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2011-06-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

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2011-06-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

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2010-03-19T21:47:00.000-07:00

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2010-03-18T05:37:00.000-07:00

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2010-03-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

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Needs Inc. to open 2nd location in Pine Bluffs

2010-03-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

Needs Inc., a local nonprofit organization that helps low-income people, will open a second location in Pine Bluffs next month.

A few of the details are still being worked out, but "everything has just fallen into place," Executive Director Ami Skeens said.

There is a tentative opening celebration scheduled for Saturday, April 10, at the new location, 315 Main St. in Pine Bluffs, downstairs from the Masonic Lodge there.

The new location will provide the same services that Needs in Cheyenne does, including emergency food, clothing, referrals to other organizations, school supplies and case planning.

"There's no one there that does anything like this in the eastern part of the county," Skeens said. "They have a lot of need."

Pine Bluffs is largely an agricultural town, she added, which is an industry that has taken quite a hit recently.

The agency will use Experience Works, a program that helps workers over 55 years old find work and generate income, and volunteers to staff the new location.

The town is providing the building and utilities.

Currently, some agencies go to Pine Bluffs once a month to help people in need, said Cate Cundall, the town clerk/treasurer. But the need for more assistance has come to the attention of the town recently.

"We do have a large (number) of low-income residents," she said.

The town has had charities like Needs there before, but nothing quite as organized, she added. Having a local place for people to go likely will be a huge help, since transportation often is an issue for low-income people.

"We're just very excited that we're in a position that we can assist with this," she said.

How to find grants for Early Childhood

2010-03-15T10:18:00.000-07:00

As we head into spring, you should begin to think about summer school and fall programs that can improve the educational experience of your students. I often talk about assessment and how to use your assessments to build better, more productive programs. It is important when you start to build a program to clearly picture that successful program in your mind. It is like the painter who pictures the final masterpiece before he ever puts paint to the canvas.

Your 3rd grade readers may be an average of a year behind national norms. The picture in your mind should be of your 3rd graders all scoring at least on grade level when they take their final assessment each spring. You then need to contemplate and picture the type of activities it will take to make sure that each student is reading at the proper level. You might picture small reading classes with each child getting individual attention from teachers, aides, or volunteers. You might picture students all reading hundreds of library books in the hour you give them each day to practice their reading.

Maybe during summer school you decide to attack the obesity problems of your intermediate students. You picture happier, slimmer students who have moved away from obesity and the bad habits that got them there. You see them exercising each day, eating good fruits and vegetables at school, and learning how to make good choices when it comes to their own nutrition and exercise programs. You visualize the people and the activities that will get you to that result.
You have to be able to picture the result of your program and the types of activities it will take to get your students to that end. Never let money get in your way when you are picturing your programs and results. If you can envision the positive conclusion of an exemplary program, you will be able to find the money to finance it in your regular budget or with grant funding – if you are determined to make it work.

Once you have made assessments and defined a problem, it is time to think and plan. Get clearly in your mind the results you want from the program. Visualize the activities it will take to get your students to that result. Build your budget to pay for the program. Once you have all that in place, go to your regular budget to see if there is money available to pay for the program. If there is not money available, go to a good grant database and begin to look for grant money to fund your program.

If you are absolutely determined to make positive changes in your school, you will get the money and the results you have visualized.

Haiti President Accept School Supplies

2010-03-14T03:43:00.001-07:00

Haiti's president, Rene Garcia Preval, is expected to visit Tampa late today to accept donations of school supplies from the Hillsborough Education Foundation for his quake-ravaged island nation.

Through its Teaching Tools program, the foundation will turn over two pallets of crayons, notebooks, recycled paper, pens and pencils and two paper cutters as well as furniture, desks and chairs, spokeswoman Melinda Dale said today.

The supplies will help Haiti as it rebuilds schools in the aftermath of January's earthquake near Port-au-Prince. More than 200,000 people were killed, 300,000 injured and another 100,000 left homeless, according to recent reports.

Preval will visit the warehouse site in Corporex Park late this afternoon along with the Consulate General of Antigua and Barbuda, Ian Sweeney, whose daughter attends kindergarten at St. John's Episcopal Parish Day School in Tampa.

Sweeney got the call to help which resulted in a service project for St. John's Dads Club, said Cindy Fenlon, the school's director of institutional advancement.

The school is collecting other items, including baby formula and diapers, sleeping bags, tents, canned food and water now through March 12.

In addition, a member of the foundation's Teaching Tools committee joined the effort to collect school supplies, Dale said.

"It's an incredible opportunity for us," she said. "We're always happy to provide supplies to children in need."

Teaching Tools provides at-risk students in Hillsborough with basic school supplies. The store also allows teachers from county schools with special programs for low-income families to visit once a month and pick out $250 worth of free items for their classrooms.

Locally, the program reaches about 1,800 teachers and more than 50,000 students a year. Now, it's helping children worldwide, Dale said.

The Hillsborough Education Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to garner public and private support for Hillsborough County Public Schools.

Preval's trip to the United States included a visit with President Obama in Washington on Wednesday, where Obama pledged to continue providing financial assistance and humanitarian. With spring rains ahead, he added, "the challenge is now to prevent a second disaster."

Preval expressed thanks to the United States for its "massive, spontaneous, generous help." The disaster is a signal, he said, that world relief efforts "must be improved."

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2010-03-10T05:04:00.000-08:00

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2010-03-06T22:16:00.000-08:00

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Help Chile with Discountschoolsupply

2010-03-06T22:11:00.000-08:00

In light of the recent earthquake that has devastated Chile, Discount School Supply will contribute a portion of all weekend sales on the Discount School Supply website directly to the Red Cross.There is no special code to use and no special form to fill out...

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2010-03-03T01:04:00.000-08:00

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Only Days Left on Red Sale

2010-02-27T19:15:00.000-08:00

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County looking for sponsors for Adopt-An-Angel program

2009-11-30T07:59:00.000-08:00

More than 1,000 children are expected to write letters to Santa Claus through the Lackawanna County Children and Youth Services Adopt-An-Angel program in hope of receiving gifts of school supplies, clothes, toys and even prayers for "grandpa in heaven."

With 600 letters in already, and 100 letters without sponsors, the agency is hoping the community will step forward to give a Christmas to children that CYS works with, many of whom come from families with drug and alcohol addictions or mental health issues.

"I am very sad because my brother (has) been in the hospital three times, and I would be really happy if you could (sprinkle) some of your Christmas magic on him to make (him) all better," wrote one 10-year-old girl to Santa. "P.S. I love Disney princesses."

Children and Youth Services has been running the Adopt-An-Angel program for more than two decades. Children up to age 18 write letters and CYS finds sponsors among businesses and individuals.

Last year, 758 children wrote letters to Santa. Based on how many letters have been received already, the county expects more than 1,000 will be received by Christmas, said Lisa Sohara, a CYS supervisor.

"Some of the kids are in foster care, but most are with family in homes," she said. "For some of these kids, these are the only presents they will have."

CYS provided the Times-Tribune with a sample of letters, which range from requests for uniforms, notebooks, pens and pencils for school, to video games and bicycles. Popular items so far this year are MP3 players and cell phones.

Sponsors aren't expected to dole out hundreds of dollars for video game consoles and shouldn't get upset if a child asks for something that might be expensive, said CYS outreach coordinator Gabrielle Palmieri.

"They ask Santa for what your child would ask for. They don't expect to get everything, but they're kids. It's easy to imagine a cell phone or game system," Ms. Sohara said.

One 11-year-old boy asked for a "PSP," a handheld video game console, but added "I would love anything you bring for me and my sister. Thank you. I will leave milk and cookies for you."

A 16-year-old girl asked for a CD player and "word-find books for my grandma."

"Plus, I would like you to say a prayer for my grandpa in heaven," she added.

The Scranton firefighters union, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 60, decided to sponsor 75 children this year, said firefighter Brian Murray, the program's coordinator for the union.

After reading the letters, the union has already decided to sponsor another 15 children, he said.

"The common thought is we're firefighters, we can take anything. But for a couple of our guys, reading these letters, they not so much cried but these letters certainly brought down their shield a bit," Mr. Murray said. "These kids are asking for hats, scarves, coats -- things we take for granted -- and we're going to do what we can to help them."

Contact the writer: cschillinger@timesshamrock.com You can be Santa

Children and Youth Services is looking for individuals, businesses and organizations to sponsor children through its Adopt-An-Angel program. To help, call CYS outreach coordinator Gabrielle Palmieri at 963-6781.

Credit: The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.

Two octogenarian volunteers have spent 8,000 hours helping others in Mesquite

2009-11-30T06:59:00.000-08:00

Much of the success of the Sharing Life Community Outreach in Mesquite can be traced to the figure eight.

Two octogenarians -- Sammie Coats, 88, and Dorothy Compton, 83 -- have logged more than 8,000 volunteer hours together for the organization.

They are such a force that it probably feels as if they work eight days a week.

"They work five to seven days a week every single week, and they are the heart and soul of our organization," said Teresa Jackson, Sharing Life's executive director.

The two volunteers do everything from accepting donations to stuffing bags and helping people with their clothing choices.

Sharing Life Community Outreach -- one of this year's Dallas Morning News Charities -- offers an array of assistance, including food, clothing, school supplies, rent and utility assistance, literacy classes and job training skills to families in need in 11 ZIP codes in southeast Dallas County.

"They are always there; they are the most dependable backbone volunteers that I have," Jackson said. "They have given their lives over to volunteerism rather than just sit at home and wither away in their retirement years."

Jackson added: "We could not survive if we didn't have those two ladies."

Oriental Trading Company Makes Gift Giving More Fun

2009-11-30T05:58:00.000-08:00

Oriental Trading Company, the nation's largest direct merchant of value-priced party supplies, arts and crafts, toys and novelties, and a leading provider of school supplies and affordable home decor and giftware, recently introduced its new gift card program-creating a unique, gift-giving customer experience.

"We wanted to provide our customers with affordable and convenient gift giving options for friends, family, teachers and co-workers," said Sam Taylor, CEO of Oriental Trading Company. "With easy online ordering and innovative personalization features, our new gift card program offers a creative way for consumers and businesses to give gifts during the holiday season and throughout the entire year."

Oriental Trading makes ordering gift cards easy for customers, who can use their creativity and make the gift card more personal by uploading a photo of themselves, a friend, family member or group to customize their gift card. Standard gift cards come in six fun and unique designs. Gift cards are available in denominations ranging from $10 to $500, have no extra fees or expiration dates, and may be personalized for free.

Each gift card is delivered in a personalized greeting card and envelope, which can be customized for any occasion. Customers can choose from hundreds of greeting card designs. Gift cards are shipped free and arrive within 5-7 business days. Express shipping, including overnight, is available for an additional fee. Last minute gift givers can also send an eGift Card, which will arrive in the recipient's e-mail inbox within 12 hours - a perfect and welcome surprise to any inbox!

In addition to holiday gift giving, Oriental Trading gift cards are a perfect way to thank teachers throughout the year with a card they can use to purchase affordable classroom supplies, such as colorful storage units, bulletin board materials, teaching supplies, stickers, and incentives to reward and recognize their students.

Oriental Trading Company gift cards are easy to give and fun to receive. They can be ordered and redeemed online, by phone, fax or mail and be used to purchase from an assortment of over 35,000 products, perfect for individuals, teachers, schools, churches, businesses and non-profit organizations. Oriental Trading Company gift cards are a creative, affordable solution for any occasion. About Oriental Trading Company Oriental Trading Company is the nation's largest direct merchant of value-priced party supplies, arts and crafts, toys and novelties, and a leading provider of school supplies and affordable home decor and giftware. Recognized as one of the Top 50 Catalog Companies, Oriental Trading Company employs approximately 3,000 employees and offers more than 35,000 products to individuals, teachers, schools, churches, businesses and not-for-profit organizations. From pink flamingos, party supplies and grass skirts to holiday decorations, scrapbooking supplies, and crafts, Oriental Trading Company makes the world more fun! www.orientaltrading.com.

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Planners OK parking request for college

2009-11-30T04:57:00.000-08:00

Action taken Tuesday by the Salina Planning Commission puts Brown Mackie College of Salina on the path to offering a new veterinary technician vocational training program.

Brown Mackie is seeking to lease space for the program, to include office space, classrooms and lab space, in an office building in front of the Reserves at Prairie Glen Apartments, 2515 S. Ohio, across from Jerry Ivey Park.

Planning commissioners approved a zoning amendment expanding permitted uses of the office complex to include business schools and small animal clinics.

Salina city commissioners also must approve the amendment.

The request was made by Salina Building Co., which bought the 12,000-square-foot office building from the original apartment complex developers, Overland Ventures, of Overland Park.

City planners were concerned about parking at the complex. Mike Bostater, president of Salina Building Co., said there is an agreement with First Southern Baptist Church, 2401 S. Ohio, to use 45 parking spaces in its lot for the clinic's students. The office complex has 46 spaces.

"That takes us to a little more than eight parking places per 1,000 square feet. That's an incredibly high number for most uses," Bostater said.

By separating the parking, any traffic bottlenecks when students are arriving or departing classes should be minimized, he said.

Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the zoning amendment, agreeing to waive a condition that shared off-site parking be located within a distance of 600 feet from the office suite. The distance from the office suite to the church parking lot is about 900 feet, but there is sidewalk access, said Dean Andrew, the city's director of planning.

Salina Building Co.'s zoning application will be considered Dec. 7 by city commissioners, he said.

Also Tuesday, the planning commission voted to recommend to the city commission an amendment to regulations that would add building supply stores and lumberyards, business schools, department and discount stores, and food stores and delicatessens to the list of permitted conditional uses in the South Ninth Street retail corridor.

The amendment was requested by landowner Norm Riffel concerning property that was formerly part of a ramp area between Interstate Highway 135 and South Ninth Street. The property was abandoned in the mid-1990s after the opening of the Schilling Road interchange. The change was requested to help prepare for future development of the property, Andrew told commissioners.

Wireless towers approved

Planning commissioners Tuesday also approved applications on behalf of Verizon Wireless for the construction of two cellular communication towers through leases with the Salina School District. One 130-foot tower, with stadium lights mounted on it, would replace an existing 90-foot light pole at the southwest corner of Salina Stadium, near Salina Central High School.

The other 120-foot-foot tower would be constructed 450 feet west of Salina South High School, 730 E. Magnolia. The tower could serve as a light pole as part of a future field-lighting project. The recommendations from the planning commissioners concerning the towers will be presented to city commissioners for consideration.

There was some discussion by commissioners about the threat of the towers attracting lightning. Glenn Skulborstad, a retired South High teacher and coach, raised questions about the locations putting students in jeopardy.

"What's the almighty dollar worth?" Skulborstad asked commissioners. "You can't buy a child's life."

Trevor Wood, representing Selective Site Consultants, an agent for Verizon, said the towers are fully grounded so that were a bolt of lightning to strike, the energy would be directed into the ground. He said schools in other locations in the Midwest and across the country have similar cell tower lease agreements.

Road closure approved

Commissioners Tuesday also gave approval to a petition filed by landowner Roberta Kaufman to close a portion of Cypress Street from Willow Drive to Commanche Avenue. Cypress Street is a block south of West Crawford Street, adjacent to Centennial Park. The recommendation from the planning commission now goes to the city commission.

The purpose of the request is for Kaufman to acquire land to expand the commercial lots she owns along Crawford Street to allow for future redevelopment. In return, Kaufman is proposing to pay for the design and construction of an extension of Birch Drive to Crawford Street.

-- Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.

Credit: The Salina Journal, Kan.

Fill shoeboxes with holiday cheer through Monday

2009-11-22T09:47:00.000-08:00

For Donna Smith, improving one child's Christmas is a matter of filling a shoebox with gifts.

Smith is a relay site coordinator at Jonesboro Baptist Church for Operation Christmas Child, a national program which began in 1993 and has collected more than 68 million shoeboxes filled with small gifts to give to children in need all over the world.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, a Christian relief and evangelism organization.

Several years ago, Smith's daughter helped with the program during the holiday season and told her mom about how much she enjoyed it.

"From that point on, we've been a shoebox family," Smith said.

Jonesboro Heights has been a relay site for Operation Christmas Child since 2003, she said. From there, the shoeboxes move to larger collection sites, like Charlotte, and then on to one of six national processing centers.

When Jonesboro Heights first got started with OCC, 23 other churches also participated and 2,676 shoeboxes were collected.

Last year, 4,160 boxes were collected and 72 area churches participated, Smith said.

"OCC is catching. Once you introduce somebody to this project, they just love it," she said.

Other organizations, like the Sanford Women's Center and the Central Carolina Jaycees, also participate, she said.

"It's not just a church thing, it's not just a Jonesboro thing," Smith said. "It's just as simple as filling up a shoebox with items that a child would enjoy."

Things like school supplies, coloring books, small toys, stuffed animals and toiletry items are all suggested items to fill a shoebox; but OCC asks that liquids, breakables, chocolate and war toys be left out of the shoeboxes.

"You might think it's kind of confining, but you would be amazed at what you can fit in a shoebox," Smith said.

Even during a recession, it's important to give at Christmas, she said.

"These boxes are going to kids in third world countries," she said. "Our poorest poor people don't understand what these kids go through. It's still important to give kids some hope and some joy."

Buying gifts for a shoebox can be done economically, too, Smith said, and buying gifts from dollar stores is encouraged. She said some who've donated shoeboxes have filled them for $15.

Smith called OCC "the highlight of our Christmas."

"People want to do something that matters. This is an easy way to help a child," she said.

Smith said a $7 donation is also requested, to pay for shipping and handling.

But if those interested in putting together a shoebox don't have the extra $7, "don't let that stop you from doing one," she said.

Smith said she could talk about OCC "forever."

"I love it. I have a passion for it," she said. "It's an easy, easy way to make a difference."

Educators hails three in area as super volunteers

2009-11-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

Two individuals and one local business were among a select few recognized this week for their contributions to education in South Carolina.

Nineteen individuals and organizations across the state received the state Board of Education's annual volunteer awards. The awards are broken into four categories: businesses, civic organizations, individuals and school improvement councils. School districts make the nominations each year.

Local recipients included the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation for its work with Spartanburg School District 7, Christy Kesler, a District 3 volunteer, and District 1 volunteer Margaret Russell.

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation was recognized for its focused effort at Cleveland Elementary School, especially in the areas of math and science. The foundation sponsored holiday wish lists for Cleveland students, set up health screenings, purchased school supplies and playground equipment and donated $60,000 to create an on-site science center.

Sheila Breitweiser, director of the SRHS Foundation, said the partnership helped renew in volunteers a sense of hope and optimism about what is possible in schools. Breitweiser said she was appreciative of the recognition.

"The administrative team of District 7 has been so forthcoming in their appreciation," Breitweiser said. "Nothing about this has been taken for granted."

Kesler, who recently moved out of state, was a volunteer at Cannons Elementary School in District 3. She served on the PTO and was president for two years.

Cannons Principal Karen Grimm said Kesler helped organize a new reading initiative, was a mentor to students, regularly brought in food for teachers on conference nights and recruited volunteers.

"She is a happy, cheerful person who was willing to spend lots of hours here to help in any way she could," Grimm said. "She gave it all she had."

Margaret Russell has been a volunteer at New Prospect Elementary in District 1 since her grandchildren, now teenagers, attended the school.

An avid reader, Russell spends time in the school's library at least three days a week.

She also helps in classrooms as needed. She likes helping students pick out books and tutoring them as they learn to read.

"I was so surprised, so stunned," Russell said of receiving the state award. "I'm glad they think that much of me."

The awards were presented Tuesday. For a complete list of winners, visit the state Department of Education's Web site at ed.sc.gov.

Easy Access to Talent

2009-11-15T07:15:00.000-08:00

WHEN it comes to an educated population, the Bluegrass can hold its own against any other midsize metropolitan area in the United States.

With more than a dozen colleges, universities and technical schools in the area, businesses here have access not only to a steady stream of graduates but also to faculty resources and the latest research and development. They also have access to support and guidance from the University of Kentucky.

"I've said for many years that the great cities of the future are university cities," said Robert King, president of Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

In the Lexington-Fayette County metropolitan statistical area, almost 33 percent of adults over 25 have a bachelor's degree compared with the national average of 27 percent, according to the most recent census figures. The number of residents with graduate degrees for the same demographic is 13 percent in the Bluegrass compared to 9 percent nationwide. These statistics put Lexington on par with cities such as Portland, Ore., and St. Paul, Minn.

Kentucky, like many other states, is trying to improve its educational attainment levels. And though the Bluegrass has the advantage of exceeding state and national statistics, the area will directly benefit from Kentucky's goal of better preparing students for college.

King said by passing Senate Bill 1 this past spring, the state has shown its commitment to making sure students who earn decent grades have the attained the education necessary to succeed at college. Progress will be tracked using the national ACT as a benchmark as opposed to the current Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS).

Currently, many Kentucky high school graduates are struggling at college and require remediation, said King. In fact, at Bluegrass College and Technical School, 75 percent of incoming students, including adults returning to school, require remediation in at least one area, said BCTS president Augusta Julian. Statewide the figure is more than half.

"This causes students to question their own abilities and keeps them from moving ahead as quickly as they'd like," Julian said.

King said this legislation will change that. "More students will be ready to go to college, succeed and graduate," he said.

The initiative also will help the state toward its directive to double the number of bachelor's degrees to mirror the nation's average. The state already has made some progress toward this goal, having more than doubled the number of degrees and credentials awarded statewide from 25,577 in 1998 to 52,031 in 2008. The number of graduate degrees awarded also almost doubled in the same time period.

Another state goal is facilitating students' ability to transfer between a community college and a four-year college, such as BCTS and UK, which have been working together to make this happen. This mission is becoming even more important, said Julian, as more students attend community colleges to take their prerequisites in this challenging economy.

Although Julian said the BCTS is educating more students on their way to four-year degrees and beyond, the school has a specific niche: to offer two-year programs in health science, manufacturing, construction and technical fields that fill specific job needs in the area and to develop shorter courses in tandem with companies in these fields to update or add new skills.

The challenge right now is that enrollment for this fall is up 7.5 percent as the state legislature struggles with budget shortfalls. BCTS has waiting lists for several programs it cannot expand without help from the state.

"It's a difficult situation," said Julian.

King said each university and college, like BCTS, has a niche that helps prepare students for the workforce. More than 80 percent of graduates of Kentucky colleges stay in the state to work. At Eastern Kentucky University, President Doug Whitlock said many graduates of the school find jobs in cities along the Interstate 75 corridor.

EKU, said Whitlock, provides students with opportunities in both vocational-technical programs and a broad-based liberal arts education. The school is one of the state's top providers of teachers, nurses and information technology employees. To better educate and attract future science teachers and science majors and aid in research, EKU is adding a state-of-the-art $64 million science building, which will open in the fall of 2011.

Meanwhile, the University of Kentucky is working not to attract and educate just students but businesses as well. The college has partnered with the city and state to help recruit and grow companies, in addition to helping distressed companies try and get their legs back, said Len Heller, vice president for UK's new Commercialization and Economic Development Office.

Over the past few years, UK has streamlined its efforts to work in partnership with the city and state on economic development. The joint effort is necessary to compete with other cities and nations and to respond as quickly as possible to new business applications and opportunities, Heller said.

Heller's office offers a wide range of services, including help with business planning; access to technology, intellectual and property rights; market research; and, even, entrepreneur boot camps. Several healthcare, engineering, and healthcare businesses have gotten their start through UK's business incubator, ASTeCC, before moving in to the community or out to the university's Coldstream Campus, which is being expanded.

UK also works with the Kentucky Small Business Development Center to help businesses find loans to get started or expand. In partnership, they have a special initiative to help companies in distress by looking at their business models, financials and processes.

"We've worked with 50 companies and were able to help a good majority of them," said Heller. "With some, it was just too late."

The latest innovation underway is an expert alumni network that connects businesses or start-ups with UK graduates who are now leaders in that particular field. The alumni, who will be thoroughly vetted, will volunteer a couple hours of consulting time. In a test run, 100 alumni participated and the number is growing as word gets out.

Combined, all these initiatives will drive the economy.

"In a global economy, the premium is on access to talent," said King. "What's needed most are highly educated workers. Employers will go where the brains are."

Seizing Opportunities

2009-11-15T06:04:00.000-08:00

A period of economic uncertainty. when travel budgets are under the knife, hardly seems the optimal time to invest in hotels. But Keith and Kelly Kite had a different perspective.

This uncle-nephew team of Indian River County developers saw decades-old motels struggling to serve business travelers across their region. Intuitively, they knew that executives calling on the revitalized Vero Beach-based Piper Aircraft Inc. would need lodging and meeting facilities. Not to mention that families of patients nearby hospitals like the Indian River Medical Center, which boasts a new affiliation with Duke University Medical Center for Heart Surgery,could use comfortable accommodations, too.

"Each heart surgery represents quite a few room nights," says Kelly Kite, managing member of Kite Properties in Vero Beach, developer of the new SpringHill Suites in unincorporated Indian River County. "The fact there wasn't a business-class property nearby to accommodate the aviation, medical and related industries drove our hotel decisions."

The Kites pooled $22 million investor capital and turned to Workforce Solutions and the St. Lucie County Career Center to help find some 50 employees and a dozen managers for their SpringHill property and a Hampton Inn they plan to open in 2010 in Okeechobee.

Fourth-generation Floridians who've lived along the "Treasure Coast" since the 1990s, the Kites are examples of home-grown entrepreneurs who saw--and seized upon--an opportunity. With business travel as a base, the Kites are certain tourism will thrive. Their SpringHill location is just three miles from the Atlantic. Two more hotels under development--including a 90-room Hampton Inn in Vero Beach. where Minor League Baseball has resurrected the old Dodgertown facility--will also benefit from area growth and help diversify the region's employment base. "There is a great deal of promise for the area," says Gwenda Thompson, CEO of Workforce Solutions.

Says Kelly Kite, "When we looked for a place with a steady supply of work and growth beyond tourism, we saw a lack of product in this particular market. We think our hotels will dominate the market for the foreseeable future."

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

Building on a firm foundation: Tourism remains a strong element of Miami-Dade's economic plan. In fall 2008, economic development and tourism lead, ers began partnering with American Airlines on a $4.5-million marketing campaign aimed at aggressively promoting Miami-Dade as the ideal place to live, work and play. And in spring 2009, the Florida (soon to be Miami) Marlins broke ground on a $505-million, retractable-dome stadium slated to be ready for Opening Day, 2012

International banking center: Miami is home to 40-plus international banks, in large part because of its multilingual workforce, more than half of whom claim Spanish as their native tongue and the rest divided among English, Creole, Portuguese, French and other European languages. In summer 2009, Scotiabank's Private Client Group chose Miami as the site for its first U.S. branch, anew facility devoted to regional wealth management services for non-U.S. residents and citizens, mostly from Latin America and the Caribbean. Dan Wright, senior vice president and head of international wealth management, anticipates an investment of $4.8 million and the creation of 10 new jobs over the next three years.

The natural choice: When California-based Molina Healthcare went looking for a headquarters for its Florida operations, Miami was the natural choice for the company that provides Medicare and Medicaid programs to seniors and low-income patients. Among the selling points: Miami's multiethnic base, the region's eligible beneficiaries and a general acceptance of managed care, which helped streamline the new employee training process, says David Pollack, CEO of Molina Healthcare of Florida. Molina will bring no new jobs to a 30,000-square-foot facility in the county's western Doral area. The firm today serves nearly 30,000 members, but hopes to top 45,000 by year-end. Says Pollack "To be a leader in the country, you need to be a leader in Florida."

Growing life sciences sector: Among the county's 1,700 life sciences businesses are Beckman Coulter, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson's Cordis and Schering-Plough; soon, there will be more. The University of Miami--emboldened by President Donna Shalala's record $1.4-billion university campaign and the recruitment of leading clinical and genetics researchers who followed med school Dean Dr. Pascal Goldschmidt--in June announced the $80-million first phase of what will be a 1.4-million-square-foot Life Science Park near Jackson Memorial Hospital. Among the tenants: South Florida Proton Center, a $120-million cancer research and treatment facility slated to open in 2012. The park is expected to eventually employ 4,500 and generate $253 million in annual economic impact.

BROWARD COUNTY

Transformation breeds growth: Business in Broward continues to thrive under the mantra of "transformation." Building on the 2008 debut of its Excellerate Broward and CEO Council programs designed to lure corporate relocations, county leaders have seen growth in several sectors. W Hotels Worldwide opened its 23-floor, 517-room W Fort Lauderdale in 2009. And Nova Southeastern University has ramped up programs in nursing, pharmacy, physician assistant and occupational and physical therapy to meet local demand for skilled healthcare workers. The Fort Lauderdale-based university plans to open a branch in Palm Beach County near Scripps Florida and Max Planck Institute of Bio-Imaging.

Biofuels take off: When Craig Ash looks at the 10 idle molasses tanks at Port Everglades, he sees opportunity. As vice president of Brazil based Cepemar World Renewable Fuels, Ash is overseeing the company's $30-million bid to rehab the tanks and convert them into storage devices for its sugarcane-based ethanol, biodiesel and biofuel imports. His hope is for a future distribution hub to service the Southeast. "You can draw a direct line between the northern coast of Brazil and the Southeast U.S. he says. "It makes geographic sense for Cepemar to be here based on the location."

Communications cluster: Sarasota-based xG Technology Inc. is the latest company to find a home at the burgeoning wireless communications cluster in Sunrise. Canada's Research in Motion, Hong Kong computer and electronics manufacturer Foxconn International Holdings and General Dynamics Cq Systems alreadyhave facilities here.The appeal is a ready pool of workers with the ideal brain-power to create xG's low-cost mobile broadband networks, says Frank Peake, deputy COO. "We found Broward was the best pool of engineers without going to Silicon Valley." Another plus is the proximity of Florida Atlantic University; xG uses FAU interns and taps its courses for technical training.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Thinking ahead: Palm Beach County's "Smart Start Palm Beach" campaign, launched in 2008, has four key elements: (1) expedited permitting in a cities, with specific emphasis on bringing key industry categories such as healthcare, energy/green companies and communications/information technology to the county's unincorporated areas; (2) a global headquarters initiative to catalog and showcase its available Class A space; (3) partnerships between business leaders, area chambers and mayors to create a business retention program; and (4) a "shovel ready" site program to analyze available properties throughout the county and match them with companies keen to move into and around the area within three to 36 months. One such success was Office Depot, the long-time county employer which just relocated to a new 635,000-square-foot facility in Boca Raton, retaining 1,700 jobs for the region.

Bio-business heats up: In spring 2009, Delray Beach-based biofuel startup Ag-Oil LLC planted 20 acres of jatropha; when the trees mature in 18 months, the seeds will be used to make biodiesel fuel. The company received a $2.5-million Florida renewable energy grant to build a $20-million biodiesel production facility that is expected to support more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, says Brian Weprin, Ag-Oil's project manager. Why Delray Beach? The location is seven miles from I-95 and a CSX rail line, and close to expansive agricultural property should the concept take hold. Says Weprin: "Our goal is to make sure we have the most efficient seeds and strains, and the room to grow them."

Signs of the times: Baron Sign Manufacturing in Riviera Beach has been making signs for 26 years and in 2008, topped $9.5 million in revenues. Ready to expand, founder Sandra Foland bought 4.5 acres in a county Enterprise Zone and built a 40,000-square-foot facility to house her 50 employees and growing operations. A half-dozen new businesses subsequently joined the sign manufacturer in the area, and Foland now has plans to add 15% more space to her existing building.

MARTIN COUNTY

Gaining recognition: Three Martin County employers won Governor's Business Diversification Awards in 2008: Sol Inc. for export excellence; Advanced Technologies Group Inc. for innovation; and Ecosphere Technologies Inc. for "green" leadership ("Green-to-Gold" category).

Expansion pending: In July 2009, Vaught Aircraft Industries Inc.--maker of various parts for commercial jet airliners--made tentative plans for a major expansion of its Stuart facility. If pending state incentives are approved, the $12.9-million expansion will create 100 direct jobs over three years.

Focusing on life science: The Business Development Board and the Economic Council have established the Martin County Consortium for Life Science Research Technology Advancement to capitalize on the county's proximity to world-renowned life science research institutes and to grow the life science sector.

Powering Up

>> Construction is under way at Florida Power & Light's new solar-thermal plant just outside Indiantown. One of three solar facilities FPL is building in Florida, the Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center will be the second largest solar facility in the world and the first-ever hybrid facility connecting a solar facility to an existing fossil fuel plant. Slated for completion in 2010, the Martin Center is expected to power 11,000 homes with 75 megawatts of electricity.

>> The $480-million project is being built by Abilene, Tex: based Lauren Engineers & Constructors with plenty of local help. Job fairs hosted by Martin County Wodcforce Solutions in April 2009 drew more than enough applicants for some 1,000 available construction jobs.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

Growing Tradition: The biotechnology research cluster in the town of Tradition continues to grow and prosper:

* In January 2009, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies moved into its brand new $40-million, 100,000-square-foot research center; employment is already running 50% over projections.

* The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute division of Oregon Health & Science University has selected Whiting-Turner of Tampa to build its 105,000-square-foot facility on an eight-acre site next door to Torrey Pines. Some zoo scientists and support personnel will eventually work there. V&GTI and its scientific director Rafick-Pierre Sekaly, Ph.D. (who, in June, announced a major research breakthrough on a possible method for eradicating HIV infection in humans) are temporarily housed in some excess space at Torrey Pines until the new facility is up and running.

* The Alfred Mann Institute has acquired 22 acres for its planned 400,000-square-foot medical and life sciences research facility

* Martin Memorial Hospital--which does clinical trials for Tampa-based H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute--awaits Certificate of Need approval for a 300-bed hospital.

* Two I-95 interchanges provide easy access to the community of Tradition, where The Landing at Tradition, a 600,000-square-foot shopping center, now boasts 96% occupancy.

Extruding success: Todd Holloway was a wanted man in 2008. Florida, Georgia and his native Indiana were bidding to become the new home of East Coast Plastics, a Florida-based company Holloway had acquired and was looking to grow in a 50,000-square-foot space. Ultimately, Port St. Lucie won over Holloway thanks to its strong workforce and attractive financial incentives. The company began production in late 2008 and in June 2009 completed its new administrative offices. In all, the company brings 50 jobs--with hopes of growing to 70--and a client base spanning medical, military and commercial sectors. Though he commutes twice-monthly from Indiana, Holloway is pleased with the home he has found. "If it wasn't for Port St. Lucie, there's a chance we would have left Florida. They're very forward thinking here."

Collaborations drive underwater research: In May, Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute partnered with the University of North Carolina-Wilmington to spearhead NOAA's Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research and Technology. With a $23-million grant, they will jointly pursue deep-water oceanographic research. Also under investigation: breast cancer research with deep-water sponges--in partnership with Burnham Institute for Medical Research; bluegreen algae biofuel work with the Smithsonian Institution; and additional research with submersible turbines for generating electricity.

Worker training: Accounts receivable firm Oxford Management Services received a $257,000 Workforce Florida Quick Response Training (QRT) grant commitment in October 2008 to hire and train 303 new employees at its new Fort Pierce location. Likewise, Port St. Lucie-based medical supplier Liberty Medical worked with the local economic development council, Enterprise Florida, Indian River State College and Workforce Solutions to secure its own QRT grant in January 2009 to train some 2,300 new and incumbent employees on new software.

Mas cerveza, por favor: Jupiter-based J.J. Taylor Companies has acquired from Thies Distributing the beer distribution rights to Martin, Okeechobee, Indian River and St. Lucie counties and is out to bid for a $5-million warehouse and distribution facility. The new 25,000-square-foot plant will be located in Crossroads Park on S.R. 70 between the Turnpike and I-95. "This area has great potential for growth," says Vice President of Operations Jose E. Rivera. "The highways make it easy for our employees."

Educational Opportunities

>>Indian River State College opened its new Treasure Coast Public Safety Training Complex in September 2009. The $40-million, 50-acre complex at Ft. Pierce houses trainees in counter-terrorism, homeland security, FEMA and emergency management in custom facilities that include a built-to-scale courtroom and an airplane once owned by boxing promoter Don King. Also opening this fall at IRSC: an $18.5 million Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) building. Elsewhere, Florida Atlantic University's Port St. Lucie campus has undergone a $12.2-million expansion.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

Flying high: Vero Beach-based Piper Aircraft--fresh off its May acquisition by investment management company Imprimis--is slated to roll out its $2.19 million PiperJet "very light jet" by 2012.

Play ball: Dodgertown--the Vero Beach facility that was vacated in 2008 when the Los Angeles Dodgers moved their spring training to Arizona--undergoing rejuvenation. Minor League Baseball now holds three five-year leases on the four-diamond facility and is making big plans. With 89 rooms, tennis courts, an Olympic-sized pool, conference center and up to 300 employees during peak events, this unique facility has undergone a $2-million facelift and will host college and high school tournaments, Major League umpire training and corporate team building, says Craig Callan, vice president of Minor League Baseball-Vero Beach. "Our target is 40 to 45 weeks of business a year."

KEY WEST/MONROE COUNTY

Cruisin' in: Cruises and the revenue they generate in disembarkation Fees and sales of merchandise, food and beverages remain vital to Key West's economy. At just over 80,000, arrivals in May 2009 were double the number for the previous May and contributed to giving Key West its best May ever for cruise traffic. Elsewhere in the Keys, tourism remained strong. Despite the high cost of gasoline, 79% of all Keys visitors continue to arrive by car, and more than half of those are Floridians coming from Tampa southward. "The greatest amenity we have is U.S. 1," says Kevin Speidel, Waldorf-Astoria area general manager and managing director. "That road leads to a Caribbean vacation destination."

Putting heads in beds: The Southern-most Hotel Collection is adding to its portfolio of Key West accommodations to meet increased demand, says Matt Babich, general manager and minority partner. The company bought and subsequently razed Atlantic Shores Hotel and the Sands Beach Club, then opened 80 oceanfront rooms at its newest property, Southernmost on the Beach. When Babich arrived in the Keys in 1988, occupancies were 30% in "shoulder" seasons. Now, he's seeing strong guest figures year-round.

Regional Assets

Universities/Colleges

* Barry University

* Broward College

* Florida Atlantic University

* Florida International University

* Florida Keys Community College

* Florida Memorial University

* Indian River State College

* Lynn University

* Miami Dade College

* Nova Southeastern University

* Palm Beach Atlantic University

* Palm Beach Community College

* St. Thomas University

* University of Miami

Airports

* Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

* Key West International Airport

* Marathon (Florida Keys) Airport

* Miami International Airport

* Palm Beach International Airport

Seaports

* Port Everglades

* Port of Fort Pierce

* Port of Key West

* Port of Miami-Dade

* Port of Palm Beach

Closet opens doors a little wider for teachers

2009-11-11T08:30:00.000-08:00

The nonprofit that gives teachers the opportunity to "shop" for free school supplies has grown and expanded again.

The Teachers' Supply Closet in West Ashley had allowed teachers from 10 high-poverty schools in Charleston and Berkeley counties to take advantage of its goodies, but now teachers in 21 schools can shop there.

"The teachers literally cry when they leave here because they're so thrilled," said Deborah Halon, who runs the store.

Teachers can go to the Teachers' Supply Closet and pick up free school supplies for their classrooms with no strings attached, and it appears to be the only store of its kind in the state.

The store opened in spring 2008 to six Charleston County elementary schools where more than 95 percent of students live in poverty. As awareness and support for the nonprofit has risen, so has its ability to serve more teachers.

The store began opening its doors this spring to schools in Berkeley and Dorchester counties with 95 percent poverty -- no school in Dorchester qualified -- and the nonprofit lowered its poverty threshold to 90 percent this fall, which increased its number of eligible schools to 21. Seventeen of those schools are in Charleston County, and four are in Berkeley County.

The nonprofit's long-term goal is to serve all Lowcountry schools with more than 70 percent of students in poverty, but it will take time to build to that.

"We want to keep the quality and level of expectation what it is," Halon said.

Halon and another part-time staff member are the store's sole employees, but they've managed to provide $95,000 worth of supplies to teachers this year. Many in the community still don't realize that a place such as the Teachers' Supply Closet exists, and Halon said she'd like to raise more awareness about it and continue to increase partnerships with organizations and businesses to host supply drives.

One collaborative effort that Halon is particularly excited about is with the Riverdogs, which again decided to adopt the nonprofit for its upcoming season. The first 100 people who bring school supplies to each home game this year will receive an admission ticket for $1.

"There's a lot going on," she said. "It's exciting. The need is only going to grow."

Teachers who shop in the store seem grateful for its existence, as evidenced by the surveys they fill out after they shop. One teacher wrote this spring: "Most of the items that I was able to get today I consider necessary to run my classroom. If I was not able to get these supplies, the funds would have come right out of my pocket. I usually spend $1,200 a year."

What happens when school supplies are in short supply?

2009-11-11T07:55:00.000-08:00

Teachers make a difference.

Even with limited supplies. Even with shrinking budgets.

They still make a difference, Teri Howard says.

"Teachers are being asked to do more and more, and I'm proud to say have risen to the challenge," Howard, who teaches Title I Reading at Lincoln Elementary School in Ottawa, said.

Howard said teachers need supplies -- crayons, scissors, glue, pens, staplers, hole punches, folders -- to do their jobs and help students succeed.

But those supplies sometimes are difficult to come by Howard says, especially in a struggling economy.

"We make a difference," she said. "We take each child and differentiate the instruction so each may learn to the fullest of their potential."

Howard says school districts provide some of the necessary supplies -- copy paper more than anything else -- but teachers are responsible for coming up with the cash for extra supplies -- like construction paper, markers and paint, to name a few.

"The school gives a budget yearly to teachers to purchase classroom needs," she said. "It helps, of course, but with bigger class sizes and more curriculum, it stretches pretty thinly."

Howard said some teachers spend up to $400 on supplies yearly in order to help students meet annual yearly progress and other state assessment requirements.

"Students need to respond to learning by doing," Howard said. "Is it realistic in the business world to run a business without the supplies?"

West Franklin Superintendent Dotson Bradbury said although unfortunate, the reality is that teachers always have purchased extra supplies for their classrooms.

"We try and provide teachers with the supplies they need while understanding our budgets continue to be cut," Bradbury said. "Our teachers do an excellent job of not wasting supplies."

Bradbury added that it is difficult during tough economic times because each school principal has a building budget -- from teaching supplies to restroom toilet paper.

"Our teachers buy extras they want students to have out of their own personal funds," he said. "While not ideal, it's something classroom teachers have done for many years."

Howard wouldn't argue with this notion. She says young teachers typically spend less money on supplies because they make less money annually.

"I'm sure it's different for all teachers," she said. "I probably spend $400 a year, mostly on motivators, instructional materials and organizers."

In addition, Howard says usually she buys books, snacks, notebooks, baskets, tubs and special paints and markers for her students. All of these items help make her job easier and help students achieve more, she said.

"It is a rewarding and demanding job," she said. "I daresay, the corporate boss could not run his or her company with the same lack of supplies that we do and make the difference we make. But that's my opinion."

Sacramento boy wins Mexican art contest

2009-11-11T07:11:00.001-08:00

Juan Misael Gonzalez-Montanez, a shy 8-year-old who loves to draw, has won his family of six its first-ever computer.

Juan, a third-grader at the Smythe Academy in North Sacramento, was one of 15 top winners in an international art competition sponsored by the Mexican government.

His award-winning crayon and watercolor picture shows the first flag of Mexican independence containing the image of La Virgen de Guadalupe, an important national and religious symbol in Mexico. The flag was raised by Father Miguel Hidalgo on Sept. 15, 1810.

Hidalgo -- with his now famous grito, or yell -- rallied the town of Dolores to battle the Spaniards. "Hidalgo proclaimed the end of slavery in all Mexico, including California," said Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, the consul general of Mexico in Sacramento.

"Our independence was not achieved until 11 years later, after a long and bloody war, and Father Hidalgo was killed in less than a year," said Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Juan was the first Sacramento winner in the 13-year history of the competition. Este Es Mi Mexico -- This Is My Mexico -- was sponsored by the Mexican government for children 7 to 11.

This year's theme was the bicentennial of Mexican independence and centennial of the Mexican Revolution.

Other winning submissions depicted the revolution that began Nov. 20, 1910, to overthrow President Porfirio Diaz, who had ruled Mexico for more than 30 years.

Juan was one of 15 top winners out of 6,266 entries worldwide for the official 2010 Mexican calendar. The top 120 drawings -- done by children as far away as Russia and Argentina -- will be part of an exhibition at the History Gallery in the Museo del Caracol in Mexico City, where Juan was born.

"I draw 15 to 20 minutes a day," said Juan. "I like making the Mexican flag and stuff."

His sister Adriana, 13, added, "he also draws cars, superheroes, a lot of stuff." She called the winning picture "a good thing so I can remember about Mexican history, and I want to learn more about my Mexican culture."

It's also a good thing because the family -- which includes Luis, 12, and Daniela, 15 -- will finally get a computer, a $1,500 desktop, this week.

"I'll do my homework -- math projects in pre-algebra -- and check my grades," said Adriana. "Right now it's hard because I have to go to the library to use a computer and sometimes it's not open."

Juan could have chosen a digital camera, a drawing kit or school supplies, but he chose the computer.

"I want him to do his homework, mainly," said his dad, Daniel Gonzalez.

"It's beautiful," he said of his son's drawing, "I know he draws all the time but I never knew he submitted it."

Gonzalez said he came to Sacramento from Michoacan in 2000. Five years later, the family joined him. Gonzalez is now a cook in a local restaurant while Juan's mother, Maria Gonzalez Montanez, works at a plastics factory.

Juan was honored Sept. 15 on the steps of the Capitol before 5,000 Mexican Americans celebrating Hidalgo's call to arms 200 years ago, the consul general said.

But Juan doesn't plan to become an artist. "I want to be a cook like my dad," he said.

College fair shows high school kids the possibilities

2009-11-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

From the University of Puget Sound fieldhouse, the future looked bright Monday night.

Wanna-be engineers, actors, musicians, hair stylists, physicians and other teens with college and careers on their minds swarmed the second annual College and Career Fair sponsored by Tacoma Public Schools. Organizers were expecting more than 2,500 students to attend the event, which drew college recruiters from around the Northwest and around the country, along with a few from Canada and Europe.

Many students cruised the aisles with parents, browsing among 175 information booths offering information on everything from well-known Northwest colleges to West Point. The fair also drew local employers, including the City of Tacoma and MultiCare Health System.

"We have talked college for years," said Corrine Moore, who was there with her son, Roger, a student at Truman Middle School. She believes it's never too early to start planning, even though her son's career ideas are still evolving. He's interested in engineering, but also wants to attend a school with a good soccer program. And he wouldn't say no to a music scholarship.

Stadium High School sophomore Bailey Ness dreams about becoming a writer and has already started on a romance novel that's set in her high school. (Don't worry. She's changed all the names.) She picked up information from both the University of Washington and Western Washington University, and she also learned about a college she hadn't considered before: Sweet Briar College in Virginia.

Fortunately for Bailey, her parents Dee Dee and Mike have been socking money away into Washington state's college savings plan, known as GET, or Guaranteed Education Tuition. It allows families to purchase credits toward college tuition at today's prices for college in the future. (Learn more at get.wa.gov) The fair also featured sessions on financial aid and the college application process.

Marissa Madison, a Stadium senior, isn't sure where she's headed after graduation. But she said she's interested in cosmetology or "artsy stuff" like design.

"That's what these things are for," she said of the fair's wide variety of offerings.

Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635

debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.com

In Federal Way

The Federal Way School District hosts its annual "Life After High School" Career and College Fair on Wednesday, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Todd Beamer High School, 35999 16th Ave. S. in Federal Way.

Representatives from colleges, technical and specialty schools, trades, and the military will answer questions. Seminars will cover topics including scholarships, financial aid, college admissions, SAT/ACT, and personal essays.

For more information, call 253-945-2581.

Caneel Bay staffer raising donations with marathon run

2009-11-06T07:01:00.000-08:00

Carolyn Rebeck, sales manager for Caneel Bay Resort, is combining her personal and professional lives by running in the upcoming New York City Marathon as a fundraiser for Friends of Virgin Islands National Park.

Caneel has pledged to donate 50 cents for every dollar Rebeck raises, up to $1,000. Her fundraising goal is $3,000. The race is one week away and already she has raised $2,900.

Rebeck, 27, has run the Chicago Marathon twice, the Brooklyn Half Marathon, and, for the first time this year, St. John's 8 Tuff Miles.

"That was so hard," she said.

The most recent race was Chicago just three weeks ago. At that race she clocked in at 4 hours, 40 minutes, but she said she was going slow to save herself for the New York race. The previous year, her first marathon, she came in at 4:20:00.

A New York resident, Rebeck entered the annual lottery for the city's marathon one year ago. When she got the news that she won a spot, she began to think about how she could use the opportunity to do the most good.

"I was lucky enough to get in and decided to link my professional life and personal life together," Rebeck said.

The race will be a fundraiser for the park -- through the nonprofit Friends of V.I. National Park -- and she will be decked out in the turquoise and white Caneel Bay Resort colors and logo.

"For both personal and professional reasons, the V.I. National Park really holds value for me," Rebeck said.

Caneel Bay Resort is on national park land, and the resort and the park work hand in hand to preserve St. John's cultural and natural resources. The nonprofit Friends of V.I. National Park share that goal, providing programs and funding initiatives to engage the community in the park and its resources.

"It's a great show of support for what we do in protecting and preserving the park," Joe Kessler, president of Friends of V.I. National Park said.

He said the Friends will be watching and cheering her on on Nov. 1.

The money raised will be a general donation to the nonprofit. Friends of V.I. National Park runs a number of programs including eco-camps for children to study marine and terrestrial ecosystems; SKIP (School Kids in the Park) designed to familiarize V.I. students with their National Park through hands-on learning and site visits; creating and maintaining accessible park trails; scholarship funds, and more.

The Great Pumpkin and 'Pumpkin Man's' statue; all those helicopters

2009-11-06T06:01:00.001-08:00

On a recent walk past the Dominic T. "Nick" Venetucci statue adjacent to the Pioneers Museum I counted 26 pumpkins. Are these started from seed or plants? Who plants them and when? And what happens to the mature pumpkins?

" Chris J. Hermes

ANSWER: Oh Great Pumpkin, is it you?

Not quite. The pumpkin seeds, usually a couple of packages, are planted around mid-May and the city waters them. They're usually small to medium pumpkins, just like those the "Pumpkin Man" planted for the kids from this area to pick.

The pumpkin fairy is Beth Ortiz, manager of Downtown Business Improvement District, who said the district agreed to do this when area residents, many of them school kids, raised the money for the sculpture after Venetucci's death in 2004.

Who harvests the pumpkins? Well, if Ortiz is quick enough, she does it herself. Sometimes, just like this year, she goes over to pick some pumpkins before they're too big and they've already gone home with someone else.

Ortiz will finish the pumpkin season by cutting down the vines.

What were those helicopters?

It was amazing Monday when a large number of Army helicopters flew in formation over the city. What was happening?

--Amy

ANSWER: They had just returned from training in Fort Irwin, Calif. It was a squadron of 16 AH-64D Apache helicopters heading home to Fort Carson.

Why zig when you can zag on I-25?

Just south of the Woodmen/I-25 interchange, near the overhead electronic sign near Zio's restaurant, all three lanes of southbound I-25 jog about 5-6 feet to the left. The diversion widens the right breakdown lane and nearly eliminates the left breakdown lane. There are no obvious visible reasons why the lanes need to make this unusual excursion, and I think it presents a traffic hazard. Drivers cruising down the interstate are expecting the road to continue in the usual straightforward manner.

-- Bob Bean

Colorado Department of Transportation spokesman Bob Wilson explained, "The City maintains that overhead sign and the highway lights. Instead of having to close a lane every time they do operations work, there is that jog which allows space for city crews to park their vehicles when they have to work on the sign or the lights.

This will all go away when I-25 becomes four lanes in the future."

U.S. Cellular Launches $1 Million Campaign to Help Schools

2009-11-04T01:59:00.001-08:00

As the economy's slow recovery continues to take a heavy toll on our schools, the need for additional funding has never been greater. That is why U.S. Cellular is continuing its commitment to education with a $1 million donation to schools.

Once again, the Calling All Communities campaign will award $100,000 to 10 schools across the nation. Public and private schools, kindergarten through high school, big or small, all are eligible to win. From Nov. 13, 2009, through Jan. 15, 2010, individuals 18 years or older can visit any U.S. Cellular store to get a code to vote online for their school. There is no purchase necessary and you don't have to be a U.S. Cellular customer to vote. The 10 schools with the most votes will receive $100,000 to use however they choose.

"Many school districts are literally in crisis mode," said Jeff Childs, senior vice president and chief human resources officer for U.S. Cellular. "As a company, we care about kids and the quality of the education they receive. The passion and energy of our 9,000 associates will help spread the word as we get behind this common purpose."

There is plenty of evidence of the need for help. At least 36 states have cut or proposed cuts to education, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. A University of Washington study projects that states will cut an average of 18 percent of their education spending over the next three years.

According to a survey conducted by the American Association of School Administrators, 76 percent of school administrators report that the economic downturn has negatively affected student achievement.

The drastic budget reductions are forcing many school districts to eliminate academic programs, extra-curricular activities, staff and basic school supplies. More than three in five parents (61 percent) believe the quality of education will suffer because of school cutbacks.

Last year's Calling All Communities campaign was driven by U.S. Cellular associates' grassroots efforts and communities rallying behind their schools. More than 120,000 votes were cast for 6,500 schools across the country. Winners represented public and private schools in Wisconsin, Illinois, Oklahoma, North Carolina, West Virginia, Tennessee, Nebraska and Iowa. Funds were used for everything from scholarships and computer labs to playgrounds and gymnasium renovations.

Wendy Hooks, principal of Brogden Primary, a winning school in Dudley, N.C., spoke of other intangible benefits of being a Calling All Communities champion.

"Our school and children really needed this money as most of our kids come from working class families," said Hooks, whose school is featured in U.S. Cellular's national advertising campaign. "What we lacked in financial support, we more than made up for in spirit and hope."

Visit our Calling All Communities Facebook page and www.uscellular.com/callingallcommunities for pictures and videos from the 2009 campaign.

The 9,000 associates of U.S. Cellular believe a wireless phone enhances people's lives and a wireless company should be in the business of bringing people together. U.S. Cellular has a wide range of monthly plans, including those with unlimited nationwide calling, unlimited free incoming calls and options to prepay. The company has a growing catalog of phones like the BlackBerryA Tour and Pearl Flip, and the touch-screen LG Tritan, which offer e-mail and Web access. Based in Chicago, U.S. Cellular is the nation's fifth-largest full-service wireless carrier, serving 6.2 million customers across the country. To learn more about the company visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com.

Five Below, the Five-and-Dime for the iPod Generation, Debuts First Pittsburgh-Area Stores

2009-10-31T09:48:00.001-07:00

Five Below, the leading retailer of extreme-value merchandise to teens and pre-teens, is making a grand entrance to the Pittsburgh market on Nov. 6 with three new locations in Pittsburgh, Butler, and Cranberry, Pa. Just in time for the holiday season, teens and pre-teens as well as other value-minded consumers in the Pittsburgh region will be able to choose from thousands of trend-right, high-quality products, all priced from $1 to $5.

"It's like a five-and-dime for the iPod generation," says Tom Vellios, CEO and co-founder of Five Below. "With items such as DVDs, games, fashion must-haves, cell phone accessories, school supplies, and even Steelers merchandise, Five Below is a prime destination for teen spending."

Five Below is leading a new consumer trend of offering great value that stretches the dollar during an economic time when it is most needed. Five Below offers teen and pre-teen customers--a market that spends over 150 billion dollars a year--the power to spend their allowance and babysitting money on products including fashion scarves, board games, nail polish, T-shirts, and accessories for your iPod/iPhone, and brand names such as Adidas, Puma, Wilson, Franklin, Mead, and Crayola. With amazing merchandise at extraordinary prices, Five Below is winning over kids and parents along the East Coast.

"Offering high-quality, trend-right merchandise at extreme-value prices has proven more valuable than ever this past year," says David Schlessinger, Chairman and co-founder of Five Below. "We're extremely pleased to now offer this unbeatable value to consumers in the Pittsburgh market, and excited to continue our growth in the region."

This expansion marks the retailer's debut in the region, and grows the total number of Five Below locations to 102. The new stores are part of an initiative to extend the retail chain to more than 200 locations over the next two to three years.

The new Pittsburgh-area stores, averaging 8,000 sq. ft., are located in the Waterworks Shopping Center at 950 Freeport Road in Pittsburgh; the Butler Crossing Shopping Center at 730 Butler Crossing in Butler, Pa.; and the Cranberry Square Shopping Center at 1000 Cranberry Square Drive in Cranberry, Pa. November 6 will also mark the grand opening of three additional Five Below locations in Altoona, Pa.; Enfield, Conn.; and Philadelphia.

To celebrate the grand openings of the new locations, ribbon cutting ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. EST. Each store will be giving away Five Below T-shirts, Five Cent hot dogs, and other prizes, including one $100 Five Below shopping spree.

Hours of operation during the new stores' grand opening weekend are: Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST, and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.

Five Below operates in nine states on the East Coast, from New Hampshire to Virginia. By the end of 2010, the company plans to open 8 to 12 stores in the Pittsburgh market, and bring its total to approximately 200 locations.

Photos of the new stores, Five Below merchandise, and company executives are available.

ABOUT FIVE BELOW, INC.

Five Below is the leading retailer of extreme-value merchandise to the teen and pre-teen market. Five Below's dynamic assortment of merchandise, all of which is priced between $1.00 and $5.00, includes: sports, games, fashion accessories, bath and body, candy, room decor and storage, crafts, stationery and school supplies, software and dvd's, books, electronics accessories, party, novelty and "gag" items, and seasonal items. Five Below is based in Philadelphia, Pa. For more information about Five Below, please visit www.fivebelow.com.

Traffic Signs for Block Play - Set of 15 School Supplies

2009-10-29T23:08:00.000-07:00

Stop look and listen to the features of our terrific traffic signs. Our 15 wooden signs offer the greatest variety and best value on the block! Each 5 1/2H sign is beautifully detailed and authentic - right down to the new fluorescent yellow-green school crossing sign! Guaranteed to take block play in new directions. See Pricing Here

Gold Jingle Bells - 150 Pieces Discount School Supplies

2009-10-29T22:57:00.000-07:00

Brilliant jingles with a soothing chime are perfect for all celebrations. 3 assorted sizes 1/2 to 3/4. Each has a lacing hole for stringing. (Rexlace and S'getti String work great.) See Pricing Here

Flexi-Cut Cups - Set of 5 Discount School Supply Discount Code

2009-10-29T06:09:00.000-07:00

Facilitate drinking without head extension. Set of 5 flexible translucent plastic cups.
See Pricing Here

Big Farm Animals - Set of 6 DiscountSchoolSupply. Com Coupon

2009-10-29T05:58:00.000-07:00

Big realistic farm animals constructed to be durable and last through the years. Includes: brown cow dairy cow donkey horse pig and sheep. 10L x 6H. Hollow. Ages 3 years and up. Styles may vary. See Pricing Here

Crayola So Big Crayon Classpack - Set of 200 Discount School Supply Coupon

2009-10-29T04:54:00.000-07:00

Crayola Crayons make coloring exciting and fun. Each Classpack includes 200 crayons 25 of each color: black blue brown green orange red violet and yellow. Extra large 5L x 9/16 diameter.
See Pricing Here

Big Alphabet and Picture Stencils 13L - Set of 26 School Supplies

2009-10-29T03:43:00.000-07:00

Make learning the alphabet fun and easy. Each stencil shows upper and lower case letters with coordinating picture. Durable easy-to-clean plastic in blue red yellow and green. Stencils are 6 1/2 x 13 H. Individual letters are approximately 6 H. 26 stencils per package. See Pricing Here

1000 Unifix Cubes Discount School Supply Discount Code

2009-10-29T02:34:00.000-07:00

Unifix provides children from preschool through elementary grades with a hands-on experience in number and math exploration. Comes in 10 assorted colors. The cubes measure 3/4. Made of durable plastic. See Pricing Here

Big Fun! CD DiscountSchoolSupply. Com Coupon

2009-10-29T01:23:00.000-07:00

Wonderful hits by Greg and Steve such as Silly Willies; In My Backyard; The Mack Chicken Dance; Itsy Bitsy Spider; Head Shoulders Knees & Toes and The Magic of a Smile. Compact disc. See Pricing Here

Colorations No-Drip Foam Paint 8 oz. Discount School Supply Coupon

2009-10-29T00:19:00.000-07:00

Kids can't wait to experiment with our fluffy Colorations No-Drip Foam Paint. And you'll love the great value and convenience. It's ready right out of the can with no drips runs or spills and it dries quickly. An 8 oz. can equals 14 full cups of awesome art activities. Colorations Foam Paint is completely safe non-toxic does not contain CFC's and is environmentally friendly. Washable from most fabrics. Choose black blue brown green magenta orange red turquoise violet white yellow or the set of all 11 brilliant colors. See Pricing Here

5' CHANGE TABLE WITH LEFT HAND SINK Discount School Supply Discount Code

2009-10-28T22:51:00.000-07:00

Sliding doors on both sides with one adjustable shelf. Roll paper dispenser changing well and hand wash sink are all part of the one-piece molded top. Includes sink fixtures. Assembled. Plumbing required. Change pad and paper rolls sold separately. 36H x 23D x 59W. 5 Year Warranty. See Pricing Here

Rainbow Accents Cupboard DiscountSchoolSupply. Com Coupon

2009-10-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

Perfect storage for play dishes and has one shelf inside and one shelf outside of the cabinet. Our Rainbow Accents furniture features the highest quality 5/8 melamine board flexible thermo-fused edgebands full-length piano hinges rounded corners kickplates and recessed write & wipe backs. Lifetime guarantee for defects in materials and labor. Soft freckled gray melamine base comes with accents of your choice in 5 colors: blue purple red teal and yellow. Please specify color choice when ordering. Unit measures 20W x 15D x 35H. (Ships within 14 Days)
See Pricing Here

Crayola Regular Crayons - Set of 16 Discount School Supply Coupon

2009-10-28T10:58:00.000-07:00

Regular-sized crayons in classic colors. Set of 16 includes the classic colors plus blue green blue violet carnation pink red orange red violet white yellow green and yellow orange. Each crayon is 3 5/8 x 5/16. Non-toxic. See Pricing Here

Best Value Tape Discount School Supplies

2009-10-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

Our best value tape is a 108' roll with a 1 core. See #DISP for our best value tape dispenser.
See Pricing Here

Full Strip Stapler Discount School Supply Discount Code

2009-10-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

Our best value full strip stapler. See Pricing Here

Road Builder Set DiscountSchoolSupply. Com Coupon

2009-10-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

Children will have fun as they design and build custom-made roadways. Our beautiful set of 17 durable foam pieces easily interlock to create a smooth drivable roadway. The road on each surface-washable piece is brightly printed for years of use. Each piece measures approximately 9W x 11L and is 1/3 thick. Designs in this set include 10 straight 6 curvy and 1 intersection.
See Pricing Here

Easy-Grip Bug Story Stampers 3 - Set of 12 Discount School Supply Coupon

2009-10-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

Set includes 12 sturdy Easy-Grip stampers in a clear carry-case accompanied by an activity guide full of ideas activities and recommended books to enhance your bug unit! 3 in diameter. See Pricing Here

Bug Rubbing Plates - Set of 6 School Supplies

2009-10-28T05:27:00.000-07:00

6 detailed plates for rubbing detailed realistic insects. Add beautiful bugs to art activities. Package of 6 each 7 1/2 square. Idea guide included. See Pricing Here

Guardian Angel 3'10 x 5'4 Discount School Supplies

2009-10-28T04:15:00.000-07:00

This comforting richly detailed carpet perfectly demonstrates the soothing presence of the spirit and that your guardian angel is never far away. The picture comes from antique Victorian lithographs. This STAINMASTER carpet is CRI Green Label Plus Certified and features anti-stain and anti-soil treatment incredible fade resistance a lifetime limited wear warranty SoftFlex backing (a tightly woven flexible secondary back that eliminates wrinkles and provides incredible stability/extra protection) and more. See Pricing Here

Butterfly Garden Discount School Supplies

2009-10-28T03:42:00.000-07:00

Watch butterflies grow and let them go with this new pop up version of the popular Butterfly Garden. New and improved butterfly house measures 11H x 10 1/2 in diameter and is made of see-through mesh with a clear plastic zippered top and fabric handle. Kit also contains accessories guide feeding materials for students to raise their own butterflies and a coupon (P/H fee $3.00) to be returned to the factory for nutrient and 5 live butterfly larvae. Students will enjoy watching the different stages. It takes approximately 3 weeks for the complete development of your butterflies. The larvae are shipped from the factory within 3 days of receipt of your coupon. Cannot be shipped to Hawaii. See Pricing Here

Colored Plastic Bug Bodies - 1 lb. Discount School Supply Discount Code

2009-10-28T03:01:00.000-07:00

Use craft materials to turn these 2 plastic bug bodies into colorful creatures! 75 pieces. Activity guide included. See Pricing Here

Flingers - Set of 12 DiscountSchoolSupply. Com Coupon

2009-10-28T02:54:00.000-07:00

Stretch and launch these soft tactile reptiles. An amusing thumb and finger strengthening tool for kids. Assorted styles. See Pricing Here

Geo Snaps - Set of 156 Discount School Supply Coupon

2009-10-28T01:43:00.000-07:00

Click together shapes for free-form geometric designs and patterns. Create a flat piece that can be formed into a 3-D figure. Comes in 6 colors: 18 pentagons 60 squares and 78 triangles. Unlocking tool included. Largest is 2 square. Ages 4+. See Pricing Here

http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/1892/937/f56fbb0e0e3d5f/www.discountschoolsupply.com/images/products/00846.jpg

2009-10-28T00:41:00.000-07:00

12 Plastic Paint Brushes slightly bigger than normal Chubby Brushes 7 1/4 x 5/8.
See Pricing Here

Rainbow Paper Craft Bags - Set of 50 Discount School Supply Discount Code

2009-10-27T23:48:00.000-07:00

These colorful craft bags are great for puppets prizes projects or scraps. Use them for quick gift bags or stenciling. Set includes 50 bags each measures 5 x 3 x 9 3/4. See Pricing Here

6-n-1 Easel DiscountSchoolSupply. Com Coupon

2009-10-27T22:42:00.000-07:00

This 6-N-1 easel is the ultimate in versatility at an amazing price! Gray lightning board surface on one side with a red flannel tackable surface on the other. The unit also serves as a magnetic tack board marker board chalkboard projection surface hook and loop surface tackable surface and big book holder with magnetic book ledge. 47H x 24W. See Pricing Here

5-n-1 Easel Discount School Supply Coupon

2009-10-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

Features of the 5-n-1 Easel: magnetic Board chalkboard flannel board big book stand & a tackable cork surface behind flannel board. Folds flat for storage. Measures 24W x 47H.
See Pricing Here

Around The World Food Set - 14 Pieces Discount School Supplies

2009-10-27T20:15:00.000-07:00

Help children celebrate different traditions and cultures with our Around-The-World food set. Each piece is made of heavy-duty vinyl for years of use. Ages 3 years and up. See Pricing Here

Alphabet Bingo Game Discount School Supplies

2009-10-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

Now even better with more play options flexible difficulty levels and photos for real-life learning. This game contains 36 different playing cards caller's mat and cards 250 markers and a sturdy storage box. For 3-36 players. See Pricing Here

Christmas Connection joins with holiday dinner: Drop in donations forces St. Vincent de Paul, churches to combine annual valley events

2009-10-26T05:56:00.001-07:00

Two annual Christmas events in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley are joining this year for a combined gift give-away and holiday dinner in December.

St. Vincent de Paul's Christmas Connection is partnering with a community dinner organized by Catholic churches in the area to provide new toys for children, food boxes for the homebound and a Christmas dinner for people living in Lewiston, Clarkston and Asotin.

For the past 23 years, Christmas Connection was a separate event and the community dinner was conducted the following day. A decrease in donations has fueled the change, organizers said.

"It was a very hard decision to make," said Ellen Dekan, secretary of the St. Vincent de Paul board of directors. "Last year we went in the hole with Christmas Connection, and we felt like this was a good time to do the partnering, with the economy the way it is."

Going backwards financially on Christmas Connection hinders the social services provided by St. Vincent de Paul on the other 364 days of the year, she said. The non-profit organization serves between 300 to 400 needy people a month by providing such items as food, gas vouchers, household goods, clothing and school supplies.

Because of the shortfall in donations, Christmas Connection won't be providing grocery vouchers this year, but people will be served dinner at the combined event, Dekan said. The dinner and gift giveaway is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the All Saints Catholic School gym at St. Stanislaus in Lewiston.

Scarves, hats and gloves are given away at the dinner, Operation Wishbook will provide books for children and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be on hand to greet youngsters, Dekan said.

People who want to attend the event and receive toys for children to age 18 can sign up from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 23 through Dec. 4 at the St. Vincent de Paul stores in Lewiston and Clarkston. The program is open to residents of Lewiston, Clarkston and Asotin. Those signing up must bring proof of residency and photo identification.

More information is available by calling the executive director of St. Vincent de Paul, Shannon Koskenmaki, at (509) 758-7061. Disabled or homebound residents can sign up by calling the above number.

Donations are needed to purchase gifts for kids and the dinner, Koskenmaki said. New toys or monetary donations may be dropped off or sent to Christmas Connection, St. Vincent de Paul, 604 Second St., Clarkston.

"We still want to see smiles on faces and help make good memories," Dekan said. "This is a celebration of the season, a family event for the whole community."

Teacher selected for 'A Day Made Better'

2009-10-26T05:55:00.000-07:00

OfficeMax recently announced that Katherine Davis from Park Hills Elementary School was Selected for "A Day Made Better" surprise visit.

Davis, first-grade teacher at Park Hills Elementary School, is one of 1,000 teachers across the nation who received more than $1,000 worth of school supplies as part of "A Day Made Better," OfficeMax's national cause campaign facilitated in partnership with nonprofit Adopt-A-Classroom.

Gwendolyn McAllister, guidance counselor, nominated Davis because she exemplifies passion, dedication, and innovation in the classroom.

Clay Mega Set - 28 Pieces Discount School Supply Discount Code

2009-10-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

Constructed with high-quality plastic. Includes: 2 clay presses (4 slide strips) 3 rolling pins (6W) 3 rollers (3W) 3 smooth-edged and 3 flute-edged pizza cutters 4 double-sided 8 shaping tools 3 spatulas (2W) 4 small shaping tools (5L) and 3 triangular spatulas (2 1/2W). See Pricing Here

Fountain Connector DiscountSchoolSupply. Com Coupon

2009-10-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

Connect two 2-liter bottles (one filled 1/2 way with water) turn upside down and watch as air lifts the water up higher than its origin and creates an amazing fountain. Water is colored with our Colorations Liquid Watercolor. Note: Two-liter bottles not included. See Pricing Here

Stretchy Reptiles - Set of 12 Discount School Supply Coupon

2009-10-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

Wrap your hands around it. Assorted squishy reptiles for stretching grasping and twirling around fingers. Perfect for hand weakness or sensory disorders. See Pricing Here

Sea Theme Beads - 1/2 lb. School Supplies

2009-10-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

Translucent tropical beads in assorted ocean shapes and colors. Beads are approximately 1/2 each with a threading hole of 1/16. 864 beads. See Pricing Here

Assorted Colors Poster Board 22 x 28 - Pack of 100 Discount School Supplies

2009-10-25T12:53:00.000-07:00

Try our double-sided uncoated smoth hard finish poster board for signs charts or crafts. Has a 4-ply thickness. 100 sheets per package includes 10 sheets each of black blue brown holiday green light blue orange red pink magenta and lemon yellow. 22 x 28. Made from recycled paper. See Pricing Here

Sensory Walk - 12 Logs Discount School Supply Discount Code

2009-10-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

Our colorful 12-piece sensory path sets create unique balancing challenges and increase tactile stimuli simultaneously! Link the curved and straight pieces together to make a variety of paths for one or more children to enjoy. Made of strong plastic that will hold up to 260 pounds. Straight pieces measure 17 1/2L x 5W x 2 1/2 H. Ages 3 and up. See Pricing Here

IncredibleFoam Classroom Pack DiscountSchoolSupply. Com Coupon

2009-10-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

Add new excitement and fun to your next dough project! Colorations IncredibleFoam Dough is like no other dough you've used and it's a great value! Tiny colorful foam beads are combined with a non-toxic adhesive to create fun new textures and shapes not found in regular dough. Children will also develop fine-motor skills and creativity. It doesn't dry out is easy to clean and doesn't stick to desk surfaces. See Pricing Here

Colorations IncredibleFoam Dough - Set of 7 Discount School Supply Coupon

2009-10-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

Add new excitement and fun to your next dough project! Colorations IncredibleFoam Dough is like no other dough you've used and it's a great value! Tiny colorful Styrofoam beads are combined with a non-toxic adhesive to create fun new textures and shapes not possible with regular dough. Doesn't dry out or stick to desk surfaces! Non-toxic. Ages 3 years and up.
See Pricing Here

Colorations IncredibleFoam Dough - Sampler Pack School Supplies

2009-10-25T08:32:00.000-07:00

Add new excitement and fun to your next dough project! Colorations Foam Dough is like no other dough you've used and it's a great value! Tiny colorful styrofoam beads are combined with a non-toxic adhesive to create fun new textures and shapes not found in regular dough. Children develop fine-motor skills and creativity while having fun! It doesn't dry out is easy to clean and doesn't stick to desk surfaces. New sampler pack with eight 1 oz. packs in: black blue green orange red violet white and yellow. Ages 3 years and up. See Pricing Here

The Itsy Bitsy Spider Song & Story Set Discount School Supplies

2009-10-25T07:23:00.000-07:00

There is much more than an itsy bitsy bit of humor in this wonderful retelling of a classic favorite. Kids will delight in hearing about the adventurous spider's escapades.This set includes 12 felt story pieces word card sheets an activity guide and plenty of hook dots. Note: Books and hook compatible storyboards are sold separately. See Pricing Here

Elmwood's venerable Fair Store shuttering after 120 years

2009-10-21T06:30:00.003-07:00

ELMWOOD -- The handwritten signs on the storefront window indicate a really good sale is in progress inside. But it's not a happy sale. It's an everything-must-go sale. After 120 years of continuous operation, the Fair Store, an anchor of Elmwood's downtown and an always-been-there institution in town, is going out of business.

"It's heartbreaking," said a misty-eyed Tammie Weaver on Tuesday. Weaver bought the building and the business in 1999 and was just the third owner in the store's long history. "But the economy has killed me. I have a real estate tax bill due, and I can't afford to pay it."

The downtown building on Magnolia Street, across from Central Park and the famed Lorado Taft "Pioneers" statue, was built by owner C.A. Vance in the 1880s. It opened for business as a general goods store around 1890 and was part of one of the earliest department store chains in the country. There were Fair Stores throughout Illinois and points south, and Weaver believed her Fair Store may be the last one standing. Though not for much longer.

"There might be one in Chicago, but I think we're the last link in the chain," she said.

Vance, unbelievably, ran the store until he sold it to Bert Sparks in 1945. When Sparks died in 1999, the store was left to Donna Turner, who was its manager and bookkeeper for almost 40 years and who is Tammie Weaver's aunt. Weaver bought the Fair Store from Aunt Donna.

In the Sparks era, the store sold everything. His motto was, "If we don't have it, you don't need it." But the retail landscape had changed by the time the store changed owners for just the second time in 110 years in 1999. Elmwood shoppers, like shoppers everywhere, relied on the big box stores in the bigger cities to find their discounted goods for the home.

"The business morphed into something more eclectic," Weaver said. "We wanted to stock things you couldn't find at Wal-Mart."

The store succeeded. Weaver introduced bedding plants for sale in the spring and summer, and the sidewalk in front of the store was crammed full of them. She'd leave the plants outside overnight, and would often find notes from customers who had taken plants after hours and asked to add the cost to their tabs.

"They always paid, and I never got ripped off," Weaver said.

This year was different. The lousy spring weather led to a lousy bedding plant sales season. As the worsening global economy embedded itself everywhere, including small town America, Weaver's customer base declined. The Fair Store was once the hot spot for school supplies for the small city's student population, but Weaver said not one Elmwood school kid purchased school supplies in the store this year.

"I can't buy wholesale what people buy retail at Wal-Mart," Weaver said. "I buy notebooks, for 80 cents and bump it up to $1.60 to make some profit, then bump it down to $1.40 or so to try to sell them. Wal-Mart sells the same notebook as a loss leader for 10 cents."

Weaver is trying to sell everything on the shelves -- there were four mirrored disco balls and lots of luxury goat milk soap available Tuesday -- then sell all the fixtures as well at a discount. She expects she'll stay open for a couple of weeks, then close the books by the end of the year. The store is for sale. She has no plans for her no-Fair-Store future.

"I leave with absolutely no resentment or bitterness about anything. I've loved it here. This town has been very supportive of me," Weaver said.

She won't voice any disappointment, but Elmwood resident Chuck Brannan, who is 55 and first shopped in the Fair Store before he was old enough to go to school, was more than happy to.

"My parents taught me to shop in my hometown no matter what," Brannan said. "People were expressing surprise that the store was closing because they didn't know it was struggling at all. Then they'd tell you they hadn't been in the store themselves for years. The people of Elmwood don't realize what will be lost when they lose this store."

Weaver isn't looking forward to the final weeks of business.

"It's not the big moments for me, but the everyday greetings," she said. "It's not the business I'll miss, it's the people I'll miss."

Scott Hilyard can be reached at 686-3244 or at shilyard@pjstar.com.

Credit: Journal Star, Peoria, Ill.

UDA keeps superintendent at helm

2009-10-21T06:30:00.001-07:00

Elaine E. Eib will remain at the helm as Upper Dauphin Area School District superintendent.

The school board voted 7-0 on Oct. 13 to renew Eib's contract for five years, beginning July 1, 2010 and ending June 30, 2015. Board Vice President John E. Blyler was absent.

"We certainly appreciate your hard work and efforts," board President Dennis L. Henninger told Eib, as well as commending her building administrators.

"Thank you for your faith in me," Eib said.

Before the vote, board member Michael Fisher had asked about 125 unused sick days from a previous employer that were written into the contract. Henninger said that item had already been determined before Eib came to the district.

No details about Eib's salary were included in the five-year plan, according to Vaughn D. Shope, business manager/secretary. In July, Eib's salary was approved at $107,500 for the 2009-10 school year.

Fisher also had questions about UDA's marked improvement on its standardized testing, the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. Fisher praised the district's administrators and staff for doing a "fantastic job," but also asked if the curriculum had been set aside while students were encouraged to take practice tests over and over again to try to boost performance.

"Is there any truth to that accusation?" Fisher asked Eib.

Eib assured the board the curriculum is not pushed aside and stressed that what is seen in the PSSA is imbedded into the curriculum. Through benchmark assessments, like the "Study Island" program, for example, the district is gaining feedback on students' progress four times a year, she said.

"It enables us to measure if they're where they should be," Eib said.

In other business, board member Gerald Wiest made a motion to table approval of the activity and club advisers for the 2009-10 school year. Wiest asked Shope if all organizations had filed the appropriate paperwork requested by the district. Some had not.

Shope said the district needs to have copies of the organizations' bylaws, officer lists and treasurers' reports before approval can be considered. The board tabled the matter.

In other action, the board:

- Approved an expulsion hearing waiver for a student. No details were provided publicly on what behavior prompted the action or who was involved.

- Held a 50-minute executive session to discuss personnel matters.

- Reviewed the invoices for several departments, including a $4,394 cost for family consumer science supplies. Shope said the cost reflected the purchase of five realistic-type babies with three-year warranties each, "Real Care" baby supply pack and an $899 pregnancy simulator (body vest). The invoice was approved.

- Approved the district goals for 2009-10.

- Approved the acceptance of E-rate discounts for telecommunication, networking and Internet service provider charges as awarded by the Universal Services Administrative Company and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

- Approved the following substitute teachers: Jeffrey Miller, Kevin Shadle, Brenda Lawrence, Douglas Rubendall, Jennifer Minnich, Shayna Martz and Dana Lomma.

- Approved the teachers' salary level adjustments for 2009-10.

- Approved winter coaching staff for the 2009-10 school year.

- Approved Judy Reed's retirement allowance payout at 208.5 days at $50 per day for a total of $10,425.

- Approved Marcia Schell as the guidance secretary at the high school, replacing Sharon Peters, at $8.85 per hour. Director Tracy Schrey voted no.

- Approved the student-led club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, that will meet before or after school with Jan Hoffner as club sponsor.

- Approved Cherylene Bopp as a van driver for Harris Transportation for the remainder of the current school year.

- Approved the resignation of Kathy Reiner as a personal care aide effective Oct. 5.

- Approved Ron Hamme's request to take 50 students to New York City from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 6 at a cost of $10 per student. The cost would be paid for by students as a museum entry fee.

- Approved the following people to serve on the Policy Committee for the 2009-10 school year: Eib, Wiest, Abbey Walshaw-Wertz, Angela Maurer, Barbara Minchoff, Susan Clouser, Alayna Peters, Benjamin Zigner and Karen Gunderman.

Credit: The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.

BioColor Paint 16oz. - Set of 11 Discount School Supply Coupon

2009-10-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

BioColor's creamy texture spreads easily won't crack or fade with age and shines without additives after drying. BioColor can be applied using a variety of techniques such as fingers brush spatula or any of our great paint accessories. Adheres to many surfaces including paper cardboard wood metal glass and plastic. Try all of our fun easy-to-follow activity ideas or let your imagination soar as you create your own ideas. (And we would love to hear about them when you do.) Easily washes off skin. For washing out of fabric use Zout found in our Teacher Resources section. Set includes: Black Blue Brown Green Magenta Orange Red Turquoise Violet White and Yellow. See Pricing Here

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2009-10-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

These cute and compact binoculars are perfect for small hands and small eyes. Each pair of heavy-duty bright yellow binoculars measures about 4 1/4L x 2 3/4W and has a crystal clear 3x magnifier. Ages 3 years and up. See Pricing Here

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2009-10-18T06:29:00.000-07:00

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2009-10-18T05:23:00.000-07:00

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2009-10-18T04:12:00.000-07:00

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2009-10-18T03:07:00.000-07:00

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BioColor Paints Gallons - Set of 11 Discount School Supply Discount Code

2009-10-18T02:09:00.000-07:00

BioColor's creamy texture spreads easily won't crack or fade with age and shines without additives after drying. BioColor can be applied using a variety of techniques such as fingers brush spatula or any of our great paint accessories. Adheres to many surfaces including paper cardboard wood metal glass and plastic. Try all of our fun easy-to-follow activity ideas or let your imagination soar as you create your own ideas. (And we would love to hear about them when you do.) For washing out of fabric use Zout found in our Teacher Resources section. Bottles are recyclable. Set includes: black blue brown magenta orange red turquoise violet green white and yellow. See Pricing Here

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2009-10-18T02:06:00.000-07:00

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How Long Is It? Discount School Supplies

2009-10-18T01:58:00.000-07:00

This oversized measuring tape is scaled in inches and centimeters. With a large carrying handle rewind knob with a clicking action and a 36 tape young children will find it easy to manipulate and learn the skill of measuring. Durable high-quality plastic. See Pricing Here

Tri-City parents choosy on buying school supplies

2009-10-13T07:42:00.001-07:00

Laurie Harrison bought notebooks, pencils, binders and tools for geometry as part of last-minute back-to-school shopping Thursday at the Target store in Kennewick.

She bought more items than were on her daughter's list, the Kennewick mom said. The Harrisons already had purchased most school supplies at Wal-Mart earlier, she said, adding that they didn't buy new lunchboxes and backpacks this school year, which starts Monday.

Her son Luke, a seventh-grade student at Liberty Christianin Richland, and daughter Kiran, who's in third grade at the same school, are OK with that, she said.

"I like to save money," said Harrison, who generally shops at discount chain stores.

Back-to-school shopping traffic has been fairly brisk, said Katelyn Lee, one of the managers at the Kennewick Target.

Customers have been buying school supplies and backpacks, spending on average $50, she said. She also has seen back-to-school shoppers buy headphones for their music players.

Since the end of June, Target has set up a special back-to-school section for K-12 students and put a special color code to mark things that college-bound students might need, like comforters, sheets, plastic totes, fleece blankets and butterfly chairs, Lee said.

More than 40 percent of families with students already in college or planning to attend one have yet to start shopping, a recent National Retail Federation survey found.

Parents are being careful and making careful spending decisions, said Pam Goodfellow, senior analyst at BIGresearch, which conducted the survey for the federation.

Jean Ross of West Richland said she spent about $40 at the Kennewick Target on Thursday to buy her grandson, Hawk, the school supplies he'll need when he starts sixth grade at Enterprise Middle School on Tuesday.

Everything was reasonably priced, Ross said, although she spent less money compared with what she did last year.

She got him new clothes and a backpack that he liked some time ago, Ross said.

Normally, she buys school supplies earlier in the season from an office supply store, making use of their sales. But this year, she didn't have the time, she said.

She initially was wor- ried that things would be out of stock just before school starts. But she got everything except a glue stick, Ross said.

Back-to-school sales are strong at Grigg's Department Store in Pasco, said Charlie Grigg, vice president of the company. The store has seen a strong sale of kids shoes, he said.

It's about giving customers value for their purchase, Grigg said. "We don't carry expensive brands," he said.

-- Pratik Joshi: 582-1541; pjoshi@tricityherald.com.

Credit: Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.

Celebrity salutes teacher who's a study in generosity

2009-10-12T08:04:00.002-07:00

If you stay in the trenches long enough, you just might get rewarded.

Such was the case Monday at Curiale School, when Lorraine Mondi, a second-grade teacher in Bridgeport for more than two decades, was surprised by a visit from Comedy Central personality Michael Ian Black.

The star of the program, "Michael and Michael Have Issues," came to the school to present Mondi with about $1,000 in school supplies, a new chair, a printer, a digital camera and more.

"Oh, look -- tissues," Mondi said as she was unpacking the out-sized box of supplies she was awarded. "Glue sticks -- Yaaaay!" Her 20 students helped her unpack the box.

Mondi was one of 1,000 teachers nationwide surprised with the free supplies and celebrity visits from OfficeMax, a national retailer. The giveaway was staged to draw attention to the fact that some teachers typically spend hundreds of dollars every year out of their own pockets for school supplies -- $1,000 is the national average, according to the company. All of these surprise visits took place Monday, according to an OfficeMax statement.

"She's just so conscientious, just fantastic," said Curiale School Principal Audrey I. Skoda. "You might have noticed that just today she brought in a new bookcase for her classroom that she bought herself."

Supt. of Schools John Ramos said that there is $22,000 for supplies in the education budget, but that actual need is about $500,000.

"We encourage

our principals, teachers, support staff and others to project their needs so there are not any last-minute item expenses," he said. "The need is great and we truly appreciate donations like this received from our partners, companies, nonprofits and individuals to benefit our scholars."

Black, known for a dead-pan portrayal of an office worker, presented Mondi with flowers, too.

"Our show takes place in an office, and OfficeMax supplied many of the items you see on the set," Black said. "So they approached me and asked me if I'd like to participate in this, and I said, 'Of course.' It's a really great program."

Black, who lives in Ridgefield, had his own two children in tow, first-grader Ruth and third-grader Elijah.

This is the third annual give-away of supplies that OfficeMax has conducted; it's a program that the retailer calls, "A Day Made Better."

"She's always buying prizes and materials for art lessons. You name it and she's buying it for her kids," Skoda said.

"Thank you, very much," Mondi said. "This is one day that I'll never forget."

Credit: Connecticut Post, Bridgeport

Nimitz teacher awarded $1,000 in supplies

2009-10-12T08:04:00.001-07:00

It's estimated that, every year, the average elementary school teacher spends $1,000 out of his or her own pocket to purchase classroom supplies.

On Tuesday, a fourth-grade teacher at Nimitz Elementary got the money she's invested back.

Valerie Kennedy was surprised Tuesday morning with $1,000 worth of classroom supplies from Office Max as part of the company's annual A Day Made Better program.

"I was just shocked when all these people started pouring into my classroom this morning, and then they told me I had won all these supplies," said Kennedy, a writing teacher at Nimitz.

Kennedy had no idea she would be receiving the supplies, which were brought to her classroom while she was teaching.

She was nominated for the prize by Nimitz principal Wade Ivy.

"We have a lot of great teachers here, but I think (Kennedy) represents what this school is all about," said Ivy. "She works hard to build strong relationships with her students, with parents and to instill strong lessons."

Kennedy was one of 1,000 teachers nationwide awarded school supplies, which included a desk chair, digital camera and printer, along with everyday items like glue sticks and pencils. Since 2007, Office Max honored more than 3,000 teachers with these awards.

"The program was conceived because it's been estimated that every year, elementary school teachers spend $1,000 out of pocket on supplies for their classrooms," said Jennifer Rook, a spokeswoman for Office Max. "They do this so selflessly, and our company wanted to give back."

And, in fact, Kennedy said she has spent her own money over the years on classroom supplies.

"All teachers buy these things for their students -- scissors, pencils, pens -- because they use them all so fast, and sometimes you have students who can't afford them on their own, so you want to provide for your students and make sure they have everything they need to succeed," she said.

Shop With A Cop a savior for parents, students

2009-10-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

Raising two school-age granddaughters on an hourly wage of $7.50 makes it tough for Shelby Ikard to provide anything extra for the girls.

But Thursday, Ikard got a boost, thanks to the Fraternal Order of Police Chapter in Iredell County, which funded a shopping spree to buy school supplies and clothing for 6-year-old India Davidson and 5-year-old Nadia Ikard.

A total of 123 children took part in the annual Shop With A Cop on Thursday at Kmart in Statesville.

FOP President Ron (Duck) Wyatt said that's the largest number of children in the program's history.

The money for Shop With A Cop usually comes from a telephone fundraiser each summer, but due to the economy, some of the money spent Thursday will come from the FOP itself, Wyatt said.

He said the state FOP experienced a 50- to 75-percent decrease in donations this year, and on a local level, that number was 40 percent.

"We could tell by the phone calls that people scaled back in their giving. Some said they couldn't give at all this year," he said.

One person who received those fundraising calls in the past found herself and her family in need of the program this year.

Laketa McKinney, her husband Jimmy and their five children spent a couple of hours picking out winter coats, shoes and other supplies.

"I used to get these calls from the FOP and I always wondered where the money went," she said. "Now I know, and I'll definitely be a future donor."

The funds raised, in addition to money from the FOP, allowed each child to get about $112 worth of school supplies or clothing, Wyatt said.

Ikard said getting India and Nadia more than $200 worth of necessary supplies is a much-needed boost to her household.

"I really needed this," she said as she and her granddaughters, which also included 18-month-old Kimora Poston, waited to check out.

As she walked out of the store, she repeatedly thanked the members of the FOP who were on hand to help with the program.

Dawn Byers, who was shopping for supplies for her two sons, Damion, 9, and Jimmy, 16, said she was able to get pants for the two quickly growing boys.

"I appreciate this so much," she said.

Nearly all of the families offered a heartfelt thank you to the FOP members.

Many of the children were more hands-on with their thanks, hugging the FOP members.

Wyatt said seeing the children come out of the store with winter coats and new clothes is exactly what the program is all about.

McKinney said she's glad her children were able to benefit this year.

"I've heard about this program, but to experience it is completely different," she said. "I really do appreciate it."

Credit: Statesville Record and Landmark, N.C.

Homelessness adds to students' hurdles and schools' burdens

2009-10-03T05:57:00.001-07:00

DURHAM -- In a cramped room with cinder-block walls, a linoleum floor, two bunk beds, a single dresser and a crib in the center of it all, 14-year-old Daniel King sat on the bottom of one bunk, leaning over a pre-algebra workbook.

It's the same room he has done homework in every night since school started -- in a homeless shelter where he lives with four other family members.

In the shelter, it's nearly impossible to bring friends over to study or play. And privacy? Forget it. Daniel can barely leave his room without supervision.

Still, he is determined to get straight A's in eighth grade this year. He insists he can -- even though his chances to study at a desk, much less a home, are remote.

In North Carolina, slightly more than 1 percent of all children in public schools, or about 17,000 students, were homeless at the end of the 2007-08 school year. School officials said that number is more than likely doubled now as the recession has made already unstable living conditions worse.

The state's unemployment rate is higher than the national average, and many of the jobless are having trouble holding on to their homes. Foreclosure filings are up across the state but particularly so in urban areas such as Durham and Wake counties.

Daniel's mom, Jennifer Hunt, 34, was a single parent in Michigan who worked as a medical assistant for years. She moved to Durham three years ago with $700 and enough money to rent a car. She thought she'd find a job right away but didn't. She remarried and had her third child less than a year ago.

The family survives on Medicaid, food stamps and the benefits Hunt receives after the death of her first husband. Her husband, Garrett Hunt, 59, is waiting for disability benefits. The family of five has bounced from shelter to hotel room and back as they wait for public-housing assistance.

"Sure, it would be nice to be in the same place," said Daniel, who wants to be either a doctor or cartoonist someday. "But I mean, I can't change where I am, and I don't mind it too much."

An obstacle to education

Daniel gets A's and B's in school, but he would be considered an exception, a triumph over adversity, by advocates for children who say that the instability that comes with homelessness can jeopardize education. Children who move often have a higher risk of dropping out, despite a federal mandate that says school districts must provide special services to homeless students.

"It can turn everything upside down for a child," said Barbara Duffield, policy director for the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, an advocacy group in Washington, D.C. "This is where we see mental-health issues, kids not getting enough to eat and those who are losing attachments to people and places, especially school."

The McKinney-Vento Act, passed in 2001 as part of federal No Child Left Behind standards, requires every school district to have a liaison for homeless students, including those who are living in hotels and cars as well as the homes of relatives or friends.

The law states that homeless children must be provided with transportation and can stay in their school of origin -- even if they've had to move outside that school's area to find shelter.

"Even if everything else is falling apart, we want to at least maintain stability in the school environment," Duffield said.

Increasing numbers of students who qualify -- and advocates said numbers are underreported because many people do not realize they meet the definition -- mean an extra financial strain for budget-strapped school systems that must finance almost all support services on their own.

Daniel and his sister, Samantha Narrin, 12, were among 417 students from homeless families in Durham Public Schools in June, up from the previous year. Schools are only just re-starting their homeless schoolchildren counts, but most said they're seeing higher numbers. Numbers rise throughout the school year with a spike around the holidays. Once a student is recognized as homeless, he or she can receive services for the entire school year.

Current national data are not available, but the number of homeless schoolchildren nationwide may have risen by as much as 80 percent to 100 percent in the past two years to over a million, Duffield said.

Schools help homeless students with school supplies, personal hygiene products and bus passes so parents can attend teacher conferences, said Jerene Joseph, a social worker who works with homeless students in Durham Public Schools.

In a meeting with Durham school officials last month, community leaders expressed concern over the often-overlooked students.

"We do what we can to provide what the child needs," Joseph said. But first they have to find and keep track of the children. That can be difficult because families must either self-report, or a teacher must tell social workers. And a family's living situation can change rapidly.

School homeless liaisons travel in and outside of their counties to visit hotels and shelters to make sure students have the supplies they need. Melissa Brisbon-Obame, the homeless liaison for Wake County schools, said the district will accommodate any situation. If a family is living in a car, the school district will arrange for a bus to meet students at an agreed-upon spot.

The real challenge, she said, is getting these families to come forward.

"Unfortunately, there's a stigma attached here, and families don't want to be identified," said Brisbon-Obame, who said the school district puts up posters advertising services in bus stations where homeless families might notice. "It's much easier to connect with a homeless shelter."

At the Salvation Army's shelter in Raleigh, more than half of the 50 occupants are children, said director Christine Long. The waiting list of families who need shelter housing has grown from 20 to 30 three years ago to more than 80. Long said she has seen more families with parents who have college degrees needing a place to stay.

At Urban Ministries of Durham, the shelter where Daniel and Samantha live with their mother, stepfather and 10-month-old sister, Hadassah, there's room for nine families who can stay for 90 days. The shelter doesn't keep a waiting list, but family and housing case manager Mandy Sackreiter said lately she's turning away three to five families a day.

For the kids who do live in the shelter, Sackreiter said, life can be tough.

"It's really hard to live in a place where there are other people's rules," she said.

For Daniel, living in the shelter has been just OK. The family has had to switch rooms twice -- once because of ants. Daniel said he makes many friends, but then they move out. For a 14-year-old, it's no fun to have to be accompanied by a family member just to walk from the family's room to the shelter's courtyard to play basketball or ride a bike a few feet away.

"When you're raising kids, you want them to be in a good environment," said Hunt, Daniel's mother, who said she has been waiting for public housing since February. "But you also learn, and Daniel has learned, that you can make where you're staying home. It has its highs and lows, but what place doesn't?"

Daniel agreed. Still, as much as he loves his friends and teachers at Carrington Middle School, he doesn't tell many people there where he lives.

"I guess it's a little embarrassing," he said. "But if they asked, I would be honest and tell them."

The daily routine

Daniel and Samantha get up at 5:30 a.m. every day so they can get dressed in one of a handful of sets of clothes stacked on top of a bunk bed and maybe grab a bowl of Cap'n Crunch to eat before catching their bus at 6:30 a.m. to Carrington, eight miles away.

Mornings can be hard. The kids miss the shelter-wide breakfast at 8 a.m., and sometimes they miss free breakfast at the schools, too, because the bus will arrive too late. Hunt said she tries to keep snacks in the shared kitchen.

But it has been hard to stay healthy. Daniel has had to miss four days of school for illness already this year. He weighs about 266 pounds and says he gets teased sometimes.

"I am trying to get in shape," said Daniel, who loves basketball but wants to try out for the football team because of his size. "I don't really care what people think of me, but I know everyone talks about the obesity problem, and I want to be healthy."

Food stamps, Hunt said, are in short supply, and the limited funds don't cover the costs of many healthy foods. It's hard for Hunt to get to a grocery store. Instead, she handed Daniel and Samantha two Cokes and bags of potato chips from a convenience store as an after-school snack.

Daniel often speaks of his favorite teachers and classes like math and science at Carrington. He talks about friends at the lunch table.

"I don't care about being popular," he said. "If I have to do nothing schoolwork-wise to be popular, then forget it."

Daniel talks almost nonstop. He can't help it. His brown eyes widen, his hands and feet fidget, and then he just has to interrupt his mother to tell another animated story about something one of his teachers said.

He's a good kid, Hunt said, as Daniel picked up his baby sister, twirled her around and planted two big kisses on her cheeks.

Though it's four years away, Daniel has his sights on graduating high school -- and beyond.

"I want to go to UNC," he said, before pulling out his oversized, spiraled sketchbook. The pad is filled with drawings of athletes and pictures of his family in front of picturesque houses.

Stories in a looseleaf notebook feature characters like "Dillon," who is very similar to Daniel but lives in one big house with his family.

Daniel has never lived in a home like the ones he draws and writes about.

The family must leave the shelter at the end of November.

sadia.latifi@newsobserver.com or 919-932-2002

Credit: The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.

Urban Brazil: Visions, Afflictions, and Governance Lessons

2009-10-03T05:56:00.001-07:00

Ivani Vassoler, Urban Brazil: Visions, Afflictions, and Governance Lessons. Amherst, NY: Cambria Press, 2007. Illustrations, tables, figures, acronyms, appendixes, bibliography, index, 244 pp.; hardcover $99.95.

For some time, two popular sayings have been used to suggest strategies for political possibilities and action: think globally, act locally and another world is possible. Although both of these catchy sayings have been connected to a variety of social movements, the sayings seem to remain ambiguous in the concrete context of everyday life. In her study of urban political governance in the city of Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná in southern Brazil, however, Ivani Vassoler offers some quite concrete examples of how both of these sayings have become part of the everyday realities of the residents of this city.

Vassoler's review of the past 35 years of urban planning and action in Curitiba, with its population of 1.8 million, suggests that citizens have some reasons to be optimistic (at least in the context of Brazil) about real accomplishments in the area of public services. She argues that various city governments over this period have maintained a commitment to urban planning that has made many residents feel involved and has allowed them to talk about the quality of urban life they desire. This commitment to effective governance through urban planning has guided the impressive growth and transformation of Curitiba. It has developed a local-level decisionmaking centered on the combination of political commitment, consensus-building capabilities, and knowledgeable city organizations.

For Vassoler, the import of Curitiba's activities is not what the city government and the city residents have accomplished but how they did it. To show this, she reviews the histories of consecutive city governments (which included the period of military control of the nation, 1964-85, and the return to democracy, 1985) by focusing on how the governments dealt with problems of public transportation and environmental quality. It is interesting to note that even though the various city governments expressed different political persuasions, they all kept focused on effective urban development. This began with the composition of a general urban plan, which was actualized through the formation of an urban planning agency that was flexible and open to the changing needs of the residents of the city.

In 1964, the first transportation policies were developed. These policies worked with the assumption that mass transit, land use, and road systems would be utilized "as tools toward an integrative urban development process" (38). This involved making the center of the city a carfree zone, developing a new "road hierarchy" within the city, and putting into place "strict land use controls" (39). The hierarchy of roads involved a triple driving system: "a central road with two restricted lanes dedicated to express buses flanked by two local roads that allow fast car circulation in and out of the city center" (41).

Key to the transportation changes was the creation of a city agency to integrate the needs of the city with those of private bus companies. This integration was not without struggles, but what has emerged is a system that is modern and effective and that serves all the sections of the city. Significant in this has been the innovative revenue fare system, which gives financial compensation to the bus companies based on the number of kilometers traveled and the meeting of timetables. That is, the bus companies do not make money by the number of passengers but by "on time" compliance within the set route schedules (47). The other important change was a single-day fare for travel throughout the entire day.

To illustrate the city's approach to environmental quality, Vassoler focuses on programs that created city parks and garbage collection systems, including waste recycling (51). She describes the Iguaçú River system, which runs through the city and which began to pose flooding and contamination problems in the late 1950s and 1960s. Instead of attempting to control the river through dredging and building concrete canals, the city developed wooded parks along the river system that would act as flood plains. Currently there are 25 such parks throughout the city; they have made the city very green and also have addressed serious problems of drainage, sanitation, and flood control.

Garbage collection and disposal has been a great challenge to the various city governments of Curitiba, which have proposed innovative recycling programs consisting of workshops and public presentations on the material benefits of recycling. One program was called "Garbage that is Not Garbage." It launched educational campaigns in the city public schools and community programs to encourage residents to separate inorganic materials for reuse. It is estimated that 70 percent of the residents are now involved in such practices; this has meant real savings of approximately US$60 million a year (61).

Another innovative program, "Garbage for Purchase," was especially designed for the poorer neighborhoods of the city, where refuse collection was limited. Under this program, the residents collected their own trash, deposited it in stationary bins in the communities, and received a free bus ticket for every full bag of trash. This led to the "Green Exchange Program," allowing residents to exchange recyclable garbage for a basket of vegetables. It is claimed that every month, 20,000 people exchange 400 tons of recyclable materials for 100 tons of vegetables. This program also involves schoolchildren exchanging recyclable materials for school supplies. A side benefit was that thousands of small agricultural producers in the area could sell their produce to the city. The city runs several recycling operations, which have saved it money while creating more than 20,000 new jobs.

Vassoler provides a critical appraisal of how these city programs have developed, looks at their various contradictions and limitations, and compares Curitiba's 35 years of efforts to the near-absence of such efforts in the city of Säo Paulo. She recognizes that the programs have followed a top-down style of management, even though they have been linked to various communities on the local level and have required different promotional campaigns in order to maintain community participation. Although the programs have not addressed social or material inequality, they have made the city an easier place to live for all.

Vassoler, however, does not see Curitiba as a utopia; nor does she believe that these programs could be duplicated per se in other cities. What she constantly emphasizes is that a consistent commitment to make the city better through effective urban planning has been maintained by all the city governments during the last 35 years, independent of political positions. Furthermore, it was not so much the return to democracy that spurred these developments but the willingness of several generations of citizens to work for a better place to live. For Vassoler, Curitiba offers a possible example of what city governments can and should do: govern.

For me, Vassoler's research and the realities of what has gone on in Curitiba engender some interesting questions about the struggle for a better world to live in, particularly in Latin America. That is, what kinds of pragmatic forms of urban governance can be used in the context of postcolonial Latin America? Unfortunately, in the immediate future, there are no political and social movements that can fully dismantle the hierarchies of inequality. With all due respect to the social movements struggling in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Brazil (to name only a few), the outcomes of these struggles are far from clear, and their success will take many generations of hard work. In the immediate context, cannot local programs or projects be developed and put into place to give fairer and easier access to the use of urban social spaces for the working class and urban poor populations? The social history of Curitiba suggests that by combining local actions with global understandings, such outcomes are possible.

What I would suggest as an additive to Vassoler's fine work would be some ethnographic encounters with the people of Curitiba. How do the people in the poorer bairros feel about the programs for exchanging garbage for vegetables or school supplies? Does the reworked transportation system help urban poor women move about the city with greater ease? Do residents in general feel that the quality of their life is better? Can one note such changes in the everyday lives of the residents? These, however, are not concerns that Vassoler needs to address; they are areas for future research into another possible world in this engaging context of Curitiba.

Behind the Suit: Corus staffers give hands-on help to African village

2009-10-03T05:55:00.001-07:00

A lot of people talk about giving back to the community, but the staff at Toronto's Corus Entertainment went one step further, travelling to Africa to pitch in and help a small village and its educational system.

The idea for the effort came out of a boardroom discussion where various Corus Kids employees discussed the need to expand their experiences as professionals in the kids industry. It grew to become a volunteer teaching and building mission that involved nine Corus staff members making the transcontinental trip, with five of their children in tow, last November.

Working with Globe Aware, a US/Canadian non-profit volunteer trip agency, Corus set up an in-house project that not only facilitated fundraising and travel, but also connected Canadian kids directly with African kids. "It was a personal journey, not a Corus trip," says Corus Kids VP of programming and production Jocelyn Hamilton. "We all decided to do this as humans giving back, and Corus was great in allowing us to do it in a way that was a team-driven."

After a year of pre-planning that included raising almost US$20,000, as well as coordinating travel plans and school/work schedules for 14 people, the entourage made the journey to the small village of Kpedze Todze in Ghana, situated at the end of a red-dirt path on a lush tropical hillside.

"The first day in the village was emotional," says Hamilton, who brought her son, Harrison. "The whole town walked up the dirt road in formation singing and drumming to welcome us and show us their gratitude...It was an unbelievable sight and something I'll never forget."

The group carried out a variety of tasks that included teaching in the primary schools, constructing 30 desks for five different schools in the area, and making way for a school that was later built by students from the School of Architecture at Toronto's Ryerson University.

Other staffers whose kids made the trip were director of content at Treehouse and Discovery Kids Canada Jamie Piekarz and her son and daughter (Piper and Jackson) and Bakugan supervising producer Pat Burns and her daughter, Katie. The kids, in fact, made a special contribution of their own that included setting up an e-pal exchange between two schools in Toronto and 50 children in Kpedze Todze. Acting as ambassadors for their classes, the Canadian kids got to meet their e-pals and personally deliver a five-pound package of school supplies and gifts, and the video greeting the Canuck e-pals had each made for their African counterparts. The kids in Ghana also sent packages back to Canada that included handmade gifts, letters and poems for their e-pals.

In order to continue with kids' exchange, Corus staff on-hand realized the village's handful of ancient computers that sat unused and unconnected to the internet needed fixing. Using some of the funds raised, the volunteers upgraded the computer lab and created the community's first internet caf with internet access for a year.

Late McAdoo native was humanitarian, former mayor

2009-10-03T05:53:00.000-07:00

McAdoo native Rosemary Stasek fell in love with Afghanistan after visiting the war-torn country with an Afghan-American delegation following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

The 46-year-old humanitarian and former Mountain View, Calif., mayor made her home in Kabul in the years that followed and died there on Sept. 24.

A heart attack -- not a bomb -- took her life, her parents Andrew and Patricia Stasek of McAdoo said. Stasek had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in March, but the disease had been taking its toll on her longer than that. Her parents didn't realize how ill her daughter had become until reading a tribute written by her assistant regarding Stasek's final days, her father said.

The couple always feared for their only daughter's safety in Afghanistan, but knew she was doing what she loved -- helping people in need and working for women's rights.

"She was fearless," her mother said. "The first time she was there ... she said, 'I want to do something to help them.'"

Her parents recognized their daughter's compassion and drive to help others when she was just a little girl, her mother said.

Her father remembers when one of her friends wasn't allowed to go on a Girl Scout field trip, and she gathered up the troop and marched the delegation to this little girl's home to try to persuade her mother to change her mind.

Stasek took those leadership skills with her to Marian Catholic High School, where she was a merit scholar and served as the football team's manager.

Football coach Stan Dakosty knew the 1981 graduate well. Energetic, loyal, hard-working, selfless and an example are among the words he used to describe Stasek.

"I kept track of her," he said. "I talked about her in my classes. She set the standard. She led a life that when you look at it ... was impressive.

"She was a person who touched people's lives," Dakosty added. "It's a real loss. The world needs more people like her."

Sister Bernard Agnes, principal at Marian, also taught Stasek during her senior year. She remembers her as an outstanding, well-rounded student who was always bubbly, radiant and smiling.

"I was really stunned when I heard the news. Everyone here was in shock," she said. "She was so dynamic. She was very talented, and she gave her life to doing good things. She was too good for this world."

Stasek studied economics at Cornell University and began a fast-tracked career in banking in California, her father said. She later left banking to work as a Web designer and worked as a consultant for Oracle, Netscape and Microsoft.

Stasek then looked for a new challenge and sought political office in Mountain View, a community of about 70,000 south of San Francisco. She served two terms on council and one year as mayor.

While on council, Stasek made a bid for California State Assembly, and served on the board of Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte and the Santa Clara County Commission on the Status of Women.

She was named a Distinguished Woman of the 14th Congressional District, and received the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights Freedom of Religion Award and the Alameda National Women's Political Caucus Pro-Choice Champion Award. She was also a nominee for the Silicon Valley Women of Achievement Award.

In 1999, the Secretary of Defense selected her to participate in a Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, which toured military installations across the country and aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. She learned more about military affairs, especially women's issues, and served as a member of the Air Force Space Commanders Group.

Her interest in international affairs took her to Nepal, Ecuador, France, Britain, Holland, Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the Czech and Slovak republics, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Venezuela, Tanzania and Vietnam.

She also traveled to Cuba as a member of a special women's delegation in 1998, and was a member of one of the first delegations to return to Afghanistan in 2002.

She traveled back and forth to Kabul after that first trip, and after her second term on council ended in 2005, she spent a year in Afghanistan. During that year, she acted as a logistics manager for the Kabul Beauty School.

Stasek founded the nonprofit organization, "a little help," which raises money for small-scale projects helping women and children there. Among the ongoing projects included aid to women and children in a women's prison, buying books and other school supplies for girls' education and aid to a school for the blind.

The organization was looking for donations to regularly supply yogurt for better nutrition for women and children in prison, and for school supplies for teenage girls serving prison terms, many for murders committed by family members, according to her Web site, www.stasek.com.

Stasek also met her husband, Morne du Preez, a security contractor from South Africa, in Kabul. The couple married in 2007 after a short courtship.

Stasek will be buried in her hometown, and services will be announced shortly. A memorial was held in Kabul, and another is planned Oct. 23 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts in Mountain View, where flags flew at half-staff for five days following her death.

kmonitz@standardspeaker.com

Credit: Standard-Speaker, Hazleton, Pa.

CompuCom Donates School Supplies to U.S. and Canadian Communities

2009-09-29T07:30:00.002-07:00

CompuCom Systems, an IT outsourcing specialist, announced that its campaign, "Supply the Mind, Put Students First," has led to the donation of approximately 225,000 individual-use school supplies from pencils and pens to art supplies and backpacks as donations for local schools.

Get Your Discount School Supply Coupon Here

"CompuCom believes that quality education is critical to the futures of both our community and our company," said Tim Shea, Senior VP, Human Resources and Corporate Development. "The success of our 'Supply the Mind' community program is a direct result of support and involvement. This is our kickoff year and we look forward to it becoming an annual campaign."

Throughout the summer, CompuCom said its associates raised funds through bake sales and raffles and brought donated school supplies to work. Collected items were donated to local school districts nearby each CompuCom office and included most of CompuCom's locations, including Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Tewksbury, MA; Bloomington, MN; Calgary, AB; Mississauga, ON; Scarborough, ON; and Montreal, QC.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Longtime champion for students, families in need is honored

2009-09-29T07:30:00.001-07:00

Palmer was nominated by her friend, Joanne Whitcomb, who described Palmer as a compassionate woman who helps students and families in need.

"What she does is she kind of gives those of us who sit back an opportunity to contribute because she'll organize and get everybody together and take the lead in getting things done," Whitcomb said.

Palmer acknowledges her talent for recruiting volunteers from her Oro Valley community.

"I round up anybody on the street. We have a wonderful neighborhood in Vistoso and friends that are supportive," she said. "This is just me and my husband rounding up everyone we know and encouraging and motivating and intimidating, if need be. Some people need a little boost to give back. I guess that's where I come in."

Earlier this month, Palmer hosted her fourth annual Backpack BBQ. It is an event she started in her home as a community service project for fellow members of the Southern Arizona Corvette Club. It now has grown so large they gather at a local restaurant.

Palmer invites family, friends and neighbors to share a meal and bring donations for students -- including backpacks, clothing and school supplies.

"We just thought they needed to do something besides get together and eat," Palmer said of the car club enthusiasts. "Most of them are grandparents and don't have any children at home and really had a great time shopping for school supplies for probably the first time in 20 to 30 years."

At the first Backpack BBQ in 2006, the group provided supplies for 30 students at Van Buskirk Elementary School in Tucson. A year later, they stuffed 70 backpacks for students at Desert Winds Elementary in Marana. Last year, the group donated 175 backpacks to Roadrunner Elementary in Marana and gave supplies to a special-education classroom at Cross Middle School in the Amphitheater district. In 2007, they began donating extra supplies, plus clothing.

The recipients of this year's 143 backpacks are students at Coronado K-8 School in Catalina and the special-education class at Cross Middle School. Palmer, who was belled in the middle school's lobby, also gifted the teacher with classroom necessities, including tissues, paper towels and hand sanitizer, and grocery cards to teach the students shopping skills and movie passes for outings.

"Bless the teachers' hearts, if they can't use it or if their children have enough, they just pass them around the school," Palmer said.

At the Backpack BBQs, Palmer raffles and auctions off restaurant certificates and other donations, then uses the proceeds as seed money for next year's supplies and to buy extras for the schools. This year, she bought graphing calculators and tri- fold presentation boards for math and science students at Coronado.

"Pat is always on the lookout for school supplies throughout the year," Whitcomb wrote in her nomination. "Many of her donors are following her lead and doing the same thing."

Palmer even shops for bargains while vacationing with her husband in their recreational vehicle. In addition to school supplies, she hunts for items to put into gift baskets she makes as birthday gifts for girls in the foster system and for teen mothers, Whitcomb said.

Palmer knows what teens need. She is the mother of two children, and she and her husband, Ron, were foster parents to 22 teens and opened their home to 34 foreign-exchange students over the years.

She was a volunteer bailiff in the juvenile court when she first realized the need for foster homes and began taking in teens. She was gratified recently when one of her foster daughters, now grown and moved out, called to thank Palmer for introducing her to community service. "It's just been a life full of children, kids at home for 46 years," said Palmer, whose mother also took in children and helped families in need.

Once the school supplies are distributed, Palmer organizes the holiday adopt-a-family program for the nonprofit Aviva Children's Services in Tucson, doing the shopping and wrapping for companies and groups that want to contribute money to provide Christmas gifts for children in need.

"We couldn't do it alone. The support is from the community," Palmer said. "It's something that doesn't cost a lot of money. For $25, you can fill a backpack with school supplies that will really make a difference."

The project

The Ben's Bells Project began in March 2003, one year after Ben Mare Packard died of croup, just before his third birthday. His family hopes it reminds people to be kind, to help ease one another's pain. The latest phase of the project began in September 2005, weekly "bellings" for those among us who make our community a better, kinder place to live.

If you know people who deserve a bell, go to www.bensbells.org/Nominate.html to nominate them. To learn more about the project, and find out how you can make bells, go to www.bensbells.org or call 628-2829.

Contact reporter Kimberly Matas at kmatas@azstarnet.com or at 573-4191.

Credit: The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson

Homelessness adds to students' hurdles and schools' burdens

2009-09-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

In a cramped room with cinder-block walls, a linoleum floor, two bunk beds, a single dresser and a crib in the center of it all, 14-year-old Daniel King sat on the bottom of one bunk, leaning over a pre-algebra workbook.