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Over the course of the year, you will spend countless hours on campus, in class, listening to lectures, participating in group activities, and studying. You will also spend a great deal of time in the Vulcan Village community meeting new people, learning about yourself, and discovering the world around you. You will have opportunities to become involved and engaged in the community and we hope that you take advantage of those opportunities! You will experience a lot over the course of a year and it is what you do with that experience that matters the most.
The Vulcan Village staff aspires to create a living and learning environment that both challenges and supports the development of students living within the community. We aim to provide safe, clean, and well-maintained facilities that help sustain an environment that promotes learning and enhancing personal growth. The staff is committed to providing a meaningful, empowering, and inspiring residential experience for students residing in our apartments. We believe that a student's residential experience is an integral component of their overall education and complements the academic mission by providing an opportunity for living and learning to interconnect. With that, we provide a wide range of social and educational program opportunities to help make your experience a positive one.
The Vulcan Village staff is available to help you throughout the year. Not only does our Assistant Community Manager live on property but we also have Community Assistant staff members who live on the property and work closely with the residents. They are here for you and one of their main roles is to spend time getting to know you. The Community Assistant staff also helps with communication between you and the professional staff, they plan activities and programs, and help keep the property safe.
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The Clubhouse and Common Area Amenities
The clubhouse offers each Vulcan Village resident the opportunity to relax, unwind, watch satellite TV, play pool, or use one of the other amenities offered. Most of the activities and programs offered in the community take place in and around the clubhouse. All guidelines and rules governing the clubhouse and its amenities will be enforced by the Vulcan Village management team, California University Office of Student Conduct, or local authorities and are subject to periodic review and revision. The facilities available at the community are for the exclusive use of community residents and as such, residents must accompany their guests at all times. The maintenance and care of these facilities is every resident's responsibility; therefore, abuse of these facilities may result in their closure. Please report all repair needs or problems to the Vulcan Village Office.
Building and Patio Furniture
For your comfort while studying, socializing, or watching TV, the community has provided furniture in the clubhouse and picnic tables/umbrellas on the patio area. This furniture is meant to stay in its designated area so that all residents may enjoy its use. Please do not take the public area furniture into your apartment; there will be a charge assessed to your student account for removing furniture from any public area. All missing furniture should be reported immediately to the Vulcan Village staff to assist in recovery.
Business Services
Residents are able to send and receive faxes from the Vulcan Village Office. Please see a staff member for details. Residents receiving packages too large for mailboxes will receive an email/text message whenever a package has been delivered and logged into our system. We ask that you please wait until you receive notification to retrieve your package. We reserve the right to refuse any package that is too large for our office or is considered suspicious or hazardous in any way. Also, we offer this service as a courtesy and any mail-related issues must be address with the USPS, UPS, FedEx, or other delivery service directly.
Conference Room
The conference room is available for Vulcan Village resident use. Any residents wishing to reserve the conference room should contact the office at (724) 938-8990 and you will be directed how to access the reservation system. Please report any problems to the Vulcan Village office immediately.
Computer Lab
A computer lab is offered for the convenience of Vulcan Village residents. The computer lab is located in the clubhouse building and has computer terminals with Internet access and printer capabilities. You must supply your own paper and be familiar with needed software as technical assistance is not always available. Eating and drinking is not permitted in the computer lab. Please report any problems or issues to the Vulcan Village office immediately.
Fitness Center
The fitness center is located near Building 10. No food is permitted in the fitness center. Please limit drinking to water/sports drinks only while in the fitness center. Proper athletic attire is required; shirts and shoes must be worn at all times. Please report maintenance problems to the Vulcan Village office immediately. Do not repair equipment yourself. Use equipment in the manner in which it was intended and the use of the fitness center is at your own risk. Anyone beginning an exercise program should consult a physician first. Please do not take the fitness center equipment or furniture into your apartment; there will be a charge assessed to your student account for removing equipment/furniture from the fitness center. All missing equipment/furniture should be reported immediately to the Vulcan Village staff to assist in recovery.
Vulcan Village Office
The Vulcan Village Office maintain the following hours while classes are in session:
Monday-Friday: 9:00am-8:00pm
Saturday: 11:00am-3:00pm
Sunday: Closed
*Hours a subject to change when classes are not in session.*
If you have an emergency or are locked out and the office is not open, you can contact one of the after-hours on-call numbers listed below.
Please understand that packages will not be available for pick-up if the office is closed. Also, you will be permitted one free lockout and after that lockout has been used, you will be charge $25.00 for each subsequent lockout.
Vulcan Village Office
The office is located in the clubhouse building. Professional staff are available to help residents Monday-Friday from 9:00am-5:30pm. Community Assistant staff are available in the office until 8:00pm and can notify the professional staff if any major issues arise.
Our maintenance staff is available on property Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:00pm. We encourage you to submit any maintenance requests prior to 3:00pm, so that your issue can be taken care of the same day as it was submitted. Please go to http://bit.ly/vulcanmaintenance to submit your maintenance request. All maintenance requests are sent directly to our maintenance staff and community manager.
Each apartment is assigned a mailbox and therefore, mailboxes are shared with all apartment residents. Mail is delivered daily except Sundays and holidays. Typically, the USPS delivers mail by 4:00pm. Packages are delivered throughout the day but are not always logged in our system until after 5:00pm. We ask that you please wait until you receive notification to retrieve your package. This helps us track package delivery, pick-up, and be sure packages are being received by the correct people.
All payments are issued and managed by the California University of Pennsylvania Bursar Office. Payment issues must be addressed directly with them by contacting them at (724) 938-4431.
Financial Aid questions can be directed to the California University of Pennsylvania Financial Aid Office by contacting them at (724) 938-
Resident Surveys
Periodically surveys are distributed to the residents in an effort to solicit feedback about your experience, satisfaction, or ideas. Surveys provide you with an opportunity to assist us in providing the best experience possible.
Recreational Areas
Basketball, Sand Volleyball, and Corn Hole courts are available to all residents and their guests. REMINDER: Guests must always be accompanied by a resident. We ask that you are courteous and respectful to these facilities and other residents while using these facilities. Please pick up after yourself and do not leave trash laying around. Keep your noise to a minimum after 9:00pm and all courts close at 11:00pm. Also, please see posted times, rules, and regulations for each recreational area.
Swimming Pool
The pool is open daily from 11:00am-8:00pm, weather permitting. Please be advised that the pool is not designed for diving. Pool furniture is not to be removed from the pool area. Personal flotation devices or rafts may not be permitted in the pool area. The area may close occasionally for maintenance purposes and during specific community repair projects, residents will be notified when this occurs. Please bring proper ID with you to the pool. Only residents and one guest are permitted to use the pool. Residents must accompany guests at all times. Staff will supervise and/or randomly inspect the pool area.
For your movie and television viewing pleasure, a large screen television with satellite access is available for use in the Clubhouse. This room may be reserved for special events by contacting the Vulcan Village office and you will be directed on the process for reserving this space.
Vending Machines
Access to snack and drink machines is for your convenience. If a machine malfunctions and any loss should be reported to the Vulcan Village office. Vending machines are stocked and operated by the California University of Pennsylvania food service, AVI.
In order to comply with local fire codes (which are created ultimately for your own protection and safety), certain policies apply toward the condition of your unit. In addition, decorating guidelines have been established in order to prevent damage to the units.
All furnished units are to remain furnished, with beds on the frames and furniture on the floor (e.g., no beds on top of desks or dressers, no desks or dressers stacked or turned on end). For safety reasons, cinder blocks are not permitted. Furniture may be rearranged in your unit provided it is returned to its original position prior to check-out.
The following must also be adhered to:
Residents are responsible for the condition of their unit and all furniture. Any repairs needed within units must be performed by authorized maintenance personnel. Residents will be charged for the repair of any damages upon vacating the unit.
In order to reduce maintenance problems with dishwashers, the following guidelines should be used: scrub dishes first, especially if it will be a few days before you run the load. Be sure the product is advertised as an automatic dishwasher detergent, not one for hand-washing dishes. Once a month, pour a cup of distilled vinegar in the dishwasher and run it empty two times.
Each apartment is equipped with a food waste disposal in the kitchen sink. Please use common sense when operating this appliance. Care and Operating Instructions: do not insert hand into disposal. Turn on cold water full flow (water should remain on during complete disposal operation and for a sufficient time after grinding is completed to ensure all waste is flushed away). Turn the switch to the "On" position to start disposal. Feed the food waste into the disposal while it is running; do not dispose of huge quantities at once! Do not turn off the motor or water until grinding is complete.
All garbage must be properly bagged and placed directly into dumpsters. Storing garbage in units, breezeways, or stairwell is not permitted.
Residents should use the chute only for small bundles of common household trash. Trash must be bagged and tied tightly in bundles that are small enough to fit easily through the opening; and heavy enough to drop all the way down. Do not put anything down the chute that might get stuck in the chute. Loose, light items may get stuck inside the chute unless they are secured inside tightly tied bags of bundled trash. The chute must not be used to dispose of hazardous or flammable materials or anything that is wet.
DO NOT pour any liquids or drop loose food waste down the chute. These will stick in the shaft may cause foul smells and health hazards.
Efficiency of your heater is dependent upon complete air circulation. It is important to keep all vents in every room open. In addition, please ensure that return air vents are left unobstructed. If you wish to request a new furnace filter, please submit a maintenance request.
It is the responsibility of residents to replace all standard light bulbs. Please submit a maintenance request if any florescent light bulbs need to be replaced in your unit.
All maintenance concerns in your bedroom, your unit, or elsewhere on the community should be reported to the office or the CA/RA during regular business hours or submitted using our on-line maintenance request form. Please provide us with all the information pertaining to your maintenance request in order for us to most efficiently respond to your issue. For emergency maintenance issues, our maintenance staff is on call. After regular business hours you should contact the community's answering service or CA/RA On-Call. Please use good judgment when deciding to contact staff after hours. Examples of maintenance emergencies include: flood, broken window in a first-floor unit, front door lock malfunction, or fire.
Upon submission of the request, the maintenance staff will undertake corrective measures as quickly as possible. You will be notified when the work has been completed or if more time is needed to correct the situation.
The smoke detectors in your units are very sensitive. When taking a shower, close the bathroom door to ensure the steam does not affect the detector. When cooking, be sure to use the fan above the stove. If your detector makes a chirping sound, it means the battery is low. Complete a work order as soon as possible to have the battery replaced. Any time a smoke detector sounds an alarm, you should respond to it as an emergency and proceed in a safe manner. Never disconnect the smoke detectors. Sometimes you may experience a "false alarm." The smoke detectors may be set off by dust, an insect or just may need routine cleaning. Opening the front door and windows (to allow fresh air into the unit) may stop the false alarm. Tampering with firing safety equipment is a violation of state and federal laws and will result in fines, eviction, and possible arrest.
Do not flush paper towels; they do not degrade. Never flush feminine hygiene products, regardless what the packaging states. If your toilet does overflow or clog up, turn off the water supply immediately. There is a water shut-off valve next to the toilet on the lower left side of the wall. Residents are required to plunge their own toilet prior to calling in maintenance. Residents will be responsible for any toilet damages/overflows that are the result of improperly disposed articles.
We respect your right to privacy. Without prior written consent, no one is given access to your unit. However, our staff may enter your unit as follows:
Except in cases of emergency and as required by law, we will provide you with reasonable written notice of our intent to enter and entry will be during normal business hours. You may be present; however, entry is not conditioned upon your presence. In case of emergency, we may enter the unit at any time without prior notice. In such situations, you do not have the right to refuse to open a door and you must allow access.
If your utility use exceeds the allotted amount, you will be invoiced for and required to pay the overage. You and your roommates will be responsible for establishing service with the utility companies that are not included with your rent. You will be billed and must pay those utilities directly to the utility companies. You and your roommates are jointly liable for the payment of utilities not provided by us. You are required to place the utilities in your name within one business day of moving in or you will be in default in accordance with the terms of the lease/license agreement. The utilities must remain on, and in your name, until the end of the lease/license agreement. You will be responsible for penalties, processing fees and damages resulting from utilities being turned off prior to the end of the lease/license agreement.
Whenever you save energy, you not only save money, you also reduce the demand for such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and natural gas. Less burning of fossil fuels also means lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary contributor to global warming, and other pollutants. You do not have to do without to achieve these savings.
The average American produces about 40,000 pounds of CO2 emissions per year. Together, we use nearly a million dollars worth of energy every minute, night and day, every day of the year. By exercising even a few of the following steps, you can cut your annual emissions by thousands of pounds and your energy bills by a significant amount. These steps include:
The utility closets housing water heaters and HVAC equipment are not to be used for storage.
Current residents must make every effort to welcome a new roommate as long as there are empty bedrooms or bed spaces in the unit. It is a violation of your license/lease agreement to tell a potential roommate that you do not want a roommate or that there are no vacant beds. It is also a violation of your license/lease agreement to double occupy a bed space. You may have the opportunity to lease open bed spaces. Please contact the office for more details.
Laundry facilities are provided for your use. All appliances should only be used in the manner for which they were intended. No dying of fabric or other materials is ever permitted. In the event you should need instruction on how to use the machines, please contact your CA/RA.
It is important that the window screens and blinds remain in good functional condition. They are not to be removed, tampered with, and/or detached in any manner.
The community has a strong commitment to safety; to make it work, you must also have this commitment. We have adopted instructions and procedures to follow in emergency situations; please be aware of these and understand their importance.
We work closely with local police and fire departments and are constantly evaluated to ensure that we continue to provide the safest living environment possible. Please respect these regulations as you would any others. If you do not understand any of these regulations and suggestions, please ask your CA/RA for clarification. Please think safety at all times.
The community maintains courtesy officers to walk the community each night in order to deter any potential problems. These professionals are equipped with walkie-talkies and/or cellular phones for communication with the community's personnel.
Residents should maintain an emergency supply kit in his/her unit consisting of a three-day supply of water, non-perishable food, closed toe shoes, a flashlight and fresh batteries, a battery operated radio, gloves and any medication that might be required by the resident. At the sign of an earthquake, residents should immediately seek cover and when safe, should evacuate the building.
Fire warning devices and safety equipment are to be used only in case of emergency. The sounding of a fire alarm should be taken seriously and residents should proceed according to the instruction posted in and about the community. The intentional sounding of an alarm outside of an emergency situation will be considered a criminal offense and the person or persons responsible will be treated accordingly.
Multiple outlet "octopus" plugs are not permitted. Surge protector power strips with circuit breakers are permitted. All extension cords must be of the grounded, three-prong type and be UL approved. Live holiday decorations such as trees/wreaths are prohibited. Hot plates, candles, incense, space heaters, cooking grills, lighter fluid, and other combustibles are prohibited due to the increased risk of fire hazard. For more information, please refer to the rules and regulations portion of your lease/license agreement.
If there is a fire or the alarm sounds, feel your door with the back of your hand before exiting. If it is cool, exit the unit, close the door, and proceed to evacuate the building. If the door is hot, don't open it; fill any cracks with wet towels, signal from your unit by hanging a sheet out your window and wait to be rescued by the fire department. Upon leaving your unit, close your door. If smoke is present in the breezeways, lie down and crawl to safety; fresh air will be near the floor.
After you have exited, please be sure to move away from the building in order to avoid falling debris and to give the fire department personnel room to operate. Notify a member of the community staff upon exiting the building. The fire department will give an "all clear" when it is safe to re-enter the building. Finally, for safety sake, always let your roommate know where you are, a practice commonly known as the buddy system.
In the event of fire, residents should proceed away from the community and meet in the parking lot at the furthest point from your building. You are required by law to evacuate the buildings when the alarm sounds. Failure to do so is not only dangerous and illegal, but it also may result in criminal prosecution and the initiation of eviction proceedings. Persons involved in tampering with smoke detectors, extinguishers, sprinklers, or any of the protective casings around the fire safety equipment will be subject to criminal prosecution. Upon your exit, please report any information that you know to the CA/RA (e.g., the location of the fire).
A hurricane watch is issued when a storm threatens to hit the area within 24-36 hours. A hurricane warning is issued when a storm is expected to hit a specific area within 24 hours. In the situation that a hurricane warning is in effect, you should follow these steps:
Know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. A tornado watch simply means that conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has actually been sighted or is indicated on radar.
In the situation that a tornado warning is in effect, you should open your unit windows approximately ½ inch. Doing this will relieve internal pressure and lessen the possibility of injury should a tornado strike. Go to your bathroom. The safest place for you to stay during the tornado warning is in your bathroom. We suggest you take a portable, battery operated radio with you to keep you updated on the current status of the tornado. Once the tornado warning has been lifted, the immediate danger is over and you may resume normal activity.
In areas where winter storms may be particularly severe, you should begin making plans in late fall for the coming winter. We recommend having the following items on hand before the storm season arrives: battery operated radio and spare batteries, fully charged cellular phone, flashlights with spare batteries, snow and ice removal equipment, and a fully stocked first aid kit.
Personal safety measures are just as important to your well-being as those previously mentioned. Crimes, injuries, and personal assaults all occur outside of our control, but there are steps that may be taken to decrease your likelihood of being a victim. Your unit has a dead bolt lock so that it cannot be opened without a key. Please keep your room door locked at all times.
Safety Tips:
Tips on Preventing Auto Crime:
Please be aware that the community takes many precautions to maintain the safest living environment possible, but we are not liable for any losses or damages that may occur to your personal property. If you are a dependent, you may be covered under your guardian's personal property insurance.
The community takes many precautionary measures in attempting to aid the well-being of our residents. These include: strongly urging you to keep your apartment/suite and bedroom locked at all times and having an extensive preventive maintenance program designed to detect and cure any problem areas throughout the physical facility. We strongly recommend that you obtain personal property insurance for all of your valuables.
Thank you for taking time to read the community's resident handbook. Please remember that you are an important part of our community and we hope you invest time and interest in keeping our community a great place to live!
You agree that we do not promise, warrant or guarantee the safety and security of you, your guests or your personal property against the criminal actions of other residents or third parties. Furthermore, we shall not be liable for any damage or injury to you, your guests or your personal property or to any person entering the Apartment or the Community, for injury to person or property arising from theft, vandalism or casualty occurring in the Apartment or the Community. You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from all claims, costs, and expenses arising from injury to person or property to you or any of your guests regardless of the cause, unless the injury is due to our negligent or intentional conduct.
You have the responsibility to protect yourself and to maintain appropriate insurance to protect you and your belongings. It is a fact that no security system, including video cameras, controlled access gates, courtesy patrol services or electronic intrusion safety devices, can guarantee protection against crime. We do not monitor any security video cameras or other photographic surveillance that may be installed at the community. As to any and all security measures taken at the community, you may not rely for your personal safety upon any measures we may take to secure the building/s. Even elaborate security systems are subject to mechanical malfunctions, tampering, human error or personnel absenteeism, and can be defeated or avoided by clever criminals. Further, repairs to such devices cannot always be completed immediately. Therefore, you should always proceed on the assumption no security systems exist.
You acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree with the above notice. You have received no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, as to the overall safety of the Apartment and Community and/or any security system at the Community. We have not in any way stated or implied to you that the security of person or property is provided, promised or guaranteed or that the Community was or will be free from crime.
For the purpose of this paragraph, Owner shall include EdR, its officers, agents and employees.
Aiding and abetting means you personally are responsible if something is happening in your unit that you know of, are present for, or assist in. This also applies anywhere on campus if you are present during a policy violation. You are equally as responsible for the violation if you fail to report the violation. One example of this may be a roommate having a cat. All roommates would be held responsible for this policy violation because they are aware of the violation and did nothing about it. Alcohol, drugs and parties that carry heavy penalties may have a great effect on roommates. If you know that a roommate has or uses drugs in your unit, you may also be held responsible for those drug violations.
To avoid being in violation for aiding and abetting, you need to immediately report violations. Leave the unit if needed and tell a CA/RA. If staff responds to a violation and you are in the unit while it is occurring, your name and situation will be documented. This documentation will be used for a conduct meeting (see section on when policies are broken).
The decision to drink and how much is a personal one. Alcohol-related conduct which infringes upon the rights of others is not acceptable under any circumstance. The possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in units must comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations. Alcohol is not permitted in common areas (e.g., pool, stairwell, hallways, parking lots, and clubhouse/community building). The possession of kegs, beer bongs, party balls, etc. is prohibited at any location on the premises.
No drugs, narcotics, controlled substances or drug paraphernalia may be possessed, used, sold or distributed at the community. Persons who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action and arrest, including immediate eviction. Possession of a medical marijuana card does not override the lease/license agreement provision prohibiting the use of marijuana on the premises.
Students at the university are encouraged and supported in any effort to maintain good health and well-being. The use and abuse of alcohol and illicit drugs impairs both and puts your health at risk. The sale, manufacture, distribution, possession or use of any controlled substance as defined in the California Health and Safety Code is illegal. Such laws are strictly enforced by the University Police Department. Violators are subject to criminal prosecution. University students and employees are also subject to disciplinary action.
The illegal consumption, sale, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages on campus is restricted. The abuse of alcohol and illicit drugs is proscribed by federal, state, local and university regulations. All state laws regulating alcoholic beverages will be enforced, including the use of alcohol by minors. If you are under the age of 21, you may not possess or consume alcohol. Use of alcoholic beverages in university residences is subject to state law and university regulations.
Common sources of alcohol (such as large volume containers, kegs, or party balls) are prohibited in all university housing and public areas. Providing alcohol to anyone under the legal drinking age is illegal and the university will hold residents responsible for their actions as well as the actions of those to whom you provided alcohol.
It is explicitly illegal to use, possess, manufacture, or sell drugs or other controlled substances in both public and private spaces. Residents using, possessing, or selling drugs will be subject to disciplinary and/or criminal actions, including immediate eviction. Substance abuse prevention and assistance programs are available for residents. Residents should contact the Assistant Director for information about programs. Possession of a medical marijuana card does not override the license provision prohibiting the use of marijuana on the premises.
The threat of physical abuse of any community member or guest is forbidden. Threats of any kind, racial or sexual harassment, malicious pranks, or abusive name-calling, is not permitted.
Ball playing (including but not limited to baseball, football or soccer), skateboarding, inline skates, bicycle riding or use of any equipment with wheels are prohibited in the buildings/units. These activities have the potential to create excessive noise, cause damage, and may inflict physical injury.
BBQs and contained fires in community designated fire containers are allowed under the following conditions:
Bicycles should be stored in designated or approved areas. We advise residents to provide their own vandal-proof bike lock and to always lock your frame and wheels to the racks. The community is not responsible for lost or damaged bicycles. Following uniform fire code, bikes should be stored only in areas provided and not inside the building. Any bicycles parked and/or locked in any hallways, stairwell, or clubhouse/community building, may be removed upon sight and impounded.
A Check-In/Check-Out Inventory & Condition Form will be provided by community staff. Please take time to read the comments concerning your unit. Please return this form to your CA/RA upon completion and notify them if you find additional issues or have a concern. Please make sure this form is an accurate listing of your unit, as it will protect you from being charged for any damages which may have occurred before you moved into your unit.
Prior to check-out at the end of the year, a letter will be sent to you notifying you of all the steps involved in checking out, including: having your unit inspected, turning in your keys, and completing a forwarding address card. It is required that each resident make an appointment with their CA/RA for check-out.
The resident agrees to not use his/her unit for commercial purposes, nor will the resident participate in or encourage door-to-door solicitation in the community. The Internet connection provided as part of the lease/license agreement may not be used for any commercial or profit-making enterprise.
Belongings may not be stored in hallways, breezeways, or stairwells, or in such a way that common or public areas become unsightly, or so the entry/exit to the unit is blocked. Residents are responsible for keeping common areas clean and picked up. Residents are strongly encouraged to work together to maintain a clean community living area. Concerns with neighbors should be addressed directly.
By signing your lease/license agreement, you agree to follow the policies in the lease/license agreement and this resident handbook. Any violation of the lease/license agreement or resident handbook policies will be handled through the conduct process. All members of the community have an obligation to uphold community standards, including your university's student code of conduct.
Residents are responsible for the condition of unit furnishings and will be billed for all repair and/or replacement costs. Any and all repairs needed within units and other areas must be performed by authorized maintenance personnel. Residents will be charged for the repair of any damages for which they or their guests are responsible.
As in all living situations, we have a set of policies and guidelines for the community which must be adhered to. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with all rules and regulations and the material contained in this handbook and in your lease/license agreement. Since every resident will have received these rules, this is considered your "first warning." Part of the CA/RA's job involves making sure that the rules of the community are followed.
The community operates in an adult atmosphere, thus most residents will never find themselves involved with disciplinary action. The largest part of individuals who require disciplinary action simply need a verbal clarification or warning. For those persons whose behavior is such that it requires more attention, any or all of the following may occur: a private meeting with your CA/RA or other staff member, a written warning (with copies to your file and guarantors of the lease/license agreement), restriction from areas or events, relocation within the community complex, referral to the manager and/or, University official, contract probation, eviction, and/or criminal prosecution.
Residents are expected to act in a manner that will not disturb the academic pursuits or infringe upon the privacy rights, health or safety of other persons. Understand that any activity that has a negative impact on the roommates or neighbors will not be tolerated.
The community provides janitorial service for the clubhouse/community building, building common areas, breezeways, and grounds. Residents are responsible for the cleaning and upkeep of their unit. For your convenience, dumpsters are located throughout the community for trash disposal. Please use another dumpster on the community if the one nearest you is full. It is everyone's responsibility to keep the community clean and free of trash and cigarette butts. Do not leave trash on the stairwell or in the hallways. If trash is found in inappropriate locations, your account may be charged trash removal fees.
Each resident is assigned a mailbox and key after completion and return of your check-in materials. Mail is delivered daily by the United States Post Office with the exception of Sundays and Federal Holidays. You will receive notification of packages and special deliveries either by phone, a note dropped off at your unit or in your mailbox. You will need to bring a photo ID and sign for your package at the community office during regular business hours.
One of the best parts about living with us is the social atmosphere. From the beginning of the year, we like to emphasize community spirit. The CA/RA staff does the largest part to facilitate this for residents by sponsoring programs, including pool parties, bowling, movie nights, and much more. Residents who would like to volunteer to assist with functions should talk to their CA/RA.
All units have a phone jack and data port in each bedroom. Service providers may be obtained from the clubhouse/community office.
Learning to live in a community environment requires maturity, an examination of values, and assessing how one's behavior affects others. The specific rules and regulations that exist at the community are detailed in the rules and regulations section of your lease/license agreement and this handbook. Take time to review your lease/license agreement and familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations. You and your guests are responsible for following them. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action including termination of residency.
The underlying assumption at the community is that residents have the capacity and desire to be self-directing and responsible members of their community. Residents enter the community as young adults who are responsible and in search of opportunities for development and learning. Your unit is yours to use, but not to abuse. You have the freedom to make it work for you, coupled with the responsibility to keep it working for others.
Living with others requires maturity, patience, open communication, willingness to compromise, and respect for others. No matter how compatible roommates are, there is always the potential for conflict. Culture, cleanliness, sleeping patterns, habits, and hobbies are some examples of things that may be different among roommates. These differences may serve to be positive learning opportunities for people living together, or they may create a negative atmosphere within the unit that may seem intolerable. You and the attitude that you take in communicating with your roommate will determine whether or not your situation will be positive or negative. The CA/RA staff is committed to facilitating communication between and among roommates. Work with your CA/RA to accomplish this goal; it may make the environment in your home even better!
Your CA/RA will be stopping by during the first week of school to help you and your roommates talk about aspects of community living that may sometimes create conflict. One of the many tips and tools the CA/RA has is a Roommate Agreement. This is an agreement between roommates to ensure that basic needs have been discussed. Roommates should discuss each topic and come up with guidelines all roommates may live with. If you are having problems, or need help with a roommate contract, please see the CA/RA for help. Here are some questions to consider:
The community has several programs in place to intervene if you and your roommates are not getting along as well as you would like. The most important step you can take is to discuss your concerns with your roommate. Frequently, conflict occurs because one roommate assumes the other should know s/he is upset, but the roommate doesn't actually realize there is a problem. It is difficult to commit the time necessary to work through the conflict, but the skills learned in the process will serve you for the rest of your life. Take advantage of the situation to become more skilled at working with others. If you do not feel you are able to handle the situation yourself, consider talking with your CA/RA.
By choosing to live with us you agree to reside in a living and learning community. As members of this community, we all have certain rights as residents and as students. Please recognize that other members of the community have the same rights and that one's rights stop where another's begin. For this reason, it is important to learn and compromise with others in order to maintain an environment in which all are respected and have the opportunity to grow and pursue their educational goals.
Community standards are established to assist in shaping our community. They protect our rights and assert the responsibilities we have to one another. As a member of our community, you agree to abide by local, state, and federal laws, as well as by these community standards which include the following statement:
I agree not to be or remain present during any violation of the Resident Handbook. My presence may infer that I condone, support or encourage a violation. I understand further that I am responsible for what behavior and activity occurs in my unit. I understand that if I anticipate or observe a violation of the Resident Handbook, I am expected to remove myself from the situation and am strongly encouraged to report the violation. I also understand that if I am aware of a violation and choose either to not report it or lie about it, I am passively participating in the violation and may be subject to conduct proceedings.
Each time there is a new resident added to a single student unit, we will ask that you fill out a new roommate agreement for your unit. The agreement is to be an agreement between roommates to ensure that basic needs have been discussed. Roommates should discuss each topic and come up with guidelines all roommates can live with. The topics include:
A staff member will help you to facilitate this discussion. As a reward to those who do complete the form, priority status will be given during the reservation process next year. Transfer requests will not be considered unless a completed roommate agreement has been completed.
Tips for living with roommates:
By choosing to live with us you agree to reside in a living and learning community. As members of this community, we all have certain rights as residents and as students. Please recognize that other members of the community have the same rights and that one's rights stop where another's begin. For this reason, it is important to learn and compromise with others in order to maintain an environment in which all are respected and have the opportunity to grow and pursue their educational goals.
Community standards are established to assist in shaping our community. They protect our rights and assert the responsibilities we have to one another. As a member of our community, you agree to abide by local, state, and federal laws, as well as by these community standards which include the following statement:
I agree not to be or remain present during any violation of the Resident Handbook. My presence may infer that I condone, support or encourage a violation. I understand further that I am responsible for what behavior and activity occurs in my unit. I understand that if I anticipate or observe a violation of the Resident Handbook, I am expected to remove myself from the situation and am strongly encouraged to report the violation. I also understand that if I am aware of a violation and choose either to not report it or lie about it, I am passively participating in the violation and may be subject to conduct proceedings.
We reserve the right to relocate a student on a temporary or permanent basis in the event of substantive conflict with other members of our community. If a student is occupying a unit that has vacant bed spaces, it is expected that the room is ready for their arrival at any time. Intentionally interrupting and/or preventing another student from moving into a unit will result in consequence, which may include relocation to a new unit.
Thank you for taking time to read the Resident Handbook. Please remember that you are an important part of our community and we hope you invest time and interest in making this community a great place to live.
Thank you for viewing the New Resident Handbook Resident Handbook. Please submit the acknowledgement by clicking the "Sign Handbook" link, and completing the online form and submitting your acknowledgement. Submitting the acknowledgment indicates you have read, understand, and agree to abide by all the policies, procedures and rules outlined in the Resident Handbook.


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For almost 60 years now, the White Ring circuit has linked the Austrian resort of Lech with its neighbours Zürs, Zug, and Oberlech. Since 2006, each year 1,000 racers, amateurs and pros alike, head to the circuit to complete its 23km as fast as possible. The only way to do that is to 'schuss' (bomb straight downhill at high speed). OnTheSnow writer Henning Heilmann gave it a try.
Eva can't wait to start. Filled with excitement she is watching the first racers plunging themselves down the Rüfikopf. The 20-year old from nearby Dornbirn bears bib number 189; it's her fourth time at the White Ring. "The most important thing is to take part. I probably won't win this year, but I'm happy to be a part of it", Eva says. It's the morning of Jan.19, 2013, and the White Ring race is entering its eighth year.
The event was introduced in 2006 to celebrate the circuit's 50th anniversary – which became possible after the first ski lifts had been installed in the 1940s. The 23km race runs across several mountains, combining downhill and uphill segments. Most inclines can be overcome by lift, but on others racers have to depend on their muscle power. The White Ring had been recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's longest ski race until the 25km "Schlag das ASSinger" race in Carinthia, Austria, outdid it in 2010.
Last-minute briefings at Rüfikopf
The White Ring starts right at the summit station of the Rüfikopf cable car at 2,360m. A huge crowd of racers is waiting in front of the mountain restaurant this morning, swapping last-minute words of advice. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be fun to try and get one of the 1,000 bib numbers myself, even though the weather is not too promising. But I'm already excited enough to be moving along the side-lines of a wicked race in which slowing down is not an option.
It's only been a day since I skied the course myself, with the sun shining and a ski instructor giving me excellent advice on how to refine my technique. And two days ago I was fortunate enough to be a part of a training race with Patrick Ortlieb, Olympic downhill winner of 1992 and record holder at the White Ring since its first issue in 2006.
Training session with the all-time champion
Two days before the race, Patrick Ortlieb explains the course to a small group of skiers: which bumps to avoid, which ones to simply race over, how to take the curves and how to enter the lifts in a way that allows you to get out as fast as possible.
"Be careful here, this bump is really extreme", Patrick warns at a junction where a country road crosses the slope that leads down from Madloch Joch to Zug. At other places he hurries us up with remarks like, "Slowing down is more dangerous here, there's no alternative but to schuss!"
There is no one who knows the circuit like Patrick, who still holds the course record with 44:35:07. His expertise covers everything from the best racing lines to advice on overall race preparation – and the miraculous characteristics of snow. "Never keep your skis inside the night before the race, otherwise ice will build up under them, and that will slow you down", he says. "Snow crystals are aggressive."
The day of the race
Rüfikopf top station at 9 a.m: In groups of twenty, with an interval of 1.40 minutes, the first competitors take a run-up for the first stage of the race – down to Zürs, via the Schüttboden and Trittalp lifts and the stunning Hexenboden piste. Meanwhile we, the journalists, take to the slope cautiously and slide down the sides, trying to get the best possible impressions of the race while not disturbing the racers. We meet one of them on our way – an unfortunate chap making his way back to the piste after an unintentional powder detour.
From Zürs we have to ascend to more than 2,400m, which we do by the Zürsersee and Madloch cable cars while the racers take the Seekopf cable car for the first part. Between the two there is a short downhill part followed by a sudden flattening and an ascent. It's risky to schuss here, but worth it if you don't want to push yourself up to the Madloch lift.
At the top of Madloch it's foggy, the wind is howling. What a shame: we learn that the next stage (the Madloch run, or ski route 33) won't count for the final score today. It is the most challenging run on the circuit, but the real pros don't even schuss down this one – not today, that is, as it doesn't count anyway. Down in Zug the judges start counting again, so everyone hurries to get to the Zugerberg lift leading up to the Balmengrat at 2,100m.
The next stage is a really demanding one – almost 100m slightly uphill: some snowboarders decide to carry their boards under their arms and take to their heels; some skiers do their best to prove their cross-country skills; and others prefer to savour the delicious schnapps at Balmalp cabin.
The finish line
Schuss is the order of the day again on the last piste down to the finish line in Lech. Some easy jumps over the mounds on the last few hundred metres are the last chance for the racers to show off their body control. Meanwhile, down at the finish line, the crowd is having a blast, watching skiers fall, boarders sliding home on their behinds, and applauding the winners: for the men, it's former Austrian World Cup racer and Lech native Pepi Strobl and for the women, it's three-time winner Angelika Kaufmann.
Buying another round
A short while later, Babsi and Ricki at the legendary Schneggarei bar right next to the finish line are catering to the needs of the thirsty racers – handing out mug after mug of local wheat beer. Numerous competitors treat themselves to a "Fohrenburger Weizen" - or two, or three - and pizza baker Marco's giant pizzas that satisfy the starving racers' hunger. I learn that Eva, the girl from Dornbirn, came in 14th, out of 170 women. Great performance!
A few hours after the race, everything in the Arlberg region is back to normal. Lech is having one of the season's (many) great parties that go on well into the wee hours, while calm and quiet has returned to nearby Zug already. Only a few cross-country skiers blaze their trails in the romantic valley. For party-goers, Lech is the place to be, on the day of the White Ring as on any other day.
Fact box
Our bottom line
If you ever come to Lech in Austria's Vorarlberg region, you should not miss the White Ring. If it's not overrun by 1,000 maniacs who try to complete the round as fast as possible, it is simply one of the most beautiful circuits of ski routes in the Alps, combining perfectly groomed slopes and breath-taking views.
The circuit
The White Ring links Lech, Zürs, Zug, and Oberlech: 23km of slopes, joined by six ski lifts, with an altitude difference of more than 18,000 feet. The round starts at the Rüfikopf top station in Lech. Ring symbols along the slopes prevent you from getting lost.
More information
The White Ring: for useful information on the world's longest ski circuits
Lech-Zürs tourist information: piste maps and accommodation index

subset: commoncrawl


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Education for Adult Learners
Last Updated on Tuesday, 04 December 2018 14:58
What is CME|NY Montessori Education for Adult Learners?
The CME|NY teacher and administrator programs in Montessori education provide rigorous and comprehensive courses of study to best prepare adult learners for their work in Montessori classrooms and schools. CME|NY Infant & Toddler and Early Childhood courses meet or exceed the requirements of AMS Affiliation and MACTE accreditation.
Each program consists of an academic phase and a practicum (or internship) phase. The academic phase for the Early Childhood program occurs at our Summer Institute at the College of New Rochelle (CNR) in New Rochelle, NY. The Infant and Toddler program has a 10-day summer kick-off and summer 6-day wrap-up the following summer, with 6 weekends (October-May) during the school year, held at the CME|NY Adult Training Facility in New Rochelle, NY. The Administrator program, consisting of 12 days the first summer and 6 days the second summer, is held at the CME|NY Adult Training Facility in New Rochelle, NY.
CME|NY has been on the forefront of developing and presenting meaningful and engaging Montessori curriculum to educate Adult Learners in the art of being a skilled and successful Montessori teacher or administrator. The academic phase is a combination of classes, demonstrations, observations, course work, discussions, and practice, to help Adult Learners develop the skills, talents, fluency with Montessori philosophy, and expertise required of a Montessori teacher and/or administrator. The Practicum Phase, working in a Montessori school, gives the Adult Learner the opportunity for further development under the guidance of an experienced Montessori teacher or administrator, as well as three visits from CME|NY faculty during the school year. The Early Childhood program includes two seminars during the school year, when the cohort comes together for additional course work and support. The quality of relationships and on-going network of support creates meaningful connections for participants in our programs.
CME|NY is affiliated by AMS. We are an AMS-affiliated Teacher Education Program (TEP). Our Infant & Toddler and Early Childhood teacher education courses are accredited by MACTE. Our Administrator course is accredited by AMS. Our program is aligned and in compliance with the quality principles required of MACTE accreditation:
• Our faculty is committed to the on-going development and enhancement of our programs;
• Our program has resources, practices, and sound management to support our adult learners with integrated academic and practicum experiences that lead to successful comprehension of Montessori methods.
• Our graduates fluently demonstrate the knowledge and understanding gained through our programs in their Montessori classrooms and schools and in their lives.


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Tablets Guide
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Overview, Design and Features
It Changes The Way You Look at Tablets (Literally)
2011 was the year of the Android tablets, a time when manufacturers mounted a full-scale assault on Apple and its iPads with tablets of different form factors. ASUS brought innovative concepts to the table with products like the Eee Pad Slider that comes with a slide-up keyboard and the Eee Pad Transformer which features an optional keyboard docking station. Sony also came up with an unconventional design for its wedged-shaped Tablet S. On the other end, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Tab 10.1 which is thinner (8.6mm) and lighter (565g) than the Apple iPad 2.
Despite these engineering feats and innovations, the Android camp failed to match up to what the iPad 2 had to offer when it comes to smooth user experience and a robust apps ecosystem. There is without a doubt that the iPad 2 continued to be the leader of the pack throughout 2011, clinching the Best Tablet Brand and Best Tablet in our Reader's Choice and Editor's Choice respectively of our HWM + HardwareZone.com Tech Awards 2012 mega event that pays homage to the best of computing and consumer electronics segments.
Now in its third generation, the Apple iPad plans to extend its lead over the others with its high resolution 2,048 x 1,536 pixels display, an A5X dual-core processor with a quad-core graphics processor unit, larger battery capacity and a better 5-megapixel rear camera module. Having covered all the key features and interesting news surrounding this new iPad, we took time to really get cozy with it and detail you our verdict in this review.
Same Old Brand New iPad
To be frank, we weren't surprised that the latest Apple iPad followed the footsteps of its smaller sibling, the iPhone 4S by retaining almost the same look as its predecessor. By now, consumers should know that Apple will stick to a formula that works until proven otherwise. The only physical differences between the new iPad and the iPad 2 are its weight and thickness. We put that to the test by asking people if they were able to differentiate between the new iPad and iPad 2:
While few will mind the minimal increase in thickness, most users might be concerned with the 49g weight increase of the new iPad. At 662g, the third generation iPad does feels a bit heftier especially when you hold it in one hand as compared to the iPad 2. For those who are very particular about the weight of a tablet, here's how the new iPad fares against the Android camp of slates:
- ASUS Transformer Pad 300 (635g)
- ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity 700 (586g)
- ASUS Transformer Pad Prime (586g)
- Motorola Xoom 2 (3G) (608g)
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (583g)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (588g)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1(565g)
- Sony Tablet S (598g)
- Toshiba Excite X10 (558g) (*also the world's thinnest 10.1-inch tablet at 7.7mm)
If you are wondering why the new iPad is thicker, it is due to the fact that it comes with a larger battery capacity, mainly to power the high resolution 9.7-inch Retina display. Nevertheless, the new iPad still feels very sturdy due to the aluminum body.
Debut of iOS 5.1
Launched together with the new iPad is iOS 5.1, the latest update to Apple's mobile operating system that runs on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices. According to Apple, iOS 5.1 offers new features such as:
- Japanese language support for Siri (more languages such as Chinese and Korean will be supported by Siri in the coming months). Unfortunately, Siri is still unavailable on the new iPad, but it gets a voice dictation feature.
- Camera shortcut on the lock screen of the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (4th generation)
- Face detection for Camera app
Voice dictation
If you are hoping for Apple's intelligent digital voice assistant, Siri to make an appearance on the new iPad, you will be disappointed to know that it remains as an exclusive feature on the iPhone 4S.
The new iPad will however be equipped with voice dictation, which allows you to send email, search the Internet or update Facebook status via, well, your voice. One limitation of the feature is that the voice-to-text translation is not real-time in nature; you have to tap on the microphone icon for the iPad to translate whatever you have said into text.
So how accurate is the voice dictation on the new iPad? We did some testing to see how it fares with our accent. An Android 4.0 tablet with a similar voice dictation feature is tossed in as a comparison. The text to dictate? "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
Camera Shortcut
The camera shortcut on the lock screen is nothing new. We have seen this feature on the HTC Sense 3.0 and later versions. Most recently, Android 4.0 has also adopted it, as you can see on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and ASUS Transformer Pad Prime.
Unfortunately, you will not get the camera shortcut on the lock screen of the new iPad. In its place, you will get a feature called Picture Frame which turns it into an animated picture frame on the lock screen. You have a variety of Settings to play around with such as transitions, shuffling, duration of each photo and which albums, photos or events to show.
Face Detection
A long overdue feature, face detection finally arrives on iOS devices including the new iPad. With face detection enabled, the camera can locate the people in the shot and adjusts the focus accordingly. This will be handy in taking group photos such as gatherings. To demonstrate this, here's a photo of the iPad's screen as it points on our monitor detecting our teammate's faces from our blog section on the website.
Introduction of Retina Display-Ready Apps
An improved display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels on the new iPad means that some developers have to upgrade their apps and take advantage of the higher resolution. To drum up the iPad's Retina Display, announced along with the iPad is a list of Retina-ready apps on the iTunes store - you can check out the list of the apps here.
As it takes a substantial amount of time to upgrade existing apps with larger images and better resolution, do check back with the iTunes store for new additions and updates.
The graphics quality boost in apps does have its trade-off - the updated apps see its file size increased up to five times. For example, iMovie has increased from a mere 70MB to 404MB while Pages has tripled from 95MB to 269MB. It is no wonder that graphics-intensive apps such as Infinity Blade II have file sizes as large as 791MB.
Considering the much larger app file sizes, consumers may have to reconsider their purchases if they are planning to get the most affordable 16GB model. We recommend taking up a higher storage capacity as it's definitely a safer bet for anyone who avidly games, watches movies and listens to music on the iPad. Even if one doesn't see themselves indulging in many apps initially, we reckon that they would eventually succumb to it. Bearing in mind that there's no expandable storage option unlike many Android tablets, it is even more essential to make the right purchasing choice.
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Moko Technology Ltd. founded in the year 2001, Based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, is an expert at embedded engineering, PCB design, manufacturing and assembly. We are honored as the excellent supplier of many companies all around this world. Our Factory provides full turnkey(or partial turnkey) PCB manufacturing services ranging from printed circuit board fabrication, components sourcing, PCB assembly service till functional testing, enclosure and package manufacturing & assembly.
PCB Manufacture Capability
PCB Manufacture Capability: 10,000 square meters PCB per day, and 400,000 pcs monthly
ISO9001, ISO1004, UL listed, RoSH
Nomal PCB board / HDI PCB board / FPC PCB board / rigid-flex PCB board / metal PCB board
Board thickness(mm): 0.3~12
Max. layer-up(L): 50
PCB and Enclosure Assembly
SMT production capability: 8 high-speed SMT pcba lines from Yamaha and Sony(10 million chips per day-0402, 0201 with 8 million per day)
DIP production capability: 3 DIP lines(1.2 million pcs per day)
3 Production Lines for enclosure assembly(Each line has 15 assemblers and 2 quality control engineers)


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- Every U.S. state, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands - and Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta in Canada have unclaimed property programs that actively and continuously find owners of lost and forgotten assets.
- Unclaimed property laws have been around since at the 1930s, but have become much broader and more enforced in the last 25 years. Unclaimed property is one of the original consumer protection programs.
- 2.5 million claims totaling $2.25 billion returned to rightful owners in FY2011 as a result of state unclaimed property program efforts. Amount of average claim, $892
- $41.7 billion waiting to be returned by state unclaimed property programs.
- Claims can be made into perpetuity in most cases - even by heirs.
NAUPA is the association of the state unclaimed property programs, but the databases are located and maintained by each state, not NAUPA. However, most states participate in MissingMoney and we suggest that you search there. You may also link to all state databases individually from this Web site.
Answers to Questions about Unclaimed Property
Unclaimed property (sometimes referred to as abandoned) refers to accounts in financial institutions and companies that have had no activity generated or contact with the owner for one year or a longer period. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed dividends or payroll checks, refunds, traveler's checks, trust distributions, unredeemed money orders or gift certificates (in some states), insurance payments or refunds and life insurance policies, annuities, certificates of deposit, customer overpayments, utility security deposits, mineral royalty payments, and contents of safe deposit boxes.
What happens to these accounts that have no activity?
Acting in the best interest of consumers, each state has enacted an unclaimed property statute that protects your funds from reverting back to the company if you have lost contact with them. These laws instruct companies to turn forgotten funds over to a state official who will then make a diligent effort to find you or your heirs. Most states hold lost funds until you are found, returning them to you at no cost or for a nominal handling fee upon filing a claim form and verification of your identity. Since it is impossible to store and maintain all of the contents that are turned over from safe deposit boxes, most states hold periodic auctions and hold the funds obtained from the sale of the items for the owner. Some states also sell stocks and bonds and return the proceeds to the owner in the same manner.
How do states try to return this money?
The state treasurers and other officials who administer the unclaimed property programs have developed many powerful and effective methods to locate owners including the use of websites, cross-checking public data, staging thousands of awareness events at state fairs and even shopping malls, and developing a national database, MissingMoney.com. The methods work as tens of millions of potential lost owners inquire annually resulting in this vital consumer protection program returning money to people at a rate approaching two billion dollars annually.
How do I begin my free search?
Companies are required by law to send funds from lost accounts to the state of the owner's last known address. That means you could potentially have unclaimed property in every state that you have resided. You might want to begin your search onMissingMoney, a Web site officially endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) containing the official collective records from most state unclaimed property programs. NAUPA will link you to every state unclaimed property program Web site where you can search. Both sites are free.
If searching is free, why do I receive notices that there is a charge to search?
Several business firms have used the states' freedom of information acts to obtain owner information. These firms notify individuals that they will conduct a search for unclaimed property in their name for a fee. Many states do not even provide complete records to these firms to protect your privacy. The bottom line is that you may pay them to search if you wish, but all the information is accessible free of charge by searching the state databases or MissingMoney, or by contacting any state unclaimed property office.
I have received a notice that property has been found, but there is a fee to obtain it.
There are many businesses, sometimes called finders or locators, which find legitimate lost property for owners and offer to inform them of how to obtain it for a fee, usually a percentage of the total (some states limit the fee to 10 percent). Sometimes, companies will hire these firms to find you before they turn the funds over to the state. Ultimately the finder will ask you to sign a contract. The majority of firms that provide these services work within the law, but there are also many unclaimed property scams across the United States. Before signing any contract from a firm of this type, we recommend that you be cautious and contact the unclaimed property office in your state for more information.
How do I keep my property from becoming lost in the future?
Remember, property becomes lost due to a company having no communication with the owner. You should contact institutions that hold your money or property every year and especially when there is an address change or change in marital status. For security reasons, most financial institutions do not forward mail. Keep accurate financial records and record all insurance policies, bank account numbers with bank names and addresses, types of accounts, stock certificates, and rent and utility deposits.
- Cash all checks for dividends, wages, and insurance settlements without delay.
- Respond to requests for confirmation of account balances and stockholder proxies.
- If you have a safe deposit box, record its number, bank name and address, and give the extra key to a trusted person.
- Finally, prepare and file a will detailing the disposition of your assets.


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Beyonce and her new baby have left the Manhattan hospital where she gave birth, the hospital said Tuesday.
The singer and her husband left Lenox Hill Hospital overnight. Their daughter Blue Ivy Carter was born Saturday.
The birth under high security had caused some disruptions at the hospital, but the couple did not address those complaints in a statement on Monday.
Jay-Z and Beyonce called their daughter's birth "the best experience of both of our lives."
Mayor Bloomberg on Tuesday said he did not know what Lenox Hill did in the case of the music royalty, but defended the concept of a hospital getting paid a lot of money from celebrities, which could help cover costs of the uninsured and other expenses.
"The government and a lot of other plans don't pay anymore -- enough to cover the costs, and the hospitals have to find some other source of revenue," he said.
On Tuesday, "30 Rock" actresses Tina Fey and Jane Krakowski said in an appearance on the "Today" show that their experiences delivering at Lenox Hill were a far cry from Beyonce's A-list treatment.
"My celebrity treatment at Lenox Hill involved taking a group breastfeeding class in a closet," Fey said.
Both Fey and Krakowski did, however, praise the competency of the staff. Watch their appearance on the "Today" show in the video below.
Also Monday, Jay-Z released a new song for his baby girl.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


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Syringa species
Trees and Shrubs
Sow in fall or spring, typically germinates well, can benefit from stratifying 3 weeks if no germination occurs in 4 weeks. Light needed for germination; just cover seeds. Very good light, good drainage, neutral and very well-draining soil also required. Older plants relatively drought-tolerant. The Japanese tree lilac, Syringa reticulata, is especially tolerant of salt, alkaline, and very dry soils. Zone 3-8; Syringa vulgaris hardy to zone 2
Suckers are produced in clumps; remove these while the plant is dormant, as clumps or individual suckers. Cut back both roots and shoots to about 6" in length, before replanting; cut-off parts of root can be planted at this time as root cuttings, 4-6" in length
Prized cultivars will not come true from seed, and may be asexually reproduced using cleft grafting or simple layering
See Also
Butterfly bush, summer lilac (Buddleia davidii)
Related Topics
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MARCH brought frenzied attention to Barack Obama's health law. The Supreme Court heard arguments over its constitutionality. Outside the court, supporters waved their neatly printed posters and tea-partiers waved their scrawled, angry ones. The ruckus centred on Mr Obama's mandate to buy insurance. America is the rare Western country without a universal insurance scheme. But, as a new study points out, a lack of insurance is only part of America's health problem.
On April 3rd the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a philanthropic outfit, released a new report on health in America's counties. The report is part of a string of efforts to sort through the mounds of data on health and the factors that affect it. The jumble of information does not reveal a perfectly clear picture. But it begins to illuminate the particular nature of America's health and why it is so dismal.
America, it is often noted, spends more on health care yet has worse results than other rich countries. Its infant-mortality rate, for example, is double that of Sweden, Germany and France (to name only a few). A closer look reveals conflicting trends within America itself. A recent ranking of states' health, sponsored by the foundation of UnitedHealth, America's biggest insurer, was filled with contradictions. America is making good progress to reduce smoking and the toll of infectious disease, yet diabetes rates are climbing and tens of millions remain uninsured. The north-east is a picture of health compared with the South. Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are among the five healthiest states; Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana are the lowest. Resources vary wildly from one state to another. Massachusetts has 192 primary-care doctors for every 100,000 people; Idaho has just 78. Behaviour is similarly spotty. In Florida whites are 30% more likely to smoke than blacks. In Minnesota the reverse is true.
The new report takes an even closer look, inspecting data for more than 3,000 counties. The authors, led by Bridget Booske Catlin of the University of Wisconsin, rank each state's counties according to health outcomes: premature death, poor mental and physical health and low birth weights for babies. Separately, they examine the factors that influence health, such as clinical care, income and behaviour.
Wide gaps existed within each state. The five least-healthy counties generally had more than twice the teenage birth rate of the five healthiest counties, and more than twice the share of poor children. Within counties, factors seem to contradict one another. In Putnam, New York's healthiest county, 29% of adults are obese, compared with 28% in the Bronx, New York's least-healthy county. Putnam also has higher rates of binge drinking—21% compared with 14% in the Bronx. Yet the Bronx has lower education rates, eight times the rate of teen pregnancies and New York's highest concentration of fast-food restaurants. Lack of insurance, therefore, is only part of the puzzle.
This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline "Beyond the mandate"


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Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, San Mateo County, California, USA
Clown nudibranch (Triopha catalinae) photographed in a tidepool.
Joseph Dougherty (photographer; copyright holder; identification)
This resource may not be downloaded and used without permission of the copyright holder except for non-productized educational use. You may contact the copyright holder, Joseph Dougherty, at <email@example.com>. Credit to the photograper must be displayed wherever the photograph is used.
The Animal Diversity Web team is excited to announce ADW Pocket Guides!
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To cite this page: Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2020. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed at https://animaldiversity.org.
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Getting an early start on primary season, Rand Paul stopped by New Hampshire and offered some sage advice for winning elections. According to the article, "Senator Paul Rand urged New Hampshire Republicans to become more diversified."
New Hampshire is 94.6% white, 2.9% Latino and 1.3% Black. I don't know the exact diversity statistics for New Hampshire Republicans, but if they get a half-black and half-Latino guy in a wheelchair to run for something, they will probably have covered all the statistical bases.
"We need to grow bigger," Rand Paul said. "If you want to be the party of white people, we're winning all the white votes. We're a diverse nation. We're going to win when we look like America."
Looking like America is common advice these days. What does America look like? For now it still looks more like New Hampshire than like California. And despite that, Democrats scored some big wins in New Hampshire in the last election.
Obama won New Hampshire 52 to 46 and it probably wasn't the black vote that put him over the top. He picked up over 100,000 votes in Hillsborough County, which is 90 percent white. Clearly, despite Rand Paul's optimism, Republicans aren't winning all the white votes in New Hampshire. Or in Kentucky.
Rand Paul's Kentucky looks a lot like New Hampshire. It's 88.9% white. And its white Senator, who did not win all the white votes, decided to visit another white state to tell Republicans there that they needed to look more like America or California. Or someplace like that. Because the white vote was all locked down.
In his 2010 Senate election, Rand Paul won 59% of the white vote and his opponent won 86% of the black vote. Two years later, in the national electionRomney won 59% of the white vote and his opponent won 93% of the black vote. Both men scored the exact same percentage of the white vote.
Some might try to find a silver lining in that Rand Paul won 13 percent of the black vote, but he wasn't running against a black candidate. In 2004, Bush won 12 percent of the Kentucky black vote. Nearly the same amount as Rand Paul. More importantly, he won 64 percent of the white vote and 58 percent of the female vote to Rand Paul's 51 percent. The female vote is far more important, if you're going to win elections, than picking up minority votes in New Hampshire or Kentucky.
While Rand Paul tours as some sort of expert on winning the minority vote, he has never actually won the minority vote. Similarly Rubio promises that illegal alien amnesty will turn the Latino tide for the GOP, when he could not win a straight majority of the non-Cuban Latino vote in his Senate election.
The Republican Party is suffering from a surplus of self-appointed experts in winning the minority vote who don't actually win the minority vote. Their advice is stupid and destructive.
Romney did not lose because he lost the Latino vote. That's a myth which has been discredited again and again, but still rises from the dead to push for an illegal alien amnesty, five times bigger than the last disastrous 1986 amnesty, so that next time around Republicans can lose by even bigger margins. But instead of trying to be diverse for the sake of diversity, the GOP might try doing what the other side did, increasing the turnout for its base by actually appealing to them.
The Republican National Convention in 2012 was a study in diversity. It was possibly even more diverse than the Democratic National Convention. It also didn't work.
Diversity is familiar enough to be met with casual contempt. Every company trots out stock photos overflowing with stock minorities so that they can look like America or some part of America. It impresses absolutely no one. "Looking like America" is slang for racial tokenism which is both patronizing and insulting. And it's the least innovative advice that could be imagined.
Common skin color alone does not win elections. If it did, the Republican Party could just push out countless white Democrats in precarious districts by running black candidates against them. The idea that skin color alone is representation is still the law and its emotional resonance is sometimes undeniable, but emotional identification is also based on more than just race. And representation cannot be reduced to racial diversity as a winning strategy.


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Check Out Valora and Syd Duran! The HOTTEST Chick In Rock! [Pics, Video]
Valora is a six piece hard rock band from Whittier, CA. featuring electrifying frontwoman Syd Duran!
Revolver named Syd the Hottest Chick in Hard Rock for July 2011.
AP named Valora one of the 100 bands you need to know for 2011. Breaking Benjamin's single "Blow Me Away" features Syd Duran of Valora, and is now Top 10 on Active Rock Chart.


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Better Documents for HealthcareBy Christopher Nicholson Print
New software enables Humana to communicate more effectively with members by using colorful, highly personalized documents to present individual statements of benefits.
Humana, one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies, provides coordinated health insurance to employer groups, government-sponsored plans and individuals. Each year, the company sends more than 20 million explanation of benefits statements (EOBs) to its members, but it learned that they found the forms difficult to understand. The Louisville, Ky.-based company resolved this problem by transforming the traditional EOB statement to a colorful, visually enhanced personalized document that helps members make informed decisions about how to best manage their benefits. Christopher Nicholson, Humana's director of strategic communications, discusses how the company accomplished this.
Explanation of benefit statements have been Humana's predominant form of communication with members to show the status of a benefits claim. Although an industry standard for 15 years, EOBs have traditionally been very bland, multipage black-and-white documents with large amounts of text and little, if any, graphics or white space to enhance readability. There was little or no personalized messaging, so members often found it hard to determine how to interpret the status of their health claims and whether any action was required.
We needed to ensure that our members felt confident managing their health care benefits, and our ongoing research continued to highlight the need to change this communication vehicle. Additionally, the increased popularity of
consumer-directed plans, coupled with the need for family health care budgeting and increased transparency in health insurance plan design, necessitated that health insurers find a more effective way to communicate with members.
We formed a team to transform the EOBs from point-in-time transactional documents to a consolidated summary-level communication that provides relevant and actionable guidance that is easier to read and understand. While the new design was well-received, we eventually discovered that we didn't have the personalization technology we needed to produce the redesigned statement for the volume of members we serve.
Time for a change
Because we send out more than 40 million EOBs and statements each year, we needed a solution that would allow us to integrate multiple data sources with tools that make design and document composition more flexible. We also wanted to increase member satisfaction with the newly designed EOBs, so we sought a solution that supported highly
personalized output.
Early on, we realized that we needed to move away from several of the incompatible and inconsistent software tools we had been using for years because they did not offer the scalability, flexibility or personalization options we sought. To address these requirements, we chose Hewlett-Packard's Exstream, which was broad enough to present customer documents and communications in a variety of ways, including print and Web. In addition, it was easy to integrate with Humana's existing databases and corporate systems.
Using the new solution, we began producing our redesigned EOB statement, SmartSummary. This highly personalized document combines carefully planned white space and full-color images with targeted messaging that helps our members make more informed decisions about how to manage their health care benefits.
To produce the SmartSummary, the HP Exstream software draws data from our member databases. It then incorporates colorful icons, images, tables, graphs, charts and other design elements to visually communicate information such as benefits usage, co-pay amounts, medical articles, health and wellness coupons, and suggestions on how to lower monthly spending.
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AcclaimIP recently announced that it is normalizing patent agent names across its international patent data collections, making it easier for researchers to answer questions like "what law firms are working for specific companies?" or "which technology area does this law firm focus on?".
In a blog post, AcclaimIP noted that patent agent names have always been inconsistent in raw patent data, with law firms filling patents on behalf of their clients using many different variants of their names. For example, law firm Oblon McClelland Maier & Neustadt has more than 327 variants of its name used in patent fillings while law firm Sughrue Mion PLLC has more than 323 variants, many of which are appended by lawyers' names.
AcclaimIP seems to have dealt with this issue by updating its AGT (Agent) field code so that it now searches the normalized name of the patent filling entities, while the new AGT_ORIG field code searches the original versions of the agent names. By using the AGT_ORIG field code, users will be able to find patents with a specific firm/attorney combination that may have been lost in the normalization process. All the AGT filters in the tool are based on the normalized variant of the law firm's name.
According to the blog post from AcclaimIP, Agent data is not usually a required field in a patent application, but in 2015, about 92.4% of all granted US patents still contain AGT data. However, there are some organizations that don't publish agent data at all including Philips, Verizon, Marvell, Covidien, Siemens, and Western Digital. Also, agent data is no longer published is US patent applications, with the last US patent application containing agent data appearing back in 2011.
The normalization of agent names can help law firms or attorneys get an idea of their clients' filling activities and allow them to tap in potential revenues. Agent data analysis is a popular topic in patent analytics, so the normalization of agent data is a useful feature for any law firms performing analysis projects related to attorney/agent names.
AcclaimIP has made the feature available to Silver and Gold subscribers only while only Gold subscribers will have access to the charting options that come with the feature.
What do you think of AcclaimIP's agent name normalization feature? Tell us in the comments below!
This post was contributed by Abhishek Tiwari. The Intellogist blog and Intellogist are provided for free by Landon IP, which is a CPA Global company. Landon IP is a major provider of professional services meeting the needs of the IP community, including patent searches; analytics and technology consulting; patent, legal, and technical translations; and information research and retrieval.
Filed under: Intellogist Updates, Items of Interest, Patent Analysis, Patent Search News, Patent Search Systems, Patent Search Tools | Leave a comment »


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It is Astrophoto Friday! This week's image shows a unique event that was captured by the 200-inch Hale Telescope armed with adaptive optics.
What might look like Pac Man swallowing a dot is actually Saturn's moon Titan occulting (passing in front of) a binary star system (named NV0435215+200905). The two stars are separated in the sky by just 1.5 arc seconds (One arc second is 1/3600 of a degree).
Because fantastic resolving power of the Hale using adaptive optics you can see that the light of the star nearest to Titan is being refracted by Titan's dense atmosphere. Such events are rare, but valuable. The starlight as it is seen passing through Titan's atmosphere is essentially a probe providing clues as to the density, temperature and wind patterns of this distant world. The team of astronomers (Antonin Bouchez, Michael E. Brown, Mitchell Troy, Rick S. Burruss, Richard G. Dekany and Robert A. West) that observed this event December 20, 2001 was fortunate that both of the stars were seen to pass behind Titan. This provided two passes through Titan's atmosphere - effectively doubling what could be learned from the event.
Be sure to check out the movie of the event. As you watch it will look like Titan is still and the stars are moving behind it. As they pass behind Titan be sure to look for the refracted light of each star on either side of Titan's atmosphere. It is an impressive sight!
The result? Jet stream winds were discovered in Titan's atmosphere.
For those so inclined you can read a pdf of one of the scientific publication that came out of these observations.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Astrophoto Friday - Saturn's Moon Titan
Posted by Palomar Observatory at 9:21 AM
Labels: Adaptive Optics, astrophotos, Hale Telescope
5 comments:
- Palomar Observatory said...
Thanks, Universe Today, for picking this up!
- August 27, 2010 at 12:59 PM
- Anonymous said...
Looks like the distance between the binary stars has been altered/reduced because of Titan's passing.
- August 28, 2010 at 8:07 AM
- Palomar Observatory said...
Anonymous, I am not sure what you are seeing.
- August 28, 2010 at 9:46 AM
- Mike Lynch said...
Is this a real time movie or time-lapse?
(I'm guessing real-time ;-)
- August 28, 2010 at 6:23 PM
- Palomar Observatory said...
Time lapse. Almost 18 minutes of real time elapse from beginning to end of this movie.
- August 31, 2010 at 9:53 AM
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Mayor Don Wesely announced today that the long-awaited downtown entertainment center project is ready to proceed. Douglas Theatre Company President David Livingston joined Mayor Wesely to announce that his company plans to submit a proposal to the City for a 14-screen entertainment center. If the proposal is accepted and the City Council approves, construction could begin this summer.
"This is a very exciting announcement," Mayor Wesely said. "The project will bring new energy to downtown Lincoln. I applaud Douglas Theatre Company's willingness to invest in downtown Lincoln."
The proposed entertainment center will occupy most of the block bounded by 11th, 12th, "O" and "P" streets. Douglas, which owns and operates the Lincoln Theatre at 12th and "P" streets, recently secured the remainder of the north half of the block from Wells Fargo Bank. The City plans to acquire the south half of the block, except for one building at the southwest corner and two buildings at the southeast corner. The buildings that will remain house the Continental Commons, Dish and Rouges Gallery; Marz Martini Bar; and Sartor Hamann Jewelers. Ultimately, ownership of the site would transfer to the developer.
"Douglas Theatre Company will propose a flagship state-of-the-art entertainment center to rival any being built," Livingston said. "Increasingly, theatre-based entertainment centers are playing anchor roles in communities that encourage vibrant, healthy downtowns. Lincoln is that kind of community, and we are excited about the success we expect for this project."
The City formally will advertise a request for proposals from developers for the block during the next two weeks. Center Associates, the real estate affiliate of Douglas Theatre Company will submit the company's proposal. Any potential developer has the same opportunity to submit a proposal.
"Because of the public sector's involvement, the process by which this redevelopment project is achieved must be open, accountable and competitive," the Mayor said. "I am very pleased that Douglas Theatre Company will be among those submitting a proposal." Livingston said he understands that anyone may submit a proposal, but that he has confidence in the project his company envisions.
"Douglas has been doing business in downtown Lincoln since 1952," said Russell Brehm, Douglas founder and chairman. "We know the site, the market, and our customers. The time is right, and we plan to reward the community that has patronized our theatres for the past 50 years with a first-rate entertainment center everyone will be pleased and proud to enjoy for many years to come."
Redevelopment strategies dating back to the mid 1990s have identified the need for a modern entertainment center to replace the downtown's aging movie theatres. This site, because of its key location and access to available parking, always has been the preferred location.
Several interested developers have entered into negotiations with property owners and City staff, but withdrew for various reasons. The most serious negotiations, with California developer Bryan Hall, ended after the September 11,2001 terrorist attacks and national economic downturn.
In recent months, the Lincoln economy has begun recovering, setting new records for construction permits. Nationally, the movie theatre industry has emerged from its own troubles. Strong movie products, combined with the latest in theatre amenities, have helped boost consumer demand for on-screen entertainment to another all-time high. In 2002, total admissions reached 1.59 billion, beating the previous record set in 2001 of 1.49 billion.
"This project is something we have wanted for a long time," Wesely said. "Now, we have a serious local developer ready to submit a proposal."
Responses to the City's request for proposals to redevelop the site are due February 25. The Mayor will appoint a committee to review any responses received and recommend a selection. A redevelopment agreement between the City and developer will be submitted for City Council action in March. Site demolition is expected to begin in the spring, with a grand opening celebration in mid-2004.
The City of Lincoln expects to invest about $3.2 million in the $15 million project. The City's contribution is generated by the project area itself from district-wide tax-increment financing and land sale proceeds tied to this project. City funds will be used mostly to assemble and demolish the site. The City also will pay for design and construction of public improvements on the site, including street and sidewalk work, landscaping and utilities.
The City's financial support for this project is modeled on the public participation in many past downtown redevelopments, including the Embassy Suites, the Old Federal Building restoration and numerous Haymarket improvements.Fact Sheet
Media Release