Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) January 4, 2008
Celebrities from all facets of the entertainment industry pool together to fight for the release of a captive L pod orca whale named Lolita.
According to the Orca Network, actors, producers, singers and philanthropists have volunteered as spokespersons for the campaign to release of Lolita from the Miami Seaquarium to her native habitat in the Pacific Northwest after 37 years of captivity.
The list of celebrities and philanthropists for Lolita includes Johnny Depp, Hayden Panettiere, Lindsay Lohan, 50 Cent, Jean Claude Van Damme, Raul Julia-Levy, Bokeem Woodbine, Harrison Ford, Robert Downey Jr., Jonathan Silverman, Jennifer Finnigan, Billy Zane, Bob Barker, Francesco Quinn, Gladys Portugal, Joan Fontaine, Mekhi Phifer, Mike Amato, Sticky Fingaz, The Game and Truth Hurts. Prominent producers who support Lolita’s release are Ed Elbert and Jonathan Sanger, along with director Isaac Florentine.
Leading the campaign to free Lolita is the co-founder and president of the Orca Network Howard Garrett and philanthropist Raul Julia-Levy. Garrett has drafted a proposal for the safe retirement of the captive orca whale and has submitted it to the Miami Seaquarium where Lolita currently lives in a confined man-made pool that is not as deep as her body’s length.
When Julia-Levy heard of Lolita’s plight, he contacted Garrett to lend his support by rallying the celebrities for her release.
“Lolita’s already made her captives millions of dollars. How much is enough? Greediness has its limits and it is time Lolita goes back to her family,” said Julia-Levy. “We need to make Lolita’s voice heard,” Julia-Levy pleaded.
Executive director and research biologist for the Center for Whale Research Kenneth Balcomb III mirrored Julia-Levy’s sentiments. Balcomb III said, “Lolita deserves to retire in her home waters. She’s made millions for the marine park. It’s past time she had a chance to retire and enjoy the rest of her life.”
In a letter to supporters of Lolita’s release, Garrett explains Lolita’s history and describes the distinct culture and complex languages of orca whales. The letter also addresses the fact that although Lolita has lived in captivity for 30 years, she will be able to recognize her family and will remember her lifelong membership as a Southern Resident orca.
Bokeem Woodbine, known for his role as Fathead Newman in the major motion picture Ray, understands the parallels between orca whales and humans. He believes that no animal of that size should be held captive for so long just to entertain people.
“No one has the right to kidnap these animals. Imagine if one of your sons gets kidnapped to entertain people in another country. In my world that’s a high crime,” said Woodbine.
Evidence gathered through the intensive study of killer whales shows that these mammals are family-oriented creatures who maintain family bonds and patterns that have been established from generation to generation. In 1995, Lolita made national television when Dateline NBC played a recording of Lolita’s family to her. Based on her reaction, Lolita recognized her family’s distinct call.
Along with the celebrities, a handful of politicians support Lolita’s speedy release. U.S. Senators supporting her release include Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. U.S. Representatives include Rick Larson, Norm Dicks, Jim McDermott, Adam Smith and Linda Smith. The Island County and San Juan County Board of Commissioners and King County (Seattle) Executive Ron Sims also want Lolita released.
Martial arts extraordinaire Jean Claude Van Damme called for more help from the government. He said, “We live in the most powerful country in the world. It’s time to urge Congress to create laws to protect and ensure the freedom of the whales. We must let this animal go free.”
In the draft proposal for retiring Lolita, Garrett details the procedures for her release and dispels many objections held by representatives of the Miami Seaquarium and other individuals. For example, a feeding and care station will be provided should Lolita need man’s help for a smooth transition.
“Lolita can go home without any risk to her. We cannot guarantee that she will successfully rejoin her family,” said Garrett, “However, the best place for her is her native home.”
With the support of prominent actors, producers and philanthropists, Garrett wishes to create more awareness of Lolita’s dire circumstances among the general public. He said, “The celebrities can help us (Orca Network) make the point that Lolita’s in a terrible situation. She’s isolated and alone. Yet we can bring her home.”
Actors Jonathon Silverman and his wife Jennifer Finnigan are also calling for Lolita’s release and want to create more awareness of her situation.
Silverman said, “This cause for Lolita deserves immediate attention. We can also ask the authorities to prevent this from occurring in the future. The release of Lolita will help establish awareness in Congress.”
Garrett attributes Lolita’s longevity in captivity to the fact that she does remember her family. Sadly, other members of her family captured at the same time as Lolita have died in captivity. Celebrities, philanthropists, politicians and many members of the general public do not want the same fate for Lolita.
To join the list to free Lolita, individuals may visit Orca Network where a complete list of the high-profile supporters for Lolita’s release and Garrett’s documents in their entirety can be found.
The address and phone number for Orca Network is:
2403 North Bluff Road
Greenbank, Washington 98253
360-678-3451
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(PRWEB) October 1, 2004 -
The Center For Race and Gender at the University of California, Berkeley is pleased to announce the fall conference: Beyond Race and Citizenship: Indigeneity in the 21st Century October 28-30, 2004. The conference is a multi-campus initiative conceived to provide a forum for Indigenous scholars from a broad range of disciplines both from within California and the United States as well as internationally to address and reflect upon the most recent forms of Â?IndigeneityÂ? and itÂ?s political re/membering Indigenous identity in a global and local context.
The conference will feature keynote addresses from Leroy Little Bear (University of Lethbridge, Canada), Wilma Mankiller (Former Principle Chief of the Cherokee Nation) and Linda Tuhiwai Smith (University of Aukland, New Zealand). Other participants include: Joanne Barker, Tom Biolsi, Victoria Bomberry, John Brown Childs, Steve Crum, Jo Carillo, Jennifer Dentdale, Guillermo Delgado, Silvia Escarcega, Jack Forbes, Eva Garroute, David Welchman Gegeo, Nimachia Hernandez, Amy Lonetree, Manulani Meyer, Rodofo Meyer, Melinda Micco, Triloki Pandey, Reyna Ramirez, Andrea Smith, Ines Talamantez, Edward Valandra, Stefano Varese ann Angela Wilson.
The conference will feature the panels: Â?Indigenizing and Claiming Culture,Â? Â?Mapping Our World: Mind Memory and the Science of the Sacred,Â? Â?Historicizing and Dehistoricizing Gender,Â? Â?Nation to Nation,Â? and Â?Critical Themes and Emerging Issues;Â? which address specific sites in which the politics of Indigeneity are being played out. The conference will be held in the Lipman Room in Barrows Hall on the Berkeley campus.
Registration forms and the conference schedule are available at the Center for Race and Gender website: http://crg.berkeley.edu
Registration for faculty and community members is $ 20 pre-registration, $ 30 at the door.
For more information, please contact the Center for Race and Gender at centerrg@berkeley.edu
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MORRISTOWN NJ, (PRWEB) January 23, 2004
Art in The Atrium begins its 12th season exhibition and sale of African American art on Friday, January 30, 2004, with a reception from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Morris County Administration and Records Building Atrium Gallery, Fifth Floor on Court Street in Morristown, NJ. Admission is free and open to the public.
The theme for this yearÂ?s exhibition and sale is Red Velvet Cake, and is based on a painting by artist Cedric Smith, a native of Philadelphia, PA, who now resides in Atlanta, GA. Smith will appear as a special guest at the opening reception. Traditionally, African Americans in the southern United States served red velvet cake to commemorate special occasions. The directors of Art in the Atrium view SmithÂ?s painting as a special backdrop for depicting 12 years of showcasing fine art by African Americans and to promoting cultural awareness throughout the community.
Funding has been made possible in part by the Arts Council of the Morris Area through the New Jersey State Arts Council on the Arts/Department of State Local Arts Grant Program.
Developed out of a desire by the directors to increase the availability of art by African Americans, the annual exhibition and sale has grown in popularity and importance. Attorney Charles Craig and his wife Viki, who reside in Morristown, are two of the original organizers of the event. With the showÂ?s curator, Russell Murray, they bring together an eclectic blend of paintings, drawings, mixed media and collage by established and new African American artists. MurrayÂ?s art is also part of the exhibition.
This yearÂ?s exhibition and sale includes such well-known artists as Benny Andrews, former visual arts director for the National Endowment for the Arts, Newark Artist Gladys Barker Grauer, Camille Billops of New York City and Faith Ringgold of Teaneck, NJ.
Art in The Atrium exhibits have grown in recognition over the years to become one of New JerseyÂ?s most important venues for showcasing fine art created by African-American artists, attracting audiences from the metropolitan area as well as from other nearby cities. The organization includes among its projects artists in the schools programs, art collectors workshops and awards college scholarships in Morris County and the surrounding community.
Other established artists, several of whom reside in New Jersey, are annual contributors to the exhibitions and are sought after for the high quality of their work. These include Marian Howard, Leroy Campbell, Janet Taylor Pickett, Alonzo Adams and Bisa Washington.
More than 25 artists have agreed to show their works in this annual event that runs from Friday, January 30, 2004, through Friday, March 26, 2004. Exhibit hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The growing following of Art in the Atrium was demonstrated on Saturday, September 20, 2003, when upwards of 300 lovers of art came to participate in a Â?ConversationÂ? with renowned sculptor and printmaker, Elizabeth Catlett, at the Morris Museum in Morristown. That event marked the introduction of the Red Velvet Cake theme for the 12th Anniversary observance and confirmed Ms. Catlett as one of the artists whose work is in the 2004 exhibition.
In addition to the Craigs and Murray, other members of Art in the Atrium are Walter and Lynn Goodwin, Wanda Webster Stansbury, Linda Harley and Arthur and Jackie Bolden.
For more information about Art in The Atrium, Inc. and the opening reception on Friday, January 30, 2004, call 973-540-0615 or visit their website located at http://www.artintheatrium.com.
Directions to Morris County Administration and Records Building
FROM TRENTON & SOUTH JERSEY
Take 287N to Exit 35 (South St.). At end of exit, make left and follow Rt. 24W to Morristown Green. Go one half around Green and make a right turn onto Washington St. (Rt. 24W). Go one short block and make a left onto Schuyler Place. The last building on the right is the Administration & Records Building.
FROM NEW YORK CITY
Take 80W to 287S to Exit 36 (Morris St.). Follow Morris St. to Morristown Green. Go one half turn around the Green and make right onto Washington St. (Rt. 24W). Go one short block and make a left onto Schuyler Place. The last building on the right is the Administration & Records Building.
FROM NEWARK
Take 280W to 287S to Exit 36 (Morris St.). Follow Morris St. to Morristown Green. Go one half turn around the Green and make right turn onto Washington St. (Rt. 24W). Go one short block and make left onto Schuyler Place. The last building on the right is the Administrations & Records Building.
PARKING:
Schuyler Place: Go to the end of the block. Public parking is on the left.
Cattano Street: After making a right turn from the Green onto Washington St. (Rt. 24W), make the first right (Cattano St.) Public Parking is in the second building on the right.
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San Diego, California (PRWEB) April 11, 2008
On Wednesday, April 9, 2008, a symposium at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting at Experimental Biology was held in which noted scientists discussed new infant feeding studies that used methodology such as randomized clinical trials (involving breastfeeding promotion) as well as sibling pairs analysis. These studies may offer new insights into possible associations between infant feeding and health outcomes such as obesity.
The symposium, “Infant Feeding and the Development of Obesity: What Does the Science Tell Us?,” sponsored by the International Formula Council (IFC)* and chaired by Linda Adair, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, brought together international experts in the field of infant nutrition to present their recent findings.
Featured researchers included David Barker, M.D., Ph.D., professor of clinical epidemiology at the University of Southampton, UK and professor of Cardiovascular in the Department of Medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University, whose soon-to-be published study examines breastfeeding in a large group of sibling pairs that were followed into their late 60s.
“This type of study design controls for maternal factors,” according to Dr. Barker. “Differences in the long-term effects of breast and bottle feeding may reflect differences in the mothers rather than the effects of feeding itself.” Maternal factors include maternal health status, maternal care-giving, mother-child interactions or other health-related behaviors of the mother that may interfere with determining the association of infant feeding and health outcomes and the strength of any possible associations.
Other study designs such as the randomized clinical trial on breastfeeding and health outcomes in infants in Belarus recently conducted by Michael Kramer, M.D., a pediatrician and perinatal epidemiologist at McGill University in Montreal, provide evidence that research design can have a significant impact on infant feeding study results. In a randomized infant feeding clinical trial, known as the gold standard in research, infants would be randomly assigned to be breastfed or formula-fed; however, such trials are generally not feasible in infant feeding research, since most mothers determine their infant’s feeding method. Dr. Kramer randomly assigned hospitals to implement breastfeeding promotion practices and standard care. He found that despite the substantial increase in prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding among mothers receiving the intervention, there were no differences between their children (n= 7,108 subjects) and the children of mothers from the control hospitals (n= 6,781 subjects), that did not implement breastfeeding promotion practices, on several measures of adiposity at 6.5 years of age.
These findings challenge the concept that breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity in childhood, as some other studies have found. Speaking of the strength of his study design and the fact that other studies due to their design may have been prone to inherent bias, Dr. Kramer noted, “Previously reported beneficial effects on these outcomes (measurements of obesity) may be the result of uncontrolled confounding and selection bias.” The study performed by Dr. Kramer represents the largest randomized trial done to date in the area of human lactation.
Other researchers at the symposium presented the outcomes of more traditional epidemiologic studies that were based on observational designs and thus had limitations such as not being able to control subjects’ behavior. Beth Mayer-Davis, Ph.D., R.D., professor of nutrition and diabetes researcher at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discussed findings from her research on infant feeding and diabetes in ethnic groups in a United States population. In her observational study of less than 300 subjects, mothers of children with diabetes were asked to recall if and for how long they breastfed their infant. Dr. Mayer-Davis reported that breastfeeding appeared to reduce the risk for development of type 2 diabetes in youth, possibly mediated in part by weight status in childhood.
Nancy Butte, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, discussed early infant feeding practices and effects on obesity. Dr. Butte presented her work from the VIVA LA FAMILIA study, an observational study with a cohort of 1,030 Hispanic children. Dr. Butte noted that although breastfeeding appeared to have a small protective effect against childhood obesity, other genetic and environmental factors “far supersede infant feeding practices as risk factors for childhood obesity.”
Please note conference proceedings will be published in an upcoming peer-reviewed journal. For updates on the publication of this conference in the future, please visit http://www.infantformula.org.
Note to Editors: Experimental Biology is a multi-society, interdisciplinary, scientific meeting attended by 12,000 independent scientists and sponsored by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). This research was presented as part of the American Society for Nutrition section of FASEB on April 9, 2008.
*This conference was sponsored by IFC, an international association of manufacturers and marketers of formulated nutrition products (e.g., infant formulas and adult nutritionals), whose members are predominantly based in North America. IFC members are: Abbott Nutrition; Mead Johnson Nutritionals; Nestle Nutrition – USA; and Wyeth Nutrition.
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San Diego, California (PRWEB) April 11, 2008
On Wednesday, April 9, 2008, a symposium at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting at Experimental Biology was held in which noted scientists discussed new infant feeding studies that used methodology such as randomized clinical trials (involving breastfeeding promotion) as well as sibling pairs analysis. These studies may offer new insights into possible associations between infant feeding and health outcomes such as obesity.
The symposium, “Infant Feeding and the Development of Obesity: What Does the Science Tell Us?,” sponsored by the International Formula Council (IFC)* and chaired by Linda Adair, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, brought together international experts in the field of infant nutrition to present their recent findings.
Featured researchers included David Barker, M.D., Ph.D., professor of clinical epidemiology at the University of Southampton, UK and professor of Cardiovascular in the Department of Medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University, whose soon-to-be published study examines breastfeeding in a large group of sibling pairs that were followed into their late 60s.
“This type of study design controls for maternal factors,” according to Dr. Barker. “Differences in the long-term effects of breast and bottle feeding may reflect differences in the mothers rather than the effects of feeding itself.” Maternal factors include maternal health status, maternal care-giving, mother-child interactions or other health-related behaviors of the mother that may interfere with determining the association of infant feeding and health outcomes and the strength of any possible associations.
Other study designs such as the randomized clinical trial on breastfeeding and health outcomes in infants in Belarus recently conducted by Michael Kramer, M.D., a pediatrician and perinatal epidemiologist at McGill University in Montreal, provide evidence that research design can have a significant impact on infant feeding study results. In a randomized infant feeding clinical trial, known as the gold standard in research, infants would be randomly assigned to be breastfed or formula-fed; however, such trials are generally not feasible in infant feeding research, since most mothers determine their infant’s feeding method. Dr. Kramer randomly assigned hospitals to implement breastfeeding promotion practices and standard care. He found that despite the substantial increase in prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding among mothers receiving the intervention, there were no differences between their children (n= 7,108 subjects) and the children of mothers from the control hospitals (n= 6,781 subjects), that did not implement breastfeeding promotion practices, on several measures of adiposity at 6.5 years of age.
These findings challenge the concept that breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity in childhood, as some other studies have found. Speaking of the strength of his study design and the fact that other studies due to their design may have been prone to inherent bias, Dr. Kramer noted, “Previously reported beneficial effects on these outcomes (measurements of obesity) may be the result of uncontrolled confounding and selection bias.” The study performed by Dr. Kramer represents the largest randomized trial done to date in the area of human lactation.
Other researchers at the symposium presented the outcomes of more traditional epidemiologic studies that were based on observational designs and thus had limitations such as not being able to control subjects’ behavior. Beth Mayer-Davis, Ph.D., R.D., professor of nutrition and diabetes researcher at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discussed findings from her research on infant feeding and diabetes in ethnic groups in a United States population. In her observational study of less than 300 subjects, mothers of children with diabetes were asked to recall if and for how long they breastfed their infant. Dr. Mayer-Davis reported that breastfeeding appeared to reduce the risk for development of type 2 diabetes in youth, possibly mediated in part by weight status in childhood.
Nancy Butte, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, discussed early infant feeding practices and effects on obesity. Dr. Butte presented her work from the VIVA LA FAMILIA study, an observational study with a cohort of 1,030 Hispanic children. Dr. Butte noted that although breastfeeding appeared to have a small protective effect against childhood obesity, other genetic and environmental factors “far supersede infant feeding practices as risk factors for childhood obesity.”
Please note conference proceedings will be published in an upcoming peer-reviewed journal. For updates on the publication of this conference in the future, please visit http://www.infantformula.org.
Note to Editors: Experimental Biology is a multi-society, interdisciplinary, scientific meeting attended by 12,000 independent scientists and sponsored by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). This research was presented as part of the American Society for Nutrition section of FASEB on April 9, 2008.
*This conference was sponsored by IFC, an international association of manufacturers and marketers of formulated nutrition products (e.g., infant formulas and adult nutritionals), whose members are predominantly based in North America. IFC members are: Abbott Nutrition; Mead Johnson Nutritionals; Nestle Nutrition – USA; and Wyeth Nutrition.
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JACKSONVILLE, FL (PRWEB) May 10, 2006
Hanalea Construction, a custom home builder located at the Beaches, has selected SunWorks Solar Systems as the exclusive provider of solar power systems for their new homes. Hanalea recently committed to build its next five houses with solar hot-water systems.
President Linda Pomerantz said that although her company only builds a few homes a year, it’s a start.
“We made a decision to be a green-home builder last year,” she said. “We like the energy efficiency because it’s good for the homeowner and the environment. As more of us in the industry do this, I believe some of the large builders will follow suit.”
Hanalea is currently constructing two homes, each equipped with solar hot-water systems, on Jacksonville Drive in Jacksonville Beach. Pomerantz said they are building the 3,000-square-foot, two-story homes around the existing trees to take advantage of the shade. Along with the solar hot-water systems, the houses offer other amenities that make living in a coastal environment a little more secure.
”Our houses are concrete block construction on both levels, with impact-resistant windows. We feature gas cook-tops that would allow owners to cook hot food, and have hot water from the solar hot-water heaters, if there was a power outage during severe weather,” Pomerantz explained.
Currently, companies like Hanalea are the exception among builders. However, new tax exemptions went into effect in January – and as more homebuyers become aware of the advantages, solar power and other “green” savings may be more in demand.
“The new energy bill that went into effect in January gives residential consumers a tax credit of 30 percent, up to $ 2,000, toward the cost of installing a solar water system,” said David H. Smith, president of SunWorks. “In addition, there is a 30 percent tax break on commercial installations with no monetary cap.”
Whether it is a residential or commercial building, water heating and air conditioning are two of the largest users of energy. Switching the water heating portion to solar can save the average homeowner between 15 to 30 percent on utility bills – representing up to $ 600 a year or more.
Federal credits and incentives can now lower the installation cost to between $ 1,800 and $ 3,800 depending on the size and type of solar hot water system added. In addition to the federal tax credits, Jacksonville electric utility JEA offers up to $ 800 off installation through its solar incentive program.
“At this time, these federal incentives will only be offered for two years,” Smith said. “Certainly, our hopes are that the tax incentives will be extended beyond 2007.”
In the solar energy business since 1973, SunWorks Solar Systems, Inc. is the largest solar energy distributor and installation company in northeast Florida and is a member of the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association. The company provides consulting, installation and service for solar water, pool heating, solar electric (photovoltaic) systems, skylights, and wind-power systems. For more information, contact 904-731-2099 or visit www.solarenergy.com.
Media Contact: Ron Whittington (904-563-0402) or Stephanie McLain Barker (904-860-0530)
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Eugene, OR (Vocus) March 12, 2009
Monday, March 2nd marked the first annual National Reading Day for schools nationwide and JP Associates, Inc., an education consulting/school improvement firm who partners with schools across the nation. The Reading Day was held at the same time as the National Education Association’s familiar “Read Across America” that has local celebrities and elected officials reading to students. JP’s Reading Day included a twist – students reading to the adults. Prominent guests from local communities were invited into the schools to participate in the reading day and were treated to stories being read to them by various students showing off their skills.
In Arkansas, Portland Elementary School first graders impressed the City Clerk, Kathy Coulter, with stories from their Accelerated Reader books. Also in Arkansas, Lakeside Lower Elementary School celebrated their accomplished readers with two prominent guests, Mayor JoAnne Bush and City Council member Linda Haddock.
In Georgia, Toombs County Schools students participated in the Reading Day, with Toombs Central Elementary students welcoming Deputy Bobby Smith into the school. Appling Primary and Appling County Special Education students kept Mayor Steve Rigdon busy listening to Dr. Seuss stories. Also in Toombs County, students at both Lyons Primary and Lyons Upper Elementary participated by reading to Mayor John Moore.
Three schools in Buffalo, New York took part in the reading day festivities, all with notable members of the Mayor’s Office. Futures Academy students read to Deputy Mayor Donna Brown. Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy entertained the Director of Citizen Services, Oswaldo Mestre, with two Dr. Seuss books and two Spanish books. West Hertel Academy read to the Director of Youth Services, Otis Barker, who was impressed with how well the students were able to read, particularly the kindergarten and first grade children.
Carl G. Lauro Elementary School in Providence, Rhode Island was forced to postpone their observance of Reading Day due to the surprise snowstorm that covered the region the night before – closing all Providence Schools on Monday. However, Mayor David N. Cicilline, who was scheduled to come into the school, will be going to Carl G. Lauro to listen to the students read on the rescheduled date of Friday, March 13th.
JP’s First Annual National Reading Day kicked off the 20th Anniversary Celebration for JP, a pioneering company that provides professional development for schools and districts across the nation and around the world. Schools partnering with JP implement research-based instruction and participate in rigorous on-going staff development on effective educational models.
About JP Associates:
In 1989, drawing on her expertise and experience in education, founder and president Jane Feinberg created JP, a teacher/student friendly consulting company that is currently the largest professional development company supporting Direct Instruction and other research-based literacy curricula in the country. Several of JP’s participating schools have received national recognition for exemplary student performance. JP anticipates an even bigger National Reading Day next year.
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RICHMOND, VA (PRWEB) July 28, 2004
On August 27-28, the Virginia Home Education Association (VHEA) will hold its annual Â?Not Back to SchoolÂ? Homeschool Conference & Curriculum Fair at the Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 West Broad St., Richmond.
The family-friendly conference, designed for both current and prospective homeschoolers, features nationally-acclaimed speakers, workshops, a homeschooling resource exhibition, and entertaining activities for parents and children. SEE: www.vhea.org/conference2004.html
Homeschooling writer and motivational speaker Linda Dobson will present the conferenceÂ?s keynote address, Â?The Learning Coach Approach.Â? Award-winning storyteller Jim Weiss will also captivate audiences in Â?Myth and Mystery with Jim Weiss,Â? bringing to life the characters of Sherlock Holmes, Hercules and other classic heroes.
Conference highlights for families include the Friday Night Costume Party & Not Back to School Talent Show and the Saturday Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social. The Science Museum of Virginia will be also offer Â?Fun Science Â? Gallery Demonstrations at the Science Museum of VirginiaÂ? Â? hands-on explorations into a variety of science topics, from aerospace to worms.
Workshop topics include: Â?Beginning Homeschooling,Â? Â?Creating a Unit Study in Science for the Middle Grade Years,Â? Â?Getting Ready for College,Â? Â?Using Nature in Science,Â? Â?Teaching History with G. A. Henty,Â? and Â?Dad Teaches Homeschool.Â? A seven-member teen panel will address issues that are particular to the teen years: goal setting, resource discovery, motivation and peer pressure. A college panel consisting of college representatives will explain the college and federal aid application processes.
Â?More than 100 dedicated volunteers have helped us create an even bigger and better conference,Â? said Gail Barker, VHEA Speakers Chair. “Attending the VHEA conference will be like spending a day living in your favorite homeschooling magazine!” exclaimed Jeanne Faulconer, who’s on the planning team. With registration options beginning at only $ 25.00, the conference is truly a bargain.
VHEA is a member-directed and all-volunteer organization that brings together individuals, families, homeschool organizations, and businesses to promote the interests of Virginia homeschoolers.
CONTACT: Shay Seaborne, President and Public Relations Chair, president@vhea.org ; or Virginia Home Education Association toll free 866-513-6173, WEB: www.vhea.org/conference2004.html
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Norwich, Norfolk (PRWEB) December 13, 2008
According to the Halifax, the UK housing market witnessed its largest drop in average property prices for more than 15 years in November.
Average house values decreased by 2.6 per cent during the month, recording the heaviest monthly fall since September 1992.
What does all this mean to the average home here in the UK? Well, at the end of November 2007, the average price of a property was £195,000 whereas right now, this figure stands at £163,605 – a dramatic fall in a single year.
Martin Ellis, chief economist for Halifax, reported that housing demand has been “curbed” due to a combination of a fall in availability of mortgage finance since last summer, constraints on consumer income and high property prices in relation to earnings. “These factors are major contributors to lower house prices and activity within the housing market,” he added.
Figures from the Bank of England backed up this theory showing a total of 32,000 mortgage approvals in October, a fall of 1,000 from September.
With fewer people moving, the inclination is stay put for the time being, with an emphasis on extending or improving their current property. Unlike other downturns, however, it is not the traditional DIY and home furnishings stores which are seeing the benefits this time around, but internet retailers.
Retailers like recent start-up totallyhome.co.uk are starting to take market share from the major high street and out of town multiples. Totallyhome.co.uk believes its success is down to understanding and reacting faster to trends in interiors and combining this choice with affordable prices.
Designer wallpapers by household names like Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen wallpaper, Wayne Hemingway wallpaper and Linda Barker wallpaper are prime examples of the fast-moving home interiors ranges which are hitting the mark with on-line customers.
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(PRWEB) July 20, 2008
Ernest Jones has announced that the Vera Wang Love Knots Collection for Wedgwood, featuring Vera Wang’s signature ‘bow’ motif, is now available online. Offering a range of designer wedding gifts, the Love Knots Collection consists of photo frames, candlesticks, vanity boxes, napkin rings and champagne flutes, all designed by leading wedding gown designer Vera Wang for English china company Wedgwood. The coming together of Vera Wang, Wedgwood and Ernest Jones offers a combination of fashion, tradition and excellence.
Vera Wang (http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/browse/N/67+4294966739/ ) is one of the world’s foremost wedding dress and fashion designers and has a long history in the industry. She discovered her love of fashion while studying at the Sorbonne and her talent quickly became apparent as she became the youngest ever fashion editor at Vogue by the age of 23. Staying at Vogue for the next 16 years, she eventually left to join Ralph Lauren as Design Director.
Opening her first bridal salon in the prestigious Carlyle Hotel on Madison Avenue, she introduced a new style and modernity to wedding dress design. Vera Wang went on to win the coveted ‘Council of Fashion Designers of America; Women’s Wear Designer of the Year’ award in 2005 and has designed dresses for a long list of celebrities including Sharon Stone, Jennifer Lopez, Victoria Beckham, Uma Thurman and Mariah Carey.
Vera Wang gowns have also appeared in several Hollywood films and television series. Vera Wang herself made a cameo appearance in Ugly Betty, one of her gowns was worn by Buffy the Vampire Slayer and, most notably, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) wears Vera Wang in the recent Hollywood blockbuster movie Sex And The City.
Founded in 1857 by Josiah Wedgwood and famous for its ceramics, Wedgwood is synonymous with classic style and opulence. Wedgwood has recently collaborated with leading designers such as Vera Wang and Kelly Hoppen to bring a modern and unique edge to their products, including the Vera Wang Love Knots wedding gift (http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/browse/N/67+4294966739/ ) range now available at Ernest Jones.
The new Vera Wang Love Knots collection for Wedgwood features candle sticks, napkin rings, photo frames in a variety of sizes, champagne flutes and vanity boxes and is available from Ernest Jones (http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/ ).
About Ernest Jones: The Diamond and Watch Specialist
Ernest Jones, the Diamond and Watch Specialist, has over 200 stores and a retail website at www.ernestjones.co.uk. Featuring a wide range of leading brand watches including TAG Heuer, Longines, Omega, and Gucci watches (http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/browse/N/65+4294967169/ ) as well as high quality jewellery including the Leo Diamond, Breil, ck jewellery, Emporio Armani and the Eclipse collection, Ernest Jones also has a stunning selection of gifts for all occasions. Ernest Jones is part of the Signet Group, the world’s largest specialty retail jeweller.
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