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When to Provide Assistive Devices
Assistive devices may only be provided in Status 10 or above, and only after an evaluation and recommendation from an appropriate professional.
Although it is unusual to provide assistive devices in Status 10, it is recognized that devices may sometimes be needed to conduct an assessment for the purpose of developing an IPE.
Economic Need
Assistive devices provided to support diagnostic services, including extended evaluation are not based on the consumer's economic need status.
Assistive devices provided in conjunction with rehabilitation teaching and orientation and mobility services are not based on the consumer's economic need status.
The provision of all other assistive devices is based on the consumer's economic need status.
Conventional Assistive Equipment
An evaluation or training report indicating the need for equipment can serve as the recommendation for conventional assistive equipment. Conventional assistive equipment refers to those aids, appliances and devices that assist individuals who are blind to perform certain functions or activities, but which are not micro-computer based, and are not considered specialized equipment or physical restoration devices. Examples of conventional assistive equipment include:
1. braille writer
2. white cane
3. lock-lid sauce pan
4. slate and stylus
5. talking clock
6. tape recorder
Low vision aids and hearing aids are not considered assistive equipment. They are considered physical restoration devices.
High-Tech Equipment
Due to the cost and complexity of high-tech equipment, it is necessary to follow special procedures for the purchase of any micro-computer related equipment which is purchased as part of an assistive equipment configuration. Computers, printers, modems, monitors, network interface cards, sound cards, application software programs, operating system software, and other generic types of computer hardware and software fall into this category as well as the following specialized assistive technologies:
1. computerized braille displays which convert screen text to braille
2. portable computerized braille note-takers
3. screen enlarging software or hardware
4. speech synthesis software or hardware
5. closed circuit television (CCTV)
6. screen reading software packages
7. one-handed keyboards or specialized input devices
Braille Note-takers
A portable computerized braille note-taker may be purchased upon the recommendation of a rehabilitation teacher. It is not necessary to obtain a consumer assessment at an ATC in order to purchase such a device.
Rule, Homemakers
High-tech equipment will not be purchased for consumers with the goal of homemaker.
Case Documentation
Using information from the evaluation, the counselor must document the following in the record of services:
1. why the consumer needs the equipment to participate in the rehabilitation process and obtain employment consistent with his or her IPE goal, and
2. that the equipment is being purchased after an evaluation and recommendation from an appropriate professional.
Procedure High-Tech Equipment
Counselors should follow the procedure on pages 8.22.06 - 8.22.07 to request approval to purchase high-tech equipment.
Purchasing Equipment
Purchase requests for conventional assistive equipment will be sent directly to the Office of Children and Families (OCFS) Purchasing Unit. Conventional assistive equipment under $750 can be purchased directly from a provider using the 335 process.
All requests to purchase microcomputer-based, specialized assistive equipment and/or microcomputer software must be sent to central office to the attention of the technology coordinator.
Ownership of Equipment - Policy
All equipment provided to consumers by NYSCB remains the property of NYSCB until successful case closure. Consumers are responsible for the proper care and use of equipment provided to them.
Ownership of Equipment - Notifying Consumers
Consumers will be advised that NYSCB maintains ownership of equipment until successful case closure by a statement on the "Consumer Rights and Responsibilities" handout.
Consumers will be advised that ownership of equipment is transferred to them at successful case closure by a statement on all case closure amendments and letters.
Maintenance and Insurance
Maintenance and insurance of equipment will be paid as follows:
NYSCB is responsible for maintenance and insurance of its own equipment.
If the equipment is owned by the consumer:
1. NYSCB will not be responsible for maintenance and insurance
2. the consumer's employer should be encouraged to pay for maintenance and insurance.
Maintenance Agreements
When equipment used by a consumer belongs to NYSCB, the counselor should consider purchasing a one year maintenance agreement at the end of the warranty period. A maintenance agreement is especially recommended for braille printers.
Equipment which is owned by NYSCB can be insured through a consumer's homeowner's or renter's policy or through a training site or employee's insurance policy.
Loaning Equipment
Equipment which is stocked in the district offices or NYSCB central office may be loaned to consumers when needed for evaluation, training or placement. Loaned equipment must be returned to NYSCB.
When loaning equipment, the counselor will:
1. have the consumer complete an Equipment Record form (pages 8.22.08 8.22.09)
2. document the loan in the case record.
Replacing Equipment
Equipment which is used by a consumer (prior to transfer of ownership) will be replaced if lost or damaged through theft, fire, flood, vandalism or other acts or occurrences beyond the control of the consumer when:
1. an insurance report or police affidavit, if available, is submitted to the counselor documenting the loss, and
2. after a review of the documentation and other circumstances surrounding the loss, the counselor and senior counselor determine that the loss has occurred under circumstances permitting replacement of the equipment.
If the equipment is covered by an insurance policy, NYSCB will only cover the amount of the individual's deductible.
Once ownership is transferred to a consumer, the risk of loss or damage rests upon the consumer.
Equipment which is owned by NYSCB cannot be sold.
The decision to lease equipment will be made on a case by case basis, by the District Manager.
Equipment for Groups of Individuals
Equipment may be provided to an agency, college or other organization when the equipment is for use by at least two NYSCB consumers. Individuals who are not NYSCB consumers may also make use of the equipment, provided that the NYSCB consumers are afforded the amount of time needed to use the equipment.
Prior to providing this equipment, NYSCB staff should encourage the organization to provide accommodations to individuals with disabilities as part of its responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Equipment provided for groups of individuals is owned by NYSCB. NYSCB will pay the cost of maintenance on the equipment. However, the agency, college or organization holding the equipment is required to have the equipment insured.
Equipment Inventory
Each district office will maintain an inventory of stock equipment. Information to be included in the inventory is:
1. equipment on hand
2. disposition of equipment
3. equipment added to stock
Copies of the inventory should be sent quarterly to the Technology Coordinator at
Central Office.
Equipment Record
The Equipment Record (pages 8.22.08 - 8.22.09) records the provision and disposition of equipment on a case-by-case basis. It must be completed each time equipment is:
1. loaned to a consumer
2. replaced
In addition, the section labeled disposition should be completed when equipment is returned to NYSCB.
Procedure for Purchase of High-tech Equipment
Follow this procedure to request approval to purchase high-tech equipment:
1. Complete the DSS-1013 form with the exception of the following sections:
a. TO: (VENDOR)
b. Item No., Description, Quantity, Unit, Price, and Amount
c. District Manager approval.
2. Prepare a cover memo to the C.O. technology coordinator authorizing purchase of equipment. The memo should note the appropriate consumer account code to be entered on the DSS-1013.
3. Forward the cover memo, along with the following, to the technology coordinator:
a. partially completed DSS-1013 and
b. for microcomputer based equipment, copies of the:
1. Assistive Technology Referral Sheet
2. Equipment Recommendation
3. Specific installation notes or instructions
4. Job/education site evaluation report (if applicable)
5. Assistive Technology Assessment Report
c. for specialized equipment, a copy of the evaluator's report.
4. The technology coordinator will:
a. review the material,
b. discuss the report with the provider and, if necessary, the counselor,
c. determine the appropriateness of the request, and if necessary make changes and advise the counselor of the changes
d. assign a purchase request #
e. sign off on the DSS-1013 and forward it to OCFS Purchasing,
f. return a copy of the completed DSS-1013, with a buck slip indicating any changes made, to the district office.
5. The district office will then:
a. enter the DSS-1013 information into the automated log
b. file the DSS-1013 in the consumer's record of service, and
c. file the DSS-1013 in the authorization file in authorization # order.
If the equipment is shipped to an ATC, the center will confirm that the order is complete and notify the NYSCB C.O. calculations clerk, who will in turn notify accounts payable to release payment to the vendor. Vendors do not get paid until receipt of equipment is acknowledged.
7. If the equipment is shipped to the consumer at a location other than an ATC, the consumer should be instructed to confirm the order is complete and notify the counselor. The counselor will notify the NYSCB C.O. calculations clerk.


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Putting together a corporate party is no easy task, and one of the toughest aspects is selecting the right entertainment for your party. There are a number of different corporate entertainment acts to choose from, and making certain you select the right one is essential to creating the mood for your party. Here are a few options that might be perfect for your needs.
A DJ to handle the background music is perhaps the most common type of entertainment at a corporate party. They can play a variety of background music tracks to keep people in the party mood. You could also set the atmosphere with living statues or roving musicians for a bit of fun. Jugglers and magicians working their way through the crowd could also be a fun diversion. One company invited a psychic to their corporate party so the guests could have their fortunes told.
If you're looking for a stage show, have you considered an illusionist or a hypnotist? They're both great ways to get the crowd involved and excited. Corporate comedians and comedy speakers are another good way to do just that. Clean comedy that is appropriate for your company can really get the party going.
One other great option is hiring a comedy ventriloquist. While you may have seen this type of entertainment on television, it is rare to see it in a live venue like a corporate party. You can be sure you are getting a unique act for the seen it all, hard to please audience. What's more, a comedy ventriloquist is the perfect way to lighten the mood of the party and truly engage your guests. You can get a tasteful, yet hilarious show that will delight and entertain the entire guest list and keep them talking about the party for weeks.
For a corporate party entertainment consultation, contact our office today!

subset: commoncrawl


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Have you ever watched a film and felt drawn into it right away? Often times, you subconsciously react to scenes based on the colors alone. Colors in film are used to evoke emotions and even the slightest change in hues can alter the way the audience responds to the scenes. Knowing which colors to use when can make all the difference to your projects.
To illustrate the use of colors and the emotions the evoke, StudioBinder has created an infographic to help you grasp the basics of color psychology in film.
[via StudioBinder]
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It seems to be the peak season for colds and flus at the moment! Everyone seems to be coming down with something….even me, and I hardly ever get ill!
So I thought it would be good to give my top tips to beat a cold so you can either try to prevent catching one, or to help your immune system fight it off!
- Drink lots - its important to stay hydrated, so make sure you're drinking at least 3 litres a day.
- Give your body rest - make sure you're not rushing around in the fight and flight nervous system. You need to rest your body so it has the opportunity to focus its energy on the immune system. This means sleep at least 8 hours a night, and possibly choosing a relaxing bath over going to the gym.
- Use essential oils - as soon as I get ill I get out my kit of oils! I rub them on the soles of my feet as this is the most porous part of the body. Oregano is my favourite to boost the immune system, but I also use a great blend called 'On Guard' from Doterra. They also do great lozenges to help your throat and your immune system.
- Eat health meals - obviously this is essential even when you're not ill, but it's even more important when you are. Include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, with lots of green! Also include some good quality protein and fats. Also include lots of raw garlic (if you can stomach it!) which is a great anti-viral. Stay away from inflammatory and mucous forming foods such as dairy and sugar.
- Take supplements - supplements such as vitamin C, zinc and probiotics are all great for fighting off the flu. Make sure they are good quality, practitioner grade supplements.
If you follow these simple tips you should start to feel better pretty quickly :-)
If you would like to keep up to date with recipes and blogs, please fill in the form below to sign up to my newsletter.


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Top Toronto Driving Schools
Rose Driving School
Rose Driving School has been successfully serving Toronto Downtown Area for many years. We are proud of our record as a driver education facility that is clean, bright, and modern. Also, we are confident that we provide courses and services that are superior compared to other driving schools in Toronto.
Location : Toronto, ON
Phone : (416) 324-9554
Learner's Academy Driving School Ltd.
Learner's Academy Driving School Ltd. is a family operated school that has been serving the downtown Toronto, West End community and Hispanic community for over 23 years. We continue to offer a variety of drivers education programs that promote defensive driving and road safety.
Location : Toronto, ON
Phone : (416) 537-4415
A M B Driving School
Our instructors have years of experience in transforming a novice driver to a driver who is confident and prepared for all conditions they may encounter in their driving lifetime.
Location : Toronto, ON
Phone : (416) 469-4872
New Driver's Driving School
We are one of Toronto's most respected driving school with over 8 years of experience in training drivers. We are here for your convenience to serve and offer you a great variety of services designed to ensure your total satisfaction while you're learning new driving skills.
Location : Toronto, ON
Phone : (416) 536-1777
Kingsway Downtown Driving School
Kingsway is a MTO approved Beginner Driver Education Course provider. Conveniently located just steps from the Toronto-Downtown-Core, Kingsway has served the community for more than ten years. we have helped thousands of adults, teenagers to gain their legal driving status.
Location : Toronto, ON
Phone : (416) 260-0233


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After being hit by a car a few months ago, things have been very strange for Max. Not only can he see ghosts, but one in particular claims to have saved him from death! But there are reasons why ghosts are not allowed to save humans.
Updates every other Tuesday (with occasional doubled up updates for special events)
Here are some other places you can see some of my art. The Society 6 link has some Guardian Ghost stuff you can buy and maybe wear!
Guys this might be the longest chapter in the act
I'm still trying to figure out how to get one more thing done and end it cleanly
But it just might take another week before it ends


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Metabolomic Profiles Differ With Macular Degeneration
TUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2017 -- Patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have altered plasma metabolomic profiles compared with those without the condition, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in Ophthalmology.
Inês Laíns, M.D., from Harvard University in Boston, and colleagues used color fundus photography and collected fasting blood samples (analyzed by Metabolon Inc. using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry) from 90 patients with a diagnosis of AMD (30 each with early, intermediate, and late AMD) and 30 controls (>50 years of age) without any vitreoretinal disease.
The researchers identified 878 biochemicals, although only 87 had levels that differed significantly between AMD patients and controls in multivariate logistic regression. The majority of these metabolites (82.8 percent), including the most significant metabolites, belonged to the lipid pathways. Of the 87 metabolites, analysis of variance showed that 55.2 percent were significantly different across the different stages of AMD. Among these metabolites, a significant enrichment of the glycerophospholipids pathway was seen.
"These findings have the potential to improve our understanding of AMD pathogenesis, to support the development of plasma-based metabolomics biomarkers of AMD, and to identify novel targets for treatment of this blinding disease," conclude the authors.
Several authors report financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry and Metabolon, and some are listed on a patent for AMD biomarkers.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
© 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted: September 2017


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I started Project: Death Race with an "open alpha" rules test, available to the readers at www.robotviking.com. You can check out the alpha rules here: http://www.robotviking.com/2009/06/03/project-death-race-open-alpha-playtest-rules/
Unfortunately, development on the game has slowed because I just don't have the time to test and retest new revisions and hammer the game into shape. Therefore, I'll use incremental Kickstarter goals to both gauge interest in the game and give myself the resources necessary to push development forward.
Basically, if we meet this initial goal, I'll be able to take a few days off from my day job as a freelance writer and get to a beta release of the rules: essentially complete, but a revision or two away from the final form. It will also include a vastly increased number of equipment cards, with more refined functions and flavor to suit the fictional game world we're developing around the game (the game world won't be complete at the beta stage, however).
Once we get to that point, we can worry about more ambitious future goals (like paying for artists for the equipment cards, and possibly a paper print run).
Funding period
- (63 days)


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More From This Film Of You Forgot My Pills!
Sexy tattooed lady in her erotic lingerie, and getting ready to take a long stiff penis to her butt hole. This sexy brunette is wearing her erotic red and black lingerie, and she has a large tattoo on her left thigh. She takes off her clothes and revealing her erotic under wear, and she then bent over in bed. The dude is standing behind this lovely brunette, and the dude pulls the chick panties to reveal its shaved pussy and tight butt hole. He touch the chick ass and getting ready to insert his stiff penis to the chick butt.


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LIMA, Peru (CNS) — For days, the desperate mother had hovered around the ward called Santa Rosa, the infectious disease wing at the huge, teeming Dos de Mayo public hospital in downtown Lima. Finally, she saw her chance.
"A patient had just died. The woman ran through the ward, jumped on the bed and said, 'This is for my son, Sandro,'" Maryknoll Father Joe Fedora recalled. "She had been waiting for days."
That was more than a decade ago, before antiretroviral drugs had arrived in Peru, when HIV was a medical diagnosis, a moral judgment and — almost always — a death sentence. When women fought for their children's lives.
"The mothers are the real heroes in this," Father Fedora said.
Santa Rosa still houses patients with HIV — and often with other diseases, such as tuberculosis, to which they are especially susceptible — but times have changed. When Father Fedora visits now, moving quietly from bedside to bedside, he carries a message of encouragement and hope.
When he arrives, doctors and nurses greet him, and most consider him part of the health care team, although that was not always the case. Acceptance of pastoral ministry in Santa Rosa came gradually, along with changes in attitudes toward HIV and AIDS.
They are changes that Father Fedora, a U.S. priest, has lived through twice — in Los Angeles two decades ago, and more recently in Lima.
"I've learned that the people on the margin, people who have been discriminated against, people suffering not only from physical (problems) but from poverty and mental ailments have a lot to teach us. I'm learning what it means to survive, to have perseverance, to have faith in the face of crisis." — Maryknoll Father Joe Fedora.
In the early 1990s, while promoting Maryknoll's missionary work among Catholics in California, Father Fedora became chaplain to AIDS Project Los Angeles, one of the city's largest AIDS support organizations.
"It was during the worst period of deaths," he said, although that gradually changed as antiretroviral drugs became available.
Returning to Peru in 1998, Father Fedora felt as though he had stepped back in time. Antiretrovirals were not available, the country's public health system was poorly equipped to deal with people with HIV or AIDS, and even the health professionals who worked with those patients suffered discrimination.
Instead of returning to the rural parish in southern Peru where he had ministered among Aymara Indians as a young missionary priest in the 1980s, Father Fedora opted to work in Lima, the country's sprawling and chaotic capital, where he could draw on his experience in Los Angeles.
He joined a small but tenacious handful of priests and religious who were working among people with HIV and AIDS in Lima. Those worst affected were poor, often rejected even by their families, suffering from an illness that was feared and little understood.
Father Fedora organized retreats for patients and their families, met with a prayer group started by transvestites in what is still one of the city's poorest and roughest neighborhoods, and visited the public hospital wards, where a sister who was also a nurse had blazed the pastoral ministry trail.
Although doctors initially were reluctant to accept pastoral ministers, "we realized that their work made our work more successful," recalled infectious disease specialist Eduardo Ticona as he made morning rounds in the Santa Rosa ward.
Father Fedora also brought new information to the medical teams after attending international AIDS conferences, Ticona said. And with it came hope, as word about antiretrovirals spread.
An international program, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, began offering antiretroviral drugs to poor countries, but first "the country had to recognize that there was a problem and that it needed help," Father Fedora said.
Peru needed prodding, so pastoral ministry led to protest. Nonprofit advocacy organizations and support groups of people with HIV or AIDS staged demonstrations and lobbied government officials and members of Congress.
"Padre Jose was right out there with us," said Paul Figueroa, who was diagnosed in those early years and who still stops by Santa Rosa to help out as a volunteer from time to time.
Hope, in the form of antiretrovirals, finally arrived in 2002, first for children and pregnant women, and finally for all patients. The five-year Global Fund program ended, and the government Health Ministry now provides the medications.
But activists must remain alert, Father Fedora said.
"We have to make sure that every successive government has the political will to come up with a budget (for the drugs) every year, and it has to reflect the increase in the number of people" receiving treatment for HIV, he said.
Stigma remains an issue. Patients usually arrive at Santa Rosa when they are very sick, often with tuberculosis, because they fear the discrimination that comes with a positive diagnosis, Father Fedora said.
And although the ward is now a way station toward health, rather than a final step on the journey, "What I want to see are empty beds, and I'm not seeing empty beds yet," he said.
Nor are there empty beds in the infirmary in Lima's huge and overcrowded San Pedro Prison, at the base of a dusty hill on the city's east side, where Father Fedora celebrates Mass and shares a meal with inmates twice a month.
Built for about 1,700 inmates but housing more than four times that many, the prison operates like a small city, complete with extortion, moonshine, drugs and a constant undercurrent of violence. Prisoners move about freely during the day, far outnumbering the guards.
The two dozen HIV-positive prisoners who have chosen to live in the infirmary have less freedom — they cannot mingle with other prisoners, but they are protected from the violence and the temptation of drugs, which would complicate their treatment.
During Mass in a low-ceilinged recreation room painted in two-tone gray, the prisoners pray for their families, their health and freedom. A few receive Communion, but many line up afterward for the sacrament of the sick, bowing their heads as Father Fedora anoints their hands.
This is ministry on the "periphery" of which Pope Francis speaks, he said.
"I've learned that the people on the margin, people who have been discriminated against, people suffering not only from physical (problems) but from poverty and mental ailments have a lot to teach us," Father Fedora said. "I'm learning what it means to survive, to have perseverance, to have faith in the face of crisis."
And as he moves from bed to bed in Santa Rosa or chats with prisoners over lunch, that Gospel message of faith and hope — reinforced by medical advances and a network of volunteers with whom he now works — lies at the heart of his ministry.
"To the extent that we help people live life fully, the kingdom of God becomes real," he said, reflecting that medical and pastoral care have combined to make hope more tangible.
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Edge Steak & Bar: A Review/
Edge Steak & Bar, located at the Four Seasons in Brickell, isn't new to the Miami Foodable Top 25 rankings. In December, the restaurant landed in the Top 10 restaurants with a Social Score of 124.83, a clear indication that Miami restaurant consumers have a lot of love for Edge.
For those unfamiliar with the Foodable 25, all of our city-level rankings are extracted from our proprietary Restaurant Social Media Index, which tracks social sentiment and influence based on residents in the local market. The data is collected over a span of 17 social platforms. It is organic, not hand-selected.
Some may attribute Edge's success to its culinary expertise. Others may say it's the casual and tropical design, or perhaps it is the approachable and comforting hospitality that permeates upon every encounter.
A Taste from Chef Brooks
One can naturally expect a great meal when reserving a table at a Four Seasons restaurant, and at Edge Steak & Bar, that is definitely what you'll get. However, Chef Aaron Brooks ensures that customers get more than what they are expecting. Perhaps that mentality comes from his 9 years experience with the Four Seasons, either way Chef Brooks has proven he takes his food seriously. Not only did he become a sommelier so he could pair his delicious cuisine with complementary wines, Brooks expanded his knowledge across North America – from Vancouver to Boston to Miami.
What you'll also notice at Edge is their loving pride in ingredients. They believe in farm-to-table and can tell you where all their meats are from, like the grass-fed beef from family-owned Creekstone Farms in Arkansas. The team at Edge has also created their own signature meat rub and hot sauce. But not everything is about the meat at this particular restaurant – Chef Brooks and his team take full advantage of the local seafood, such as corvina, mahi, wahoo, stone crabs and spiny lobster.
Soaking in Miami – All From the Luxury of Your Seat
At Edge Steak & Bar, guests can enjoy scenic city and water views. Perched beside the luxurious pool and patio, the restaurant boasts a huge terrace allowing patrons to take advantage of the desirable tropical weather.
Find yourself around the outdoor fire pit with some friends? Edge will gladly equip you with graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate so you can create your own s'mores dessert.
Going Above and Beyond
The Four Seasons knows hospitality and they've proven that with their popular restaurant. Edge Steak & Bar offers more than your average dining establishment, such as cooking classes for those looking to expand their culinary horizons as well as private dinners and parties for those looking for a more intimate experience. Just recently, Edge hosted a cupcake decorating class for children. They also offer a lunch deal which includes 3-courses for $19 prepared in 19 minutes, a valued offer for the businessmen and women on the go. You wouldn't want to miss out on their happy hour specials either, as those include 2-for-1 bar bites and $1 oysters as well as half-price selected cocktails and wines. Edge Steak & Bar isn't a pretentious venue, but rather a casual and inviting harbor where you can feel comforted by good food, special offerings and unique service.


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The town of Gaston, Northampton County officials and three chambers of commerce celebrated the opening of New Dixie Mart's — a facility which combines the convenience store with Subway and Mama Deluca's Pizza.
It is a 6,000-square-foot building with the store occupying about 4,200-square-feet and Subway and the pizza store occupying around 1,600-square-feet said Scott Aman, president of New Dixie.
The store has 16 fueling stations and construction is expected to begin next week on an automatic car wash. The store will be open 24 hours, Aman said.


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Sun, Sea and Books
all at Sidmouth Literary Festival
Keep your diaries free for the 8th-9th of June because we have a line up that will be sure to please everyone!
Headlining our festival this year we have Ann Cleeves - an event you won't want to miss! And throughout the day we have a wide variety of authors covering topics such as stonemasonry, thriller writing, and reflections on D-Day!
Be sure to check out our Events 2019 page for all the information.
Want to get published?
Tickets now available for the How to Get Published Workshop on Sunday 9th June!
Do you have some writing that you would like to get published? This event is a fantastic opportunity to listen to industry professionals across a wide range of publication avenues. Previous attendees to our event have gone on to be published themselves in many different forms, and we aim to provide you with all the best knowledge for the industry as it is today!
Click below to find out more information.
A weekend ticket for all events (excluding the How To Get Published Workshop) can be purchased for the bargain price of £35! You can find it here.
2019 Programme
The 2019 Programme is now complete. Simply click on the button below to view and download it:
Buy Tickets From:
Winstone's Books (festival partner), 10 High Street, Sidmouth, EX10 8EL.
Online - click the button below to visit our Eventbrite store.


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SKOWHEGAN — The dude abides.
Donny Christen, among the first in Maine to publicly advocate for the legalization of marijuana, has protested for pot for more than a quarter century through four county sheriffs, three district attorneys, three felony arrests and one summons.
He'll be back on the steps of the Somerset County courthouse Monday — Patriot's Day — for another in a series of marijuana smoke-ins there. The rally is set for "high noon," as Christen puts it.
Christen's first courthouse smoke-in was in 1991, and he's banking on his supporters being there with him Monday, like the old-timer in "The Big Lebowski" who says: "The Dude abides … It's good knowin' he's out there, the Dude, takin' her easy for all us sinners."
While changes in the public perception of marijuana use have shifted toward more support in the past couple decades, the bottom line is that marijuana for recreational use still is illegal in Maine and Christen and his group, Maine Vocals, are still trying to change the law.
Few at the smoke-ins smoke. In 2013, for instance, Christen ate marijuana-laced cookies, which he's allowed because he has a medical marijuana prescription. He also carried a mason jar full of marijuana.
Christen served seven months in jail for distributing marijuana-laced brownies to medical patients at a Patriot's Day rally years ago. Since then, he has faced possession and cultivation charges four times, but has not been charged in recent years.
Christen, 62, said the road to change continues to be a bumpy one.
"I wouldn't say I wouldn't change a thing, but I thank God that he has chosen me to do what I've been doing," he said. "My activism is the right thing to do, and for all the reasons that it needs to be legalized for the medicinal uses, for the agricultural uses and for the freedom issues, it's just plain the right thing to do."
While the planned smoke-in could be on Somerset County property, law enforcement jurisdiction will be with the Skowhegan Police Department, said Jim Ross, chief deputy at the Somerset County Sheriff's Department.
Ross said Sunday he is not convinced of the science behind legalizing marijuana, but will let the state Legislature be the guiding hand.
"It certainly is his right to do it," Ross said of the smoke-in. "I know he's always been very involved with the marijuana movement, and I haven't heard much about him or from him lately. When the Legislature tells me what the laws are, we'll enforce them. I've not seen the science to back up the claims, but it's smarter people than me I guess that are making the laws, so I defer to them.
"I've always had the question of, if cigarettes are so bad, how can marijuana smoke be so good? If somebody can show me the science, then I'll be all for it, but until then I haven't seen it."
Skowhegan Police Chief Don Bolduc said Sunday that his department had not been alerted to the planned smoke-in, but he will have officers on duty to make sure the rally goes smoothly.
He said it's still against the law to smoke marijuana in public, he said.
"Even if they have medical marijuana cards, they have no right to smoke in public," Bolduc said, adding smokers who light up could be issued a civil citation. "We're going to have ample people, and if there are any issues we'll deal with it. As long as they don't block a public way or are not disorderly then they can have their rally.
"They have a right to their opinion, but I still am of the opinion that marijuana is a gateway drug, and I am not for legalizing marijuana."
On the first Patriot's Day smoke-in on the courthouse steps in 1991, Christen, along with glaucoma patient Carol Hurley, arrived with marijuana joints already rolled and ready to be lit.
"We smoked on the stairs and the police confiscated the joints and cited us for a civil infraction," he said. "But we paid $300 for a civil trial by a jury of our peers and waited for a year. Then the courts called us and said they lost the joints and were dismissing the case."
Christen, a former plumbing and code inspector in the Madison area, said his position all along has been that prohibition is wrong and needs to be ended "to set the people free — period."
He said pot continues to be illegal because, despite more acceptance of the substance by a growing number of consumers, corporate and government officials still want the hemp industry and all the products that come from it to not compete with existing production.
He does not, however, support the petition for legalization — The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol — which got new life this month with a judge's ruling and revived the campaign to get a marijuana legalization referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot.
"It's 30, 40, 50 pages of regulations, which are not going to end prohibition, but just put more stipulations on and you could still go to jail for weed, which is not what we want," Christen said. "If the law was wrong in the first place, then they need to revisit the reasons why they need all these restrictions and regulations."
The legalization bill would allow adults to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and to cultivate a limited number of plants. Retail stores and social clubs would be allowed with municipal approval. Adults would be prohibited from using marijuana in public with violations punishable by a $100 fine. The bill also would place a sales tax of 10 percent on retail marijuana and marijuana products.
"Of course people want to legalize, but the people will vote for a good bill as well as a bad bill," he said. "The thing is we haven't been asked what we really want."
Christen, who said he has spent about two years in total behind bars for his various pot arrests, including marijuana cultivation, acknowledged that along the way people have looked at him not as a credible leader, but as just another stoner.
"Of course they did, at first," he said of the stoner tag. "But after 26 years I think people have figured out that maybe I wasn't so off key that they thought in the first place. Even a lot of the law enforcement see it that way.
"What's happened is that the education that has been brought forth over the years has changed a lot of people's minds. They're realizing that what we were saying in the very beginning has turned out to be the truth. I did what I believed in and thought was right."
Christen, who moved from Madison to Starks in the past few years, has been on the courthouse steps every year on Patriot's Day since his first protest there — sometimes all by himself.
This year he printed up posters and advertised the event. He said now that he has a medical marijuana card he is allowed to possess marijuana, but he believes that not all people who qualify for a medical card can just go to their own doctor and sign up.
That's one of the restrictions he said he wants to ease.
Christen, a grandfather of four, said everyone is invited to join the group Monday. It could run up against general smoking restrictions on Somerset County property, but he is ready.
"I've been here all along, sometimes all by myself, but I've been here," he said. "I was the first to become vocal, as far as really getting out there and saying we want to legalize weed. Yeah, I was the first one."
Maine Vocals was founded in 1990 with a few dozen people. The group grew to include hundreds of members so that by the first Hempstock festival at Harry Brown's farm in Starks in 1994 there were 12,000-15,000 people in attendance, he said.
He said he and Brown later parted ways and now have separate music and hemp festivals — Brown's in Starks and Christen's seven different festivals on Carson Hill in Harmony.
So has Christen made a difference in the past quarter century as Maine's most vocal advocate for public legalization of marijuana?
Well, yes and no, he said.
"I'm sincere — it's real simple," he said. "I feel bad that it hasn't progressed more than what it has. It's been way long enough that this should have been a done deal by now.
"If people are willing to vote for the legalization of marijuana, why hasn't a bill been brought forth with what the people really want instead of a whole bunch of regulations that we just can't abide by and prohibition is just going to continue?"
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
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Varsity Maine
Cross country: Mt. Ararat, Camden Hills take KVAC Class A titles
Lewiston to receive $5M for lead abatement
Sidelines: Taking on the limericks challenge
Football: Waterville stays alive with win over Nokomis
Varsity Maine
Boys soccer: Warren becomes Hall-Dale's single-season leading scorer in win over Lisbon


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Download the episode here!
In celebration of all things Friday the 13th, Cam sits down for his first ever viewing of the original classic, Friday the 13th!
Did he dig it? Was he correct about the plot? Can he resist the short shorts of Kevin Bacon? the answers the these and more await you!


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It is not surprising that the development of increasingly advanced technology.


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'Energy: A Human History,' by Richard Rhodes
Racing the clock on global warming, civilization is in the midst of a profound transition in the ways we produce and use energy. Nothing less than the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
You won't find much of that in "Energy: A Human History."
Author Richard Rhodes warns you as much in the foreword. It's not that he isn't deeply worried about climate change (as a father and grandfather, he is) or that he doesn't have his own ideas about how to address it (primarily nuclear power, but more about that later).
Rather, he's much more interested in showing us how we got here.
Covering a sweep of four centuries, Rhodes explores how past energy transitions — wood to coal, candles to gas and electricity, horses to steam and oil — shaped and reshaped society, creating and destroying fortunes along the way. He also presents the humans behind each new invention, a long line of engineers, scientists, financiers and schemers. Some of their names live on, but most don't, and it's astonishing how many of the innovators he describes died poor. Rhodes, whose 1986 book "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" won him a Pulitzer Prize, is determined to give each his due.
Rhodes begins in late December 1598, when William Shakespeare and his business partners disassembled their original London theater and carted away the planks, much to the anger of the man who owned the land. Wood was the city's primary fuel, not to mention the construction material for the Royal Navy's ships. Forests near London were being stripped bare, and prices were rising. Shakespeare and crew needed the old planks for their new Globe theater because they couldn't afford to replace them.
Coal had been burned by blacksmiths for centuries but was disdained by polite society for its smoke and smell, labeled by some "the Devil's very excrement." Economics drove England to use it anyway, not without complaint. One wealthy diarist who helped found the scientific Royal Society of London wrote in 1659 that coal smoke was ruining the city and wrecking citizens' health. "I have been in a spacious church where I could not discern the minister for the smoke, nor hear him for the people's barking," John Evelyn wrote.
The shift from wood to coal, however, would not be stopped, and Rhodes traces how this transition rippled across society, leading to new technologies that would, over time, have immense impact.
Rising demand for coal, for example, forced mine owners to dig deeper, eventually piercing the water table and flooding their mines. That created a need for ways to drain the tunnels. Enter Thomas Newcomen, a Devonshire ironmonger who in 1712, built a house-sized engine that used steam and atmospheric pressure to pump water from mines. The smaller and more versatile steam engine, credited to James Watt, incorporated elements of Newcomen's design, as well as a key innovation from the humble pressure cooker.
More Information
A Human History
By Richard Rhodes
(Simon & Schuster; 464 pages; $30)
And while we tend now to think of early railroads as a manifestation of coal and steam power, the railroads themselves grew out of a way to move coal to market, well before the steam engine was born. As early as 1604, mine owners began laying wooden rails in tracks downhill from their pits to the nearest river, running on them wooden carts that could be pulled back uphill by a horse after unloading. Eventually, iron rails replaced the wood.
"Energy: A Human History" is at its best tracing these weird connections and unintended side effects. For example the men (yes, most of the book's many characters are European or American men) who first tried to exploit petroleum saw it as a raw material for kerosene, which competed against alcohol, whale oil and a host of other burning liquids for lighting. But a Civil War-era tax on alcohol, meant to target drinking, knocked that fuel out of the market, while Confederate ships decimated the New England whaling fleet. Oil produced in western Pennsylvania slipped right in. Only later did anyone think to use it for transportation.
With so much history to cover, some of Rhodes' choices can be frustrating. Efforts to eliminate engine knock, leading to the addition of lead into gasoline despite the known health risks, get extensive treatment, probably more than needed. So does the precise number of whaling ships destroyed by specific Confederate raiders.
The biggest slight, however, comes at the end, just as Rhodes reaches the energy transition now under way.
Despite resistance from climate contrarians and the Trump administration, the world has begun a historic shift from fossil fuels to energy sources that produce far fewer greenhouse gases. As Rhodes puts it, "Global warming itself, the evidence slowly accumulating across a century of increasingly anxious observation, provokes a biblical-scale confrontation of ideologies and vested interests."
And yet, he devotes fewer pages to solar energy than to the use of horses in early 20th century urban American. (To be fair, the details of how all those New York horses were tended and fed are eye-opening, as is the financial blow hay farmers suffered when cars replaced the horses.) Wind power fares better, but not by much.
This may be because Rhodes doesn't see renewable energy as the best answer to the global warming crisis. It's too variable and expensive in his telling. Instead, he prefers nuclear power, deeming it "the safest, least polluting, least warming, and most reliable energy source humanity has yet devised." Antinuclear activists grossly overstate its dangers and ignore its safety record, their agendas rooted in an "antihumanist ideology." And while he sees a place for renewables, he predicts a future dominated by nuclear and natural gas.
"The prosperous West can — barely — afford to produce all its power with renewables if it decides to do so," he writes. "The rest of the world doesn't have that option."
That is, of course, debatable. Renewable prices have plunged in the past decade, and the biggest problem facing the U.S. nuclear industry right now is slow strangulation by the electricity market, in which aging atomic plants can no longer compete with cheap natural gas.
Regardless of your own personal opinions, however, it's hard not to wish that Rhodes had lavished the same attention on this current energy transition as on the others explored in this intensely researched book. Who knows how many more interesting stories he would have found?
David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: email@example.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF


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Last week, Sepro Group has celebrated two First Stone ceremonies as the construction of the plant expansion and of the Worldwide Training Campus begins. Both buildings are scheduled for summer 2018.
Both buildings mark an important milestone for Sepro Group's growth strategy with a bigger plant (from 13.000 m² to 20.000 m²) and a new Training Campus that will receive more than 1.500 trainees every year.
Elected representatives, journalists and partners were present to celebrate the first step of these two big new projects.


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Stories about East Asia from November, 2009
25 November 2009
China: Children who are left behind
On November 12, several days before the International Children's Day, an explosion erupted in an illegal fire cracker factory in Guangxi which resulted in 2 children workers dead and 11...
24 November 2009
Slovakia: Mobile Internet Providers Put an End to Internet Neutrality
This month, a second Slovak mobile internet provider has kept its promise and started filtering internet access for its customers. While officially the goal is to block child porn, things...
22 November 2009
Philippines: TV Ads of Presidential Candidates
Election season has started in the Philippines. Check out the TV ads of presidential candidates which have been uploaded on YouTube.
Malaysia-Singapore Water Agreements Under Review
Singapore sources about half of its water supply from its neighbor, Malaysia. It has two major water agreements with Malaysia. One of these agreements will expire two years from now....
China and Japan: Feng Zhenghu at Narita airport
Shanghai human rights activist Feng Zhenhu has been living and waiting in the hall of Japan's Narita airport since November 4 when he was barred from entering his own country...
21 November 2009
Taiwan: Science park expansion dispute
Recently, the Executive Yuan in Taiwan has passed a bill in favor of Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) fourth stage expansion. The construction plan has drawn the attention of ecologists...


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by Arlene W.
(San Jose, Ca, USA)
My daughter and son-in-law purchased their first home, owner occupied one year ago. They have met ALL the requirements for the rebate and still nothing has happened.
They only get delay after delay and very threatening letters about fraud. They have done everything asked of them. The government office, just asks for more and more paperwork, stating they haven't received the needed papers and always it's a different worker.
What can they do to get this rebate? They get notices stating they are rejected, my son-in-law calls and then they are told to send more papers. They are so scared to do anything wrong.
Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Hello Arlene,
Thank you for coming by my site and asking your questions. I will do the best I can to answer them, but first you need to know I'm not a tax professional.
If you are referring to the first time home buyer tax credit which ended last year, then I must say I'm shocked your children have not received the credit yet.
To my understanding it was to be a credit on their personal tax returns. It should have showed up this year. Here's what the IRS website states:
For 2010 Home Purchases
The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, signed into law on Nov. 6, 2009, extended and expanded the first-time homebuyer credit allowed by previous Acts.
Under this law, an eligible taxpayer must have bought, or entered into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2010, and close on the home by June 30, 2010. For qualifying purchases in 2010, taxpayers have the option of claiming the credit on either their 2009 or 2010 return.
This law also:
So based on this IRS quote, they should have been able to complete the forms, and seen this credit on the tax return for 2010 which was due by mid April of this year.
The fact that they are getting the run around by the tax authorities does not surprise me. Sadly the system is broken and there is not much you or I can do about this.
However, they may want to try and go back to whomever helped them fill out the forms in the first place. If a title company was involved in helping, then I would go there first. There may have been some mistakes on the closing papers and forms filled out at the closing.
I would not worry about doing something wrong.
I'm not a tax professional, but if they met the guidelines listed on that website they should still get the credit. They may have to file an amended tax return. They also may want to consult with a tax person.
I hope this helps.
Best Regards,
Jeff Ragan
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Oct 08, 19 08:33 AM
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Hi Help please! I am a first time home buyer, buying a home with my fiance'. He is selling his home currently on the market for $125K with no contingencies.
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Cortland (CHS) Class of 1975 Alumni List
Help us Update the Cortland 1975 Class List by adding any names missing from the list below:
Registered Alumni
1975 Class List
- Sara Burdick
- John Condron
- Rodney Conrad
- Liliana D'Amato
- Lorena Fischbach England
- Arthur Fabrizio
- Arthur Fabrzio
- Maria Galluzzo
- Jeffrey Granato
- Renee Gunzenhauser
- Salome Holcomb
- Steven Natoli
- James Phillips
- Fran Pizzola
- Joyce Popa
- Kent Robinson
- Donna Goddard Schneeberger
- Karen Snyder
Know Cortland Class of 1975 graduates that are NOT on this List? Help us Update the 1975 Class List by adding missing names.
Jaws was the top movie in theaters in 1975, with a lifetime gross of over $260,000,000. Among TV shows in 1975, All in the Family was the most popular of the year.
Hit Songs From 1975
You Aint Seen Nothin' Yet / Free Wheelin'Bachman-Turner Overdrive
You're The First, The Last, My EverthingBarry White
Best Of My LoveEagles
Please Mr PleaseOlivia Newton-John
Doctor's OrdersCarol Douglas
Sister Golden HairAmerica
FireOhio Players
Wasted Days And Wasted NightsFreddy Fender
Pick Up The PiecesAverage White Band
Swearin' To GodFrankie Valli
Hit Movies From 1975
Reunions and Cortland High School News
More 1975 alumni from Cortland HS Cortland, NY have posted profiles on Classmates.com®. Click here to register for free at Classmates.com® and view other 1975 alumni.
The students that went to school at the Cortland high school called Cortland High School and graduated in '75 are on this page. Register to add your name to the class of 1975 graduates list.
If you are a Cortland alumn, we encourage you to register and be sure to sign up for the alumni newsletter.


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In our previous issue, The Ticker published an editorial touting CUNY's admirable persistence to defend and uphold its students in the face of adversity, such as the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
In this challenging time, and in others prior, the CUNY administration has stuck by its students and provided resources and aid to them. Given this, CUNY does many things correctly.
However, the university system's public reputation causes potential current and past students and faculty members to see CUNY in a negative light. CUNY sells and prides itself as an institution that provides a quality education at an affordable price. However, it can be difficult to make this connection because, in recent years, CUNY has been plagued with various scandals that seem to take precedence over the affordable education for which it is known.
In October 2016, Lisa S. Coico, former president of City College of New York, resigned from her position following an investigation that probed into a misuse of funds that connected back to her. Investigators concluded that Coico had used over $150,000 of the school's endowment to pay for personal expenses. A final report indicated that Coico had used $36,000 of the sum to pay for a part-time housekeeper and $35,000 of the sum to fund her retirement party.
In February of this year, Baruch College played host to its own embezzlement scandal when police arrested former employee Machli Joseph due to misplacement of $600,000 of the school's funds. The money belonged to the athletics department. Instead, it went to Joseph's personal expenses, such as home renovations, gifts and credit card bills. Joseph worked within the athletics department as athletics director, but he has resigned from his position.
More recently, Mamdouh Abdel-Sayed, a biology professor at Medgar Evers College, was arrested for "teaching unauthorized health care classes and selling students fake certificates of completion," The New York Times wrote. Witnesses said that Abdel-Sayed implicitly encouraged students to engage in unethical and unsanitary practices, such as drawing blood from each other.
CUNY offers great services to over 500,000 students in attendance, but these services dramatically subside in significance when big scandals arise. As much as CUNY would like its name to reflect affordability and quality, it too often calls to mind unethical circumstances. The scandals do not reflect well on CUNY and its reputation will continue to stagger as long as these scandals persist.


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Our eye doctors--all ophthalmologists (MDs)--are among the best in New York. Our practice has been in existence for 35 years, and our surgeons have been selected to the top doctors lists for New York Magazine and Newsday, and have been selected for more than a decade to the Castle-Connolly Guide to Top Doctors in the New York Metro Area.
The eye surgeons in our practice have demonstrated superior skill in treating glaucoma and cataract, as well as other eye ailments and diseases. We also offer LASIK, BOTOX® and Restylane®.
Academic Institution Affiliations:
Hospital Affiliations and Ambulatory Centers:
Our offices are conveniently located near Farmingdale, Hicksville, Levittown, Uniondale, Plainview, Old Bethpage, Wantagh, Massapequa, Roslyn, Manhasset, Floral Park, Albertson, Williston Park, Port Washington, Great Neck, Douglaston, Little Neck, Forest Hills, Rego Park, Flushing, Lindenhurst, Syosset, Bay Shore, Dix Hills, Melville, Commack, Huntington, Hempstead, Glen Cove, East Meadow, Garden City, New Hyde Park, Babylon, Amityville, and Seaford.
If you are interested in learning more about our practice, please call 516.731.4800 or 516.358.2300 to make an appointment.
Eye Care Associates & Glaucoma Consultants of Long Island
4212 Hempstead Turnpike | Bethpage, NY 11714 | Phone: 516.731.4800 | Fax: 516.731.4805
2001 Marcus Avenue | Lake Success, NY 11042 | Phone:516.358:2300 | Fax: 516.358.2329


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Celanese Corporation, a global chemical and specialty materials company, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 365 kilo tons per annum synthesis gas production unit from Linde PLC.
The production unit is located at the Celanese Clear Lake acetyl intermediates manufacturing facility located in Pasadena, Texas.
"By acquiring this syngas production unit, Celanese will have the capability of producing a critical raw material for the world's largest acetyl intermediates production facility," said Todd Elliott, Celanese Senior Vice-President, Acetyls.
"Linde is currently the primary carbon monoxide (CO) supplier to the Clear Lake facility and the acquisition of this synthesis gas production unit will provide Celanese with future productivity and growth configuration options."
Synthesis gas, or syngas, is a mixture of CO, carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2). Syngas can be produced from many sources, including natural gas, coal, biomass, or virtually any hydrocarbon feedstock, by reaction with steam or oxygen (O2). Syngas is a crucial intermediate resource for the production of acetic acid, H2, ammonia, methanol, and synthetic hydrocarbon fuels.
Celanese Corporation and Linde PLC expect to complete the transaction pending customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Financial details of the deal are not being disclosed at this time.


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The beauty boss appeared at Madame Tussaud's in L.A. to unveil her wax figure that dons the outfit that she rocked to the Met Gala in 2016.
Ready to FREAK OUT over the likeness?
People are totally losing it over the similarities between wax Kylie and IRL Kylie.
Everyone, that is, including her very own fam.
Kylie took to Instagram to reveal that she epically trolled her fam on Facetime 'cos TBH, you would.
"I made her FaceTime my whole family .. fooled everyone," she captioned the pic.
She and her wax double rock matching Snapchat dog ears.
NO seriously though, just try and tell them apart!
We dare you!


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I have been cutting out the daily recipe from the i newspaper for some time now and recently there was one for a BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato) with pide bread and aioli.
Well, for me, making the bread is a no-brainer and I have made pide before. But since I have recently been making my own aioli, this seemed like too good an opportunity to miss.
Okay, so maybe they're supposed to be round, but decided right at the end to make more, smaller breads and didn't want to have to wait too long again to prove them.
The BLAT post to follow.


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About Us
Immigration Resource Center of San Gabriel Valley (IRCSGV) exists to support the immigrant population in San Gabriel Valley by providing quality low-cost immigration legal services and referral services that consider the needs of the whole person. These services offer an affordable way for local foreign-born non-US citizens to comply with immigration law and contribute to the ability of individuals to provide for themselves and their families.
IRCSGV is an extension of Mountainside Communion and community partners.
Recognized by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Supporting the immigrant population by providing low-cost immigration legal services, educational events, and connections to local community resources.
Assist immigrants and their families to have access to affordable immigration legal assistance so that they can live and work without fear and be able to step out of the shadows and participate in society as they choose.
Support and promote holistic immigrant integration by assessing the needs of each service participant and connecting them to appropriate local community resources and services when needed.
Listen and learn from the experience of immigrants with the core belief that we all have gifts, abilities, and aspects of life to teach and learn from each other.
Be a local hub of competent and accurate knowledge of immigration law and relevant issues to the immigrant community.
Monica Solorzano
Founder, Spanish Adventures
Immigration Resource Center of San Gabriel Valley
303 W Colorado Blvd
Monrovia, CA 91016
Phone: (626) 509-9472
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. It's a time for family and friends to come together and enjoy a great meal and make great memories together. Many families and individuals will be following The Metabolism Miracle this holiday season….and since this particular holiday is ALL about the food, I wanted to give my Met B's some guidance and options for this special holiday.
If you are on Step 1 of MM, you have options!…
Option 1: You can consider your Thanksgiving meal as a "celebration" meal. "Special dispensation" given (smiling) for the 5 hour block that contains your feast…Just remember to keep the food fest to that one five hour block. Follow Step 1 from wake up until Thanksgiving dinner, enjoy the feast, then pick up where you left off on Step 1. If your Thanksgiving meal is at 4pm… make sure you have a snack if you won't be eating again until after 9pm. And the beat goes on………..
WARNING: The carb overload at Thanksgiving will have a definite affect on the way you feel afterward. On Step 1, your pancreas is "on vacation"…and adding all of these extra carbs is like throwing ice cubes on a sunbather….YEOW…. After the meal and for the next few days, you will notice increased cravings, feel a bit more tired, and a tad more irritable than normal towards your family (laughing here….is that the carbs or the holiday togetherness????).
Option 2: If you choose to stay true blue and not cut loose with the Thanksgiving meal… it's quite possible and not too difficult to stay on Step 1:
- Enjoy all of the turkey that you want with gravy (many jarred gravies fit on Step 1)
- Try green beans sautéed in olive oil with slivered almonds, garlic, salt and pepper
- Have a heaping helping of Cauliflower Mashed potatoes (recipe in book)
- Enjoy a salad of assorted greens, cheeses, olives, nuts, and balsamic vinaigrette.
- Sip on a Diet Cranberry Spritzer : (Use Ocean Spray Diet Cranberry Juice and a splash of diet lemon/lime soda…garnish with a lime wedge) or
- Savor a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio or a Lite beer
- For dessert, indulge in Pumpkin Ricotta Crème (Mix ½ cup part-skim ricotta, 1 Tbls low fat sour cream, ¼ tsp vanilla extract, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, 2 Tbls canned pumpkin, 1 packed Splenda together…chill…and top with whipped cream to serve)
If you are on Step 2 for Thanksgiving….You also have options!
You can choose to use the Thanksgiving 5 hour block as a "celebration" meal. Your entire day would follow Step 2 rules, but you would insert Thanksgiving in a 5 hour block. When you're done with your Thanksgiving meal, make sure you have an 11-20g option within 5 hours, and so on. If you do not want to stray, here are some options for you:
- Have all of the turkey that you would like (since this is neutral) and gravy.
- Try green beans sautéed in olive oil with slivered almonds, garlic, salt and pepper
- Have a generous helping of cauliflower mashed potatoes on your plate
- Sip on your favorite "neutral" beverage of choice, like the Diet Cranberry Spritzer, wine, or lite beer
- Pick any of the following as your 11-20g option during the meal:
- ½ sweet potato with butter and lite sour cream
- ½ cup mashed sweet potatoes topped with cinnamon and Splenda
- ½ ear of corn on the cob
- ½ c steamed corn nibblets
- 1/3 c stuffing made with whole wheat bread
- For dessert, enjoy this "nutty" twist on low-carb cheesecake: (Take 1 cup of Emeralds Cocoa Roast Almonds or Cinnamon Roast Almonds… finely chop in a food processor and top the low carb cheesecake made as directed in The Metabolism Miracle)
If you are on Maintenance…
Option 1: Treat Thanksgiving as a "celebration meal"…enjoy and return to maintenance for the meal/snack afterward.
Option 2 : depending on the number of carbs you are allowed based on your own personal maintenance carb amount, choose the appropriate number of options for this meal. For example, if you are allowed (3) 11-20g items..your meal may look like:
- Turkey with gravy
- Cauliflower mashed potatoes
- 1/3 c whole wheat stuffing ( 1 carb)
- ½ ear of corn (1 carb)
- Green beans sautéed in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic
- Warm baked apple cinnamon/butter and whipped cream (1 carb)
- Glass of wine or lite beer or diet cranberry drink from above
Remember…. The Metabolism Miracle is a LIFESTYLE. The most important part of your holiday is that you are comfortable, happy, and you enjoy the day and the people you are with. You pick the option that best fits your life, and then continue on your journey to success! I wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving! xo Diane


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Debbie Kotecki
As a stylist of 32 years, my clients are the best part of my career. Staying educated in all of their hair needs has been my passion. I enjoy doing color, hi-lites, haircuts and blowouts. I look forward to seeing you for your beauty needs. I am accommodating to fit your busy schedule. I work Monday and Friday 9-3 and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4-8. I look forward to meeting you!


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ISCS provides community based intensive supervision and case management services as well as behavioral health services (individual and family therapy) for youth ages 11-21 involved in the Juvenile Justice Systems. Program emphasizes positive development opportunities through individual and family counseling, youth and parent education, court advocacy, information and referral, life and job skills training, and behavior/mental health services and referrals. The program seeks to lower recidivism, motivate success, and promote healthy lifestyles.
If you are:
- Youth ages 11-21 years old
- Living in San Francisco
- Involved in the Juvenile Justice Systems
For more information, please contact Kyle Chan at 415-775-2636×210 or [email protected]


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Like a second New Year's Day, the month of September offers its own chance to make a brand new start: It's back-to-school season! This can be an exhilarating time—a chance to meet new friends, face new challenges and set new goals. It's also a great time to get started on the things that can keep your children healthy all year long…like a routine visit to the dental office.
Preventive dental visits are one of the most important ways to help keep a smile in top condition—not just for kids, but for people of any age. They are also one of the best values in health care, because so much can be accomplished in such a short time. What exactly happens at a routine visit? Here's a brief run-down:
So if you have youngsters starting a new school year—or if you're looking to make a fresh start toward good oral health yourself—make it a point to stop in to the dental office for a routine visit this season!
If you would like more information about maintaining good oral health, please contact us or schedule an appointment. You can learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles "Top 10 Oral Health Tips For Children" and "Dental Hygiene Visit: A True Value in Dental Healthcare."
4727 Willow Springs Road
LaGrange, IL 60525
Dr. Maragos' commitment to his community parallels his commitment to his profession. In 2007, he was elected to...


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Apple has disappointed the stock market with its forecast for the Christmas business. For its traditionally most important quarter, the iPhone group announced a sales increase of a maximum of five percent to 93 billion dollars.
Analysts had expected more, including Apple has more expensive devices on offer than a year ago. Some market observers already believed that Apple could crack the $ 100 billion mark in one quarter. The stock lost in the after-hours trading on Thursday temporarily more than four percent.
In the past quarter, the launch of the new iPhone XS Apple brought a big jump in sales and profits. The group earned $ 14.1 billion – about 32 percent more than a year ago. Revenues increased by a fifth to $ 62.9 billion in the fourth quarter of September ended, said Apple.
Apple sold about 46.9 million iPhones. That was just over 200,000 more than in the same quarter last year – but revenues from the iPhone business jumped 29 percent to around $ 37.2 billion. This is because last year the new iPhone X came on the market only in November – and now since September the successor model XS and the larger and more expensive version XS Max were sold.
Also, the business with Mac computers made the more expensive Pro models more profitable. In terms of volume, the year-on-year decline was two percent to 5.3 million units – but sales increased by three percent to $ 7.4 billion.
The iPad had the opposite effect: the number of units sank by a moderate 6 percent – but sales slumped even more by 15 percent after the launch of a more attractive low-priced model.
The service business, which includes revenue from the Apple Music streaming service, the app download, and the iCloud online storage service, increased revenue by 31 percent to $ 4.2 billion.


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New CITROËN C4 CACTUS now available from £17,265/
Citroën's new C4 Cactus features a host of exterior and interior styling, engineering, technology and connectivity updates. There are two core trim levels to choose from – Feel and Flair – plus, for a limited time only, the availability of a Feel Edition model with a PureTech 82 petrol engine. Pricing for the new C-segment hatchback starts from just £17,265 OTR……Read More


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Our annual Women to Watch recognizes Southern Nevada women whom we believe are going to make a difference in the coming months. They represent an empowering group.
Women to Watch is an interesting program for a couple of reasons. One, in seeking out our honorees, we don't rely merely on past behavior — a touch of prognostication is involved. How are each of these women positioned to make 2019 the best year yet? We want to know.
Two, our honorees were chosen by a group with a unique perspective: previous Women to Watch winners. Being chosen as a Woman to Watch is an honor; choosing the Women to Watch is hard work and we appreciate the help of our judging committee. The panel chose leaders in business, philanthropy and health care. It's an esteemed group of women that VEGAS INC is honored to profile.
Michelle Bacigalupi
General Manager
Rampart Casino & JW Marriott Las Vegas
Nevada native, Michelle Bacigalupi was exposed to the gaming industry at an early age by her parents, who both worked in casinos.
"I completed a summer internship at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe when I was in college and was hooked from there," said Bacigalupi, who holds a degree in journalism from the University of Arizona.
She joined JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa/Rampart Casino as marketing director in 2011, assuming her current post of general manager and vice president Jan. 1 of 2019. One of a handful of women to serve as GM of a Las Vegas gaming property, she oversees all casino, hotel and resort departments that include more than 1,300 associates, focusing on sales and marketing, operations and construction. She was instrumental in the expansion of the casino slot floor, as well as the addition of a new sports book, a 300-seat bingo room and two new restaurants.
"We are excited to celebrate our resort's 20th anniversary this year, and have put together a series of events and promotions for our associates and hotel and casino guests to enjoy," said Bacigalupi. "In addition, we will be completing multiple property renovations this year, including a parking garage expansion and the construction of a brand new Asian restaurant."
She serves on the community board for Vitalant (formerly United Blood Services), and in partnership with Rampart Casino works with Goodie Two Shoes and Assistance League of Las Vegas.
Jessica Hardt
Director of Sales and Events
Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas
Santa Monica, Calif., native Jessica Hardt has been immersed in the hospitality industry since the age of 14, starting as a hostess with TGIFridays, then as a corporate server trainer at Margaritaville before moving on to Hard Rock Cafe as a server.
"At Hard Rock, my senior sales and marketing manager saw something in me and offered me a job as a sales coordinator," said Hardt, who attended Saddleback College and moved to Southern Nevada in 2003. "I hesitated but I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I needed to do something great for my daughter. With my boss's guidance and mentorship I am where I am today and I am grateful to still work for her at Brooklyn Bowl, which I joined in May 2014 as sales and events manager."
Hardt is responsible for a team of five that sells and services the venue to groups of 10 to 3,000 and produces more than $9 million in sales annually.
"I never pictured myself as a director because I'm happy being part of a team and in the trenches, but there were influential people around me who pushed me to believe in myself and I'm so happy I did," said Hardt, who supports the Susan G. Komen Foundation, volunteers with the Las Vegas Hospitality Association and assists with Fill a Bag with Cheer during the holidays. "There are a lot of exciting things happening for Brooklyn Bowl in 2019, starting with expanding the Vegas team to now include an event services manager."
Merlelynn Harris
Clinical Director
Bridge Counseling Associates
Born and raised in Toronto, Merlelynn Harris "was fascinated by mental health and the brain, and how 'normal' people could end up behaving oddly," she said, adding that there was a history of untreated mental illness in her family.
Harris, a former professional basketball player who was a member of the Canadian National Basketball Team and competed in the Olympics, moved to Southern Nevada in 1988 to attend UNLV, earning degrees in psychology and pre-med and a degree in counseling, marriage and family therapy.
She worked in private practice prior to joining the nonprofit Bridge Counseling Associates in early 2015, and has served as clinical director since early 2016. "Bridge provides enhanced comprehensive services onsite for a population that normally doesn't get good anything," she said. "We set a standard for not only the underserved but for everybody in Nevada."
Since Harris joined Bridge, the staff and number of patients served has quadrupled. She supervises the work of 46 dual-licensed clinicians and clinical staff as well as 3,000 Southern Nevada clients undergoing treatment for mental health and addiction issues. Harris is currently developing and leading Nevada's first urban Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic — a national designation only attained in eight states — which provides completely integrated behavioral health services to vulnerable members of society. A second such clinic is slated to open this year.
An adjunct faculty member at UNLV, Harris is also the president of the Nevada Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and works with state and local lobbyists during the Legislative session in order to create change in her industry. She supports public radio and public television, and sponsors two children through World Vision International.
Melissa Meacham-Grossman
Associate Executive Director
ESPN Events
The daughter of an Air Force fighter pilot, Melissa Meacham-Grossman settled in Southern Nevada in 1992 to attend UNLV, where she earned a bachelor's of science in kinesiology.
"When I graduated, it was my intention to pursue a career in medicine, but prior to that I interned in the UNLV sports marketing department and immediately fell in love with college athletics and event production," she said. "Three weeks into the internship, I knew that this was the career path for me, and I eventually became the assistant athletics director for marketing for UNLV's 17 Division I sports."
In 2004, Meacham-Grossman left UNLV to work as a consultant in the sports and event industry with Mountain West Conference Basketball Championships and other events, and had worked with the Las Vegas Bowl for years on the event-production and game-management side before being hired by ESPN Events in October 2008. In addition to working on Las Vegas Bowl, she also manages additional ESPN-owned events including the Wooden Legacy and the College Basketball Awards.
Last year, the Las Vegas Bowl showcased the city to more than 3 million viewers on ABC, hosting more than 35,000 fans at Sam Boyd Stadium, according to Meacham-Grossman, who was instrumental in establishing the Huddle, a group of businesswomen who are passionate about football and using the game to support our community.
"These woman are directly involved in supporting the Bowl's nonprofit organizations, Goodie Two Shoes and Opportunity Village, serving as community ambassadors during the week of the Bowl and assisting with game-day operations," said Meacham-Grossman, adding that the program has been so successful other Bowl games across the country have established similar groups.
"As ESPN continues to expand and grow our event portfolio, I know 2019 will bring more of what I love: college football, college basketball, collegiate esports and highlighting some of the country's top athletes at our awards shows."
Kim Nasuta
Vice President of Human Resources
Born in Nebraska and a Southern Nevada resident since 1998, Kim Nasuta — vice president of human resources for gaming equipment supplier AGS — admitted that HR was not her original career preference.
"I actually enrolled in cosmetology school and decided not to pursue, and my growth in HR has been from the ground up," said Nasuta, who landed her first job in HR for TRIRIGA as the executive assistant to the vice president of human resources. "She became my first mentor and taught me everything she knew about HR, and I fell in love with it. She then moved to a new company and brought me along as her director of human resources and I have never looked back."
Early in her career, Nasuta held HR management positions with various hospitality and technology companies, and spent 10 years as director of HR for SK+G followed by a brief stint as vice president of HR for the Lucky Dragon. She joined AGS in March 2017 as vice president of human resources, and oversees organizational development, recruiting, staffing, employment law, performance management, employee relations, and compensation and benefits. She also manages the global HR team, responsible for driving human resource operations in five United States offices and four international facilities.
"Since I joined AGS, we have successfully recruited and hired more than 300 high-quality team members globally, including staffing new game-development studios," Nasuta said.
"2019 is looking to be another whirlwind year as we continue our fast growth. I'll focus on hiring over 100 full-time employees, a tough task in this competitive job market with such a low unemployment rate. We will also continue to progress our veterans' initiatives, and make further strides in our employee health and wellness programs. At AGS, we are huge supporters of Three Square and Spread the Word and I will continue to spearhead initiatives and other support for both."
Jennifer Ramieh
Director of Philanthropy
Goodwill of Southern Nevada
After relocating to Southern Nevada in 1999 from Chicago, Ohio native Jennifer Ramieh got her Las Vegas start at Mandalay Bay in advertising and marketing when the nonprofit sector caught her attention.
"I was always drawn to the work the American Red Cross was doing across the country helping people after disasters, and in 2008, the local chapter had an opening for communications/fundraising," said Ramieh, who would go on to work in various fundraising capacities and serve as a national spokesperson for the organization. "It was a life-changing experience; the deployments, in particular, had a profound effect on me."
Ramieh assumed her current role as director of philanthropy for Goodwill of Southern Nevada in April 2018 with one primary objective: to secure funding and develop partnerships that allow the organization to fulfill its mission, which is to offer training and job-placement services for the unemployed and underemployed in Southern Nevada.
Among her recent accomplishments, Ramieh led the team that secured a $1.4 million grant from Department of Labor, which will support transitioning military members and spouses into civilian employment. In 2018 alone, Goodwill helped some 1,400 veterans or their family members with employment services.
Looking ahead, "We are focused on how we can take innovative approaches in reaching individuals who need assistance with finding employment," said Ramieh, who also supports the ACLU, NRDC, American Red Cross, Golden Rainbow, and Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation. "I'm a long way from sitting in the snack bar at the University of Mount Union dreaming about my future, but I wouldn't change a thing."
Amy Rossetti
Founder and CEO
Rossetti Public Relations
As a student at UNLV, where she earned a degree in business administration/finance, Baltimore native Amy Rossetti worked as a server at Bellagio's Osteria del Circo, where fate intervened when she waited on the right table.
"Elizabeth Blau was creating concepts for Steve Wynn, and they would come into Circo for dinner, and over time and many tables, she became my mentor," Rossetti said. "Working as her assistant was a launchpad to becoming a PR manager and then senior PR manager for Wynn Las Vegas' collection of restaurants and nightclubs. When Elizabeth left her leadership role with Wynn, I was given the incredible chance to oversee what she had built."
Rossetti played a role in the openings of Wynn Macau and Encore Las Vegas. In 2010, she helped open The Cosmopolitan as director of public relations, then went on to become a vice president. In March 2017, she combined her passion for PR and her experience in the luxury hospitality industry to create Rossetti Public Relations.
"Attending glamorous openings is part of the gig, but so is hand-polishing 150 crystal tequila glasses for a client's tasting," said Rossetti, who works on a national level with celebrity chef Scott Conant, and also opened NoMad Restaurant and Bar inside Park MGM in 2018. "This year will see Rossetti PR ramp up messaging around The Drew, an exciting resort-casino concept developing on the site of the former Fontainebleau. New projects and clients are also on the horizon, with Southern California being a particular focus. Meanwhile, we are on the hunt for the right individuals to expand the company's offerings."
Rossetti also sits on the board for Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada.
Lisa Santwer
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Comprehensive Cancer Centers
"As a child I always saw myself as a woman in corporate America," said Lisa Santwer. "As I got older I realized I wanted to pair my business sense with creativity and decided to focus my efforts on marketing, advertising, public relations and journalism. I'm a people person and need variety, and my career affords me both of those."
Santwer leads Comprehensive's communications valley-wide, spanning more than 550 employees, nearly 50 providers and 15 treatment centers and offices.
"Recently we completed a new advertising campaign with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare from the Vegas Golden Knights," she said. "Creating campaigns, events and opportunities to bring awareness to cancer, early detection, raise money for cancer research and spotlight our patients is one way to help empower our patients and connect the community with our brand."
Santwer has spearheaded skin safety partnerships with a number of businesses, providing free sunscreen and educational components for locals and guests. Last year, through a new collaboration with the Nevada Cancer Coalition, Comprehensive added partnerships with Springs Preserve, Downtown Summerlin, Cowabunga Bay and the Cadence master-planned community. Additionally, last month, Santwer managed the grand opening of Comprehensive's newest treatment center, located in Summerlin.
"In 2019, my goal is to continue to connect the practice and its brand to the community," said Santwer. "We plan to expand our existing partnerships, and are always evaluating new opportunities to partner on a meaningful and impactful level."
Jennifer Shydler
CFP, Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Vice President
Merrill Lynch
Fifth-generation Nevadan Jennifer Shydler started working at the age of 8, filing and answering phones at the insurance agency her mother owned.
"I would provide auto quotes: 'Any tickets or accidents? Year, make and model of the vehicle?' My compensation came in the form of Lee Press-On Nails," said Shydler.
Since February 2008, she has served as a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor. She co-manages $750 million in assets for high net-worth families and business owners.
"My office is their one-stop-shop for all things financial and provides boutique, personalized service with Bank of America's financial powerhouse supporting us," said Shydler, who was recently honored for the second consecutive year as one of "America's Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors" by Forbes. "With the economy seeing unprecedented growth and opportunities, it's more important than ever for me to advise my clients to set goals, revisit their financial plans and set short- and long-term priorities and keep their focus on what's most important to them."
Shydler anticipates continuing to grow her business as well as hosting events with her colleagues to engage female clients in her role as Merrill Lynch's Women's Exchange president.
"As women seek more financial knowledge and empowerment, money becomes more than just the bottom line — it's a means to meet our responsibilities, reach our goals and take care of the people we love," said Shydler, who volunteers with The Tyler Robinson Foundation, Olive Crest, and has served as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters for 11 years.
Astrid Silva
Executive Director
DREAM Big Nevada
Born in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico, Astrid Silva moved to Southern Nevada when she was 5 years old, growing up undocumented in the United States.
"It always loomed over me and blocked my opportunities," said Silva, a graduate of Advanced Technologies Academy who holds three associate degrees from College of Southern Nevada as well as a bachelor's degree in history with an emphasis in pre-law from Nevada State College.
In 2009, after an encounter with then-Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, Silva got involved with the politics of the DREAM Act and became a poster child for the legislation. Three years later she co-founded DREAM Big Vegas and also worked at the Law Offices of Peter L. Ashman learning immigration law and how it directly affects families in the community. She currently serves as executive director of DREAM Big Nevada, which was chartered in 2017 and opened its doors in April 2018.
Most recently, in December DREAM Big Nevada became an official nonprofit under the IRS, which will provide the organization with the momentum to pursue additional opportunities. As for the organization's focus in 2019, "More than anything it is growth," said Silva, who also supports Immigrant Home Foundation. "I am undocumented and I share many of our communities' paths, but in order to grow our organization we need to be able to blend all these paths. This also includes bringing on more hands so we can provide the best support and harness the power our community has."
Dr. Erica Stockwell
Founder, President & CEO
Doctor Stockwell's
A native of Milwaukee, Dr. Erica Stockwell has always been curious and enjoyed working out problems.
"I think my obsession with solving problems is what led me to become an engineer, but my passion for helping and learning about people is what led me to become a doctor," said Stockwell, who holds a dual degrees in biomedical engineering and physiology with minors in chemistry and psychology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; earned her medical degree from Midwestern University; and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where she also conducted research in the biomaterials lab.
In October 2017, she and six other graduates of the MBA program co-founded Doctor Stockwell's, a DBA under Stockwell Medical Inc, a nutraceutical company designed with women in mind.
"The idea came from my desire to find a better prenatal vitamin for my patients who suffer from morning sickness," said Stockwell. "Doctor Stockwell's Prenatal Vitamin is revolutionary. It is the only doctor-formulated prenatal vitamin that dissolves in a beverage of choice, contains all necessary vitamins and DHA, and prevents and treats nausea."
The company is currently working on more products and strategic partnerships, according to Stockwell, who also plans to continue her medical mission efforts.
Dr. Courtney Vito
Medical Director of Breast Care
OptumCare Cancer Care
Originally from New York, Dr. Courtney Vito, a longtime Southern Nevada resident, attended UNR and earned a degree in health sciences in support of her long-time goal of becoming a physician. Accepted at age 19 to Emory University School of Medicine, she originally planned to pursue a residency in ophthalmology.
"But during my internship year, a pre-requisite for ophthalmology training, I spent several months on a surgical oncology service, mostly doing breast cancer cases, and I was inspired by Dr. William Wood, then the surgical chairman at Emory University and an internationally renowned breast surgeon, to abandon my pursuit of ophthalmology and follow in his footsteps," said Vito.
She joined OptumCare Cancer Care in September 2017 and serves as the medical director of the breast-care program and breast surgical services.
"I currently oversee the breast care and breast surgery programs," said Vito, who supports Opportunity Village and FEAT. "I have been working for the past two years to design one of the most integrated, total-care breast centers in the state that will change the face of breast cancer care for women. In May 2019, OptumCare Cancer Center's breast care program will open, offering women high-risk screening, genetic counseling and testing, all forms of breast imaging and biopsy, and a breast cancer survivorship program integrated with on-site physicians across the spectrum of cancer care."
Dr. Tracy Wakefield
P3 Medical Group
Native Nevadan Dr. Tracy Wakefield realized that a career in medicine would be an ideal means of harnessing science to work directly with people and improve their lives. To that end, Wakefield graduated from UNR's School of Medicine, completed a residency in internal medicine and is currently pursuing a master's degree in medical management from USC.
She joined Summit Medical Group in 1997, and was a leader in the company's transformation to deliver value-based coordinated care. After Summit Medical Group joined the HealthCare Partners team, Wakefield transitioned from full-time clinician to medical director of adult primary care where she oversaw more than 120 primary care providers.
In May 2017, she transitioned to P3 Health Partners as their vice president of medical management for Arizona operations and, in March 2018, became president of the Nevada Medical Group. She currently leads 35 primary care providers spread among P3's nine senior-focused clinics throughout Southern Nevada.
Under Wakefield's tenure, P3 Medical Group opened nine primary care clinics in less than 10 months, welcomed two new Medicare Advantage plans to the Nevada market and built an extensive care team focused on supporting patient wellness. In 2019, P3 Medical Group is focused on growing its patient base and delivering care to seniors.