosecution. [Citations.]" (People v. Whitehurst (1992) 9 Cal.App.4th 1045, 1050.)
"Whether a parent's use of discipline on a particular occasion falls within (or instead exceeds) the scope of this parental right to discipline turns on three considerations: (1) whether the parent's conduct is genuinely disciplinary; (2) whether the punishment is 'necess[ary]' (that is, whether the discipline was 'warranted by the circumstances'); and (3) 'whether the amount of punishment was reasonable or excessive.' [Citations.]" (In re D.M. (2015) 242 Cal.App.4th 634, 640-641.)
In defendant's view, "spanking by hand on the butt over clothes" is reasonable discipline as a matter of law. (Capitalization altered.) In support of this proposition, he cites Gonzalez v. Santa Clara County Dept. of Social Services (2014) 223 Cal.App.4th 72 and In re Joel H. (1993) 19 Cal.App.4th 1185.
In Gonzalez, a 12-year-old girl became interested in gangs. (Gonzalez v. Santa Clara County Dept. of Social Services, supra, 223 Cal.App.4th at p. 76.) She neglected her homework and started getting to school late; her grades dropped. She also started lying to her parents. (Ibid.) They tried grounding her and taking away her electronic devices, but without result. (Id. at pp. 76-77.) They then laid out specific behavioral standards and warned her that, if she did not comply, they would spank her. She did not, so the mother spanked her five or six times with a wooden spoon over her clothes. (Id. at p. 77.) This left visible bruises. (Id. at pp. 75, 81.) As a result, a social services agency caused the mother to be listed on the state Child Abuse Central Index. (Id. at pp. 75, 81.) The trial court denied her administrative mandate petition. (Id. at pp. 75, 84)
The appellate court reversed, because both the social services agency and the trial court had refused to consider whether the spanking constituted reasonable parental discipline. (Gonzalez v. Santa Clara County Dept. of Social Services, supra, 223 Cal.App.4th at pp. 90-91, 95.) It explained that the spanking had "a genuine and deliberate disciplinary purpose . . . ." (Id. at p. 91.) Moreover, "the circumstances furnished a reasonable occasion for discipline." (Ibid.)
It continued, "The only question presenting any difficulty is whether the measure actually applied . . . was reasonable in kind and degree." (Gonzalez v. Santa Clara County Dept. of Social Services, supra, 223 Cal.App.4th at p. 92.) "We cannot say that the use of a wooden spoon to administer a spanking necessarily exceeds the bounds of reasonable parental discipline." (Ibid.) "Nor do we think that the infliction of visible bruises automatically requires a finding that the limits of reasonable discipline were exceeded. Certainly, the presence of lasting bruises or other marks may support a finding that a parent crossed the line between permissible discipline and reportable abuse. [Citations.] However, such effects alone do not compel a finding of child abuse. [Citations.]" (Id. at pp. 92-93.)
Thus, the court merely held that the spanking was not excessive or unreasonable "as a matter of law." (Gonzalez v. Santa Clara County Dept. of Social Services, supra, 223 Cal.App.4th at p. 92.) However, it left open the possibility that it could be found to be excessive or unreasonable as a matter of fact. Significantly, the court did not direct that the mother be removed from the list; rather, it directed the social services agency either to remove her from the list or to hold a new hearing. (Gonzalez v. Santa Clara County Dept. of Social Services, supra, 223 Cal.App.4th at pp. 95, 102.)
Turning to Joel H., there the juvenile court removed a dependent child from relatives with whom he had been placed, based on its finding that they "had physically and emotionally abused" him. (In re Joel H., supra, 19 Cal.App.4th at p. 1192.) Regarding physical abuse, another relative had testified that he saw the caregivers discipline the child by spanking him. (Id. at p. 1191.) However, "[h]e either did not witness or could not remember what would precipitate the spankings." (Ibid.)
The appellate court found insufficient evidence to support the removal. (In re Joel H., supra, 19 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1199-1203.) Concerning the spankings, it said, "There was no evidence that these acts resulted in actual physical harm or posed a danger of such harm . . . . Nor was there proof that the spankings . . . w[ere] outside the realm of legally acceptable and age-appropriate corporal punishment, let alone cruel or abusive conduct. While some might well debate the need for or value of these acts as forms of discipline or effective parenting, they did not appear to exceed legally acceptable behavior for a care provider." (Id. at p. 1202.)
Here, unlike in Gonzalez and Joel H., there was evidence that there was no reasonable occasion for physical discipline. Defendant's son, who was only seven years old, made two mistakes during a piano lesson. He characterized these as "stupid" and "mess[ing] up" — i.e., as inadvertent, rather than intentional. Defendant complained that his son had been "insolent" and "devious," but this was after the fact, and he did not offer any specifics. The mother testified that she, too, sometimes used corporal punishment, but only after lesser punishments, such as a timeout or taking away privileges, had failed. Reasonable jurors could conclude that spanking was uncalled for.
Also unlike in Gonzalez and Joel H., there was substantial evidence that defendant used an excessive amount of force. His son was left with two purple bruises. As Gonzalez stated, this "may support a finding that a parent crossed the line between permissible discipline and reportable abuse." (Gonzalez v. Santa Clara County Dept. of Social Services, supra, 223 Cal.App.4th at p. 92.)
Defendant ignores these two crucial factors — the occasion for the discipline and the amount of force used. His position, if taken to its logical conclusion, would mean that a parent could spank a child, hard enough to leave bruises, at any time, just to remind the child of who's in charge. This is not the law.
We therefore conclude that the prosecutor did not misstate the law and defense counsel did not render ineffective assistance by failing to object.
Defendant also asserts that CALCRIM No. 3405 was erroneous. He has forfeited this as grounds for reversal by failing to raise it under a separate heading, as required. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.204(a)(1)(B); People v. Luo (2017) 16 Cal.App.5th 663, 678, fn. 6; People v. Roscoe (2008) 169 Cal.App.4th 829, 840.) In any event, he does not identify any particular flaw in the instruction. He simply claims that it was erroneous because it did not absolutely preclude the jurors from convicting him based on the spanking. As we have already held, this was not error.
The judgment is affirmed.


Gluten, Depression, and Anxiety: The Gut-Brain Link
by Therese J. Borchard
You only need to spend 10 minutes in a supermarket these days before noticing that half of the items seem to be marketed as “gluten-free.” Even raisins and nectarines are labeled that way, as if they ever contained gluten in the first place. Is it a fad much like the “fat-free” hype of the ’80s?
But based on my own experience eliminating gluten from my diet, and the stories of people who struggle with chronic depression that I’ve read in the online forums I participate in, I believe the stuff can be toxic to your mood, especially if you have a sensitivity to it.
While only 1 percent of the U.S. population has celiac disease (where eating gluten triggers an autoimmune response that damages the intestines and keeps nutrients from being properly absorbed), many more may be living with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. For these folks, consuming even a small amount of gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) causes digestive problems, drops in energy, and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
“[Gluten and dairy] are the main allergens and foods that cause bad brain reactions,” writes Mark Hyman, MD, in his best-seller The Ultramind Solution. “Stopping these foods can be life-changing for the majority with brain and mood problems.”
Gluten and Depression
A small study published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics in May 2014 demonstrated the psychological effects of gluten on people with self-reported non-celiac gluten sensitivity. In this study, 22 participants ate a gluten-free diet low in FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) for a three-day baseline period, and then received one of three dietary challenges (supplemented with gluten, whey, or placebo) for three days, followed by a three-day minimum washout period before starting the next diet.
Researchers assessed the participants at the end of the study using a psychological tool called the Spielberger State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI). People in the study who consumed gluten had higher overall STPI depression scores compared to those on the placebo diet.
The high correlation between celiac disease and depression is also telling in regards to gluten’s effects on mood. One study published in 1998 in Psychiatric Quarterly determined that about one-third of those with celiac disease also have depression. Another studypublished in April 2007 in the Journal of Affective Disorders evaluated approximately 14,000 people with celiac disease and found that they had an 80 percent higher risk of depression. Swedish researchers reported in August 2011 in Digestive and Liver Disease that the risk of suicide was moderately higher in people with celiac disease.
Gluten and Schizophrenia
The first research into how gluten impacts the brain and could lead to psychiatric problems occurred more than 60 years ago with groups of schizophrenic patients. In a studypublished in January 1966 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers calculated the numbers of women admitted to mental hospitals in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Canada, and the United States from 1936 to 1945, and the consumption of wheat and rye during the same period. They found a significant positive correlation between the increase in average annual admissions for schizophrenia in each country and the increase in consumption of wheat or wheat and rye. The reverse was also true; as gluten grain rations decreased so did the rate of first-time admission to psychiatric institutions.
There is an increasing volume of research associating gluten consumption to schizophrenia, such as the study published in September 2013 in the The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry that found elevated levels of antibodies to the gluten protein gliadin in people with schizophrenia. Researchers compared the anti-gliadin antibodies of 950 adults with schizophrenia to those of 1,000 healthy controls. The odds of having anti-gliadin antibodies was 2.13 times higher in schizophrenics, indicating the possibility of an adverse reaction to wheat proteins among this population.
In a study published in January 2011 in Schizophrenia Bulletin, researchers discovered that people with schizophrenia have higher than expected antibodies related to celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.
How Gluten Affects the Brain
So what is the link between gluten and psychiatric disorders? How might wheat impair the brain? That’s what I find most fascinating.
In 1979, Christine Zioudrou, PhD, and her colleagues at the National Institute of Mental Health found that gluten contains polypeptides, or protein fragments, that are able to bind to morphine receptors in the brain — the same receptors that the polypeptides in opiate drugs bind to. They dubbed them “exorphins,” short for exogenous morphine-like compounds, distinguishing them from the endorphins (also morphine-like compounds) that we produce internally and occur, say, during a runner’s high. These receptor sites impact the degree of pleasure and reward we feel and, because of the withdrawal effect, alter brain chemistry. They can have a distinct effect on mood.
According to William Davis, MD, author of Wheat Belly, researchers speculate that exorphins might be the active factors in wheat that caused the deterioration of schizophrenic symptoms in a famous study led by F. Curtis Dohan, MD, during his time at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. “Wheat, in fact, nearly stands alone as a food with potent central nervous system effects,” Dr. Davis writes. “Outside of intoxicants such as ethanol (like that in your favorite merlot or chardonnay), wheat is one of the few foods that can alter behavior, induce pleasurable effects, and generate a withdrawal syndrome upon its removal.”
The Gut-Brain Connection
In people with celiac disease, gluten causes intestinal dysbiosis, a condition in which the gut bacteria are out of balance. As I’ve written about before, gut bacteria can certainly impact mood — so much that our gut is sometimes dubbed our second brain. In some people, gluten could also erode the gut lining when certain foods enter our bloodstream: Our immune system, responding to an attack by a foreign object, sends an SOS message through our nervous system, which can generate symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Basically, gluten triggers inflammation, and the response to that inflammation can affect different organs and tissues, all of which impact mood. A damaged intestinal wall also means that we are not properly absorbing essential nutrients, especially those critical to mood, like zinc, the B vitamins, and vitamin D.
Finally, if our intestines are unhealthy, that means we’re not manufacturing as much serotonin, since 80 to 90 percent of serotonin is produced in our gut nerve cells. Gluten could also limit the production of tryptophan, an amino acid that is the precursor of serotonin.
I eliminated gluten from my diet two-and-a-half years ago and noticed a substantial improvement in my mood — but it didn’t happen instantly. It took as long as nine months to reap all the benefits. Now that I’m gluten-free, I’ve become much more sensitive to it and can feel its effects almost immediately: anxiety, brain fog, and death thoughts.
Fad or no fad, I’m a believer in gluten-free!
Michael Kobel December 5, 2017
Normal Stress Reactions after a Traumatic Event
Michael Kobel October 24, 2017


Lorca: The House of Bernarda Alba: A Drama of Women in the Villages of Spain
Ortiz-Carboneres, Salvador
Southworth, Eric
Jones, Michael
I thought you would find this interesting: Lorca: The House of Bernarda Alba: A Drama of Women in the Villages of Spain Ortiz-Carboneres, Salvador; Southworth, Eric; Jones, Michael Aris & Phillips Hispanic Classics (2009)
La casa de Bernarda Alba (The House of Bernarda Alba) was one of the last plays to be written by Lorca, shortly before he was executed by the Franco regime at the age of 38, in 1936. It was not performed until 1945 several years after his death. Along with Blood Wedding and Yerma it forms Lorca's Rural Trilogy. The play is based around five daughters who live with their fearsome and tyrannical mother. The daughters have been kept sheltered from the opposite sex, but the arrival of a suitor after their father's death catapults the family into a downward spiral of sexual jealousy and death. The play explores themes of sexual oppression, passion, and conformity, and examines women's lives in Spain at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Bernarda's cruel tyranny over her daughters foreshadows the stifling nature of Franco's fascist regime, which was to arrive just a few weeks after Lorca finished writing his play. The introduction by Eric Southworth addresses the main issues of the play and the issues involved in translating it.


2014 No. 1850
Financial Services And Markets
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Green Deal) (Amendment) Order 2014
Coming into force in accordance with article 1
A draft of this instrument has been laid before Parliament in accordance with section 40(5) of the Energy Act 2011(1) and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
The Secretary of State has consulted the Financial Conduct Authority and such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in accordance with section 30 of the Energy Act 2011(2).
The Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers have been consulted in accordance with section 40(8)(b) and (12) of the Energy Act 2011.
Accordingly, the Secretary of State makes the following Order, in exercise of the power conferred by section 30 of the Energy Act 2011.
Citation, commencement, application and extent
1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Green Deal) (Amendment) Order 2014.
(2) This Order comes into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.
(3) This Order does not apply to a green deal plan (within the meaning of section 1 of the Energy Act 2011) made before 28th February 2014.
(4) This Order extends to England and Wales and Scotland only.
Amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001
2. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001(3) is amended as follows.
Amendments to article 3
3.—(1) Article 3(1) (interpretation)(4) is amended as follows.
(2) In the definition of “borrower”—
(a)in paragraph (a)—
(i)for “or” substitute “,”;
(ii)after “given by article 36H)” insert “or an agreement that is a green deal plan”; and
(b)after paragraph (b) insert—
“(c)in relation to a credit agreement that is a green deal plan, has the meaning given by article 60LB;”.
(3) For the definition of “credit agreement” substitute—
in relation to an agreement other than a green deal plan, has the meaning given by article 60B;
in relation to a green deal plan, has the meaning given by article 60LB;”.
(4) After the definition of “funeral plan contract” insert—
““green deal plan” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Energy Act 2011;”.
(5) In the definition of “lender”—
(a)in paragraph (c)—
(b)after paragraph (d) insert—
“(e)in relation to a credit agreement that is a green deal plan, has the meaning given by article 60LB;”.
Amendments to article 39I
4. In article 39I(3) (activities carried on by certain energy suppliers)(5)—
(a)omit sub-paragraph (a); and
(b)in sub-paragraph (b), for “that Act” substitute “the Energy Act 2011”.
Amendment to article 60B
5. In article 60B(3) (regulated credit agreements)(6), for the definition of “credit agreement” substitute—
in relation to an agreement other than a green deal plan, means an agreement between an individual or relevant recipient of credit (“A”) and any other person (“B”) under which B provides A with credit of any amount;
Amendments to article 60C
6. For article 60C(4)(c) (exempt agreements: exemptions relating to the nature of the agreement)(7) substitute—
“(c)the agreement is a green deal plan made in relation to a property that is not a domestic property (as defined by article 60LB).”.
Amendment to article 60F
7. In article 60F(2)(a) (exempt agreements: exemptions relating to number of repayments to be made)(8), after “for fixed-sum credit” insert “, other than a green deal plan”.
Amendments to article 60L
8.—(1) Article 60L (interpretation of Chapter 14A etc)(9) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (1)—
(a)in the definition of “borrower”, after “means” insert “(except in relation to green deal plans: see instead article 60LB)”;
(b)for the definition of “credit agreement” substitute—
in relation to a green deal plan, has the meaning given by article 60LB;”;
(c)in the definition of “lender”, after “means” insert “(except in relation to green deal plans: see instead article 60LB)”.
(3) After paragraph (1) insert—
“(1A) For the purposes of this Chapter, a credit agreement that is a green deal plan is to be treated as—
(a)a borrower-lender-supplier agreement falling within paragraph (a) of the definition of “borrower-lender-supplier agreement”;
(b)a restricted-use credit agreement falling within paragraph (a) of the definition of “restricted-use credit agreement”.”.
Amendment to article 60LA
9. In article 60LA(3) (meaning of consumer etc.)(10), after “in article 60L” insert “or, where the credit agreement is a green deal plan, article 60LB”.
Insertion of new article 60LB
10. After article 60LA (meaning of consumer etc.) insert—
“Green deal plans
60LB.—(1) A green deal plan is to be treated as a credit agreement for the purposes of this Order if (and only if)—
(a)the property in relation to the plan is a domestic property at the time when the plan is commenced, or
(b)if sub-paragraph (a) does not apply, the occupier or owner of the property who makes the arrangement for the plan is an individual or relevant recipient of credit.
(2) In the application of this Order to a green deal credit agreement—
(a)the lender is to be treated as being—
(i)the green deal provider (within the meaning of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Energy Act 2011) for the plan, or
(ii)a person who exercises or has the right to exercise the rights and duties of the green deal provider under the plan,
(b)credit is to be treated as advanced under the agreement of an amount equal to the amount of the improvement costs, and
(c)the advance of credit is to be treated as made on the completion of the installation of the energy efficiency improvements to the property (but this sub-paragraph is subject to any term of the green deal plan providing that part of the advance is to be treated as made on completion of any part of the installation).
(3) A reference in a provision of this Order listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 4A to the borrower is, in the application of the provision in relation to a green deal credit agreement, to be read as a reference to—
(a)a person who at the relevant time falls (or fell) within the description or descriptions specified in the corresponding entry in the second column of the table, or
(b)if more than one description is specified and at the relevant time different persons fall (or fell) within the descriptions, each of those persons,
and except as provided by this paragraph, a person is not and is not to be treated as the borrower in relation to the agreement.
(4) References in Schedule 4A to the “improver”, “first bill payer”, “current bill payer” and “previous bill payer” are to be read as follows—
(a)a person is the “improver” if the person—
(i)is the owner or occupier of the property, and
(ii)is the person who makes (or has made or proposes to make) the arrangement for the green deal plan;
(b)a person is the “first bill payer” if the person is liable to pay the energy bills for the property at the time when the green deal plan is commenced;
(c)a person is the “current bill payer” if the person is liable by virtue of section 1(6)(a) of the Energy Act 2011 to pay instalments under the plan as a result of being for the time being liable to pay the energy bills for the property;
(d)a person is a “previous bill payer” if, as a result of previously falling within sub-paragraph (c) for an earlier period, the person has an outstanding payment liability under the plan in respect of that period.
(5) In this article—
“domestic property” means a building or part of a building that is occupied as a dwelling or (if not occupied) is intended to be occupied as a dwelling;
“energy bill” has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Energy Act 2011;
“energy efficiency improvements” has the meaning given by section 2(4) of the Energy Act 2011;
“green deal credit agreement” means a green deal plan that is to be treated as a credit agreement for the purposes of this Order by virtue of paragraph (1);
“improvement costs”, in relation to a green deal plan, are the costs of the energy efficiency improvements to the property which are to be paid by instalments under the plan after the time when credit is to be treated as being advanced by virtue of paragraph (2) (but ignoring any interest or other charges for credit in determining those costs);
“occupier” and “owner” have the same meanings as in Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Energy Act 2011;
“property”, in relation to a green deal plan, means the property to which the energy efficiency improvements under the plan are or are intended to be made.
(6) For the purposes of this article—
(a)a green deal plan is commenced when—
(i)the occupier or owner of the property signs in the prescribed manner a document in relation to the plan in accordance with section 61(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (requirements as to form and content of regulated agreements)(11), or
(ii)if the occupier or owner of the property does not sign such a document, the green deal plan is made;
(b)a person is liable to pay the energy bills for a property at any time if the person would be treated as the bill payer for the property at that time for the purposes of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Energy Act 2011 (see section 2(3) and (10)).”.
Meaning of “borrower” in relation to green deal plans
11. After Schedule 4 (relevant text of the insurance mediation directive)(12) insert the following Schedule—
Article 60LB
“SCHEDULE 4AMEANING OF “BORROWER” IN RELATION TO GREEN DEAL CREDIT AGREEMENTS
Article of this Order
References to “borrower” are to be read as references to the—
Article 36B(13) improver
Article 36H(14) improver
Article 36J(15) improver
Article 39D(16)
current bill payer
previous bill payer
Article 39E(17)
Article 39M(18)
Article 60C improver
Article 60L, so far as relating to definitions of “deposit” and “security” improver
Article 60LA
improver
first bill payer
Transitional provision in relation to this Order
12.—(1) This article makes provision in connection with the application of the provisions of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (the “1974 Act”) to a green deal plan which—
(a)is made in the period starting with 1 April 2014 and ending with the day on which this Order is made, and
(b)is not a regulated credit agreement for the purposes of Chapter 14A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 at the time it is made, but
(c)becomes on the coming into force of this Order a regulated credit agreement for those purposes in consequence of provision made by this Order (an “interim plan”).
(2) Sections 55(21), 55C(22), 60(23), 61(24), 61A(25), 62(26), 63(27), 64(28), 65, 66A(29), 67 to 73(30), 75A(31), 80, 94 to 97A(32), 102, 105 to 107(33), 129(34) to 130, 136 and 173(35) of the 1974 Act do not apply to an interim plan.
(3) Sections 76, 86, 87(36) and 98 of the 1974 Act do not apply in respect of an entitlement of the creditor to take a step or action which arises in connection with an interim plan before this Order comes into force.
(4) Sections 77(37), 77B(38) and 110(39) of the 1974 Act do not apply to an interim plan in respect of a request which is received by the creditor before this Order comes into force.
(5) Section 78A(40) of the 1974 Act does not apply to an interim plan in respect of a change in interest rate which takes effect before this Order comes into force.
(6) Section 82(1) to (1E)(41) of the 1974 Act does not apply to a variation to an interim plan which takes effect before this Order comes into force.
(7) Sections 86E(42), 86F(43) and 93(44) of the 1974 Act do not apply to an interim plan in respect of a sum which first becomes payable before this Order comes into force.
(8) Section 130A(45) of the 1974 Act does not apply to an interim plan in respect of a sum that is required to be paid under a judgment given before this Order comes into force.
Gregory Barker
Department of Energy and Climate Change
This Order relates to the green deal energy efficiency scheme established by Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Energy Act 2011 (the “2011 Act”).
This Order applies in Great Britain and is made under section 30 of the 2011 Act. It makes amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (the “Regulated Activities Order”) in consequence of the provisions of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the 2011 Act.
This Order makes provision as to the treatment of green deal plans under the Regulated Activities Order. In particular, it makes provision as to the circumstances in which a green deal plan is a credit agreement for the purpose of the Regulated Activities Order and the persons who are to be treated as being the lender and borrower in relation to a green deal plan.
In the case of the borrower, the Order makes provision as to the articles of the Regulated Activities Order in respect of which different categories of person are to be treated as the borrower.
Article 12 makes provision as to the application of the provisions of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (the “CCA”) to a green deal plan which is made in the period starting with 1 April 2014 and ending with the date on which this Order is made, and which is not a regulated credit agreement when made, but becomes regulated when this Order comes into force. It disapplies certain provisions of the CCA in respect of these green deal plans. It also clarifies the way in which, after this Order comes into force, certain provisions of the CCA will apply in respect of these green deal plans.
A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.
2011 c.16.
Section 30 was amended by S.I. 2013/1881, article 28 and paragraph 17 of the Schedule.
S.I. 2001/544. S.I. 2001/544 was amended by S.I. 2013/1881 and S.I. 2014/366.
Article 3(1) was amended by S.I. 2013/1881, articles 2 and 3 and S.I. 2014/366, article 2.
Article 39I was inserted by S.I. 2013/1881, articles 2 and 5.
Article 60B was inserted by S.I. 2013/1881, articles 2 and 6.
Article 60C was inserted by S.I. 2013/1881, articles 2 and 6.
Article 60F was inserted by S.I. 2013/1881, articles 2 and 6.
Article 60L was inserted by S.I. 2013/1881, articles 2 and 6 and amended by S.I. 2014/366, article 2.
Article 60LA was inserted by S.I. 2014/366.
1974 c.39. Section 61 was amended by S.I. 2004/3236, article 2.
Schedule 4 was inserted by S.I. 2003/1476, articles 2 and 12.
Article 36H was inserted by S.I. 2013/1881, articles 2 and 4.
Article 36J was inserted by S.I. 2013/1881, articles 2 and 4.
Article 39D was inserted by S.I. 2013/1881, articles 2 and 5.
Article 39E was inserted by S.I. 2013/1881, articles 2 and 5.
Article 39M was inserted by S.I. 2013/1881, articles 2 and 5.
Section 55 was amended by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 16.
Section 55C was inserted by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 6, and amended by S.I. 2013/1881, regulation 20.
Section 60 was amended by section 278 of and Schedule 25 to the Enterprise Act 2002 (c.40), S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 7, S.I. 2013/1881, article 20, and S.I. 2013/1882, article 7.
Section 61 was amended by S.I. 2004/3236, article 2.
Section 61A was inserted by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 8, and amended by S.I. 2013/1881, article 20.
Section 63 was amended by S.I. 2004, 3236, article 2 and S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 11.
Section 64 was amended by section 278 of and Schedule 25 to the Enterprise Act 2002, S.I. 2004/3236, article 2, and S.I. 2013/1882, article 7.
Section 66A was inserted by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 13 (as amended by S.I. 2010/1969, regulations 2 and 8).
Section 67 was amended by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 14. Section 69 was amended by S.I. 2004/3236, article 2. Section 70 was amended by S.I. 1998/997, article 3 and Schedule.
Section 75A was inserted by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 25 (as amended by S.I. 2010/1969, regulations 2 and 8), and S.I. 2013/1881, article 20.
Section 94 was amended by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 30, and section 29 of the Energy Act 2011. Section 95 was amended by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 31. Section 95A was inserted by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 32. Section 95B was inserted by section 29 of the Energy Act 2011. Section 97 was amended by S.I. 2008/1277, regulation 30, Schedules 2 and 4, and S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 33. Section 97A was inserted by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 34, and amended by section 29 of the Energy Act 2011.
Section 107 was amended by S.I. 1998/997, article 3 and Schedule, and S.I. 2008/1277, regulation 30 and Schedules 2 and 4.
Section 129 was amended by section 108 of and Schedule 6 to the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 (c.18), and section 16 of the Consumer Credit Act 2006 (c.14).
Section 173 was amended by section 278 of and Schedule 25 to the Enterprise Act 2002, and S.I. 2013/1881, article 20.
Section 77 was amended by S.I. 1998/997, article 3 and Schedule, S.I. 2008/1277, regulation 30 and Schedules 2 and 4, and section 27 of the Energy Act 2011.
Section 77B was inserted by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 26, section 27 of the Energy Act 2011, and S.I. 2013/1881, article 20.
Section 78A was inserted by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 27.
Section 82(1A) to (1E) was inserted by S.I. 2010/1010, regulations 2 and 28.
Section 86E was inserted by section 12 of the Consumer Credit Act 2006.
Section 86F was inserted by section 13 of the Consumer Credit Act 2006.
Section 93 was amended by S.I. 2013/1881, article 20.
Section 130A was inserted by section 17 of the Consumer Credit Act 2006.


United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile
About UCP
UCP of Central Alabama
Careers at UCP
What is CP?
UCP Employee Login
UCP Programs
Camp SMILE
CCEP – Childcare Training
Computer Physicians
UCP Preschool
Preschool Playground Project
eRecycle – Electronics Recycling Program
UCP Tees
Spring Casual Day 2018
UCP News
2019 Mobtown Mac ‘N Cheese Fest
Food & Folly
12th Annual Hooked Up To Help Inshore Fishing Tournament
Williams 16th Annual Golf Tournament
2018 Iron Bowl Fundraising Contest
UCP’s Christmas Nights of Lights 5K & Fun Run 2018
Support UCP
Contact UCP
$50,000 Preschool Playground Match
United Cerebral Palsy’s Preschool Playground Project is well underway.
#GivingTuesday2017 was a huge success – generating nearly $13,000 towards a fully accessible playground for the children in UCP Preschool. The playground is a vital part of our children’s education – giving them a place to learn, grow and socialize with one another.
The efforts from Giving Tuesday captured the attention of an anonymous donor who wants to see these efforts go even further during this season of giving. Every dollar given to the preschool playground project from now until December 31st will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000!
This means that every gift you give leaves double the impact!
Your gift of $50 now has a value of $100.
Your gift of $500 has a value of $1000!
We have the opportunity to move the ball forward in a big way on this project and we are asking for your help! All you need to do is click the image above or visit our Preschool Playground Page. Thank you for your consideration. We hope to invest in the future of the next generation of United Cerebral Palsy Preschool graduates with you by our side!
Local Business Opens Doors During NDEAM
With the arrival of October, United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile prepares to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). UCP’s mission is to promote the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.
UCP of Mobile boasts over thirteen programs in 32 counties throughout south Alabama. Various programs are available anywhere from Mobile to Baldwin County all the way to Montgomery. One program in particular plays a critical role during NDEAM, Supported Employment. Supported Employment assists people with a variety of disabilities in locating, acquiring and maintaining competitive employment in integrated settings. The program is funded by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS), and it follows the “MILESTONES” system that is set by the state.
The Supported Employment (SE) Program relies heavily on meaningful community partnerships. Business leaders throughout the surrounding areas open the door of opportunity to UCP’s clients. We spoke with the Director of Human Resources at The Grand Hotel Marriott Resort and Spa, Jeremiah Bush, in regards to his involvement with the SE Program.
“The Grand Hotel, as it is known locally, is a full-service, luxury-oriented resort along the Eastern Shor of Mobile Bay. A member of the Historic Hotels of America, it has been in existence since 1847 and currently employs almost 600 associates year round and an additional 150-200 associates during the peak summer season, making us one of the largest employers in Baldwin County,” says Bush regarding the hotel.
Bush became aware of UCP’s SE program when he began working for the Grand Hotel in January of 2016. However, the partnership goes back nearly four years. “We are able to offer multiple types of jobs that are tailored to an individual’s various needs and preferences, such as Stewarding, Grounds Keeping, Housekeeping, Public Space, Catering, etc.,” Bush says. “Employees hired through UCP’s SE Program have several strengths, including a positive attitude, a passion for the job, reliability and commitment.”
While United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile does secure positions for individual clients, the involvement continues long after hiring. Employment Specialists remain with the individual in order to help them learn their job tasks. As the individual becomes more independent and comfortable with the day to day tasks, the Employment Specialist decreases the amount of time they spend with them on the job site. Occasionally, UCP staff follows-up with the individual and their progress.
“The UCP staff has been a great partner for us. They are responsive to our needs and are very knowledgeable about the nuances of our industry and what it takes for an employee to have a successful career with us… the Job Coaches, Employment Specialists and all of the staff are very attentive and involved in every component of the employment cycle, from the hiring and onboarding, to the on-the-job training, and throughout the entire career span should you ever need assistance,” mentions Bush of his experience working with the SE staff.
When it is all said and done, working with someone who has a disability often surprises people. “Working with UCP and the employees they’ve provided us has given me new insight and appreciation in finding great opportunities for people with disabilities,” says Bush, “It also serves as a pleasant reminder that a disability isn’t necessarily an obstacle to having meaningful employment in a rewarding industry such as hospitality. In fact, some of our best employees have come through the SE Program, which goes to show that everyone deserves an opportunity.”
When asked how working with UCP aligns with the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort and Spa’s values, Bush said, “We are in the people business, so putting people first is what we do in hospitality, and providing opportunities for people coming through UCP is just one example of that. Our core values are Trust, Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation, Accountability and Execution and part of our mission statement is that we ‘Create the most successful hospitality company, by ensuring that TRUST and RESPECT for our associates, guests and ownership are at the forefront of everything we do.’ Having trust in our employees’ ability to do the best they can while taking care of guests and respecting everyone without regard to any disability or special need they may have is simply who we are and who I am. I fully expect everyone I hire to be committed to doing an excellent job and doing the best they can today and finding an even better way tomorrow.”
For every job placement, an individual’s life is changed. That individual receives an opportunity to grow and be a part of their community at large. United Cerebral Palsy is extremely grateful for the partnership between the Grand Hotel and all other business partners that play a critical role in promoting productivity and full citizenship for our clients.
Smiling at camp – The Atmore Advance
Smiling at camp
Living Without Limits – Meet Kayden
Anyone who has had the chance to visit United Cerebral Palsy’s Preschool would have a hard time missing Kayden King’s welcoming smile and cheerful personality.
Kayden, a member of UCP Preschool’s K4 class, is a joy to be around. “Kayden is a very fun, loving, dramatic and outgoing child. He’s also very affectionate and sometimes a little selfish, but all in all he’s one of the most mannerable kids you would want to meet. Family and friends are his everything,” says Tora, Kayden’s mother.
Kayden has been working with United Cerebral Palsy since the start, getting to know the organization through his time receiving therapy through UCP’s Early Intervention program. When it was time to choose where Kayden would attend school for the first time, Tora says, “I could not turn down the opportunity, it just felt right.” She was attracted by the fact that UCP’s Preschool has a blended classroom, meaning that children with disabilities share the classroom with typical peers. Allowing typical peers in the classroom offers a model for behaviors such as speech and play. “He’s getting the opportunity to interact with kids that are like him and others that are not, but still being treated normally,” says his mother.
There is no question that Kayden loves his friends and his teachers. “I love the fact that my child gets excited when it’s time for school. It lets me know that he is comfortable and being treated with love.” He is also a very vocal support for his classmates in their triumphs. Kayden himself has had many personal triumphs during his time with UCP Preschool. “Kayden’s first few years of schooling have been amazing. My son has learned things beyond my expectations. I’m impressed because on certain levels he knows more than some kids his age without a disability… Kayden is more a people person now, his vocabulary has grown and he is no longer afraid to explore and try different things that he would normally be afraid of. It makes me a proud parent,” says Tora.
In cooperation with the Mobile County Public School System, United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile offers preschool classes to approximately 25 children with disabilities and their typical peers each year. UCP’s preschool classes allow students to combine typical preschool activities such as story time and crafts with their individual regimen of speech, occupational and/or physical therapy.
Welcome to the new website for United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile! Please be patient as it is currently under construction.
3058 Dauphin Square Connector
12th Annual Hooked Up To Help Inshore Fishing Tournament April 25, 2019
2020 Mobtown Mac ‘N Cheese Fest January 28, 2019
New Mobile Mardi Gras Flags Feature Icons of Carnival in the City November 20, 2018
SouthWest Mobile County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year 2017-2018 June 12, 2018


Tag Archives: robert smith
What I did last summer (Martin Gore – twice! and Fat Bob)
Last summer, everyone who was involved in writing this blog post met up in Chicago to see (worship at) a Depeche Mode show. The three of us (me, H and K) have all been internet pals for a long time but we’d never all been in the same city at the same time, and we are all huge Depeche fans. We had lots of adventures in Chicago, but the main event was seeing Depeche Mode, and Martin Gore, our favorite.
I’m an extremely anxious person and so I wanted to leave really early on the day of the show. The venue wasn’t that far away, but I get nervous. I was literally shitting bricks so finally H agreed to head towards the show. It turned out there was horrendous traffic getting into the venue, so we barely made it in time. All three of us had panic attacks in the car by that time.
I have to say that the venue we went to was one of the most poorly planned venues I have ever seen in my life. We ended up parking in VIP and not paying for it (shhhhh it’s our secret),and running to our seats just before Depeche Mode hit the stage.
Finally, we were in our seats and ready to go. All of us had our anxiety amped up to maximum levels and so it was inevitable that we all had emotional breakdowns during the concert. Martin Gore, sensitive and elfin as ever, stepped into the spotlight in his silver suit to croon Shake the Disease, and our collective knees buckled. We all held each other up while we sobbed our hearts out. I am not kidding. We were crying like babies. When people say, “I cried like a baby,” they may not mean it, but I totally mean it.
For the rest of the night, we each took turns bawling our eyes out over Depeche Mode, especially when Martin was singing. They had two set lists on that tour, and I was praying he’d sing But Not Tonight, but it wasn’t meant to be. Still, the show was incredible and we all agreed it was better than we had hoped for. There was a magic in the air that could never be recaptured. Thanks, anxiety!
Tickets for Austin City Limits (ACL) were going on sale a few weeks later. Depeche Mode and The Cure were both playing, so I knew I had to go, no matter what, and my friend H was coming with me. Martin Gore and Fat Bob (Robert Smith) are two icons from my holy trinity of goth (Morrissey is the third, if you were curious), so It was going to be insanely great.
ACL had it set up so that Depeche Mode played on Friday night, and The Cure played on Saturday night. This was basically a dream come true for me. I could not believe I was going to see two of my favorite bands in one weekend, with one of my best friends!
My friend didn’t want to spend all day at ACL, and I agreed, because it was hot as balls and also because there are so many other fun things to do in Austin. We went to Book People, and gasped loudly when we spotted an entire magazine dedicated to Depeche Mode. Yes, I bought it and we squealed over it like teenagers. Whatever, don’t judge me!
We went to ACL that evening, and I parked at my office, which was two miles away, and those two miles seem pretty far in the hot weather. We were already wilting.
We hardly got to see any bands besides the headliners, because we had to get a decent spot in the crowd. We went on the second weekend of the festival. The first weekend had temperatures in the 70’s, absolutely perfect weather. The second weekend predicted rainstorms, so we had rain ponchos.
Depeche Mode’s show is so fun when you’re in a big, excited, festival crowd. I love hearing everyone singing along to every song. I didn’t cry as much this time, probably because I wasn’t as anxious as I had been in Chicago, but when Martin sang But Not Tonight, I lost it. I think it was raining by then too, so when he sang, “Oh God, it’s raining, but I’m not complaining,” every cell in my body exploded with joy. I tried to sing along but I couldn’t, because I was crying too much. I wasn’t sobbing, just quietly letting tears run down my face while I mouthed the words. When the song ended, I was kind of embarrassed, until a man standing nearby gently patted me on the shoulder and told me that was a beautiful moment. I choked up just writing about that moment.
H and I had a great time laughing at Dave’s crazy dancing. He grabbed his dick a lot, as usual. I remember shouting, “Look at that chicken leg!” during one particularly lecherous grope. Dave, never change.
When the concert was over, we walked the two miles to the car in the rain. We had our ponchos on, but honestly, they don’t help much. You still get wet and then also feel clammy. By the time we got to the car, we were exhausted and hungry. We stopped at Kerbey Lane for some late night grub and I felt (and looked) like I had been run over by a truck. That was only day one!
The next day, we woke up and still felt terrible so we planned to go even later than we did the day before. We ended up seeing the Arctic Monkeys, but had to leave early to get a good place to see the Cure.
We were really excited to worship at the altar of Fat Bob (affectionately nicknamed by Siouxsie, so we aren’t body shaming, okay?). I’ve been listening to the Cure since Let’s Go to Bed. I remember scoffing at the people who discovered the band when The Head on the Door came out. I’m still a terrible music snob, sorry. (not sorry)
I knew it was supposed to rain again that night, and as promised, the deluge began about halfway through the show. I didn’t have a rain poncho and I forgot my umbrella, so we huddled under H’s umbrella. Seeing The Cure play One Hundred Years in a heavy rainstorm through a sea of umbrellas was probably the ultimate experience I could have as a Cure fan. I will never ever forget that.
I’d seen The Cure play at Coachella in 2010, so I knew they were notorious for breaking curfews and playing for hours and hours. They played on, covering their equipment with tarps, makeup smearing in the rain. Sadly, due to the storm, they were cut off. You could tell that Robert did not want to leave the stage, as he reluctantly shrugged and waved goodbye.
We trudged out of Zilker Park, and got lost trying to get to the car. I think we walked an extra mile out of the way. I was soaked to the bone. When we got home, we bundled up and I had the chills. The next day, I was miserable, the park was flooded, and ACL was canceled due to the fact that we had over a foot of rain.
The only band we really wanted to see on Sunday was Franz Ferdinand. They were playing a secret show at a club downtown. I felt so awful that we didn’t get in line early enough. I knew we weren’t going to get in, but after three hours, we ended up sneaking in only to be escorted out seconds later. We saw the band walk into the club, and I touched Bob on the arm as he went by. Oh, the humanity!
To salve our disappointment, we went to dinner and got some Amy’s Ice Cream. I felt terrible because I’d been a whiny bitch all the time we were in line. I seriously felt so sick, though.
After I dropped H off at the airport the next day, I went home and passed out. I ended up calling in sick the whole week, because I had a bad upper respiratory infection. They thought maybe it was pneumonia or pertussis, but I dodged those bullets, thank goodness.
I’m not sure I will ever go to ACL again. I could just livestream it all on the web, and see more bands than we saw. If it wasn’t for Depeche Mode and The Cure, I would have never gone in the first place. I guess I’ll go back to ACL for a Smiths reunion…haha! As if…
This entry was posted in Music and tagged austin, austin city limits, chicago, concerts, crying in the rain, dave gahan, depeche mode, fat bob, martin gore, martin gore makes the young girls cry, robert smith, the cure on May 12, 2014 by mekkalekkah.
The five stages of Morrissey fandom
I have spent the last few days listening to quite a lot of Morrissey and The Smiths. Seeing as how this week marks the 25th anniversary of the release of one of the greatest albums of all time, The Queen is Dead, I felt I should write about my love for Morrissey.
I have been a Morrissey fan ever since I met my first boyfriend. I would go over to his house and we’d sit in his bedroom and listen to the first Smiths album, and sometimes we’d cry together. (Yes, he turned out to be gay and left me for a boy.) He educated me about a lot of amazing music, but I really fell in love with Morrissey and The Smiths.
Morrissey spent a lot of time alone reading books, just like I did. We both thought Oscar Wilde was a genius, and we both thought we were unloveable. I wear black on the outside, because black is how I feel on the inside. If I had ever thought of getting a tattoo at age 17, I am pretty sure it would have said that. (I am glad I never got this tattoo though) Things change as you get older…that being said, here is my interpretation of the Five Stages of Morrissey fandom.
1. Romanticism
Keats and Yeats are on your side…
When you first encounter Morrissey, you’re a teenager (if you’re lucky). Teenagers feel things so much more deeply than anyone else in the world. I would hear Morrissey’s songs and they would speak to me in such powerful ways. I was an outsider and a loner, and so was he. It was terribly romantic to picture him as a Byronic figure, standing on the windswept moors, with a tear running down his cheek. Only he understood the pain of living. Only he could rescue me from that pain.
2. Wit
Morrissey is known for making good sound bites. He has often gotten himself into trouble for saying things that have been misconstrued. Back in the 80’s, he gave a good quip. I remember that he said things like “Long hair is an unpardonable offense which should be punishable by death.” (Later, I discovered this photo of him as a lad with very long hair…haha!) He also loved to put down other pop stars of the time. He accused Robert Smith of The Cure of being a “whingebag”. Robert Smith replied by saying that, “If Morrissey says not to eat meat, then I’ll eat meat; that’s how much I hate Morrissey.” (Not that Robert Smith is an angel – I remember that he said he wanted to see George Michael hung by the neck – I can’t find the exact quote but you get the idea.)
But you lose, because Wilde is on mine….sugar…
During this phase, the young Morrissey fan will educate him or herself by reading loads and loads of Oscar Wilde, Byron, Shelley, Keats, etc. etc. Every word that passes the lips of a Morrissey fan in this stage is either a quote, an epigram, or a witticism of their own invention. This becomes very tedious for their friends, if they should happen to have any.
This phase ends when the fan reads A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney, and ends up highlighting every line that ended up in a Morrissey song. Finding out that Morrissey has plagiarized and taken on loan creates an overwhelming sense of disillusionment, which is immediately internalized and forgotten so that you can continue to listen to Morrissey and not feel like the world is crashing around you.
3. Vegetarianism
Steven, you don’t eat meat…
I personally have never gone through this phase, because when it comes to food I am unable to deny myself. Well, I do eat a lot less meat than I used to, but that’s just out of necessity due to not having any money. Also, there are all sorts of nasty diseases caused by toxic meat, and also I happened to read Fast Food Nation, which is The Jungle of the 21st Century. If you don’t know what The Jungle is, click here.
However, the young Morrissey fan who first hears Meat is Murder may become inclined to eschew meat, leather, dairy, eggs, and all of those things that are made from animals. The Morrissey acolyte will also make sure to let everyone within hearing know that they are eating the decayed flesh of an animal that once had a face, or some such similar lecture. This phase will either continue until the person becomes a vegan, or it will end once their family cooks up a barbecue.
I did see Morrissey at Coachella in 2009, and he could smell the barbecued meat coming from a nearby food vendor. He left the stage for a moment, declaring, “I smell burning flesh…I hope to God it’s human.”
4. Death Wish
It’s inevitable. If you are listening to Morrissey, eventually your thoughts will dwell upon your eternal slumber. For someone that has written so many songs about suicide, Morrissey sure does persist in staying alive. Still, there is nothing like listening to endless litanies about how things would be so much better if you were dead. I used to listen to Asleep before I went to sleep, which is a song about killing yourself and/or dying in your sleep. NITEY NITE! SWEET DREAMS! Yes, I had issues. (Still do) It’s terribly romantic to think of your funeral, and all of the people who would be there in tears, wishing they had been nicer to you while you were alive. (Ah, youth!) This is the phase in which I should have gotten that tattoo I mentioned earlier.
5. Nostalgia
Once you’re grown up, and you’ve become a clever swine, Morrissey might lose some of his allure. The golden god may tarnish a bit and you might forget about him altogether. If you forget about Morrissey, I hope you enjoy your corporate sycophantic life, because you are dead inside. As long as you have a little affection for the Mozzer, you will continue to question reality. When you’re listening to Morrissey and The Smiths during this phase, you will think back on all of those nights you spent crying into your cat’s fur and smile fondly. What fools we all were in those days, ah what fun to write your suicide note in longhand while tears splashed the page! Is it weird to feel nostalgia for crippling depression? I am not sure. All I can say is that back in the late 80’s, Morrissey already knew how we were going to feel about him in the future, so he wrote a song about it.
Listen below to Rubber Ring, and remember that Morrissey is in the corner of your room, holding a torch.
When you’re dancing and laughing, and finally living, hear my voice in your head and think of me kindly…do you love me like you used to?
This entry was posted in Music and tagged 80s, brits, fandom, feuds, listicle, meat is murder, morrissey, moz, nostalgia, oscar wilde, robert smith, the queen is dead, the smiths on June 18, 2011 by mekkalekkah.


Best Canadian Casinos
Strategies to Help You Win at the Slot Machines
Become a Millionaire Playing Mega Moolah
If you want to win a significant jackpot playing online casino games, Mega Moolah is the game you need to try. No other online casino game has produced as many millionaires as this one. The base jackpot of this progressive slot game is a cool $1 million, but often stands at many multiples of this.
Click Here To Play Mega Moolah With Zodiac Casino
What is Mega Moolah?
Mega Moolah isn’t a new game by any means. Having been around for a number of years now, it remains one of the most played, and most popular, of all online casino games. For most players, it is the huge jackpot that draws players in.
Not only does the jackpot often stand at the multi-million level, the game was recently responsible for the largest jackpot payout ever on a mobile game. You don’t even have to put down the maximum bets to score those supersized jackpots. One player took away $5.5 million on a $0.50 spin.
Naturally, the potential to create instant millionaires has given Mega Moolah a reputation that is currently unmatched by any other online casino game. As a result, it is a game that you will be able to find on the pages of all the biggest online casino operators.
The last few months have been exciting times for Mega Moolah players. Two Canadian players became instant millionaires after managing to hit the top jackpot in Mega Moolah. One was a woman who was playing on her iPhone while at her mother’s house. As the bonus spin began, she decided to head to the toilet to let it play out. When she returned, there was a cool $3.3 million waiting for her.
Another player was able to score a $3.9 million jackpot while playing using a free bonus given to him by the casino. On the back of his win, he was able to leave his current job and start up his dream business.
In both cases, the Mega Moolah jackpot was a life changing experience. These are just two instances of many.
About Mega Moolah
Mega Moolah is a digital slots game with an African safari theme. Its cast of characters includes all the usual safari animals you would expect. The game itself is a 5 x 3-reel video slot game, meaning that reels are ‘spun’ to generate a 5 x 3 board. The characters that appear on that board and their positions relative to one another will determine the result of the spin.
The Mega Moolah game is linked across all casinos and uses a progressive jackpot system. This means that the available prizes quickly build up from their base levels. In addition to the four levels of progressive jackpots that the game offers, the game also features a number of other features. For example, you can activate up to 15 free spins within the game. If the Wild Lion symbols turn up on your reels, they can offer a significant payout sometimes.
Mega Moolah has created more instant millionaires than any other online slots game. The charming art style and easy to understand gameplay make it easy to appreciate the game’s current popularity.


Articles/Stories/Videos
Cooking for Kids
Dad Meetups
Good Local Info.
Museums (Free Days and Free all the time)
Memorial Day -Weekend-Whaddup-
May 23, 2014 By Studiocitydad
Memorial Day Festival at Battleship IOWA
when: May 26 at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
where: USS IOWA, 250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro, Ca
cost: Free-$18
ages: All Ages
the Whaddup:
Honoring those who served at the United States Military Appreciation Day at Battleship IOWA
You can Tour the Battleship IOWA, there will be entertainment, carnival games, food and snacks and more. Military and veterans are free. You can register for free military admission, or discounted general admission online.
Valley Greek Festival
Saturday, May 24 through Monday, May 26
Where: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 9501 Balboa Blvd., Northridge, CA 91325
When: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Who: The whole family
How: Just show up
Do delectable dolmathes and freshly constructed gyros suit your palate? How about homemade moussaka and juicy souvlaki? These and other Greek delicacies are served up during the annual Valley Greek Festival fundraiser held on Memorial Day weekend, from 1pm to 9pm. The Mediterranean delights are only part of the party, which includes the chance to survey the goods available via a number of vendors hawking everything Greek, from music to pottery to jewelry and more. Folk dances from the old country are also a big treat, as is the chance to tour St. Nicholas Church. Opa!
For more info: More Info
Take a Walk into the Chumash World
when: May 25 at 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
where: Westside, Temescal Gateway Park, 15601 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, Ca
Discover how the Chumash used the natural resources of the environment for thousands of years to create a sustainable way of life. Take an easy 1 mile walk through the woods and learn from a Ranger!
Free Holiday Monday at LACMA
when: May 26 at 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
where: Miracle Mile, LACMA, 5900 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, Ca
Another Monday off, another free day at LACMA with the perfect way to entertain and enlighten the whole family! Entry to the museum, bilingual tours, programs, art-making activities, and live music by Mehrdad Arabi and Friends at 12:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. are all free!
Tips: Tickets to the Boone Children’s Gallery on Target Free Holiday Monday are timed and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Pick up your free, timed ticket in the Boone Children’s Gallery on the day of the event. Timed tickets allow for a thirty-minute visit.
Memorial Day Concert: The Stars of Beatlemania
when: May 26 at 5 p.m.
where: Valley, Conejo Community Park, 1175 Hendrix Ave., Thousand Oaks, Ca
The first summer concert of the year at the Conejo Community Park is a celebration of the 50th Anniversaries of the City of Thousand Oaks and the Beatles’ U.S. invasion. Featuring two original cast members from the Broadway “Beatlemania!” production, this talented group performs incredibly authentic renditions of Beatles tunes.
Birdwatching for Kiddos (and Parents!)
when: May 25 at 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
where: Malibu Lagoon State Beach, 23200 P.C.H., Malibu, Ca
This is a special short walk for kids and their families – just bring sunscreen, jackets, water, walking shoes and sharp eyes – the binoculars will be provided!
Topanga Days
when: May 24 – May 26 at 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
where: Topanga Community House Fair Grounds, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Topanga, Ca
cost: $25 Adults / $15 Children 6-12 / 5 and Under Free
A Memorial Day Weekend-long bash that includes live music, a Kid’s Zone, Art Walk, local vendors, food and more. Take part in old fashioned games like sack races, a baby derby, a bat spinning relay, 3 legged races, pie eating contests, egg tosses, a water balloon way, watermelon seed spitting and other fun that takes you back… Plus tons of music on 2 stages and cap the weekend off with a parade Monday morning!
It’s Time to Party, Fiesta at Hermosa
where: Hermosa Beach, Pier Plaza & Strand, Hermosa Beach, Ca
Fiesta Hermosa is the biggest arts & crafts fair in Southern California with featured painters, photographers, ceramicists, jewelers, sculptors, and handi-crafters.
So come out and enjoy the art, the music (two live stages) and the FOOD – don’t miss the Hermosa Beach Lifeguards’ famous fish tacos. Or the handmade guacamole, crepes, shaved ice, cotton candy, caramel apples, fresh squeezed lemonade, or funnel cakes!
And of course there’s the Kiddie Carnival, which features a 30 foot slide, mechanical rides, rock climbing wall and bungee jump, and games for kids from 3 to 10 years old. Pony rides, a petting zoo, and facepainters are sure to delight the little ones.
Simi Valley Sings the Blues and Goes Cajun
when: May 24 – May 25 at 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
where: Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, 5005 Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley, Ca
cost: $15-$22 (kids under 7 are free)
This is a full weekend of nonstop award-winning entertainment, more food choices than you can sample in two days, and activities to keep kids of all ages entertained!
The Cajun & Zydeco stage will feature international and award winning Cajun, Creole and Zydeco music acts like Lisa Haley and the Zydecats, John Mayall, Guitar Shorty and the Bayou Brothers and even plenty of kids performing on the Kids Stage.
In addition, this family friendly event has a giant kids area featuring bouncers, rock walls, specialty acts, crafts and talent shows. There are also food booths and many crafts and merchandise booths.
Circus Vargas’ Magikaria Extreme
when: May 23 at Various times
where: Westfield Promenade, 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd , Woodland Hills, Ca
Get ready for the ultimate entertainment extravaganza for all ages, where the magic begins and the heart-pounding, death-defying action takes place. It’s awe-inspiring excitement, all under the Circus Vargas big top…where imagination comes to life and the world is full of possibility and wonder.
Be sure to come 30 minutes early for an interactive pre-show where your kids create their own magic center ring.
Mozart Opera Tales
when: May 23 at 3:30 p.m.
where: West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, Ca
ages: 5 and up
Opera Tales is a fun, high energy show that tours libraries every spring, bringing the joy to opera to kids every, for free. (No seriously! Opera is a joy, and your kids – and you – will love it. It’s stories, song, love and emotion…)
Mozart Opera Tales features five professional opera singers as the “opera pals” who perform musical moments from such Mozart opera stories as Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Magic Flute.
Friday Night Jazz at LACMA
when: every Friday at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Don’t forget blankets, sweaters, chairs and a picnic to while you lounge on the grass and listen to the jazz… Every Friday from April 18th through the end of October, you can hear a free jazz concert at LACMA in the grand entrance.
Bring the kids early to snag great seats and let them run around Hancock Park, rolling down the hill and exploring the tar pits before the concert starts. And remember that the museum is free to all Los Angeles County residents after 5 p.m. on Fridays (Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays too!), so be sure to check out the latest exhibits.
This Goldilocks is Just Right
when: every Saturday at 1 p.m.
where: Universal City, Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Los Angeles, Ca
Theatre West specializes in non-threatening, interactive musicals with a message for children 3 – 9 years old. Currently playing is Goldilocks, where the little blondie befriends the three bears and begins a friendship with Baby Bear. Through Goldilocks and Baby Bear, Goldilocks’ parents and Mama and Papa Bear learn that they have more in common than they thought and learn to respect each other. It’s a happy, original show with a huge amount of opportunities for audience participation.
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Splash To Seaside Lagoon
when: every Saturday at 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
where: Seaside Lagoon, 200 Portofino Way, Redondo Beach, Ca
cost: $6-$7
The Seaside Lagoon is open for the summer daily through Labor Day weekend.
The large saltwater lagoon, offers trained lifeguard supervision. Besides swimming, the Lagoon offers a large sand area for sunbathing, children’s play equipment, snack bar facilities provided by Ruby’s Restaurant , and volleyball courts. There is also a grassed area and luau shelter for day and evening events.
Santa Anita Racetrack Family Fun
when: every Sunday at 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
where: Santa Anita Racetrack, 285 West Huntington Dr., Arcadia, Ca
cost: $40/family of 4
On the weekend Santa Anita race track has a Family Fun Zone with a field full of activities for your little jockeys to enjoy, from inflatable jumpers, face painting and carnival games to pony rides, a chance to meet Seabiscuit and the Santa Anita Playground. Plus, you enjoy an exciting day of racing as the horses run around you. Family 4 packs give you admission, parking, racing programs, hot dogs, chips and sodas for the whole family, plus 2 pony rides and 8 carnival games.
Annenberg Pool Pre-Season Splash
where: Westside, Annenberg Beach House, 415 P.C.H., Santa Monica, Ca
This is one of the hottest things to do in SoCal, meant to cool you down.
With spectacular views, a splash pad, children’s play area, gallery, historic pool, and Marion Davies Guest House there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the Beach House, and it’s open this weekend and on June 1tth for the season, so when it heats up in the Valley get to the beach and enjoy a dip and some LA history!
The pool is open Memorial Day Weekend from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., then it opens daily for the season on June 11th.
Passes go on sale daily at 9:30 am. The pool is 4′ to 8′ deep, heated to 80 – 85 degrees and chlorinated. Towels and locks are not provided – please bring your own.
-Weekend-Whaddup-
Post? Don’t Mind if I do.
Kids Bowl Free? Yes, they do!
Time for New Wheels
Jennifer on Museums (Free Days and Free all the time)
Alisha Jenkins on About this Site


Florida sees record tourism in 2014
By Arlene Satchell
Roberta Porco of Denver takes pictures on Fort Lauderdale beach. (Carline Jean / Sun Sentinel)
A record 97.3 million visitors traveled to Florida in 2014, the fourth consecutive record year, according to preliminary estimates Monday by Visit Florida, the state's official tourism marketing corporation.
Tourism increased 3.9 percent over 2013, Visit Florida said. The previous record was 93.7 million tourists in 2013.
Last year, about 11.5 million visitors came from overseas, with 3.8 million more from Canada, up 2.6 percent and 2.4 percent respectively. Both were records.
The improving economy and increased flights between Florida and Europe and Latin America fueled higher tourism statewide and in South Florida.
In Broward County, 14 million travelers visited last year, spending $11.4 billion, according to data from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. That was up from 13.4 million visitors and $10.6 billion in spending in 2013.
[More business] John Knox to begin construction on 150 senior apartments »
Palm Beach County is forecast to see more than 6.24 million visitors in 2014, up from 6 million the year earlier, but final numbers are not complete.
Statewide, a record number of people — 1,135,700 — were employed in the travel industry in 2014, up 3.6 percent from the year before, Visit Florida said.
The state Department of Economic Opportunity estimates that of the 9.1 million people currently employed in Florida, 1.1 million have jobs tied to the tourism industry.
New hotels contributed jobs in South Florida. They included the 105-room Hampton Inn & Suites in Coconut Creek, which opened in summer, employing about 30 people. Another was the 156-suite Residence Inn by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port hotel in Dania Beach, which opened in October, bringing more than 60 new jobs to the area.
[More business] Here’s how much you can save at Charming Charlie closing sale »
The new 95-room Fairfield Inn & Suites in Delray Beach also recruited many of its 30 employees in 2014.
The increase in visitors also means additional revenue for the state.
Visit Florida President and CEO Will Seccombe told legislators last week that about 12 percent of all state sales-tax revenue comes from people who don't live in Florida.
Tourism officials think they can boost the number of visitors with additional money for marketing and by getting people to also consider Florida for ecotourism and more off-the-beaten path trips.
[More business] Buying on a budget? Here are the best lightly used cars for under $20,000 »
Gov. Rick Scott has asked lawmakers to increase tourism-marketing funding from $74 million in the current fiscal year to $85 million during the budget year that begins July 1. He has been pushing for Florida to surpass 100 million visitors a year.
Visit Florida hopes to attract wealthier international travelers, who will spend more, and to entice people to consider Florida for bicycle trips and small-downtown shopping in addition to Disney World and the beaches. Seccombe outlined the marketing plan during an appearance before a Senate budget panel last week.
"With all the marketing in the world we couldn't put a whole lot more people down into the Florida Keys today," Seccombe said. "They're running 92, 95 percent occupancy in the Keys. But there are areas that don't have that high occupancy. We're working very hard in our strategic planning process to identify the need areas of the state."
Some senators last week raised questions about the return on investment if they increase funding for Visit Florida to $85 million. Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, said it appears that the increase in tourism numbers has gone up at a slower rate than the state's spending.
John Knox to begin construction on 150 senior apartments
Buying on a budget? Here are the best lightly used cars for under $20,000
"To me, potentially, we're getting to a situation where maybe we've spent or are spending what we need," Latvala said during last week's meeting of his panel.
Seccombe estimated that about 50 million visitors each year would come to Florida regardless of advertising, due to family, friends and other personal interests.
Information from the News Service of Florida was used in this report.
asatchell@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4209 or Twitter@TheSatchreport