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Newsletter Articles:
"Just take a pill." Sounds easy, doesn't it? Not so fast! As those with celiac disease know, taking a pill, even medication that is designed to cure your specific illness, can possibly make matters worse. How? Gluten is often a hidden ingredient in the medicines we take, both over-the-counter medications and those offered via prescription. The binders and excipients in medication can possibly turn an intended treatment into a threat to the good health that celiac patients work so hard to achieve.
This is a very real problem that needs to be addressed—now! NFCA, in partnership with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and Giant Supermarkets, is pleased to announce the Gluten in Medications Education Session on Friday, April 11th at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda, MD. This is a both an educational session and a stakeholders meeting that will include representatives from the federal government, hospital-based and chain store pharmacists, and major pharmaceutical firms, all stakeholders in this matter. Our goal is to educate the participants about celiac disease, inform them of the impact of gluten in medication, and gain their participation in bringing a solution to this problem. This matter is at the heart of NFCA's motto: restore health and reclaim lives.
What happens if you can't attend the April 11th session? Good news, the Gluten in Medication program will become available nationwide as an online program with materials that can be ordered for distribution in our local area.
ASHP has taken a leadership role in this program to ensure that the medicine we take is safe for celiac patients. We thank them, heartily! We also thank Giant , our sponsor for the Gluten in Medication event. Giant is a key player in the distribution channel both for gluten-free food products and, via their in-store pharmacies, of safe medications. It is so gratifying to have partners that understand the need for awareness and change in this field.
Just last week, I heard a story that emphasizes how important this issue is in the everyday life of a family coping with celiac disease.
On Easter Sunday, the young daughter of a friend became sick. Her doctor prescribed an antibiotic. When the parents picked up the medication, they asked the pharmacist if there was gluten in that particular medication. As some of you might guess, they were met with blank stares. This child was sick and needed medication but no one could answer this very essential question. They simply did not realize the danger for this child and they did not have the tools to help this family.
This issue also affects those who have not yet been diagnosed as the medication they take is not being absorbed, an equally daunting problem. This is another reason why NFCA's driving force is gaining a prompt and correct diagnosis for those 2.9 million Americans who suffer and don't know why.
In August 2004, Congress passed the critically important Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALPCA) requiring food producers to specify the presence of allergens on the product label. This includes the eight main allergens: milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. Significantly, allergens are to be listed if they are secondary ingredients in the spices, natural or artificial flavorings, additives, and colorings in a product.
None of this is true for medications—of any kind.
Again, we want to thank our wonderful Partner, ASHP for helping us bring to you this Gluten in Medication event as a good first step in making a difference in this field. We urge you to talk to your local pharmacist and medical professional about attending this event and to look at the online materials that will become available.
After all, there is more to it than just taking a pill!. Here is the schedule of events for Friday April 11.
What is Celiac Disease? Dr. Aline Charabaty, Gastroenterologist, Georgetown University Hospital
Gluten in Medication & When is Gluten-Free Really Gluten-Free? Dr. Robert Mangione, Dean of the St. Johns University College of Pharmacy
Parallels with the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act Rhonda R. Kane, MS, RD from FDA's Office of Nutrition, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Excipients & Stakeholders Gerry McEvoy, ASHP vice president, drug information
USP: Opportunities to Address Labeling Issues Andrzej Wilk, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, United States Pharmacopeia
What You Can Do to Help Celiac Patients–Action List Vanessa Maltin, NFCA Director of Programming & Communications
To register, click the link below:www.beyondceliac.org/Other/Pharmacists_Education_Day/484/
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By Vanessa MaltinNFCA Director of Outreach & Programming
I'm finally turning 25…my car insurance is becoming $500 a year cheaper, I can rent a car without paying a hefty penalty and I think that I'm actually going to avoid a quarter-life crisis…now, all I have to do is find a restaurant to celebrate at that can make a gluten-free meal and satisfy the stomachs of my family and friends…oy vey!
As I began planning my birthday party, my immediate instinct was to go somewhere that I go all the time. Somewhere that I know is safe and can make me a gluten-free meal that will definitely not leave me with explosive diarrhea on my birthday. But then I thought about it for a few minutes and decided that this is the start of a new era of my life and with it should be new and exciting dining experiences!
My dad has a bad stomach and is on a high-fiber diet, my mom also has celiac and colitis, one of my best friends is kosher and another is allergic to citrus! AHH! What to do?
Thankfully, the latest edition (2008-2009) of the Triumph Dining Essential Gluten-Free Dining Guide arrived in my mailbox last week, as did my Gluten-Free Dining Cards. YIPPIE!
The guide provides instant access to celiac-friendly restaurants and gluten-free lists including:
So, I took the book and a cup of coffee out onto my balcony and immediately flipped to the Washington, DC section. There were about 40 restaurants in this section. I also looked at the Maryland and Virginia sections, which upped my options to more than 200 restaurants in the DC-Metropolitan Area, all that are gluten-free friendly!
I read descriptions of so many restaurants and my mouth was watering! I came up with a list of three and sent copies the menus to my friends and family who would be attending dinner. After a very un-democratic vote that was whole-heartedly influenced by ME, we decided that my party would be at a Maggianos in Friendship Heights.
Now, you would think that since we picked a gluten-free friendly restaurant that the difficulty would be over…Not quite yet. Maggianos is a family-style Italian restaurant, so when you have more than 4 people, they ask that you order large portions to share…this is what is known as family-style dining. How on earth would everyone be accommodated? Not to worry! Triumph Dining gave me complete contact information for Maggianos, so I knew exactly whom I needed to speak with about my utterly difficult family.
Within one minute of dialing Maggianos, I was connected directly with the chef and we went over the family-style menu and he highlighted options that would work for a large party. The menu allows you to choose: 2 salads, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 2 pastas, 2 vegetables and dessert—all of which are bottomless, so you can refill as many times as you want!
Here's the menu we came up with:
Even though my menu is all set, I'm still going to take my Italian Triumph Gluten-Free Dining Card with me to make sure that the staff working on my birthday know exactly how to prepare the food. Not only does the card say in English what I can and cannot eat and what to check on, but it also provides the information in Italian, just to be sure the chef understands!
The cards are also available for the following cuisines: Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Greek, Mexican and French.
Thank you Triumph Dining for helping make my birthday a fabulous experience! I'll let you know how the big night goes!
How to get your copy of the Triumph Dining Guide:
By Edgar Steele NFCA Chef Spokesman
Throughout history, on farms and in cities, in the media and through symbolism, the peach has been an integral part of social and economic development. The peach is a stone fruit said to have come from China. The peach plays an important role in traditional Chinese culture symbolizing a long life. Whether the peach holds a strong traditional family role or is simply a staple fruit in our households, lets explore some fun ways to use the fruit, from picking to eating.
Upon entering the market, the sweet-smelling produce section is usually one of the first you will walk through. Amongst all of the beautiful fruits and vegetables, you will find the peach, usually next to the plums and nectarines, which are also in the family of stone fruits. Although the nectarine is often thought of as a cross between a peach and plum, this is not true. They do, however, grow from the same tree, which is also called a peach tree.
The skin of the peach is furry, while the skin of a nectarine is smooth and furless. Although the fuzz on the peach compromises the luster associated with the nectarine, it provides protection for the peach, resulting in less bruising on a peach than a nectarine. Peaches range from having yellow or white skin, and are classified to be either freestones or clingstones, depending on whether the inner flesh clings to the pit or not. The white peaches are usually very sweet with little acidity and are generally favored in Asian cultures. The yellow-skinned fruits are more acidic and sweet and are typically more popular with Americans.
Peaches can be used in both sweet and savory applications, but are classically used on the sweet side of the kitchen. Cream, holding a strong stance as being a perfect match with many fruits, is especially tasty and often paired with peaches, hence the traditional match "peaches and cream." With the creamy texture of the peach's inner flesh, it seems natural that a lactic product would pair well with it. While the white-skinned, sweet fruit matches beautifully with a dairy product, the yellow-skinned peach offers a much more complex outcome when used as an ingredient as it adds a level of acidity to balance, add more character and add a new depth of flavor profile to a dish.
After graduating from culinary school and working at my first couple of restaurants, I knew a peach to be an ingredient used in desserts. From peach cobbler to the more elaborate brown sugar macerated peach slices with peach liquor and vanilla bean ice cream, it was what was happening for dessert in my historical knowledge. My historical knowledge was shifted when I stumbled across a new matching Café Atlantico. It was two summers ago, and Jose Andres had dropped off some fresh yellow peaches to our busy kitchen after walking through the outdoor market just outside of Cafe. He said, "Here, these look beautiful. Use them." At the same period of our summer menu, gazpacho was a popular item prepared for our guests. A few days had gone by since Jose gifted us with the fruits, so I turned to the executive chef to ask what we would do with them. He suggested that we try blending them with tomatoes to make that day's recipe of gazpacho. I placed some chopped tomatoes and cucumber, a splash of sherry vinegar and a touch of honey into the blender.
After blending these ingredients and adjusting the seasoning with salt, I added the peaches with the blender running, and kept adding peaches until I was satisfied with the sweet, salty and acidic balance of the soup. We had some peaches left over after preparing the soup, so we diced them into small cubes and made a fresh "salad" by mixing them with fresh chopped basil, jalapeno peppers, sherry vinegar and salt. As a garnish for the soup, we placed a bit of the fresh peach salad in the center, topped it with a dollop of thick Greek yogurt and then drizzled some basil oil around the plate. I received more compliments and recipe requests for that soup than any others I can remember.
Tomato-Peach Gazpacho
Peach Cream
By Linda KingNFCA Volunteer
The idea of a gluten-free survival kit became important to me recently as my family was subject to some of the floods that made their way across the Midwestern states. Suddenly, we found ourselves with almost two feet of water in our basement for a total of 48 hours. We lost heat, hot water and electricity while working really hard to keep our positive mindset! After all, no one was injured, but instead we temporarily lost the conveniences that we depend upon, including those to help us prepare gluten-free meals for our family.
Now that heat, water and electricity are restored to our family home, I've browsed some Internet resources to help put together a gluten-free emergency kit, in the event that our house is flooded again. I am hoping that we won't need this kit, as one flood was more than enough.
The outline below is adapted from the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org/services/disaster). The gluten-free food items were collected from manufacturer websites and the Delphi forum product lists.
There are essentials that we all need in any kind of emergency situation, whether or not we live gluten-free. These include water, food, first aid kit, non-prescription drugs, tools and supplies, sanitation, clothing and bedding.
Below, I focused on the food details and what brands will accommodate the emergency survival kit guidelines. Please check all labels when choosing items for your emergency kit, as labels can change anytime.
Ready-to-eat canned meats
Ready-to-eat canned fruits and vegetables
Protein or Fruit Bars
Dry cereal or granola
Peanut butter
Dried fruit and nuts
Canned juices
Non-perishable pasteurized milk
High energy foods
Comfort/stress foods/candies
Ideally none of us will need this emergency kit, but it never hurts to give thought to being prepared!
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By Abby SchwartzNFCA Volunteer
The sign outside of the new Italian restaurant in Lansdale said Ristorante Toscano. Could this be the same place I used to frequent nearly a decade ago? I entered through the grocery side, which houses the restaurant's kitchen, and said hello to the chef behind the counter. His name was John and he was the chef and owner. He confirmed that this was the new location for an old favorite—home of what I consider the best meat sauce on the planet. I would definitely be back, I promised. As an afterthought, I asked if he would be able to accommodate my daughter's gluten-free dietary needs. I gave him a basic rundown of the diet, and to my surprise, he pointed to a grocery shelf behind me. Next to the bags of imported pasta sat the familiar packages of Tinkyada rice pasta. John's former location had been next to a health food store. He had become familiar with the gluten-free diet and carried a supply of rice pasta for customers who needed an alternative to wheat pasta. On my way out the door, he stopped me and handed me a container full of creamy mushroom risotto. "Here," he offered. "Give this to your daughter."
Thus was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Three years later, we are regulars at Toscano, where my daughter has feasted on Caesar salad (no croutons), pasta with Alfredo sauce or John's famous meat sauce, chicken marsala, shrimp scampi, salmon and more. I frequently call on Saturday evenings to order takeout, and I speak directly with John, who answers the phone himself. The comfort of being able to walk into a restaurant, speak directly to the chef, and relax, knowing that he understands how to cook for my daughter, is priceless. That the food is excellent is just icing on the gluten-free cake.
For almost ten years, we have been living a gluten-free lifestyle and have witnessed a substantial increase in the public's awareness of celiac disease. Happily, this has resulted in a growing number of restaurants that either offer a gluten-free menu, or are willing to make accommodations for special dietary needs. For the most part, we can go out to eat and feel reasonably sure that we will be able to communicate our needs and trust the food that my daughter receives.
I must confess, though, that there are times when I am apprehensive about asking the wait staff too many questions or concerned that the chef is too busy or the kitchen too hectic to pay attention to our specific requests. Getting to know the owners of our favorite neighborhood restaurants has made life easier. Ristorante Toscano is one example. Another is Yantze, a gourmet Chinese restaurant within walking distance of our house. My husband and I had been regular takeout customers, picking up food every Friday night after tennis. One night while waiting for our order, I struck up a conversation with Paul, the owner. I was surprised to learn that some of their regular dishes were naturally gluten-free, including shrimp with seasonal vegetables and chicken with plum sauce. Much to my daughter's delight, we started including her on our takeout orders.
Several years later, we have expanded our menu repertoire. We learned from Paul and his wife, Ruby, that most of their fresh fish specials are gluten-free. We know to avoid brown sauce (usually made with soy sauce, which contains wheat). We also discovered that the crispy coating on their shrimp and chicken is often made not from wheat flour, but from crushed water chestnuts. Who would have guessed? When I call for takeout now, I usually ask for Paul or Ruby so I know that any special requests we make will be translated correctly to the kitchen staff, most of whom speak Chinese. We also love dining in, where we can ask about the daily specials and—just like with John at Toscano—relax in knowing that they understand enough about the gluten-free diet to steer us toward delicious selections our daughter can safely enjoy.
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The Silence of the Lambs
Academy Award® Winner
Young FBI cadet Clarice Starling is sent to interview famed killer Hannibal Lecter in the hopes that getting to know him better will help the FBI track down another serial killer.
Starring Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins
Directed by Jonathan Demme
Running Time - 1:58
Genre - Thriller
Opened in Theaters - Wednesday, January 30th, 1991 (10586 days ago)
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Bathroom shelving unit
Bathroom shelving unit
Store bathroom necessities or décor item on these attractive shelves.
Photo 1: Nail the spacers
Nail the spacers and shelves in place, starting at the bottom and working your way up. Place the bottom spacer 1 in. from the lower edge of the backboard.
Photo 2: Strengthen the shelves
Strengthen the shelves by driving screws through the backboard into the shelves and spacers. Drill screw holes with a countersink bit.
In a small bathroom, every single square inch counts. These shelves make the most of wall space by going vertical. The version shown here, made of cherry, cost about $100. But you can build one for $50 or less if you choose a more economical wood like oak or pine. All you need is a 6-ft. 1×4, a 6-ft. 1×6 and a 6-ft. 1×8.
Cut the middle spacers and the shelves 12 in. long. Cut the bottom spacer 11 in. long to allow for a decorative 1-in. reveal. Cut the top spacer to fit (ours was 7-1/4 in.). Measure 1 in. from one edge of the backboard and draw a guideline for the shelves and spacers along its length. Nail the bottom spacer in place, leaving a 1-in. reveal at the bottom edge. Center the first shelf by measuring 3-1/4 in. in from the edge of the backboard and nail it in place. Work your way up the backboard, alternating between spacers and shelves (Photo 1).
On the back side, use a 1/8-in. countersink bit to drill two holes, one at the top and one at the bottom of each spacer. Drill two holes spaced 1 in. from each side of the backboard into each shelf ledge. Drive 1-1/4-in. drywall screws into each hole (Photo 2). Paint or stain the assembled unit. If you'd like to clearcoat it, use a wipe-on poly or spray lacquer—using a brush would be really tough. Mount the unit on the wall with two 2-1/2-in. screws and screw-in drywall anchors (E-Z Ancor is one brand). Drive the screws where they won't be seen: right below the bottom shelf and right above the top shelf.
Adjustable spice shelf
Spice shelf inside cabinet
A clever space saver!
Photo 1: Nail the ledgers together
Nail the back and side ledgers together, then nail on the side shelves. Measure between the side shelves and cut the back shelf to fit.
Photo 2: Install the shelf
Set the spice shelf on adjustable shelf pegs. You may have to remove an existing shelf so you can tilt the spice shelf into place.
This in-cabinet spice shelf puts small containers at eye level and still leaves room in the cabinet for tall items. The materials will cost you less than $10. You'll need a 4-ft. 1×3 for the top shelf and a 4-ft. 1×2 for the bottom ledger. You can find shelf pegs at home centers in two sizes, 1/4 in. and 3/16 in., so measure the holes in your cabinet before you shop. The secret is to assemble the shelf outside the cabinet and then set it on the shelf pegs.
Measure the sides and back of your cabinet and cut your shelf and ledger pieces. Subtract 1/8 in. from all sides so you can fit the unit into the cabinet. Attach the sides to the back of the bottom ledger and put two nails into each butt joint. Then nail the top shelf sides into place and pin the shelf back at the corners to hold it flush (Photo 1).
To install the shelf unit, carefully fit one end of the "U" into the cabinet, holding it higher at one end, and shimmy it down until it sits firmly on top of the shelf pegs (Photo 2). Shift the pegs up or down to adjust the shelf height. We sprayed a quick coat of lacquer on our shelf before installing it.
Cabinet door message board
Handy message board
It's hidden behind the cabinet door so no one has to see it but you!
Photo 1: Cut the board
Cut the dry-erase board from the back to avoid chipping the plastic-coated face. Use a framing square as a guide to get a straight cut.
Photo 2: Spray adhesive on the board and door
Spray adhesive onto the door, metal and dry-erase board. Carefully position the metal and board as you stick them to the door—once they're in place, you can't move them.
A sheet of metal and a dry-erase board can turn any cabinet door into a convenient message center. You'll find 2 x 2-ft. lengths of plastic-coated hardboard (often called "whiteboard") and sheet metal at a hardware store or home center. Larger hardware stores will cut the sheet metal to your specifications. Be sure to get steel instead of aluminum so magnets will stick. Including a can of spray adhesive, this project will cost you less than $20.
If you cut the metal yourself, wear gloves to protect your hands and use tin snips carefully. Use a metal file to smooth any ragged edges. If you don't have a table saw to cut the whiteboard, flip it over, mark your measurements and use a jigsaw to cut it from the back to prevent chipping or splintering. To get a straight cut, use a framing square as a guide (Photo 1).
To mount the metal sheet and whiteboard to the inside of the door, take the door off its hinges, lay it flat and carefully mask off the area where you want to spray the adhesive. Follow the directions on the can to apply the adhesive to the door, metal and whiteboard (Photo 2). Mount the pieces, press firmly and let dry.
Cutting board rack
Cutting board rack
This rack makes finding and storing cutting boards easy.
Photo 1: Nail the parts together
Nail the base rail to the sides, then nail on the face rails. For a quick, clear finish, spray on two light coats of lacquer.
Photo 2: Mount the rack
Mount the rack on the door with L-brackets. This is easiest if you remove the door. Be sure to predrill screw holes in the door stiles.
You can make this nifty rack for less than $10 and mount it inside a cabinet door to stash your cutting board out of sight. It goes together in a snap since it only requires a 6-ft. 1×2 and two L-brackets.
Measure between the door stiles to get the maximum width of your rack. Make sure the rack will be wide enough for your cutting board (or spring for a new one). You'll also need to mount the rack low enough so it doesn't bump into a cabinet shelf when the door closes. Cut the bottom and face rails to match the space between the cabinet door stiles.
Cut the sides 7-1/4 in. long. Nail the sides to the base. Then nail the two face pieces at the top and bottom to complete the rack (Photo 1). The easiest way to mount the rack is to take the cabinet door off its hinges and lay it down. Predrill the screw holes for the L-brackets and mount the rack to the cabinet door using a 1-in. L-bracket centered on each side of the rack (Photo 2).
Magnetic office supplies holder
Magnetic office supplies holder
Organize your small office supplies in this great-looking holder.
Photo 1: Install the magnetic strip
Clamp the magnetic strip in place, drill pilot holes and drive in the screws that come with the strips.
Photo 2: Glue on the washers
Glue fender washers to plastic or aluminum jar lids so they'll stick to the magnetic strip. Skip this step if your jars have steel lids.
Here's a perfect way to organize all those paper clips, rubber bands and pushpins. All it takes is a magnetic knife/tool holder strip, small jars with lids and a few fender washers. (The strips cost $15 to $25 at bath stores, hardware stores, home centers and online retailers.) You don't even need the fender washers if you buy jars with steel lids that will stick to the magnet on their own.
Clamp the magnetic strips to the underside of a shelf or cabinet. Drill pilot holes and screw the strip into place (Photo 1). If the jars have steel lids, fill them with office supplies and stick them up on the magnetic strip. If the jar lids are aluminum or plastic, use cyanoacrylate glue (Super Glue is one brand) to attach a fender washer to the top of each lid (Photo 2). After they dry, fill the jars, stick them up on the magnet and think about some other project to do instead of the work waiting for you on your desk.
Tie, scarf and belt organizer
Handy closet organizer
Customize this organizer to suit your accessories.
Photo 1: Drill holes
Drill scarf holes with a 2-in. hole saw. Clamp the plywood tightly against a piece of scrap wood to prevent chipping as the hole saw exits the plywood.
Photo 2: Cut slots
Use a 5/8-in. Forstner drill bit or a sharp spade bit to punch out the ends of the slots, and then finish cutting them out with a jigsaw.
Clean up a messy closet by hanging your ties, belts and scarves on our 3-in-1 closet organizer! All you need is a 2 x 2-ft. piece of 1/2- in. plywood ($10 to $15), a wooden hanger and a hook (we took ours out of the hanger).
Our organizer is 12 in. wide and 16 in. tall, but yours can be taller or narrower. To get a nice curve at the top, use the wooden hanger as a guide. Center it, trace the edge and cut it out with a jigsaw. Make a pattern of holes, slots and notches on a piece of paper and transfer it to your board. Use a 2-in. hole saw to cut the holes, making sure the board is clamped down tightly to keep the veneer from chipping (Photo 1). Use a jigsaw to cut out the side notches. To cut the slots, punch out the ends with a 5/8-in. Forstner drill bit (or a sharp spade bit) to prevent chipping, and then use a jigsaw to finish cutting out the center of each slot (Photo 2).
Sand the hanger and apply several coats of sealer or poly to smooth the edges so your scarves and ties don't snag (this is the most time-consuming step). Using a 1/4-in. round-over bit with a router makes the sanding go faster. Drill a small hole into the top of the hanger for your hook, squeeze in a bit of epoxy glue to hold it and then screw it in.
Laundry room ironing center
Laundry room ironing center
Compact, convenient and simple to build.
Close-up of ironing board hanger
Photo 1: Mark the shelf positions
Place the sides next to each other and mark the shelf positions. For easier finishing, sand all the parts before marking and assembly.
Photo 2: Assemble the cabinet
Glue and nail the back and shelves between the sides, then add the top. After painting or staining, screw on hooks for the ironing board.
To keep your ironing gear handy but out from underfoot, make this simple ironing center (about $25). All you need is a 10-ft. 1×8, a 2-ft. piece of 1×6 for the shelves and a pair of hooks to hang your ironing board.
Cut the back, sides, shelves and top. Align the sides and measure from the bottom 2 in., 14-3/4 in. and 27-1/2 in. to mark the bottom of the shelves (Photo 1). Before assembling the unit, use a jigsaw to cut a 1 x 1-in. dog ear at the bottom of the sides for a decorative touch.
Working on one side at a time, glue and nail the side to the back. Apply glue and drive three nails into each shelf, attach the other side and nail those shelves into place to secure them. Clamps are helpful to hold the unit together while you're driving nails. Center the top piece, leaving a 2-in. overhang on both sides, and glue and nail it into place (Photo 2). Paint or stain the unit and then drill pilot holes into the top face of each side of the unit and screw in the hooks to hold your ironing board. Mount the shelf on drywall using screw-in wall anchors.
Required Tools for this Project
Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you'll save time and frustration.
- Brad nail gun
- Clamps
- Cordless drill
- Framing square
- Glue
- Hole saw kit
- Jigsaw
- One-handed bar clamps
- Tape measure
Required Materials for this Project
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here's a list.
- 2 x 2-ft. plastic-coated hardboard (often called "whiteboard"
- 2 x 2-ft. sheet metal
- 4-ft. 1x2
- 4-ft. 1x3
- 6-ft. 1x2
- 6-ft. 1x4 hardwood
- 6-ft. 1x6 hardwood
- 6-ft. 1x8 hardwood
- Fender washers
- Magnetic knife/tool holder strip
- Painter's tape
- shelf pegs
- small jars with lids
- Super glue
- two L-brackets


text: New school year means new school style! Get ready for the new school year with the O'Neill back to school collection! Colorful bags, backpacks, gym sacks and pencil cases. Mix and Match your school items and get ready for the new school year. At O'Neill we also sell lots of fun kids clothes, did you check out our new kids collection yet? The boys collection contains some cool sweats and tees and our girls collection has lots of pretty allover printed dresses and shorts! Get all your school gear sorted before school starts again!


text: Le Sunday 28 September 2008 22:07:20 Simon Siemonsma, vous avez écrit : > I have a problem with encrypted channels. > I have a Conax CAM Module (by Smit) > Further I use a Technotrend T1500 Budget card with CI cart. > > With FTA channels everything works just fine. > With encoded channels some things don't work. > > I can't record one channel and at the same time look at another channel > from the same bouquet. (Kaffeine says: "no CAM free", Only Kaffeine 0.8.7 support multiservices cam. > vdr says: "Channel > not available" > Teletext doesn't work (vdr says: "Page 100-00 not found") > When I start vdr I get the following in the log file: > "CAM 1: module present > CAM 1: module ready > Conax Conditional Access, 01, CAFE, BABE > CAM 1: doesn't reply to QUERY - only a single channel can be decrypted" > > This looks like the CAM can't just encode one channel at a time. > > But on the dvbshop Website they say: > http://www.dvbshop.net/product_info.php/info/p2194_Conax-CAM--Rev--1-2----4 >-00e-by-Smit.html "MPEG DEMUX: Multi-channel SECTION and PID filter > configurable through software" > in vdr's CAM menu is stated: "Number of sessions: 5" > > This looks like the CAM can handle multiple channels at a time isn't it? > > Someone at > http://www.dvbnetwork.de/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=27&func=view >&catid=2&id=6191#6192 (German) pointed me in the direction of the linux > drivers. > > Is he right? > > I understood from > http://www.linuxtv.org/docs/dvbapi/Introduction.html#SECTION002300000000000 >00000 that the CAM comes before the Demuxer and: "The complete TS is passed > through the CA hardware". Yes. > If I understood this right this means that onces I watch one channel in a > bouquet the complets TS is decrypted. So all other channels and teletext > are decrypted too. No, the whole TS isn't decrypted. Only one (or more, if your cam can do more) service(s). > This makes it extra confusing why I can't record one > channel and watch another in the same bouquet. > Do I understand it wrong or are the drivers or the dvb software not mature > enough yet. Most probably your cam is only able to decrypt one service at a time. -- Christophe Thommeret


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Releases > Gross Domestic Product > Release Tables > SECTION 3 - GOVERNMENT CURRENT RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES > Table 3.9.5. Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
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baperrou needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 20 designs submitted by 9 freelance designers.
Looking for a logo design for tipi holidays. Name - Big Green Tipi
Big Green Tipi
Desired Color Scheme:
Blues/Greens/Earthy Tones
Accepted File Formats:
psd, png
We would like a logo designed to be used on our website and in our advertising. Using the name in the picture "Big Green Tipi" and a picture of a tipi. Main colors to be used are green and blue, and possible browns/yellows/earthy tones. Our business is geared towards those who want to take a different type of holiday and who are also earth conscience. We attempt to run a "green" business so we would like the Eco idea incorporated if possible.
**Added info. The tipis do not have to be green. Using a tan or tarpoline color and highlight in greens and blues is okay too. Please include a door and do a quick search on the internet to see how they look in tipis. Thanks.
**Also, keep in mind that this is a very nature friendly eco outdoorsy business. Stay away from a corporate feel. This should appeal to families as well as groups of environmentally conscience 30 somethings.
I give feedback often and feel free to question the idea for clarification or further thoughts.
Please provide logos in either psd or png format.
We reserve the right to end the contest early if a suitable design is submitted.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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25th August 2010, 08:35 PM
Took Harley to the vets this morning as I thought he had another ear infection. It turns out that he has something close to his ear drum. The vet said it doesnt look like a seed it could be hard ear wax that drops wont dissolve. Poor Harley has to go in the morning to have it removed under anaesthetic or sedation not to sure which one. They told me not to feed him after 10 pm. I told the vet that we are going away on Saturday with the dogs and he said not to worry its only a small thing and he should be back to normal after 24 hours. But I cant help but worry I just dont like anaesthetics. Please keep Harley in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow.


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23 members5 Comments 2 Likes
880 members17989 Comments 89 Likes
960 members127 Comments 69 Likes
165 members19 Comments 10 Likes
629 members93 Comments 22 Likes
Started this discussion. Last reply by Dave Mar 3, 2012. 19 Replies 0 Likes
Hello! I have exhausted my current supply of reading material and am looking for some new books! I am going to pick up Neil deGrasse Tyson's 'Space Chronicles', any other suggestions? I'm big into…Continue
Sarah has not received any gifts yet
Hey Sarah. I am Macedonian and want to be a dick, so I thought I would get you to ask Maja (http://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/MajaPetrovska) what your name means in Macedonian.
No worries, we're glad you're here! =) Hope it's a great rest of the week for you!
You can check me on this ... but I THINK the "lush on the right" is "Snooky." At least I THINK it's Snooky ... but then, I really wouldn't know Snooky if I tripped over her ... which I would very much RATHER NOT.
Welcome aboard! =) Hope this finds you doing well...
Welcome, Sarah! Glad you could join us. :D
Please consider joining a group to meet people and talk about anything that's on your mind, Hang With Friends. You might also like A TRICK OF THE EYE, Atheist Artists, Atheists Who Are Artists, Geek & Nerd Haven, and Astronomers.
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Festival Food in Australia: Dagwood Dogs
Serious Eats' Culinary Ambassadors check in from time to time with reports on food fare in their homeland or countries of residence. Here's the latest! —The Mgmt.
In the part of Australia that I lived in for most of my life we had very few "festivals" as such. What we did have, though, was the Royal Show. Every year the Royal Show tours Australia, stopping at untold amounts of places along the way.
One of, if not the, most common foods at the Royal Show was the Dagwood Dog, also known as the Pluto Pup. Essentially just a hot dog on a stick, dipped in batter then deep-fried, this is an absolute thing of beauty.
Generally the tip is dipped in tomato sauce (not ketchup) when you buy it, making it oh so much yummier, but oh so much harder to eat elegantly.
The thought of eating Dagwood Dogs at any other time of the year is enough to turn anyone's stomach, so this is very definitely a festival food.
—GegeMac, who also blogs at gegebrownagain.wordpress.com
Want to tell us about a festival food where you live? Go here! »
To find out more about the Culinary Ambassadors initiative or sign up, see this SE Talk thread »
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Value Line is regarded as the best independent research available. More than just recommendations, Value Line provides the rationale behind its picks for greater understanding.
A Humble Start
In the 19th Century, Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) decided to go into business with George J. Seabury under the name Seabury & Johnson. Both men were inspired by surgeon and antiseptic advocate Sir Joseph Lister's discoveries, so they worked on developing aseptic surgery equipment. By 1878, the company was very profitable, making about $10,000 a month. However, the men could not agree on how to distribute the income, so, in 1880, RWJ sold his shares to Mr. Seabury. As part of the agreement, RWJ agreed to stay out of the medical supply business for ten years.
Meanwhile, RWJ's two brothers, James Wood Johnson and Edward Mead Johnson, had started a business called Johnson & Johnson (JNJ – Free JNJ Stock Report). The firm was struggling to stay afloat, however. Fortunately for the brothers, Mr. Seabury was having increasing difficulty making the monthly payments to RWJ that had been agreed upon when the Seabury & Johnson partnership dissolved. Consequently, Mr. Seabury decided to let RWJ reenter the medical supply industry, so long as he was no longer required to make the monthly payments. RWJ agreed, and joined his brothers' firm in 1885, providing the capital needed for a fresh start—and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) was born.
J&J produced its first products in 1886, and incorporated in 1887. Soon thereafter in 1888, it published "Modern Methods of Antiseptic Wound Treatment," which quickly became one of the standard teaching texts for antiseptic surgery. The book helped spread the practice of sterile surgery in the U.S. and around the world, and helped bring notoriety to the J&J brand. That same year, the company pioneered the first-aid kit. The kits were initially designed to help railroad workers, but were soon produced commercially to address the medical needs of travelers. In addition, the kits were adorned with the Red Cross symbol, which has since become one of, if not the most, recognizable emblems.
The Importance of Diversification
With Robert Wood Johnson at the helm, J&J quickly grew thanks to its diversification strategy. Indeed, in the 1890s, the company launched maternity kits to make childbirth safer from mothers and babies. JOHNSON'S baby powder hit the market soon after, and would eventually spawn J&J's heritage Baby business. The company also manufactured the first mass-produced sanitary protection products for women; and it was the first to mass produce dental floss, originally made from leftover suture silk, to make good dental hygiene more accessible and affordable.
Robert Wood Johnson died in 1910, passing the torch to his brother James Wood Johnson (JWJ). JWJ would follow in his brother's footsteps during his tenure (1910-1932), and continue diversifying the company's offerings. Indeed, in 1921, J&J invented the BAND-AID brand of adhesive bandages, the first commercial dressings for small wounds that consumers can apply themselves. In 1931, the company pioneered the idea of family planning, and introduced ORTHO-GYNOL, the first prescription contraceptive gel. JWJ would take it a step further than RWJ, though, after he realized the vast potential in overseas markets. In 1924, J&J opened up shop in the United Kingdom. After success there, the company decided to expand into Mexico, South Africa, and Australia in the early 1930s.
Thirty More Years of Evolution
General Robert Wood Johnson II, the son of RWJ, took control of the company in 1932 and was elected Chairman of the Board in 1944. He would remain at that post until 1962. It was under his leadership that J&J would be transformed in a global decentralized family of companies. The first step was taken in 1937, when Ortho Research Laboratories (later Ortho Pharmaceutical) was established to focus on developing and manufacturing women's health products. A separate subsidiary for surgical products (surgical sutures and other wound-closure devices) was set up during World War II, and it would eventually be incorporated as Ethicon, J&J's heritage suture business, in 1949.
Perhaps two of the most defining moments in the company's history took place in 1959, when it acquired McNeil Laboratories in the U.S. and Cilag Chemie AG in Europe, giving J&J a significant presence in the growing field of pharmaceutical medicines. McNeil's flagship product, TYLENOL elixir for children, was the first prescription aspirin-free pain reliever. TYLENOL would eventually become available without a prescription, and would go on to become one of the most-recognizable and most-used pain relievers in the world. J&J bought Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceutica NV in 1961. These subsidiaries would later be combined with the aforementioned Ortho Pharmaceutical to become the Ortho-McNeil-Janssen group under the J&J umbrella.
All the while, the company remained busy researching new products, expanding into new markets, and developing on the corporate front. In 1954, JOHNSON'S baby shampoo with the NO-MORE-TEARS formula entered the market as the first mild and soap-free shampoo. In the late 1930s, J&J expanded into South America (Brazil and Argentina), and launched its first company in India in 1957. Finally, in 1944 the discoverer of the human rH factor, Dr. Philip Levine, joined Ortho Pharmaceutical, which would eventually spawn J&J's leading global diagnostics business. That same year, Johnson & Johnson went public, with a listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
The Next 50 Years
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the company's subsidiaries would launch new treatments for schizophrenia, family planning, and personal care. In the late 1970s, J&J built its state-of-the-art headquarters in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In the 1980s, the company entered new areas of healthcare, including vision, mechanical wound closure, and diabetes management. The vision care group would introduce ACUVUE contact lenses, the first disposable contact lenses that can be worn up to a week, thrown away, and then replaced with a fresh pair. Later 1-Day ACUVUE contact lenses would become the first daily disposable contact lens. J&J also opened up shop in China and Egypt during the 1980s. In the 1990s, J&J would aggressively spend to acquire Neutrogena Corporation, Eastman Kodak Company's diagnostic business, Cordis Corporation, and Centocor Biotech. The company also continued its strategy of expanding globally, especially in Russia and other eastern European countries. The 1990s would also see J&J pioneer the technique of minimally invasive surgery and revolutionize cardiology with the PALMAZ-SCHATZ coronary stent. The Cordis subsidiary would later introduce the first drug-eluting stent, which helps prevent arteries from reclogging. In 2002, William C. Weldon became the just the sixth Chairman of the Board, and only the eighth person to lead J&J. Mr. Weldon would turn the company's attention toward finding new treatments for HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. During his tenure, the company has also bought Pfizer's consumer healthcare group, which brought in brands like LISTERINE, BENGAY, and BENADRYL among others.
A Segment-By-Segment Breakdown
Today, J&J is set up as a holding company, and its more than 250 subsidiaries employ approximately 117,000 persons. It aggressively engages in research, development, manufacturing, and selling across almost every aspect of healthcare, and conducts business in virtually all countries of the world. International revenues outstrip domestic sales, though this is a relatively recent development. J&J's operating subsidiaries are organized into three business segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Devices & Diagnostics.
The Consumer segment is J&J's smallest in terms of sales, but best-known in terms of product lines. It houses a broad array of offerings used in the baby care, skin care, oral care, wound care, and women's healthcare fields, as well as nutritional and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, and wellness and prevention platforms. Major brands include the JOHNSON'S baby line, AVEENO, CLEAN & CLEAR, NEUTROGENA, LUBRIDERM, LISTERINE, REACH, BAND-AID, Neosporin, CAREFREE, STAYFREE, SPLENDA, TYLENOL, SUDAFED, ZYRTEC, MOTRIN IB, and PEPCID AC.
The Pharmaceutical business, J&J's second largest in terms of revenues, includes products in the following areas: anti-infective, antipsychotic, contraceptive, dermatology, gastrointestinal, hematology, immunology, neurology, oncology, pain management, and virology. For the most part, these products are distributed directly to retailers, wholesalers, and healthcare professionals for prescription use.
The Medical Devices & Diagnostics group, J&J's largest in terms of sales, includes a wide range of products distributed to wholesalers, hospitals, and retailers, used principally in the professional fields by physicians, nurses, therapists, hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and clinics.
Growth and Diversification for the Next 125 Years
Management has stated that J&J will continue plowing back more than 10% of sales into research & development year in and year out. The company already has a very promising pipeline of potential products and drugs, and we think J&J will continue working aggressively to develop even more promising offerings. The company also has about $19.8 billion (as of September 30, 2012) in cash and investments at its disposal to use on things like international expansion and acquisitions. Indeed, in mid-June, the company closed on the acquisition of Synthes, a premier global manufacturer of orthopedic devices, for $21.3 billion, in a bid to become the leader in the $6-billion-a-year market for devices that treat trauma victims. The company purchased Corimmun GmbH, a privately held drug development company in Germany, for an undisclosed upfront payment and a contingent future clinical milestone payment. More acquisitions are likely forthcoming.
Investment Consideration
This equity should appeal to a wide range of investors, though we view the blue chip as an ideal buy-and-hold candidate. Thanks to the likelihood of ongoing dividend hikes, the yield ought to stay north of 3% for the foreseeable future, giving this issue a solid income component. In addition, the stock has a below market Beta coefficient and excellent balance sheet, which should appeal to conservative investors. Finally, the potential product pipeline, the possibility of more acquisitions, and likelihood of further international expansion gives this blue chip excellent long-term growth prospects.
At the time of this article's writing, the author did not have positions in any of the companies mentioned.


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The Crimson will vie for its seventh Ivy League Championship under Tim Murphy (Kevin Burns).
Story Line
The No. 18 Harvard men's swimming and diving team will be in search of its 23rd team title when it takes to the pool this weekend at the 2013 Ivy League Championships. This year's meet is being held at Brown's Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center and will take place Thursday, March 7 through Saturday, March 9. Prelims will be held each morning beginning at 11 a.m. with the championship finals beginning at 6 p.m.
Click here for the complete meet schedule or for full meet details.
On the Web
Fans can access free live streams from each finals session (no prelims) courtesy of the Ivy League by clicking here. Live results will also be available by clicking here.
What's At Stake
Harvard is looking to reclaim the Ivy League Championship for the first time since 2008 and end Princeton's four-year run as the champ. The Crimson has won 22 Ivy/EISL titles overall, including six under Tim Murphy, the Ulen-Brooks Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Swimming and Diving, and has finished either first or second every year since 1993.
Harvard and Princeton have combined to win each of the last 40 Ivy League/EISL Championships with the Crimson and Tigers boasting 20 apiece.
There was no team scoring at the Eastern Seaboards meet from its inception in 1938 until 1962. Until the mid-1990s, the Championship included up to 28 schools. Until the meet became a smaller, more focused event, the Ivy League Championship was not determined here, but by a round-robin record instead. The Ivy League Championship was determined at this meet binging in 1997. In 2009, the meet switched to include just the eight Ivy League schools.
2012 Ivy League Championships
Chris Satterthwaite won his third individual championship of the meet in the 100 free and shared Swimmer of the Meet honors, but it was not enough as the Harvard men's swimming and diving team was beat out by Princeton at the 2012 Ivy League Championships. The Crimson turned in several impressive performances over the weekend, setting six school records and posting 22 NCAA 'B' standard times at the meet.
Related Link: Men's Swimming and Diving Finishes Second at Ivy League Championships
Last Time Out
The No. 16 Harvard men's swimming and diving team won 12 of 16 events en route to a 195-98 victory over Penn. The win secured an undefeated dual meet season for the Crimson and outright claim to the Ivy League's dual meet championship.
Harvard finished its dual meet campaign with an unblemished 9-0 overall record with a 7-0 mark in the Ancient Eight. The Crimson has now won eight dual meet titles under Tim Murphy, The Ulen-Brooks Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Swimming and Diving, and has gone unbeaten in dual meet action seven times. Harvard's dual meet win streak also improved to 10 with the victory.
Related Article: No. 16 Men's Swimming and Diving Wins Ivy League Dual Meet Title Outright
Record Setters
Harvard has set seven school records this season, including three at the HYP meet.
Rank and File
Harvard has been ranked in the last two CSCAA Div. I rankings and came in at No. 18 in the most recent poll released Feb. 20. The Crimson debuted in the poll Feb. 5 at No. 16.
Punching His Ticket
Sophomore Chuck Katis has already punched his ticket to the 2013 NCAA Championships with a pair of NCAA 'A' standard times in the 100 and 200 breast. Katis also set new school records in both events in the process, turning in a time of 52.49 in the 100 and a time of 1:54.08 in the 200. Those times rank eighth and sixth, respectively, in the NCAA this season while is 200 IM time of 1:45.86 ranks 17th.
Catch us if you can...
Harvard was dominant in dual meets during the 2012-13 season thanks in large part to junior Chris Satterthwaite, sophomores Mike Mosca and Chuck Katis and freshman Christian Carbone. Satterthwaite, who won the 50, 100 and 200 free at last year's Ivy League Championships, and won the 200 free three times this season while also picking up a pair of victories in the 100 free.
Mosca, the Ivy League's one-meter champion and runner-up on the three meter from a year ago, went unbeaten on the three meter and won the one meter in eight of nine duals.
Katis boasts victories in several events, including the 100 breast, 200 breast 200 IM, 400 IM and 100 back.
Carbone, meanwhile, is unbeaten in the 200 fly to start his college career with a pair of wins in the 200 breast and 400 IM.


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- Lancome Le Stylo Waterproof Long Lasting Eyeliner
- T. LeClerc Eye Pencil
- Lancome Les Yeux Doux Limited Edition Eye
At this year's Oscars, Gwyneth wowed us with her gown and coordinating cape. She took a unique approach, yet again, at the premiere of Paul McCartney's video, "My Valentine." As a chic addition to her golden glow, she chose mint liner as the statement of her ensemble. The micro trend is subtle enough to try without risk. Lancome and T. LeClere offer similar shades for a fun way to play up your eyes.


text:
List of System Applications
From Openmoko
System applications and system tools such as say a log viewer or network monitor (emulators, terminals, filesystem tools, monitoring resources or activity, security, tray icons).
ReMoko connects through Bluetooth and turns your FreeRunner into a remote control for presentations, a multimedia (or media player) remote control, a mouse for another computer and much more.
A file manager application with MIME types and remote access support from the the GPE Palmtop Environment (GPE) project.
Rotates the screen according to the position of the Neo FreeRunner.
Low bandwidth distance calculation daemon for proximity alerts.


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ACTA's Back: European Commission Trying To Sneak In Worst Parts Using Canada-EU Trade Agreement As A Trojan Horse
from the not-dead-yet dept
Even in the face of a resounding rejection of ACTA by the European Parliament last week, the European Commission seems determined to keep pushing for its eventual adoption. Techdirt noted some ways in which it might try to do that, but an important article by Michael Geist lays out what seems to be an alternative approach that is already close to fruition:
According to recently leaked documents [pdf], the EU plans to use the Canada-EU Trade Agreement (CETA), which is nearing its final stages of negotiation, as a backdoor mechanism to implement the ACTA provisions.
Here's how that would work:
The European Commission strategy appears to be to use CETA as the new ACTA, burying its provisions in a broader Canadian trade agreement with the hope that the European Parliament accepts the same provisions it just rejected with the ACTA framework. If successful, it would likely then argue that ACTA poses no new concerns since the same rules were approved within the Canadian trade deal.
What's extraordinary is how slavishly the CETA IP chapter follows ACTA -- Geist's post provides a table comparing the two in detail, and for many key issues, CETA adopts ACTA's wording exactly.
This includes requiring the promotion of "cooperative efforts" that could see ISPs taking down content on a "voluntary" basis; the use of the meaningless term "fair process"; disclosure of a subscriber's information "expeditiously" upon accusation of infringement; civil damages that consider "any legitimate measure of value that may be submitted by the right holder, including lost profits"; the use of the vague term "commercial scale" for both civil and criminal enforcement measures; and criminal liability for "aiding and abetting" infringement.
What that means is that practically all of the key stumbling blocks that persuaded the European Parliament to vote against ACTA are also present in CETA. As Geist observes;
The backdoor ACTA approach creates enormous risks for Canada's trade ambitions. Given the huge anti-ACTA movement, the Canada-EU trade deal could face widespread European opposition with CETA becoming swept up in similar protests.
After all, if those proposals were problematic in ACTA, they are equally problematic for CETA, and so it seems likely that the European Parliament will vote against the entire Canada-EU trade deal just as it threw out ACTA. The obvious solution is to remove the intellectual property chapter from CETA altogether to avoid this risk. Geist points out there's an important precedent for this:
the U.S. and EU recently announced their own plans to negotiate a trade deal but agreed to keep intellectual property issues out of the talks. If CETA becomes known as ACTA II, the future of the Canada-EU trade deal may hinge on adopting a similar approach.
That would not only be a good idea for CETA, it would be sensible for all trade agreements, since it would return them to their original aim of promoting trade between nations, not regulating the domestic laws governing things like copyright.
Follow me @glynmoody on Twitter or identi.ca, and on Google+
Filed Under: acta, canada, ceta, european parliament


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Fellow Air Force Veteran & Author, Alan Simon, Guest-blogs with Mike Angley
MA: My guest today is Alan Simon, the author or co-author of 30 books dating back to the early 1980s. His writing career began with the 1st edition of How to be A Successful Computer Consultant (McGraw-Hill) that sold approximately 200,000 copies in 4 editions over the next 15 years. He is the author of three titles in the "For Dummies" franchise series and has written extensively about technology and business topics. In 2009 Alan began experimenting in self-publishing with Blocking and Tackling Your Way to Management Success in which he set 40 fundamental management lessons against a backdrop of 40 stories from the history of his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2010, Alan branched out into fiction with the publication of his first two novels including The First Christmas of the War, set at Christmastime, 1941 – only weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Alan currently lives in Phoenix and in the past has lived in Pittsburgh, Tucson, Colorado Springs, Denver, and northeastern Pennsylvania.
Please tell me a little bit about your professional or personal background…the prequel if you would to your writing career.
AS: The best way to describe my professional background is to quote The Beatles: "The long and winding road…" I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA until my family moved to Tucson, Arizona just before my 16th birthday. I attended college at Arizona State in Tempe and then went to graduate school at the University of Arizona back in Tucson before heading off to Colorado Springs where I spent four years as a U.S. Air Force officer stationed at Cheyenne Mountain. In the Air Force I wrote software for one of the real-life "War Games" systems, referring to the early 1980s movie in which Matthew Broderick breaks into Cheyenne Mountain's computers to play "thermonuclear war." After my Air Force days I worked for a series of technology and consulting companies in a variety of roles, including several as a national or global practice leader in business intelligence and data warehousing. I began my own firm – currently called Thinking Helmet, Inc. – in 2006.
In many ways my writing career began as an "accident." When I was an Air Force officer in the early 1980s I started a small computer consulting business on the side mostly so I could stay up to date with the technology of the then-brand new "microcomputers" that were very different than the old-fashioned mainframes we used in the Air Force. One day I was thinking about all of the tasks I had to do to set up my company and learn about new technology and suddenly thought there might be a book in the making there. I wrote a proposal, sent it off to McGraw-Hill, and presto! Book deal! (Little did I know the publishing game wasn't quite that easy…)
MA: Well, I definitely have a soft spot for fellow Air Force vets, and I am very familiar with Cheyenne Mountain during my work in Air Force Space Command nearby. With such a technical and non-fiction writing background, how did you end up writing fiction?
AS: I began "dabbling" in fiction approximately 25 years ago, sequestered in a near-deserted hotel in the mountains of Colorado in late May of 1985. I had gone there to spend a week finishing up the final manuscript for my first book, How to be a Successful Computer Consultant. (Thinking back, my long-ago writing getaway in the Rockies was sort of a combination of two works from one of my favorite authors, Stephen King: "The Shining" meets "Misery" !)
Whenever I'd take a break from polishing that manuscript during that trip, I'd shift to write two or three more draft pages for an idea I had for a "potboiler" novel; something that in retrospect was heavily influenced by the writing style and typical plot lines from popular writers of the day such as Harold Robbins and Sidney Sheldon. I shelved that book for all eternity shortly thereafter, but over the next two decades spent thousands of hours – and wrote the proverbial million words of fiction – on any number of long-dormant projects, as fiction writing grew into a deep passion of mine.
MA: Speaking of The Shining, my kids and I once spent a night in the "Stephen King" room at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, where King stayed and wrote the book. Sadly, nothing spooky happened during our stay there. So tell us about your novels.
AS: I wrote two novels in parallel with each other over a period of 6+ years; both were self-published this past year. The first is entitled The First Christmas of the War and is a family saga set at Christmastime, 1941…only weeks after Pearl Harbor. Beyond the overarching and terrifying news coming back from the war front, each family member has his or her own "mini-drama" going on, and the story interweaves the "macro" and "micro" plots in a day-by-day format beginning with the Saturday before Christmas and ending the day after Christmas.
The other novel is entitled Unfinished Business and just like The First Christmas of the War, it's set in my hometown of Pittsburgh. I like to think of Unfinished Business as "a darker Bridges of Madison County story" that begins in flashback with a brief wartime affair that takes place in 1942. The plot of the story is based around the resumption of that affair nine years later, in 1951, when Roseanne DeMarco's steelworker husband is called up from the Army Reserves and set off to the Korean War…just as her long-ago "friend" reappears in Pittsburgh as she's struggling to make ends meet.
MA: I have a hard enough time writing one story, so I can't imagine what two parallel ones must be like. Who are your protagonists?
AS: In The First Christmas of the War I'm fortunate enough to have a number of main characters who essentially are an "ensemble cast" as the book's protagonist. The family's patriarch – Gerald Coleman – is patterned after one of my grandfathers. He's a shoemaker who is fortunate enough to have made a decent enough living during the Depression. His wife, Irene Coleman, is the classic homemaker of the day…she runs her household and her family and is always looking out for the best interests of every family member. The eldest son, Jonathan, is patterned after characters such as those played by Sean Penn and Nicholas Cage in the 1980s movie Racing with the Moon…he knows with certainty he's headed off to war soon and is trying to come to grips with this sudden reality. The rest of the family members are all "demographically appropriate" for 1941 children and teenagers.
In Unfinished Business I tried my best to get inside the head of Roseanne DeMarco. Her husband is suddenly sent off to war, she has no safety net to fall back on, and in general she's sleepwalking through life…and here comes this person from the past who was her "partner" in an illicit yet exciting brief period of her young life. Throughout the book she's conflicted between the renewal of this excitement and her increasing guilt about what she's doing while her husband is away at war.
MA: They both sound interesting. Who are the antagonists in the stories?
AS: The First Christmas of the War doesn't have an antagonist…unless you want to think of Hitler and Tojo as off-the-pages antagonists who made the story (and the war) possible!
In Unfinished Business Frank Donaldson – the main with whom Roseanne DeMarco renews her affair – is very much an antagonist, but a carefully constructed one. I patterned his character after that of Noel Airman in Herman Wouk's 1955 novel, Marjorie Morningstar. At first he seems suave, debonair, the man of Roseanne DeMarco's dreams who has returned to her…but increasingly his fascination in the story with Jack Kerouac (then a brand new novelist) becomes symbolic of his own character flaws.
MA: How much of your real life's story influenced your writing?
AS: When I moved from Pittsburgh to Tucson just before my 16th birthday, I was very homesick for my original city and spent many hours in the high school and public libraries reading books about Pittsburgh and its history. Since I planned to go into the military in one way or another, I was also very interested in the World War II era and the aftermath, including the boom years of the 1950s. So my fascination with mid-20th century Pittsburgh formed the foundation for both of these novels. I spent many hours researching the facts and tidbits for both stories, though when appropriate I took a bit of poetic license in the interest of moving the story along.
In both books – especially The First Christmas of the War – I did use my real-life great-grandfather's produce business in Pittsburgh as a plot vehicle, and in First Christmas had eldest son Jonathan working side-by-side with my real-life great-uncles in a couple of scenes. I dedicated that book to those great-uncles, all of them gone now, as members of the "greatest generation" who (to use the words of the book's dedication) "sacrificed much of their youth to the Second World War."
MA: So what's next for you? You are so versatile, I can imagine either a novel or some techno-geek book coming soon!
MA: The biggest challenge I have is getting my head and hands around a much-too-full list of to-be-written projects for 2011. In all seriousness, I have a list of about 15 business, technology and management topics; 25-30 ideas for novels and short stories; and another non-fiction, self-help oriented title based on my own personal close call on 9/11. (A schedule quirk put me in Pittsburgh for a speech that morning, scheduled to fly to San Francisco from there that afternoon; otherwise I almost certainly would have been on United Flight 93 since I was shuttling between projects and proposals in New Jersey and the San Francisco bay area for the consulting company I worked for then.)
MA: Wow! I'm glad you missed the original flight, and it's nice to hear you plan to turn that experience into something good that may help others. With regard to fiction, would any of your future writing involve characters from your first two novels?
AS: The First Christmas of the War is actually the first of a series of four holiday-set, similarly-structured novels featuring the Coleman family. Next up is Thanksgiving, 1942, taking place – as one can tell from the title – eleven months after the initial book's Christmas, 1941 setting. The next title is The First Christmas After the War, set at Christmastime, 1945. Finally, a concluding novel set in the 1970s takes a final holiday visit with the Coleman family.
MA: Sounds like a nice set of books. Anything else you'd like add before we wrap it up?
AS: Over the years, I've had many, many people ask me about the writing business and my own experiences in the context of book or story ideas they've had themselves. I always enjoy sharing my experiences with others and am always more than willing to help people navigate today's publishing world, craft proposals…pretty much anything.
MA: Thanks Alan for appearing on my blog, and thanks for your military service. Please visit Alan's websites for more information about this amazing author and his projects: www.alansimonbooks.com and www.thinkinghelmet.com.
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Locally owned and operated,
MeChel's Photography was establised in 2001.
I have always had a love for taking pictures
and being able to make people smile when they see them.
Most proofs are available to view the next day.
There are a wide variety of packages to choose from.
The memories made by photography are priceless.


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maffs needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 23 designs submitted by 15 freelance designers.
Should be one colour. The business name is "Express Beds and Suites". So the design should emphasize speed.
Express Beds and Suites
Desired Color Scheme:
Desired Style:
not photographic
Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai)
The "Suites" element of the business name, "Express Beds and Suites", refers to soft furnishings.
Beds need to be the main focus of the logo but if you can get the furnishings element into it, so much the better. Furnishings can be any of sofas, wardrobes, cabinets, table & chairs, etc (in that order of preference)
The design should be as simple as possible and of one colour (a deep blue). Please emphasize speed (as in speedy delivery).
It is intended to use the logo on all stationary and on a large (2-3 ft) sign on the building.
The logo does not necessarily have to include the business name.Â
Vector format please.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text: 30Jul2011Cheap & Easy: Chicken Mozzarella Sandwiches205 I love making homemade chicken parmesan, one of these days I'll get my recipe up here and posted. Last year some time I went out to eat and had one of the best Chicken Parm sandwiches that I decided to try it at home. You know what? It was more hassle than it was worth!! If I'm going to go through the effort and make some really good chicken parmesan, I'm going to serve it up nice with some garlic steamed veggies and french bread. So anyway, last week I was strolling through Walmart with my list in hand for my menu that week. One of the dinners I had planned was not going to work out, Walmart believe it or not didn't carry the brand that I had a coupon for, it would have put me over budget. I came across a bag of Banquet breaded chicken patties and a very simple idea came to me. The result is the very easy and cheap recipe below that we all loved and got everyone fed. That's the point right? I even put the cost breakdown beside the ingredients. Chicken Mozzarella Sandwiches 5 frozen breaded chicken patties (this was 1/2 the bag) $2.00 5 hamburger rolls -$.49 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce -approx. $.25 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese -$.50 Bake chicken patties as directed on package. Place each patty on a hamburger bun, top with some sauce and a sprinkling of cheese, and heat in the microwave for about 15 seconds or until the cheese is melted. Repeat for remaining sandwiches. Total cost of dinner: $3.24 plus whatever side you serve it with, I chose Cheesy Garlic Shells from my stockpile that I had snagged for free after coupons 🙂 Cost per serving: $.54 per sandwich 205


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Search Crittenden County, Arkansas Real Estate Listings & New Homes for Sale in Crittenden County, AR. Find Crittenden County, AR houses, townhouses, condos, & properties for sale with RE/MAX Arkansas.
Copyright 2020, West Memphis Board of REALTORS®, Inc. All information provided is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Listing information being provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.


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Best definition
A beverage made by varying the preparation of Milo (a cocoa based chocolate drink from Australia). Formed by putting the
cocoa in after the milk, and in large enough amounts so that it piles up on the surface of the milk without dissolving, creating an island.
Man, that was a good Miland!


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Across Utah, a top "worry button" is the availability of affordable housing. The State of Utah is working to alleviate the situation. Recently, the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund Board approved $2,943,685 for the purchase, renovation, or construction of 80 affordable multi-family units and 19 single-family units for Utah communities.
The Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund is comprised of state and federal funds administered by the Utah Division of Housing and Community Development.
Design BuildBLUFF submitted a winning application for $15,000 for the construction of a home to serve a Native American family in Bluff.
Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini, chair of the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund Board, notes: "Some of the units funded by the Board will house homeless individuals while other units will house working professionals such as teachers, health care and emergency services personnel and young families.
Gordon Walker, Housing and Community Development Division Director notes, "Each unit provides quality housing for people with lower incomes. With continued escalation in Utah's housing market, these projects are integral to maintaining some affordable housing in our communities."
The Utah Division of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is currently accepting loan applications from non-profit or for-profit developers for funds from the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund (OWHLF) to assist the creation and preservation of affordable rental housing throughout the state of Utah. Developers receiving loans must meet federal and state requirements for maintaining long-term affordability. To obtain an application, contact Shelli Goble at 801-538-8653.


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A New Way to Collaborate
- Research Highlight
- Read Time: 4 min
Why are some employees adept at getting the information they need while others struggle to locate the right in-house experts?
For franchise operations like McDonald's, Supercuts and Ace Hardware, should the goal be to copy exactly or to adapt locally?
People are connecting with one another in increasing numbers, thanks to blogs, social networking sites like MySpace and countless communities across the Web. Some companies are learning to turn this growing groundswell to their advantage.
The strategic planning model is due for a "new release," one that enables companies to keep pace with changing environments, quickly create and adapt strategy and empower people throughout the organization to make effective choices.
Though competitive barriers in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe are many, a look at the companies that are thriving there reveals some secrets that make success more likely.
Relationships with academic institution scan play an important role in continuing to generate new value for shareholders if you know how to approach those relationships.
By unpacking the idea of a good or bad reputation into a profile of what the media says about their company, executives and public relations managers can understand and then influence their corporate reputation — and with it, their company's real performance.
The benefits of engaging customers in product development, product support and related activities are increasingly visible. Having the right technology-based system can enhance the customer experience and help companies improve both their innovation and customer relationship management capabilities.
With a clear definition of what a customer need is, companies are able to get the inputs that are required to succeed at innovation.
How can you avoid the agony of putting your company through a massive restructuring? Simple: Learn how to make sure it never needs one.
For those learning to lead, experience trumps formal training. But some experiences matter more than others, as two unconventional but highly successful organizations — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club — have recognized.
More than ever, CEOs must develop their peripheral vision, scanning for faint — but vital — signals that will help them give their companies an edge.
Does vertical integration make sense, particularly when an industry is moving offshore to regions of cheaper labor?
Many pundits characterize the Chinese economy as a juggernaut that threatens America's economic leadership. But the dangers associated with China's ascendance are exaggerated.
Competing in China is the only option for multinationals that want to build or preserve their global position.
Several factors — including constructive conflict — enhance a company's ability to learn how to serve new markets.


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International Bartending School
1900 Greentree Road
Suite 10
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Fax: 856-665-7973
Call us now at 1-800-Bartend.
Thank you. Your request has been sent and a staff member will act on it promptly. If you need immediate help in the meantime, please call us at 1-800-Bartend.
One or more of the fields contained an invalid entry. Please review your entries before resubmitting it.
Your submission was disallowed. Please call 1-800 Bartend. Thank you.
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City of Carrollton, TXHome Menu
Military Recognition
Do you have friends, neighbors or relatives in Carrollton that have served or are serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces? Or maybe your career includes military service? Then join in and help spread the word about the City's new online Military Recognition Program. This project was started by members of VFW Post 8923 and the City of Carrollton Senior Center. The goal is to collect and share memories and photos from those who have answered the call to serve our country. In order to be included, individuals must have lived or worked in Carrollton at some point in time. All local veterans and active duty military personnel are invited to fill out the form below, and participate in this new online project.
To Submit Information:
Download the flyer and form below for details on how to submit information, which will be posted on this site once it is collected. Then help spread the word so that this section continues to grow!
Veterans Voices Instructional Flyer
Veterans Voices Information Submittal Form
To View Service Stories:
Click on the branch of service to the left that you want to view, then click on the person's name to view their story.
Other Veterans Information:
College Assistance for Veterans
The United States Department of Veterans' Affairs has developed a comprehensive resource that provides Veterans with information about using the money awarded to them by the GI Bill to help pursue a university education. It also contains a database that allows our service men and women to search for Online Colleges. Click here to visit this site. Other resources include:
Continuing Education Resources for Veterans
Veteran Education and Accredited Online Colleges
Living Assistance for Veterans
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a new effort to assist people who served in the military that may be struggling after returning from service. Carrollton City Manager Leonard Martin said, "I am very pleased to see this effort by the federal government to assist our veterans who have never received the recognition or support they deserve for giving so much of their lives, themselves and their families to serve our country. You may be a veteran who is struggling or may know someone who is. Please urge them to use the contact information below to get assistance."
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) aims to end Veteran homelessness by 2015 and is providing at-risk and homeless Veterans with health care, housing, employment, education other job training resources. Trained responders are available to talk confidentially by phone or online chat at 1-877-4AID VET (1-877-424-3838) or www.VA.gov/homeless.
VFW Post 8923:
The Kelsie C Edington Memorial VFW Post 8923, is located at 1024 Elm Street, the home of the American Legion in Downtown Carrollton. The Post is seeking new Veterans of Foreign Wars members to come and join (eligibility must be met). The Post meets the first Tuesday of the month, at 7 pm. Bring a copy of your DD214 (for verification only) to the meeting.
Click here for informatiion about Community Fundraising/Chairty.
Denton County Veterans Memorial Project:
The Veterans Memorial of Denton County features three areas of reflection: 1. At the foot of a large granite monument, recognizing the branches of military service. This area will be for public and private ceremonies. 2. Along the path made of "green brick" sit granite monuments covered by individual Memorial plaques recognizing a fallen loved one, or one that has served or is currently serving our country. 3. A small area for reflection and a place for a memorial bench or statue.
There are several levels of support and opportunities to honor individuals who have served through the Memorial Plaque Program. All donations are tax deductable and 100% of all proceeds will go toward the design, promotion, construction and maintenance of the Denton County Veterans Memorial.
This project is being spearheaded by Denton County Commissioner Ron Marchant and a dedicated committee of Veterans and family members. Other members include representatives from each member of the Denton County Commissioners Court, members of the VFW and American Legion, a representative from the Denton County Veterans Service Office, U.S. Congressman Kenny Marchant, Texas State Senator Chris Harris; Texas House of Representatives Burt Solomons.
Anyone who has a friend or relative who has served in the military or who is now serving can purchase a Star Memorial Plaque with his or her name on it to be placed at the Veterans Memorial of Denton County. For information, call 972-434-7140.


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Do you have a whippety question? Enter here your query or keyword.
by Garry
No REAL pair of shoes left.
Comments for Cold Feet
Click here to add your own comments
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to whippet mania.
With the free e-zine you'll get a house training flash course plus a handy infographic.
And your e-mail address is always safe with us, don't worry!
Jan 15, 20 06:10 AM
I'm looking for black or black and white female whippet under 12 months old. We already have brindle siblings 2.5 years old.
Jan 10, 20 03:55 AM
We adopted Carly from a shelter in early January 2018, when she was just one year old. Her paperwork claimed she was an Australian Cattle Dog mix, but
Dec 16, 19 07:17 AM
My whippet died after 13 years and I would like to find another. I am looking for a female puppy or adult. She can be pet quality because she willl be


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Coverage & Results
Live streams, results, videos, and photos from across the state.
Great Oak Winter Championships Qualifier
39 Videos 133 Photos
The Showcase
72 Videos 867 Photos
Claremont Winter Championships Qualifier
29 Videos 561 Photos
The VA Showcase Presented By The US Air Force
541 Videos 14,853 Photos
National Pole Vault Summit
2 Videos
Comprehensive Rankings
State & National rankings for every event viewable by class, league, and more
Scott Toney
St. Francis Mountain View (CC)
- 1st HS Boys Pole Vault
Top Performance
Pole Vault | 17-4
Allan Hunter
Kimball (John C) High School (SJ)
- 1st HS Boys Long Jump
- 1st HS Boys Triple Jump
Top Performance
Long Jump | 22-11
Kurtis Lee
Evergreen Valley (CC)
- 1st HS Boys 60m
- 1st HS Boys 200m
Top Performance
60m | 6.86
Ashley Callahan
Rancho Bernardo High (SD)
- 1st HS Girls Pole Vault
Top Performance
Pole Vault | 13-4
Training & Technique Videos
Take it to the next level with instruction from Olympians, World Champions & Pro Coaches
170+ more videos on Sprints
380+ more videos on Distance
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60+ more videos on Mid Distance
Frequently Asked Questions
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A PRO subscription unlocks the following:
- State & National rankings
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Do I get access to content from other sites?With a universal subscription, you gain access to all MileSplit original content, athlete profiles, interviews, rankings, and live events PLUS unlimited access to every other FloSports sports website, including FloTrack!
Can I change plans or cancel anytime?Yes, you can cancel anytime from Account Settings.
If you would like to change plans, send our Customer Support team an email at firstname.lastname@example.com and they'll handle that for you.
More questions?Feel free to Contact us.


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5 Creative Ways to Connect Our Kids (And Yourself) to Nature
This is a guest post from Richard Louv, author of The Nature Principle: Reconnecting to Life in a Virtual World and Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.
A recent study found that preschool children aren't getting enough time outdoors.Almost 50 percent of 3-to 5-year-olds studied weren't taken outside everyday. There are many factors that contribute to these sad findings, but parents and educators can, and should, find ways to incorporate play time in a child's life.
Below are five simple steps to help connect your family to nature and community.
1. Just do it – and think simple.
If we want our children or grandchildren to experience nature, we'll need to be more proactive than parents of past generations. For small children (or older ones, too), start in the back yard.
Encourage them to build forts, dig a hole, or plant a garden. A small pickup load of dirt costs the same as a video game, and provides more hours of creative, self-directed play. Some of the best toys are the simplest and least expensive. Did you know that the cardboard box and the stick have been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame?
2. Be a hummingbird parent (not a helicopter parent).
To reduce parental fear, Michele Whitaker, a guest blogger for The Grass Stain Guru, suggests that we become hummingbird parents: encouraging young children to play outside, but watch from a distance.
"I tend to stay physically distant to let them explore and problem solve, but zoom in at moments when safety is an issue (which isn't very often)," She writes.
Notice that she isn't hovering over her kids with nature flash cards. She stands back and makes space for independent nature play.
3. Create or join a family nature club.
Nature clubs for families are beginning to catch on across the country; some have membership lists of over 400 families.
The idea is that multiple families meet to go for a hike, garden together, or even do stream reclamation. We hear from family nature club leaders that when families get together, the kids tend to play more creatively — with other kids or independently — than during single-family outings.
C&NN's Nature Clubs for Families offers a free downloadable guide on how to start your own.
4. Help create a Homegrown National Park.
Doug Tallamy, a professor at the University of Delaware, encourages children and adults to replant their yards with native species to create a vast network of wildlife corridors — ones that help make our cities into biodiversity engines, improving human health and well-being, and bring back butterfly and bird migration routes.
As I quoted him in The Nature Principle, Tallamy argues that it "is now in the power of individual gardeners to do something that we all dream of doing: to 'make a difference.' In this case, the 'difference' will be to the future of biodiversity, to the native plants and animals of North America and the ecosystems that sustain them."
5. Submit your ideas to the CLIF Kid Backyard Game of the Year.
You can find nature nearby, right in your backyard.
The folks at CLIF Kid, maker of organic snacks for kids, have come up with a great way for parents to reconnect their kids with outdoor play and their own imaginations. Now in its second year, the CLIF Kid Backyard Game of the Year contest asks kids ages 6 – 12 to submit their ideas for their very own backyard game.
The rules are easy: Invent a game for two or more kids to play using basic items that can be found around the house or in nature. Six finalists will win educational scholarships, bikes and helmets and a trip to San Francisco for the Backyard Game Playoffs in July. The grand prize winner will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship. Submissions can be made online.
Louv is Chairman Emeritus of The Children and Nature Network and 2012 spokesperson for the CLIF Kid Backyard Game of the Year, helping build the movement to connect today's children and future generations to the natural world, Louv coined the term Nature-Deficit Disorder to define this important issue. In 2008, he received the Audubon Medal.


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When you're celebrating life's special achievements and milestones, The Inn at Leola Village is the ideal host location. Our luxury Inn offers the perfect blend of refined elegance, rustic charm and sophistication to satisfy and impress your guests and you.
Whether your gathering is for 15, 115 or 250 guests, our historic Inn, lavish grounds and private gathering salons will welcome your celebration in style.
Plus, The Inn at Leola Village is Lancaster's only AAA Four Diamond rated hotel that has a Four Star rated restaurant by Forbes Travel. In fact, Pennsylvania has only 4 Forbes Four Star restaurants and we are proud to have been so properly recognized.
And if you have out of town guests, The Inn at Leola Village has plenty of rooms, suites and signature accommodations for everyone for the night, weekend or longer.
For additional information, please call 717-656-7002 or click on the links below.