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Easter Surf Festival to celebrate 50 years
Few events are steeped more in tradition than the annual Cocoa Beach Easter Surf Festival.
Next weekend at Shepard Park and the Cocoa Beach Pier, the second-longest running surfing event on the East Coast will mark its 50th year.
"It's hard to believe we've reached this milestone," said John Griffin, co-organizer, who, along with East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame legend Dick Catri, took over the event in 1982.
Since then, not only has the festival attracted some of the East Coast's top professional and amateur surfers, but has grown to incorporate a diverse variety of contests and exhibitions.
"While the board shapes and certainly the swimsuit styles may have changed since the first event was put on by the Jaycees in the mid-'60s, our mission to present a great family friendly holiday weekend surfing contest that offers a variety of beachside entertainment has always remained the same," Catri said.
This year's event will feature the traditional Ron Jon-sponsored men's $4,000 longboard pro, the Steven G. Casanova, P.A. men's $5,000 shortboard pro, the Bikini Ready $2,500 women's shortboard pro and women's amateur longboard, the Solrx junior men's amateur shortboard, as well as the Klassick Boys 14 and under shortboard and the Dive/Surf Ride-sponsored menehunes and girls under 12 divisions.
In addition, Skim City will present the Easter Bunny skim board bash and "crowd-control" winch tow (with $500 in prizes for the biggest air maneuver).
The Paddleboard House in Indialantic will sponsor a $1,000 stand-up paddle surfing contest.
One of the biggest crowd pleasers that is returning for the second year in a row, the East Coast Dog Surfing Championships, will feature a lineup of six to eight surfing canines, led by the "top-dog" seed, a pit bull named Booker D. Surfdog.
Booker's owner, Adam Steinberg of West Palm Beach, admits his dog is a far better surfer than he is and has been told the addition of this event is one that kids of all ages seem to appreciate.
Both pro and amateur surfing events are set to begin on Good Friday morning, with the annual blessing of the event by Doug Smith, Director of Missions at Calvary Church, Viera, at 7:15 a.m.
In honor of the festival's 50th year, the "Surf Junkie" 50/50 amateur division (open to both men and women ages 50 and up) riding any shape/size board will be part of this year's event.
Highlighting the festival's opening day of activities Friday evening from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Pier, Life Visual Systems will present the premiere of "Beyond Sight." The film, an inspiring story about Derek Rabelo, a 20-year-old blind Brazilian surfer, features appearances by 11-time world champion Kelly Slater.
"We are excited to be one of the first to present this awe-inspiring movie here on the East Coast," said Tom Clark, Life Visual Systems spokesperson, in a press release.
On Saturday, the 14th annual Florida State Paddleboard Championships will showcase paddlers competing in a seven-mile ocean race in three divisions that will begin and finish at the Pier. Competitors will earn points toward the World Paddleboard Association's standings. For information and registration, visit www.paddleguru.com.
Among other activities on Saturday, an Easter egg hunt for children ages 14 and under will be held as well as a spring fashion show sponsored by Klassick. There will be surfing clinics throughout the day provided by Ron Jon's Surf School. A tandem surfing exhibition provided by both local participants as well as pairs from as far as Hawaii will again be a part of this year's event.
The Cocoa Beach Surf Museum's annual Easter Extravaganza will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. The fundraiser, open to the public, will celebrate the opening of the latest exhibit, entitled "Paipo Prone to Ride," featuring the history and evolution of paipo (belly board) riding and its relevance to surfing culture. Tickets are $20 for non-members and free for CBSM members. For more information, visit www.cocoabeachsurfmuseum.com.
A traditional Easter Sunrise service will be held on Sunday, followed by the final surfing events and all award presentations on the main stage.
For more information or to register for any of the surfing events, visit www.eastersurffest.com.


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I am including this because it shows the economic diversity in growth and wealth amongst the States.
And they all function under a common currency. Why does this work whereas the Eurozone is having such problems?
That is because with a common currency union, a political and fiscal union are required as well. This is a hard lesson from monetary theory and history.
When you have a fiat system with a central authority setting policy according to economic conditions over a geographic area in which there is diversity, there must be fiscal policy and transfer payments to 'even out' the effects of that monetary policy.
That is why the European Union is inherently unsustainable, because it is a monetary union without a public policy and fiscal union.
The EU cannot possibly create the appropriate single government, without undue hardship. So they must consider allowing the individual countries or regions to conduct their own monetary policy and have their own currency and exchange rates.
Source: Financial States of America
This chart is from Moneychoice.org. They are responsible for the data and the figures.

subset: commoncrawl


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I finished Colin's Packer's pants! YAY!!! The Hubby is very happy about that. LOL Now I need to do the shirt…. I have been thinking about this most of the day and sketching different ideas… I *think* I know how I want to do it but I have never done an actually button-up dressy type shirt. You know, with the back yoke and fold down collar??? Yeah…. So, I cut the front pieces. So far so good.. And then I drew out a pattern for the back yoke. Now I'm nervous. LOL I haven't actually cut the fabric for that part yet. I bought 2 yards of the Packers so if I mess up it should still be OK, I should still have enough for Cailey's skirt.
I did a little cuff on the ends here. I left a LOT of room for growing, both in the legs and in the elastic casing. 😉
Remember the other day how I was saying I wanted to take 10 Bags of Hope and Love to the Dept. of Social Services?? And I was a little upset because I didn't think I would be able to make 4 more?? Well, I got a call today from a lady at church. She had 4!!!! bags made!! YES!! Exactly 4!!! LOL I really think that God is at work here, people. She dropped them off to me this evening and I am SOOOOO thrilled!!! They are the CUTEST bags and I just LOVE the way she did the drawstrings!! I am going to have to study that.
Colin decided to photo bomb…. LOL
Aren't they just so cute????? I love them!! 🙂
I love that!!! I wish I had thought to do the ends that way!! There will be no fraying on those ends!! 🙂
SO, I will have 10 full bags to drop off Friday. Umm… TOMORROW!!!! YILES!!! Where has the week gone??? That means I only have a few more days to get everything together for the start of school!! YILES!!! I need 2 more of me!! LOL
Oh….And only a few more days to get both Packers outfits completely done… YILES!!!!!


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Breaking Bad: Big Ag Mega-Mergers in Play
A report by the ETC Group
December 2015. In this new report, ETC Group examines corporate consolidation in four agricultural input sectors: seeds, pesticides, chemical fertilizers and farm equipment. With combined annual revenue of $385 billion, these companies call the shots. Who will dominate the industrial food chain? And what does it mean for farmers, food sovereignty and climate justice?
The Big Six agrochemical corporations (BASF, Bayer, Dow, DuPont, Monsanto, Syngenta) that dominate commercial seed and pesticide markets worldwide now insist they must get bigger, faster if the world wants food security in the midst of climate chaos. According to agribusiness, the extreme pressures of population, demand for meat, and climate crisis require Big Science and Big Money – and that means extreme Mergers all along the industrial food chain.
The fate of the six dominant pesticide and seed companies (and their $93 billion market) is in play. For all the talk of "Climate-Smart Agriculture," their R&D strategies are collapsing and, among them, there are more sellers than buyers. Simultaneously, the much bigger ($175 billion market) greenhouse gas-intensive fertilizer industry is caught in the headlights of climate change negotiators and is wrapping itself in the mantle of Climate-Smart Agriculture to protect its assets. The four companies that control 56% of the $116 billion farm machinery industry already have the robotics hardware; are acquiring the software (Big Data, satellite surveillance) technologies; and are thinking about adding the bio-based software (seeds and pesticides) to their shopping cart. It's too soon to tell which companies or sector will become the one-stop shop for farm inputs – but farm machinery, seeds, fertilizers and chemicals are now linked like never before. Monsanto collaborates with the world's three biggest farm equipment companies (Deere & Co, CNH Industrial, AGCO). Deere has strategic alliances with five of the Big Six companies. Ultimately, the company that controls the data on soil, historical weather and crop yield, as well as the Big Box robot that deposits the seeds, pesticides and fertilizers will be the company that can gain most from crop insurance contracts that increasingly dictate inputs to the farmer. In the short term, the big shifts will likely be among the existing seed and pesticide enterprises, but even in the mid-term, watch out for the muck and machinery majors to rule the roost.
Etiquetas: Agro, Dow, Dupont, eng, ETC Group, Monsanto, Syngenta


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In September 1975, the first article from Consumer Reports hit the streets: "Chiropractors - Healers or Quacks?" This two-part series was not favorable. Part I hit right before the workshop on the Research Status of Spinal Manipulative Therapy at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Chiropractic had just overcome several major obstacles in its quest for recognition and status: The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) was accepted as the recognized accrediting body by the United States Department of Education (USDE); chiropractic was included in Medicare and Medicaid; and the last two holdout states for licensure (Louisiana and Mississippi) were now behind us.
"Doctor of Chiropractic" had been listed as a "spurious" degree by USDE, but after the recent advances, students and colleges would be able to avail themselves of federal funding and financial assistance. We sometimes forget that just 25 years ago, this rag-tag group of dedicated, committed, competent (but vastly outnumbered) researchers went before the National Institutes of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS) of the NIH and presented the reasons why chiropractic should be recognized and funded. What a proud moment it was to witness this event and see the groundwork laid for decades to come.
The NINDS presentation was mandated by Congress. It seems that anytime chiropractic is afforded an opportunity to appear in these programs or presentations, it takes a "congressional mandate," as occurred with the Chiropractic Military Demonstration Project and the project to revamp the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Much has changed, and yet little has changed. Chiropractic was not the choice of the Department of Defense or the VA. They were congressionally mandated by a few steadfast and dedicated senators and representatives. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, they still categorically reject chiropractic inclusion, but that is another story you will hear more about in time.
A 1975 article by Joseph Botta, a senior editor of Consumer Reports, blasted the profession using every kind of yellow journalism trick in the book. He attacked the subluxation; the theory of chiropractic; the unscrupulous practice management procedures; the diagnostic training of DCs; and the conflict with science. He went so far as to quote an editorial from a college dean: "Requirements for a chiropractic case are threefold: 1) Does the patient have a spinal column? 2) Does the patient have a nervous system? 3) Is the patient alive?"
Part II of the report on chiropractic followed in the October 1975 issue of CR. The report ripped apart the placebo effect, discussed self-limiting illnesses, and elaborated on the exposure to injury and risk that patients may suffer at the hands of a DC. They concluded: "Any risk of injury is unwarranted." (When the Institute of Medicine in 1999 released a report on the 48,000 to 90,000 deaths from medical errors, which did not include illness or untold side-effects - just deaths - Consumer Reports did not do a two-part exposâ.) CR warned readers about radiation, the dangers of delay, and the risks of chiropractic to children. The two-part series listed a series of recommendations and concluded:
"Overall, CR believes that chiropractic is a significant hazard to many patients. Current licensing laws, in our opinion, lend an aura of legitimacy to unscientific practices and serve to protect the chiropractor rather than the public."After the articles, everyone - ACA, ICA, the colleges, the state organizations, private practitioners, etc. - sent letters to Consumer Reports protesting the articles as biased and the findings and recommendations unwarranted and unfounded. Were some of the issues outlined in CR accurate and truthful? Of course. There is some truth in most stories. Pointing out our shortcomings is not the issue. Where we take exception is the lack of credible data suggesting to the reader that the profession has accepted responsibility for its actions and is doing something to help advance research, to help clean up the hucksterism, and to advance chiropractic education.
However, it was too late to publicly make amends - the consumer had already read the articles. This was a powerful medium and a credible source for most consumers. I recall many patients coming in with the articles. Some were angry; some were concerned; others had their faith in the profession destroyed. It took a long time for the effects of the articles in Consumer Reports to subside.
Let's move to June 1994, when Consumer Reports attacked again (coincidentally just as managed care was being introduced) with "Chiropractors - Can they Help? Do they Harm?" by assistant editor Rochelle Green. I supplied her with as much material as possible. By ruler, it measured more than five inches thick, but she chose to ignore most of it.
When the story came out, it was patently obvious that the editor did not interview one single member of a bona fide chiropractic group to counterbalance the negative information presented. Not one credible DC or patient was interviewed. The article's advice? "See your medical physician first." Every negative or questionable practice was dredged up from the bowels of the profession. Practice-building schemes of highly advertised and well-known entrepreneurs were exposed, and once again, nutrition, safety, and the fundamental hypothesis of chiropractic were put under the microscope in the most negative fashion.
Emotionally-charged children's issues were resurrected and made into the most negative kind of article. It implied that chiropractors were harming children. Again, Consumer Reports failed even the most fundamental test of integrity and objectivity.
CR's May 2000 issue includes "The Mainstreaming of Alternative Medicine." Is it unbiased? No, but it does have something different to offer. Consumer Reports asked 46,000 of its readers what they were doing about their health ailments. Is the bias and prejudice gone from the article? No! Consumer Reports has a difficult time even printing the word chiropractic, but CR found that the consumers they surveyed said the "C" word. Today, the big "C" is not cancer, but chiropractic. However, the subtle omission of chiropractic in this article is so blatant that to deny it, Consumer Reports would have to finally admit their disdain for the chiropractic profession.
The article begins..."the Berlin Wall that has long divided alternative therapies from mainstream medicine appears to be crumbling. Acupuncturists, hypnotists, massage therapists, and meditation instructors are now working at new complementary centers..." Where is chiropractic, the largest and most organized of the "alternative" health care professions? Could it be they did not want their readers to see the word any more than necessary? They asked 46,000 readers and made certain to point out: "The majority of our respondents (65%) did not use alternative therapies. The reason? Most of this group told us they were satisfied with standard medical treatment. Many said they didn't know enough about alternatives and a smaller group said they distrusted them."
They then reluctantly point out:
"The 35% of readers who did turn to alternatives were looking mainly for relief from troublesome symptoms that had not yielded to conventional treatments. Those who said they were in severe pain or stress were more likely to try alternatives. Despite the boom in alternatives, mainstream medicine is still the people's choice. For nearly all medical conditions, readers said they got the best results from prescription drugs, and from surgery when it was recommended. Even among people who tried her bal therapies, prescription drugs won higher marks for all medical conditions."Even in their report card graph, Consumer Reports does not list chiropractic, but rather lumps the profession into a broad category of "alternative manual therapy," so the reader would not see chiropractic listed. They go so far as to define "alternative manual therapy" as: "includes chiropractic treatment, deep-tissue massage, (rolfing, myofascial release, and neuromuscular massage), and acupuncture/shiatsu." This not-so-subtle deception of Consumer Reports is highly suggestive of the clever manipulation of words and emphasis they use throughout the article. Given any other unbiased or objective reporting of this same data, the focus, emphasis, description and conclusions would have been considerably different.
The magazine's graph on back pain is also distorted. It lists deep tissue massage first, yet clearly the data demonstrates chiropractic to be superior. The letter "C" in chiropractic comes before "D" in deep tissue massage, so it can not be alphabetical. The graph indicates a higher percentage for chiropractic, yet it is not first, as indicated by the "first" or highest percentage findings in every other graph. Even in the graph, Consumer Reports cannot bring itself to make chiropractic first. (Oh, I get it - maybe it was the combined ratings...oh yes, we mustn't forget that the consumer who reads these graphs will understand combined ratings and not look from top to bottom to see what is first.)
The recommendation continues: "See your doctor first." That is the message of the entire article. Despite the fact that they admit most medical practitioners in the field today know nothing about alternative care, the reader is advised to seek their advice. How does this make sense to the consumer, who has lived through the times when telling the family physician he or she was going to a chiropractor or taking vitamins would invoke their wrath? Would Consumer Reports suggest to their readers that they seek the advice of their family physician about whether to undergo a complicated surgical procedure of which their family physician knows little or nothing?
Health care is undergoing radical changes. Nothing is being categorically dismissed. It is being questioned, evaluated, challenged, scrutinized and examined, but it is being "tried" clinically and empirically. The results of the "trials by consumers" will ultimately cause any product or service to prevail or perish. From the explosive acceptance of cold medications containing zinc, to the insurance premium reductions of the "Ornish" plan for reversing heart disease, to the inclusion of acupuncture anesthesia, to the taking of kava kava, the train of alternatives has left the station house and is gaining speed. The incorporation of mind/body techniques as commonplace as massage therapy in every hotel in America marks the beginning of the century for chiropractic, complementary and conservative care.
Chiropractic must put aside outdated views and unsupportable proclamations and begin the process of healing with credible commentary, appropriate research, competent practitioners, expanded education, and a deliberate message to remove consumer fears planted by a century of opposition.
The message from 2000 forward is reasonably clear. Consumers will vote with their feet and decide with their pocketbooks. If services do not provide value to their lives, they will reject them. Chiropractic has an incredible opportunity to meet the demands of a new and more sophisticated consumer who is not easily swayed by clever jingles and pressure from salespersons, and is not gullible or passive with health care decisions. We have new consumers, willing to try something new if given a rational basis upon which to make a decision. The consumers will require and demand evidence that fits into their "believability index." However, the messages and information cannot be so conflicting that the potential to believe or achieve cannot be conceived by consumers.
I view the Consumer Reports article of May 2000 as a wake-up call. It clearly demonstrates that individuals and organizations can prejudice and bias a profession, but when the ultimate end-user, the consumer, is asked to judge, they will make the right decision. It is difficult to con the consumer; we need to instill confidence and remove any image of duplicity, unprofessionalism, incompetence, or deception from the minds of those who will place their trust in chiropractic ... the consumer of tomorrow. Are we ready?
Louis Sportelli,DC
Palmerton, Pennsylvania
Click here for previous articles by Louis Sportelli, DC.


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There have been numerous theories [5] about the mysterious disappearance of the plane; but in the end, government officials are still unable to locate the plane [6] and provide conclusive explanation about what happened to MH370.
It has been an agonizing week for families and friends of the passengers and crew of MH370. Many have expressed disappointment and anger over the lack of any update about MH370. Some have turned to cyberspace to write what they feel. For Lokman Mustafa, he hopes to see his beloved sister [7] again:
At this trying time, I find comfort and strength in the words of encouragement and consolation extended by colleagues, relatives and friends to me and my family.
But truthfully, we are prepared for Allah's will, be it good or bad news.
My sister is a kind-hearted person, and I would miss her dearly if things turned out for the worst.
Have I said my last farewell to my beloved sister, the youngest among my siblings? Time will tell.
Maira Elizabeth Nari, whose father is the chief steward of MH370, often tweets her longing to be reunited with her father. She also thanked everyone who sent their messages of support.
I miss him so much. Sigh..
— . (@Gorgxous_) March 13, 2014 [8]
You know what makes me keep on going? Supportive family members, friends & all of you who never stop giving positive support and prayers.
— . (@Gorgxous_) March 9, 2014 [9]
Ceekay is moved [10] by the Twitter posts of Maira:
Reading what Andrew's daughter tweeted yesterday brought tears to my eyes as I tried to remember when was the last time I met him and what was said between us as we parted for I, like everyone, take for granted that we will meet again on some other flight.
MH370 inspired many Malaysians to unite and show solidarity for all relatives and friends of the passengers of the flight. Razlina Yakub is hoping for a miracle [11]:
I hope all Malaysians will keep imagining wonderful imaginations about our MH370.
But most of all, most important of all, never stop praying. Never give up hope, never give up.
I believe in miracles. Miracles happen.
When people have so many speculations, let us pray for a miracle, and our MH370 will come back, safe and sound.
Santhini Subramanyah urged everyone to continue hoping [12]:
This note is especially dedicated to the Family members of the passenger who boarded the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. No matter what happens never let go the rope of HOPE [13]! Stay STRONG! I bet your loved ones wanted you to be that way.
The hashtag #PrayForMH370 [14] is used by netizens to comfort and support the relatives of the passengers of MH370.
"Please Share Your Prayers for #MH370 [15]" pic.twitter.com/MfpvmETNmZ [16]
— BERNAMA Radio24 (@bernamaradio24) March 13, 2014 [17]
This is nice. #PrayForMH370 [18] pic.twitter.com/DKKEzO1YnG [19]
— YasminNorah (@YasmineHaron) March 13, 2014 [20]
Please be safe #PrayForMH370 [18] pic.twitter.com/LIwIwdGh5O [21]
— Tired (@Kimmy29vip) March 13, 2014 [22]
TOUCHING PHOTO: #MH370 [15] projected onto a building in Shanghai Wednesday.
#PrayForMH370 [18]
#MalaysiaAirlines [23] pic.twitter.com/dNMvuCF6Dm [24]
— Missing Flight MH370 (@ClubSkygeng) March 13, 2014 [25]


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Contact OSDRI Law
Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Rhode Island's primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Johnston, OSDRI's mission is to strengthen the veteran community by providing crucial wrap-around services.
Contact Us
(401) 383-4730
(401) 383-9107
1010 Hartford Ave.
Johnston, Rhode Island 02919


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A mid-1800's architectural wonder helped make Chicago the city it is today. The 96-mile Illinois & Michigan Canal (I&M Canal) connected the Great Lakes in Bridgeport, Chicago to the Illinois River at LaSalle-Peru, and amazingly unique towns sprung up that maintain their authentic charm to this date.READ ON!
Freedom. The Open Road. The American Dream. All are still alive on The Mother Road. The nostalgia of diners, museums, tourist stops and neon lights are there for you to visit as you make the drive from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA. You can still get your Kicks on Route 66!READ ON!
A visit to Starved Rock State Park consists of many sights to behold, including breathtaking views of its many canyons and awe-inspiring scenes of eagles flying during the winter month.READ ON!
The Heritage Corridor is filled with events that are waiting just for you. Live music, fun festivals, learning programs, and active adventures await.READ ON!
Are you looking for a specific type of place to visit in the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor? If you're a craft beer fan, you will love the Heritage Corridor Ale Trail? Seeing a thrilling journey or just an escape, check out Adventure Outside Chicago. We've got all the info to unlock your next trip right here.READ ON!
Come journey back in time aboard the "Volunteer," a 70-passenger, mule-pulled 1840's replica canal boat as it coasts gently up and down the I&M Canal. Climb aboard for an hour of peaceful, historical fun! Families of all ages, historians, photographers and nature lovers will love this historic journey into Illinois' scenic past! Special group tours & boat rides are available.
Discover the beauty of Starved Rock State Park and read on
The Days Inn Oglesby is conveniently located 5 miles from Starved Rock State Park. This award winning hotel offe...read on
Enjoy the natural beauty that the Heritage Corridor has to offer when you stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites – Peru. This hotel is just minutes from read on
Situated along the Illinois River, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Peru is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore breathtaking views of read on
The Quality Inn Peru is located near Starved Rock State Park. Start your day with free breakfast before hiking t...read on
The Lock 16 Gift Shop is located at the Lock 16 Visitor Center in LaSalle. Gift Shop boasts a wide selection of unique gifts, seasonal décor, cards, books, souvenirs and mementos and exclusive I&M ...read on
Uptown Grill offers polished American Cuisine in a casual environment in the Starved Rock area. Friday and Saturday nights at Uptown Gr...read on
Over 35 years in business in Starved Rock Country, serving lunch and dinner daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. They have live entertain...read on


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Young Government Leaders (YGL) and GovLoop present the NextGen Public Service Awards for superior public service and achievement. The 5th Annual NextGen Public Service Awards will be given at the 2015 NextGen Award's Ceremony, which will kick of the NextGen Training Summit on July 20th and 21st in Washington, DC. This year we have 30 finalists – the NextGen 30. Over the next month we will introduce you to our finalists through this blog series.
Meet the Finalist:
Who: Christine Azevedo, Staff Nurse, Department of Veteran Affairs
Achievement: NextGen Public Service Finalist, Silent Heroes Category
"Christine is an outstanding friend, nurse, daughter and co-worker. She cares for all the paralyzed veterans in her care with such warmth. She never stops caring, when she goes home from a 10 hour workday, she starts caring for her father who has been diagnosed with lung cancer after serving in the Marines. Christine is a bright light for veterans and her family in and out of the hospital," said Sonny Fernandes, a colleague who nominated Azevedo.
Azevedo has spent her entire professional career dedicated to public service. She joined the Army while still in high school and left for basic training just 10 days after graduation. "I served from 1997 to 2004 and during that time I was an Army medic. It seemed like the good fit for me to go from that into nursing" she explained.
But becoming a nurse is no easy feat. Azevedo spent two years in a hospital based nursing school where she got on the job training. "I worked for the VA as a nursing assistant during that time that I was in nursing school. Then in 2006 I got hired as a nurse and that's what I've been doing since."
Now Azevedo works with spinal cord injured veterans at the VA. "I'm also a veteran, so I feel like I have some experience that injured veterans can relate to. I understand a little of what they've been through," said Azevedo.
Her desire to help doesn't end when the workday is over. Azevedo volunteers to help find homes for abandoned pets. "I have been able to find homes for two dogs already this year." She also donates her time to raise money for injured veterans by running races. "I've always been an active person and I really I enjoy exercise. I am always signing up for races that earn money for local charities I've been earning money for the Run to Home Base Program, which helps traumatic brain injured veterans and people with PTSD."
All of the work both on the job and off could stress the average person out, but not Azevedo. "I'm ex-military, so I have pretty good handle on time management. Making sure you get everything done is one of the first things they teach you in basic training. For me balancing everything is necessary so I make it happen."
That dedicated spirit to service in evident in Azevedo, "I am in public service because I like people. I like to help people. It's fulfilling to be a nurse. You see people on their hardest days and sometimes you get to see them make improvements that nobody ever expected. It's very rewarding."
We will be talking to all the NextGen Public Service Award finalists in the upcoming weeks. See the full list here. Finally, register to attend the Awards Ceremony to get to know the NextGen 30 in-person!


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Pope Francis, who the Vatican says is still "slightly unwell," has postponed all official audiences for Friday but is working from home.
The Vatican did not specify what the pope was suffering from. At his general audience on Wednesday he appeared to have a cold and spoke with a slightly hoarse voice, and he coughed during an afternoon Ash Wednesday service in a Rome church.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the 83-year-old pope had said early morning Mass as customary in the chapel of the guest house and greeted those who attended.
"But he thought it was best to postpone today's official audiences. The meetings scheduled to take place in Santa Marta will take place regularly," Bruni said, referring to the guest house where he lives.
Bruni said the pope was "slightly unwell".
The pope was to have received executives from Microsoft, IBM and other technology companies and make a speech to them in the Vatican that was to have been streamed to a conference in Rome on the need for ethics in Artificial Intelligence.
The Vatican said on Thursday that the pope was suffering from a "slight indisposition." On Thursday he cancelled a visit to a Rome basilica, where he was due to preside at a Lenten service with Rome priests.


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Conversation during the dean's retreat surfaced tensions around implementing strategies for building an inclusive classroom, supporting productive team or group work and addressing oppressive behaviors. With the goal of helping you to gain a better understanding how you might shape your own pedagogical approach to build an inclusive classroom that fosters student learning and growth, Riley Caldwell-O'Keefe of the Center for Teaching and Learning will draw on Amherst-specific examples and the literature about inclusive and culturally responsive teaching to facilitate a discussion of these tensions. We want to hear what has worked for you, what others might try and where you are wanting to grow and need more support and ideas.
The Amherst College Education Studies Initiative welcomes Sam Abrams, director of the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, as the second speaker of our 2018–2019 interdisciplinary series.
In this lecture, Abrams will address the contemporary debate about vouchers, charter schools, tuition tax credits and how we got here. With particular attention to the case for vouchers made by Milton Friedman from 1955 to 2000, Abrams will trace the development of an idea, its modifications by Friedman's allies and opponents, and its impact in Chile and Sweden as well as the United States.
Outside of his directorship at the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education, Dr. Abrams is the author of Education and the Commercial Mindset (Harvard University Press, 2016). He was previously a high school teacher for 18 years. He grew up in nearby Holyoke, Mass., and earned his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. at Columbia. In addition to privatization, his areas of interest include curriculum design and comparative education. For his advancement of the understanding of Finnish education in the United States, the Finnish government made Abrams a Knight, First Class, Order of the Lion of Finland, in 2014.