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Southern Rep is looking for a new home. The theater, which has rented space on the third floor of Canal Place for 19 years, will hold its last performances in that location this month and will complete its 25th anniversary season in a temporary venue.
The theater's lease in Canal Place ends Jan. 30.
"We will end it with Nell Nolan's annual reading of 'Love Letters,' " said Aimee Hayes, artistic director for the theater.
Before "Love Letters" on Jan. 30, however, Theatre 13's production, "Spring Awakening," which runs Jan. 13 through 29, will go on as planned. That production is part of Southern Rep's City Series.
"We're very close to having a temporary venue," Hayes said.
The space Southern Rep now occupies at Canal Place will "no longer operate as a live performance venue," according to a press release from the theater on Monday, Jan. 9
Canal Place management said Monday, Jan. 9, it will have an announcement soon about what's going to occupy the Southern Rep location.
Hayes said the mall's management has been supportive of the regional theater for two decades, Hayes said.
"For many years, our company has benefited from a very positive relationship with our landlords at Canal Place, Darryl Berger and Roger Odgen, and with their management team lead by Brandon Berger and Lisa Manzella, and we are grateful for their on-going support of Southern Rep," theater officials said in a press release. "Due to recent growth within Canal Place, our space will change hands next month, February 2012, and will no longer operate as a live performance venue."
"They were doing their civic duty, having arts organizations in their building," Hayes said, referring to Southern Rep and its next door neighbor RHINO Contemporary Crafts Co. RHINO recently announced that as of Feb. 1 it will be located on the second floor of the downtown mall. The shop and gallery plans a grand opening event in its new location on March 9.
"We may be moving out of this space, but they've been very helpful about how they can help us moving forward," Hayes said of Southern Rep.
The theater will announce locations for the season's remaining shows once those plans are completed. The theater is planning fundraising on a local and national level.
"Folks get very excited about bricks and mortar," Hayes said of efforts to raise money to find a new home for a theater. Her goal is to ensure that New Orleans has a regional theater similar to those found in other major art cities.
"We've written to our subscribers," she said. "We're going to do the rest of the season, and we're still selling tickets for those same dates and times."
Other planned productions for the season include Theatre 13's "The Divine Sister," a comedy with Varla Jean Merman, Feb. 24-March 4. Southern Rep has scheduled a production of "A Streetcar Named Desire," as part of its regular season, March 21 - April 15.
Related reads
- A tour-de-force performance raises 'Red' to exhilarating heights at Southern Rep, Nov. 2011 (latest regular season performance).
- New Orleans theater scene highlights from the 2011 season, Dec. 2011
- As it marks its 25th year, Southern Rep theater is adjusting to lean times, Sept. 2011


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Full moon program lasts approximately four hours. This program is not appropriate for those with mobility impairment or for children under 12 years old. Tickets are $15; add $5 for an early tour of the lower area, which starts at 4:45 p.m. All guests must be through the gate by 6 p.m. The program begins at 6:45 p.m. After the program guests will be given the opportunity to join the Full Moon Viewing, where guests will be able to view the surface of the moon with telescopes. Costs for this program is $5.
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subset: commoncrawl


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GoingOutGuide Bars+%26+Clubs
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A video arcade with a cover charge? It's no joke. Dave & Buster's is like an adult version of Chuck E. Cheese: a place for playing, eating and -- er -- drinking with friends. Situated in a massive 60,000-square-foot space on (of all places) the top floor of the White Flint Mall on Rockville Pike, it houses an arcade called the Midway (named after the old carnival midways with their rides and games of skill), a restaurant, several bars and even a casino.
The arcade is definitely where the action is, with a ridiculous selection of traditional two-dimensional diversions: the brave new world of two-player virtual reality (VR) games, and even low-tech standbys such as Skee-ball and Whack-a-mole. The casino -- somewhat of a misnomer, since you can't win any real money or even prizes -- is jumping from its 5:30 p.m. opening through closing, with live dealers serving up blackjack to an apparently insatiable throng. There are also pool and shuffleboard tables scattered about the casino area.
As one of the newest of the few nightspots along the MD 355 corridor, Dave's disturbing mix of electronic entertainment and alcohol makes for large crowds and long lines, especially on the weekends. It's a place to play like a child, yet retain the adult vices of drinking and smoking (a lot of both go on as the only nonsmoking section is in the restaurant area). And parents should know they need to accompany their children at all times.
On the downside, you can burn through a lot of cash without realizing it, as the games take ATM-like Powercards that you load up with as much as $20 in credits at a time, and deplete at about $1 per video game (or $3-$4 per VR game). The machines give you an incentive to spend since you get more credits for bulk charges. Add in a couple of rounds of $3 to $4 beers from the extensive bottle and tap selections and a vicious circle can ensue and ruin your pocketbook -- there aren't any happy hours or discounts to mitigate that either.
-- Michael Tedeschi


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I hope a faculty member can answer my question. Are there going to be any new changes to the proctored exams? What I would really think people would like, and would help us students out would be a sort of study guide. I am assuming that there are multiple tests that go out for students to take, but even if there are 100 possible things to study, I would rather know what I need to brush up on. Since the proctors only ask 10 questions for most of the subjects and and they are judged on how well they know the subject matter from just that is pretty crazy and is very hit or miss with studying. I could be wrong, but I would think a decent amount of people have complained about failing proctored exams. This is because everyone goes into the tests blind, in a sense, since they weren't even sure where to start.This is just my opinion and I think it's something that needs improved to better serve the students and their education. After all, even the national exam has study guides out there for it.
Thanks for your consideration and replies
That sounds like a good idea! I will be taking my proctor exams soon (I'm in A&P1) and I'm beginning to stress out what will be on the test and what won't. I would like to know what exactly will be in the exam so that I can study and pass it
I'm this type of person that doesn't like to fail at all so your suggestion just sounds awesome
um im still very confused on the proctors if u are a first year student do u have to do them if so can someone please explain what i need to do im so confused.
All four semesters have proctored exams. They are taken after you have finished all your classes for that semester. At the end of semester 2 and 4, the practicum is done.
The proctors are essay only. Some are open book, but most are not. They are timed, so manage your time wisely. When you near the end of a semester, you will have to submit a proctor request form, and the school must approve your proctor. Study your coarse objectives, webinar notes, and your book notes. Answer the questions at the end of the chapters, and study constantly. There are study groups that may also be of help to you. If you have questions, this is the place to ask....someone will have the answer you need. Good luck.
Well what you will do is take the proctor exams after you completed your first vet tech intro class, Biology and Mathematics. It is a 4 hour test. I believe it is open book for the Biology and Mathematics portion, but closed book for you vet intro class. Hope this helps. You will also need to get someone to be your Proctor. You can go to your local library and the librarian should give you a list of people who can monitor the testing time.
I hope this comment is not taken the wrong way because I am not trying to sound mean or judgemental. I only want to say what I have experienced. I have been to several colleges and universities and have a bachelors degree and management certificate. I cannot remember any class I took that gave an exam study guide. It was up to you to read the syllabus and know all of the information that was presented in class and in the text books. I took my proctors several weeks ago and they were hard. I did not expect any less. I used the course objectives in the front of our textbooks as my study guide. In theory, a study guide for the exams might be a good idea, but you really should be studying it all anyway. You're going to have to know it by the end of the program if you want to pass the national and state exams.
Which have study guides. Also I'm sure all of these tests had more than 10 questions to test whether you knew the material or not.
Message was edited by: Amanda Nichols
You find your own proctor, the requirements will be sent to you about half way through your semester.
Where you do the test is totally up to you.
I LOVED your quote, Robyn - "I took my proctors several weeks ago and they were hard. I did not expect any less. I used the course objectives in the front of our textbooks as my study guide. In theory, a study guide for the exams might be a good idea, but you really should be studying it all anyway. You're going to have to know it by the end of the program if you want to pass the national and state exams."
Soooooooooooooo true. Just studying the study guides to get a passing grade is mediocre. If this is someone's future career that has a passion for animals, they should want to be their BEST! The animals and owners we will impact in our future careers deserve the BEST we have to offer! If I ever have to see a doctor or a nurse for a serious disease later in my life, I want the BEST, not the mediocre ones who "just got by".
Don't like the easy way? You'll love this: several decades ago, a veterinary college in England had gotten hold of a thyladon skull and asked students to identify it in an oral exam. Acceptable answers were thyladon, Tasmanian tiger, or "I have no idea."
Seriously, though, while I don't want a guide to the exams, I would like an exam format that tests a wider range of knowledge. Ten representative questions from hundreds of pages of text are not really an accurate measure of what the student has learned.
It would also be helpful to see the exams after they have been graded, so I know what I got right and what I need to review.
My impression is that in the past, proctored exams were deliberately made difficult and daunting in order to show accrediting authorities that Penn Foster's vet tech program was "real." Hopefully, the desire to impress or intimidate others is part of the "old" program, and the new will concentrate on what is best for the students' future careers.
Thanks for reading this whole spiel.
Sorry, I meant thylacine.
Dr. Hurrell I feel like I need to pipe in on this one. I see alot of people stating how other colleges don't give out study guides for their tests, that you are just expected to study and know it. As much as I do agree that you need to study and know your material- tests are hard...and not in the way you think I mean. It is very stressful trying to prepare yourself for a test that you have no idea how it will be given, since there are so many formats. You can know everything but some people sit in front of that test and go blank because of the anxiety of it all. That being said I would like to mention that asking for this kind of study guide is not a new thing. You, yourself offered Review Questions and Answers for Veterinary Technicians, 4e: Thomas P. Colville DVM MSc: 9780323068017: Amazon.com: Book… for students to study for the VTNE. And this is not something I've seen for just Vet Techs, I've seen study guides for nurses, paralegals, GED, SATs and so on.
So as much as everyone is kind of hounding on the fact that we all need to know our stuff, not everyone does well in the testing environment and having study guides such as these would make it alot easier to face the exam with the actual reason we are taking the exam- to pass it to the best of our ability- instead of agonizing over the actual test itself.
I Definitely see your point and I agree to an extent, but even in a regular class room they do study guides, the one near my home, gaston colleges program has a 99% pass rate. With this being said, we have to learn on our own and yea it's part of the program but some of us did not have A choice bc work, family etc. I love this school but its so difficult bc we don't get much help, hence why motivation is hard for me, bc I'm like am I even learning Anything bc of all the information I believe something would be nice! Can anyone tag any teacher or Doc Jim to this bc I can't thanks in advance!
I agree. I went to UW-River Falls and we never got study guides. We had to study the material we had learned throughout the year. None of us want to sound harsh. My friend went to Globe for vet tech and they didn't recieve study guides either. I have taken the proctor exams and they are tough but study your material and you'll do good. I think the nerves get the best of ya and it startles people when they see the packet!!!
STUDY TIP: I take notes from every book (especially on things that i'm weak in) and then i put pg numbers every so often. That way if you have any open book exams you can go back into the book for more info quickly. I also write down or highlight any questions i get wrong on tests. (again to focus on your weak points) I think of the study guides as basically more notes. And since PF so nicely wrote them i think they have very good info to focus on.
I agree Robyn, It could be very easy to get through these courses, but then you'll never pass the boards. It is very important that you take it seriously and know the materials and understand it. That is why this is not a good forum for some people. It is very much a program for people who can and will do the work without a teacher pushing them two times a week in a classroom!
james.hurrell any idea?
Hi, Amanda! Good question!
We are looking at some Proctored Exam ideas. We have not looked at the Study guide idea yet. Please read my response to Robyn's post. Haaaahahahaa............ as you can see, I have some pretty strong feelings about "the easy way". Not that Study Guides are the "easy way". But if someone invests the time into learning the objectives, takes good notes in Webinars, studies those notes before online Exams and the Proctored Exams, they should do very well on the Proctored Exam. Thank you for your idea. My Faculty TEAM will definitely look at this idea.
I think ALL students will LOVE when we roll over to recorded lectures in all courses. That way, you all will be able to take notes, replay the recorded lectures if you need to, review those notes before exams, and really grasp the material even better. When this starts to occur in the next few weeks, Webinars will then be used by Faculty to enhance the learning of the material, with Q&A sessions, or overviews of key points, or perhaps Case Studies during the Webinars. Stay tuned!
The current and archived webinars are an excellent idea. Hence, listening the lectures, taking notes, paying attention to the pronunciation of the medical terminology, and reading the academic books, all that solidify our knowledge. Thus in my case I am learning for life, not to pass or barely scrape through the tests, exams, proctors, but to know/remember the essentials which I will certainly need when working in the clinic or the academic environment.
I am not a great supporter of the Study Guide learning, as it is in many instances a narrow interpretation of what was already written in the textbook, and if I wanted to know more information to widen my knowledge, I had to pursue my research elsewhere, which satisfied my curiosity/interest well.
I have noticed that Dr. Hurrell use the name Penn Foster Academy, and the Academy is a place of study in a special field. Thus for study is the devotion of time and attention to acquiring knowledge, especially from books (electronic, hard or paper backs it does not matter), as long as we are absorbing the information. Sorry, I am off my soap box, and let the other students share their opinions.
I am looking forward to the lectures, I think that they will help as well. I like the idea of webinars going over key points, that would help when studying as well. I think I just feel a little overwhelmed at the moment getting to the end of the semester going and back over all of the information that took almost a year to get through and learn. There was a good point made to use the study guides for each subject because there are key points in the front and that does make it more simple. Mostly I suppose my issue is with there only being 10 questions for each test on the proctored exams, it just seems like such a narrow judge of how well the material was learned, but that's just an opinion. I'm sure this is in consideration to the time it takes to do proctors in the first place, but it doesn't seem ideal to me is all.
I agree! It's stressful enough to study for the final 3-4 classes worth of material and then take all the final exams in one sitting. The study guide is a wealth of information for a whole course. It would be helpful to know exactly what to study for especially for several courses. I have an issue with the 1 hour time allotted for each exam and I agree with having a short study guide to prepare for the final. That would help so much!
I can't wait for the recorded lectures. I just started diagnostic imaging, so far this class has been the hardest for me. It would be nice to be able to start the lectures from the begining of the course, and watch them as you progress through the course. I can't wait to see them!
Think of taking x-rays as being the same is taking pictures with your digital camera, Linda. The only difference is the radiation source - light versus x-rays. Once you look at x-rays as "taking pictures", all of the physics of the x-ray machine (aka the "Ray Gun") starts to make more sense.
THanks Dr. Jim. I think once Ihet to the second part of positioning, I will grasp it better. It's just for some reason the exposure and parts and functions won't sink in. I think I might have a learning disability when it comes to film exposure. I have a super nice Nikon camera, my brother has acannon, and his girlfriend has a Sony. We have afamily photo taking contest just about weekly. Our local tv station has a segment on Fridays where they shopi chooses submitted photos at the end of the 5pm newscast. We are always battling to get our wildlife photos on there. They use their cameras fully, all the setting in manual. I have books and magazines about digital photography, and still can't grasp it. They try to teach me all the time. I just gave up and photograph everything in auto setting. I am just finished the second lesson, and although I've been getting the self check answers right, without looking them up as well as the end of chapter questions right, I don't know why. Which I know will be a big problem when it comes to proctors, because you don't only need to know the answer, you need to be able to explain why. I will just keep going over the objectives. I think this is the course that is going to challenge me this semester, it's so weird how some people are great at certain subjects and lousy at others!
I've been a Radiology Tech, (R)(ARRT) since May 2010 and never heard the X-ray tube referred to as a "Ray Gun". Interesting. In the Associate Degree Radiology program (Dona Ana, NM), the physics portion was the most difficult; however, don't loose hope because it will finally click. It will all fall into place.
Haaahahaaaaa............. I maybe should have "copyrighted" my use of the word "Ray Gun" for the x-ray tube, eh Donna Vasquez?
I too am looking forward to the new recorded lectures. One of the hardest things for me to get used to was coming into a webinar in the middle of a slide from the previous class. I always wanted to start a lecture series from the beginning but even the instructors did not know when they would be ready to start new. I think this was partly the question/answer time was so overwhelming. I bet it is hard as an instructor to ignore a student just because their question is off topic.
I wish the books also came in audio books. I like to listen to the info while I am driving since my schedule is so busy. Hearing things also helps instead of just reading it. Offering both would be good.
I would love to see Case Study questions on the proctors! Those are my absolutely favorite questions because it really feels like we are in the clinic setting, helping the DVM and other techs to diagnose the patient. I might sound like a nerd, but that makes me excited! LOL
I think the "study guides" we receive with the text books are great for preparing for the proctors! I feel strongly that if one needs an outline of what's going to be on the exam, then one is definitely NOT ready to take the exam, and should go back and brush up on things a bit. In the real world, we are not going to be given outlines of exactly what our days as Vet Techs will be; By learning and knowing everything, we are better equipped to help the patients and clients in any situation.
I think a practice test would be great, maybe even an online practice test where you could keep retaking to see where your weaknesses are! just a thought
I have study guides for all my classes. When I was sent my books for Intro to Vet Tech I was sent four green and white paperback books that say "study guide" on them. The study guide books I received for Biology and A&P1 are a condensed version of the actual textbook and proved helpful when I needed my textbook translated into wordage I could fully understand. Each of these books has section questions and some even have practice exams. When I read about the practicums in the Proctored Exam Instruction Booklet, it even suggested that I use them for review before my tests.
I hope that you have been mailed all of your course material but just in case these study guides do not sound familiar, I suggest that you contact the education department for copies of them.
@Amanda: the study guides are good, but there are things in the textbook that are NOT in the study guide, so you really need both. I like to take notes from the textbook in the study guide, then I have everything in one place for review. I wish there were a blank page or 2 between chapters in the study guide so I could fit more notes in, however.
I kind of agree about the proctored exams (not quite to my first one yet, but soon!). I like essay questions, but I think a combination of two or three of those with multiple choice, matching, and fill in the blank would give the school a better idea if we understand more of the material in the course. (Didn't say true-false because I think a lot of those are "tricky"-type questions) They could ask us about more topics in each course and still stay within the 1-hour time frame. Just sayin'
I agree about the need for a few "notes" pages. The white border of a lot of my pages are filled with questions to ask or in-my-own-words explanations of the subject. I was really hoping that this community would finally have a place for a study group in each course. I tried many times in the forums to get a study group going, even tried Facebook, and always ended with no luck.
I am waiting for my proctor to receive my first set of exams so I am getting anxious to see how they really are.
Amanda - That's a GREAT idea about study groups here in the community. I am not sure if the Jive technology will allow that. Hey, erin.connors..... is this possible?
My name is Ryan, and I am currently studying for my first semester exam. I am however very disappointed in the fact that there isn't any study guides available nor even to know what to study for. As a college graduate from Cal Poly Pomona, I have never hear of a College not giving any direction(s) to students as to what they should be focusing on. At least when I attended the University, the instructors gave their students an idea of what they should be focusing on, no just throw books at them and hope they pass the course. I strongly believe that there should be given some direction for new students as well as Returning students as to what they need to focus on, and not focus on generalizations. RYAN
Hi, Ryan! What course are you currently in?
Hello Doc-
I'm currently enrolled in the Veterinary Technician Education Course. Ryan
Ryan please dont post your Student ID number in the forums. These are public. If you want to share private info start a private discussion.
Thank you Erin for taking my student number off, I wasn't sure if I should have put it on here or not. Ryan
What is the course number for that course, Ryan? That gives me a better feel for where you are in the Program.
hey ryan how did u go about getting everything to take ur exam?
Hi Rebecca...what do you mean?
I like this idea a lot!!
Everyone also needs to remember that the proctor is only worth 1/3 of the semester grade. That is part of the reason the exams are only 10 questions. Plus, someone has to read all of those exams. Imagine sitting for hours at a time reading 50 question exams, and each student takes 5-6 exams. Plus you would never be able to finish each exam in an hour if they had more than 10 questions. I am finishing my 3rd semester and every time I have taken a proctored exam, I have taken every single second I am allotted. Don't get too stressed out, study the guides and objectives, and try to find a study buddy if possible.
Hi Amanda! As someone who has taken the proctored exams before (I believe this is kind of public knowledge as well) they are all WRITTEN/ESSAY type questions.....of course you don't have to write a 5 page paper for every question, but there are no multiple choices....I think I may have had some true/false or matching, but don't take that as definitive because it was last December.
We are given a study guide for the exams.....the PF books they send out all say 'study guide' on them! Its really just your job to find a way to internalize the important information in there. I have my own method, and it got me a 96 on Biology and an 89 on A&P1 if I remember right.....the two classes everyone considers the hardest. If you want me to give you the details on what I do, I'd be more than happy to message you. But like Dr. Jim said, if you take notes on EVERYTHING, pay attention in the webinars (I think having recorded lectures will help people follow along with the book more), and memorize, memorize, memorize....you should be fine.
I studied for my first proctored exam every minute I had time and tried to memorize what I thought would be the important information. Most of everything I studied was not on the test and I had to really strain to remember some of the material that was. I felt very frustrated after I was done since I had spent hours studying material that was not on the test and very little time studying the materials that was.
How do you go about outlining the information? The test book was huge and the information was very detailed. I tried to take notes and felt like I was re-writing the book. I often times felt overwhelmed with so much information and had a hard time choosing what I thought would be the most important.
I am waiting for my grade with great concern. If you could share study tips I would really appreciate it. I would try to study at least two hours a day if possible.
That sums up my point pretty much my whole point, thanks. That's exactly how I felt about the whole situation! Someone earlier mentioned there are learning objectives for the textbook in the front of each of the corresponding study guides that give you a good place to start, I am going to try that this time and see how prepared I feel when I take the proctor. Hopefully it helps!
Well, I pretty much DID rewrite the study guide, haha. I'm someone who learns by doing (so in this case, writing it and reading it), so that worked for me. I pretty much went through the study guide, copied everything, and then went through the actual text books where available and added in anything I thought the study guide left out (for example, italicized/bold words, or an explanation for something that was mentioned in the study guide) with sticky notes. At the end of my Biology course, my 3 subject notebook was probably about 4 inches thick. In the weeks before I got my proctors, I just skimmed and re read all of the information. I think it helped that Biology was an open book test since it is not a VET course. As for A&P, I think the fact that I took it in high school helped a lot and so I can't say for sure if it was my method or just prior knowledge being stirred up. What I do won't work for everyone, and people sometimes don't even have time for it....I happen to be single with no kids, so outside of work (where I'm a vet tech) I don't have a lot vying for my attention.
This semester, I have also started recording the webinars (I picked up a digital recorder for about $20 at Walmart) so we'll see if that helps.
I agree with you. I have not registered yet because I am about too. But I am nervous too because I want to make sure I am prepared for the proctor exams. If you fail a proctor exam there is a fee to retake it.
My biggest issue with the proctored exams is that we are required to take final exams on an entire semester worth of material in a 5-6 hour time period. I have a bachelors degree from a 4 year college and we were not even allowed to take more than 2 final exams in a day. We at Penn Foster are tested on the same amount of material at the end of each semester as I was tested on at a 4 year college; but we are expected to be prepared for an entire semester of courses and take finals on those courses in less than one day. I feel at the very least we should be able to split our exams into two different test days (take half of our finals one day and the other half on another day). Or if they decide to offer the online proctored exams, we should be able to log in and only take 1 course final at a time. I feel this might help people to not feel so overwhelmed with the question of "what to study for" and to be better prepared for each final.
That's kind of my issue, too. It seems to me that if we have 3 weeks to take the finals with our proctor, what difference does it make if we take all of them in one day, or one at a time within the 3-week time frame? The proctor has a deadline to mail them back. We still have closed book tests for the VET classes anyway. That would make it more like a "regular" college where you have your finals spread out over usually a week or so.
I don't know how online proctors would work? How can someone be sure you aren't using your book for the closed-book exam? I don't mind the proctor part, but it is kind of overwhelming to sit for several hours for final exams for ALL your courses at once.
Proctored Exams
What is it?
The proctored exams are simply "supervised" final exams that take place at the end of each semester. Your proctor will be someone you choose who will agree to meet with you to oversee your exam. You are not required to travel to Penn Foster to take the exams.
Who is a proctor?
A proctor must have an Associate's degree or higher to qualify. Your proctor cannot be related to you or live at the same address. You can use a friend, coworker, manager, librarian etc. (Vet Tech has different requirements: no coworkers, or managers.)
When and how is the exam given?
After you have completed all courses in your semester, the school will notify you and your proctor about scheduling the exam. You are given at time period to prepare for the test and your proctor exams are mailed directly to your proctor. Instructions, for both you and the proctor, are included in the exam package.
How long is the test?
The exam is timed and takes approximately 2-4 hours to complete. The test is a combination of short essay questions and some multiple choice questions. You may bring your notes and text books. All exams are open-book except for some Vet Tech courses.
What happens after the exam?
Your proctor will collect the completed materials/exams and mail them to the school for grading. You will see your exam results posted on your student page in 7-10 days. Your proctor will not receive any information, such as grades, since your scores are confidential.
Can I change my proctor?
The school assumes you will keep the same proctor for semesters 1-4. However, you can change your proctor if necessary.
How do I notify the school of my proctor choice?
There is a proctor application that can be downloaded from your homepage in the Penn Foster student area. Have the proctor fill out the form and mail it to the school. You will be notified of the acceptance of the proctor.
When will I receive a proctor package with a Proctor Acceptance Form?
A proctor package will go up on the students My Courses page on the internet when the student is 50% through a semester. There are two parts to this package, consisting of a Proctor Exam Instruction Booklet and a Proctor Acceptance Form. The form will need to be printed out and submitted back to Penn Foster. Students cannot give proctor information over the phone. The information packet must be mailed back to us for review. If the student either does not have access to the internet, or is unable to print the form, they MUST contact us and we will mail out the Proctor Package. If they do not contact us, nothing will get mailed.
What are the requirements for choosing a proctor?
All of Penn Foster's Associate Degree and Bachelor Degree programs require a proctor to be on file. (Within each semester of a degree program, there will be different requirements for students to complete before moving on to a new semester. These requirements can vary between proctored exams, applications projects, research projects, and practicums.) The Travel Agent Program requires a proctor as well. A proctor is defined as, "a person appointed to keep watch over students at examinations." This applies to the final exam on certain subjects within a student's semester.
There are three requirements for someone to qualify as a student's proctor:
Prospective candidate must have at least an Associate Degree
The prospect cannot be related to the student or have the same address as the student
The prospect cannot directly supervise the student in an employment situation (applies to Vet Tech only)
The most acceptable and most commonly used proctors are librarians and human resource representatives, with 85% of our accepted proctors coming from these two areas.
We cannot take proctor acceptance information over the telephone or through e-mail. The student needs to fill out, sign, and return the Proctor Acceptance Form.
If the prospective proctor has been rejected, the student will be notified by mail that they must select another prospect. If the prospect has been approved
When will I receive my proctor exam?
Once a student has successfully completed all regular exams, grades have been posted and an accepted proctor is on file, the proctor exam will automatically be mailed out. The student will get a notification of this.
How much time do I have to complete my proctor exams?
Students will be allowed approximately 5 to 6 hours to complete the proctor examination (time limits may vary depending on program and semester). The allotted time will be stated on the inside cover of the proctor exam folder. Students are also entitled to 15 minute breaks, depending on the number of exams they have to take. This information is disclosed to the proctor on the folder cover as well.
I failed my proctor exam. Am I required to retake the exam?
If a student fails a proctor exam they will be informed if they must take a retake. Not all students who fail a proctor exam should retake the exam.
When will I receive my proctor grade?
When the Education Department receives a proctor exam back, it is graded and posted as separate exams. Once all the exams within the proctor exam have been graded, the student will receive their overall grades for that semester. If you feel you have been waiting an unusually long time to receive your grades please call Student Services immediately at 1-888-427-1000 and verify they have received your exam.
Will I be able to review my exam and answers after I take my proctor?
No, you may call your instructor at 1.888.427.1000 and they can review your exam with you over the phone. You will not be provided with a copy nor will the exam be returned to you.
Other Info
Proctor exams consist of ONE exam for each subject within a semester unless the subject has a paper or project as the final exam. This means that a proctor may receive an exam to administer that consists of anywhere from 1 to 8 exams within a proctor exam folder.
Students that have accepted credits transfer in will receive full credit for a course so they will not have to take a proctor exam for those courses.
But I do agree with you! 5 to 7 exams in one day is too many exams in one day!
My biggest issue with the proctored exams is all the writing! I do not as a rule spend a lot of time writing - everything I do is on a keyboard. ( I think this is true for most people now). With transfer credits, I only had to complete 3 exams at the end of semester 1 and my hand and entire arm was so sore I don't think that I could have written any more if I had too. I was barely able to finish. In addition, my hand was becoming so sore that my writing became more and more difficult to read. I am very concerned about taking the exams in other semesters where I might have to complete 5 or 6 all at one time. Who writes that much??? It would be nice if there was a way to take the exams in such a way that we could type our answers. This would also make it much easier on the instructors that have to grade the exams as they would not have to deal with reading poor handwriting. I also have a degree from a 4 year college and we were never required to take all exams on the same day.
I agree with you 100%!!! I've just completed my 4th semester, working on my Bachelor's degree and it's been the same each time. I never finish my exams! It's so frustrating. For a few of my classes, I was able to take my final exam at home on my student page and it was timed. But it was 1 hour per question, multiple choice. I wish they all were timed like that.
Keep in mind you have to take the entire VTNE in one setting... that is basically a final exam that covers 2-4 years worth of education. And yes you get a study guide, but in case you haven't seen it, let me tell you. Its about the size of the Biology book full of multiple choice questions to try to memorize for the 225 question test. There are probably more than 1,000 questions in the 'study guide'
Yeah, that is the Colville VTNE Review book. EXCELLENT book! There are also many additional study tools for the VTNE, including an I-Phone App that send you a review question daily! One of my former students in New Orleans passed the VTNE by studying with this App. By the way, she was just accepted to LSU School of Veterinary Medicine in addition to being a credentialed veterinary technician!
OOoh can you attach a link for the iPhone app? I have one but this one sounds better...although probably expensive! I think I will be taking the VTNE sometime in 2014? I hope to finish this program next year!
I also like the app called studyblue there is a website and a phone app. You create your own flash cards and can review them on your phone. It can also create quizzes for you from your notes. And, the basic version is free!
STUDYBLUE | Make online flashcards & notes. Study anywhere, anytime.
Is there an app for Android? Thanks.
Hi, luvs9dogs! Good question. Here is a thread where E-books were talked about - Re: Elsevier E-books for sale now - only if you want them :-)
With respect to the original query about the possibility of providing more targeted study guides to asssist us in preparing for Proctors, here's what works well in the law school environment. Many professors make available their previous exams, so that srtudents can see the types of questions contained on the exams. Perhaps Penn Foster could provide a short set of sample questions for each subject contained on the proctors. This would enable students to better understand the FORMAT of the questions. I agree that we have adequate preparation for the CONTENT of the material for each subejct, but I, for one, would find it helpful to see sample questions, so that the format of the exam is less mysterious. Just a thought...
In my "forms" section of my coursework page, I have a "change of proctor" form. Is this what I need to have my proctor fill out?
The proctor form can be found on your My Courses page. Look just below the words Grade History, there is a section Proctor Forms.
We advise students to click on the Instruction Booklet first and reveiw the Q&A. Once you have gone over the Q&A just continue to scroll down to page 5. There are the policies for proctored exams and page 6 gives instructions on how to write an essay answer. Last, there will be some sample questions (with the answers) so you know what the test will be like.
Once you have reviewed all the information and have a proctor in mind click on the proctor form, print it out and both you and your proctor complete it and send to us.
Yes- I sent that in for my proctor approval.
Yes, there is a "VTNE Exam Prep" app, I just bought it, 5.99. I haven't played around with it yet, but it has good reviews.
I agree with you on the time constraint. I also think it would helpful if both sides of each answer sheet were lined.
I just recently took my proctor exams and they were ten times harder than what I expected. My biggest issue is the time restraint. It was difficult for me to answer the essay questions in an hour time limit. I didnt feel that I had enough time to fully explain my answer and ended up short changing a few answers. I also agree it would be helpful to have some sort of guideline to follow. I attended a university for a year and no my professors didnt give you study guides however they did hint to what might be a good thing to really pay attention to. I studied everything from webinar powerpoints to the book to the "Study guide books" and I still didn't feel prepared because there was just so much information to be covered and remembered.
I agree with you on the time constraint! I didn't expect the finals to be easy but I just wish I had a little more time to fully answer my questions. The directions for most questions say to answer in essay form and full sentences and I was doing that but found myself running out of time on all the exams. I felt I was skimping on questions I knew the answers to just to try to fit it all in!
I don't really mind the format, and spent a lot of time studying the objectives in the front of my study guide, but maybe change it to 90 minutes or 2 hours per exam? I would definately have felt less rushed.
I always go in and write like crazy until I get through the exams. I've never finished an exam with more than a couple of minutes to spare. That's probably a good sign though- it means we know the topics well enough to write a good bit about them!
I'm scared!!!!!! I am studying for my 1st semester proctors as we speak. This is a lot for this 54 year old brain of mine! I have even been researching "Brain Foods" to help with my memory..........But I forget to eat them! Well, back to the grind.
Well I took my 1st semester proctors last Friday. I am so glad I kept my grade up throughout the semester, and I hope it is enough to carry me through. I finish every test just in the nick of time, but there wasn't anytime to check my answers. Now I wait, chomping at the bit. I have worked so hard for 9 months, but now, at this point, it isn't an matter of getting an A or even a B, it is a matter of passing. I understand each semester gets harder.......YIKES!! I'll blame it on being 54 and working full time. Yeah, that works
Jami, I agree with your comment about working so hard for the top grade, and then it seems like that goal goes out the window and you just want the passing grade! I've been thinking about that ever since I submitted my first proctor last week...waiting for the grade!
Thanks for sharing
I still have a way to go before facing proctors (I'm in the midst of Intro. to Vet Tech), but I'm a little confused about the exam. Will it include material from every course (Intro. though Computer Applications), or it it the core vet courses; Intro., Biology & A&P 1?
Any Information would be appreciated.
At this time the information is not yet on your My Courses page. Once you have completed several more lessons, you will see the Proctor Exam section pop up. We advise you to read the Instruction Booklet. In there are Q&A along with suggestions on how to write your essay answers and sample questions.
You will find that in every semester there will be subjects that include proctored exams and some that do not. Here is a simple way for you to know. When you have completed all lessons and/or class participations in a particular subject, look just below the subject name. Example: Orientation to Vet Technology. You will see that it says "Course Average 95". That means you have completed that subject, while as with Introduction to Vet Techology, once you have completed all lesson it will not have "Course Average" at all. That means there is a proctored exam for that subject.
This will hold true for all semesters.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the information. I have a tendency to "put the cart before the horse". I will read the information when it pops up.
We encourage and appreciate your ambition. Continued success with your studies.
I just finished my exams forsemester 1. They were difficult for sure, but nothing we can't handle. We study for the exams and are prepared for what ever questions they ask. We as students should welcome the challenges the school gives. It's only going to make us stronger and better at what we do.
Great point to bring up!
I just finished semester 1 exams. The time restraint is a minor issue to me... My biggest issue was that on the A & P exam there were 2 questions (heavily weighted) that addressed very obscure things. One was not mentioned in the Study Guide or in any webinar I attended. It only had 1 paragraph in the back of the book. Also, on the Intro to Vet Tech exam they included 2 items from the Orientation to Vet Tech course. The exam should have been entitled Orientation/Intro to Vet Tech. Makes me nervous to study for the next exams...The A&P courses have a ton that IS mentioned much less the obscure things we need to guess will be on the test. Frustrated because I studied a ton. I am a good student also. I have a double major BA and graduated with a 3.6-3.8 gpa.
I agree with you, Shelly. I just finished my semester 2 exams. There is so much material to cover and you have just a few questions to answer - some of which are about very minor things that you will never have to deal with in clinical practice. I don't believe these exams are a good reflection of the basic knowledge that you have when you complete the courses. I would rather see a 100 question multiple choice exam in each course as it would give a better assessment of your overall knowledge of the subject material. Furthermore, that is how the VTNE and state board exams are set up so it would give us more practice in taking those types of exams.
I'm just looking ahead...what courses have proctored exams in semester 2?
I actually enjoy the essay format. I've had an occasional question that stumped me, but usually I know something (maybe/for sure not everything haha) about a topic so I can get something going with my answer. Sometimes I leave space and go back to add to after I finish if I have time. A lot of times after I've answered a few other questions the brain cells kick in and I remember more...
I guess I'v been lucky, but most of the proctors I've had seem to have focused on pretty significant topics.
I am anxious about the VTNE though. It is a new format and I'm hoping to use some of the sites that Dr Jim has put on the community to prepare...
Dana Hannan where are the postings with the sites from Dr. Jim about the VTNE??
I Agree. I study constantly and yet the questions on the final seldom are the material I studied. If we could be given an idea as to what areas they will cover it would be less frustrating.
AMEN IDK why they want give a little bc when you take the proctors its like a shot in the dark and you pray you get passing grades and its so nerve racking
I just took my proctor exam today, and it was so hard. I tried my best to study, but some of the questions were not familiar to me. I've always found it hard to study for things because I tend to get overwhelmed. It was extremely hard and I hope I pass. What do you have to have to pass? I feel like I did a horrible job. If I do fail, Do I just take it again? Also I have another question, I got a letter from Penn Foster saying in order for them to send me my re-enrollment form they need proof that I finished HS, but wouldn't I already done that before I started this program? Any advice or answers will help!
Thank You


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Prepare for attending college fair
Question: What should I know before I attend a college fair?
Answer: The annual National College Fair is coming to the Washington State Convention Center on Nov. 14 and 15. It is very well attended, especially on Sunday, making it wise to have a strategy before you go. If you want a list of schools that will be participating at the fair, search for NACAC on Google and follow the link for college fairs. Here you will find the schools that will be attendance and can also sign up for registration. This new feature allows you to register either online at home or at a kiosk at the fair itself. By entering your demographic information once, you will receive a barcoded pass card that can be flashed at each booth, allowing you to receive mail such as a view book or catalog from each college of interest. You will not need to fill out your name and address at each table. This will hopefully free up students and parents to spend more time asking questions of the college representatives and peruse literature about their schools.
I suggest that students come with a plan in mind so that they can use their time wisely. I would figure out in advance which schools they are interested in learning about, and do some research about that school prior to the fair. This way, you are not asking the college reps questions that could easily have been answered online. I suggest that you bring a notebook to take notes and keep the cards or contact information of the college representatives whom you spoke with in case further questions arise that cannot be found on their Web sites. I would ask questions that are more intangible, such as the culture of the school and the types of students who might do best at that particular school, instead of the size and the criteria for admission.
Throughout the day, there will be opportunities to hear talks about everything from financing your education, athletics and the NCAA, to essay writing, admission to selective schools and college testing.
College admission advisors like myself will be stationed at the fair to offer free advice for students and families seeking guidance.
Joan Franklin can be reached via her Web site at www.collegesource.org and by phone at (206) 232-5626.
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22 Easy Pie Recipes for Every Occasion
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Old Fashioned Peach Cobbler
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Old fashioned peach cobbler gives you that great peach cobbler taste passed down from your great-great-great grandmother. This homemade old fashioned peach cobbler recipe is sure to bring back nice memories of old-time dessert taste.
Cooking Time: 45 min
- 4 cups sliced peaches, canned or fresh
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted
- 1 dash of nutmeg
- Cinnamon, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 cup water (if using canned peaches)
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Place in unbaked pie shell and cover with crust.
- Place fork holes or knife slices so steam may leave pie; sprinkle top with sugar.
- Bake for approximately 45 minutes in 325 degrees F oven.
Hey, did you enjoy this tasty recipe of peach cobbler? Then check out our collection of 30 "Peachy" Peach Cobbler Recipes for more.
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roseirishrose54 58 92311
Dec 30, 2013
It never ceases to amaze me how many people come here and gripe! Good grief. If you want a cobbler recipe search the site for one or better yet read the rest of this as at the bottom of the recipe it gives you 30 more cobbler recipes.!!!!! This is actually a true cobbler look it up.
kpoulos 2254303
Nov 05, 2014
Nope. Not a "true" cobbler. Maybe a "sort of" cobbler or "what my family calls" cobbler. Only one definition could remotely call this cobbler. The other dozen or so that I read all have key characteristics that do not fit this dish. The bottom crust is most disqualifying. Several also refer to a deep dish. It is fruit, cobbler is usually fruit. I'm sure this is a yummy pie.
Jul 24, 2012
Gee - I wonder why they are not responding to our comments? Truthfully - I WANT COBBLER!!!!
rubybrown 3329500
Aug 07, 2013
This is a cobbler. Look up the word cobbler, because there are lots of kinds of cobblers. Ruby Brown
edier 0547880
Jun 08, 2012
I am very disappointed in this sight because they frequently do not give you the complete recipe or instructions. And, I agree, these ingredients are for a PIE and NOT for a COBBLER. Who proofreads this stuff anyway? I would be glad to offer my services doing so. It would save a lot of people a lot of frustration!
sued2 3343188
Jun 07, 2012
Is there no flour or baking mix in this recipe?????
Jun 08, 2012
No, there is no flour or baking mix in this recipe. -- RecipeLion editor
Chef 5812345
Jun 07, 2012
This is not a cobbler it's a PIE!!
May 27, 2012
Very Tastey
msgraudenbush 1824 032
Jan 21, 2012
do you drain can of peaches....why add water....can you use bottom crust?
msgraudenbush 1824 032
Jan 22, 2012
L Graham
Apr 05, 2013
Recipe clearly states to pour into an "unbaked pie shell" - which means a prepared pie crust. I'd think water would be added if you did NOT use canned peaches, not the reverse.
Apr 19, 2011
Hi thebevanator2aolcom, I'm not sure exactly why that is. Can you please send a more detailed explanation of what's happening to our customer service? Here is the link: http://www.recipelion.com/index.php/hct/contact_us_page
thebevanator2aolco m
Apr 17, 2011
I have a comment...i am trying to register to this account and it will not accept me...what's up? the email@example.com
Chef 4227077
Aug 28, 2010
Missing a few instructions? And I agree, it's a pie.
Chef 5812345
Aug 27, 2010
This is not a cobbler. It is a PIE.
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This deal has ended.
Update: This was a glitch that prevented taxes and fees from being added. It has since been "corrected" by Virgin, so these prices are no longer available. If you're going to London anytime soon (or need an excuse to) check out September fares at VirginAtlantic.com for round trip flights from $411. This is the best deal we've seen for flights to London. For example, there are several flights from Philadelphia for $456, and we just found a flight from JFK to Heathrow for $476.90 including all taxes and fees. Virgin is very clean (pardon the pun) and can be described as a party on a plane. You'll get complimentary WiFi, a free checked bag and a meal included.No longer available


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Eutrophication in Europes coastal waters; Topic Report No. 7, 2001
National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark
Gunni Ærtebjerg (Task Leader)
Jacob Carstensen
Karsten Dahl
Jørgen Hansen
Norwegian Institute for Water Research
Brage Rygg
Kai Sørensen
Gunnar Severinsen
Kari Nygaard
EC Joint Research Centre
Wolfram Schrimpf
Christian Schiller
Jean Noel Druon
Sara Casartelli
EEA Project Manager
Anita Künitzer
|Files available for download
Topic Report
Topic Report Nr. 7, 2001: Eutrophication in Europe's coastal waters [2.25 Mb PDF]
Topic Report 7 - Summary
Topic Report 7, Summary [23 Kb PDF]
Topic Report Annex
Annex - part 1 [2.476 Mb PDF]
Annex - part 2 [2.684 Mb PDF]
Troubles in downloading?
If you're having troubles in downloading the PDF-file, please go to this page.
For references, please go to www.eea.europa.eu/soer or scan the QR code.
This briefing is part of the EEA's report The European Environment - State and Outlook 2015. The EEA is an official agency of the EU, tasked with providing information on Europe's environment.
PDF generated on 24 Oct 2016, 08:19 PM


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The Answer Center is your place to ask fellow eBay Community members questions about buying and selling on eBay, and for you to share your best information, tips, and insights to help other members get answers to their own questions.
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on 07-04-2012 05:36 AM
stillwaitin for an item seller promise to reship.
on 07-04-2012 06:00 AM
You have 45 days to file a dispute (see the Resolution Center). If it's been longer than that eBay can no longer help you..


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Don't let it get away!
Keep track of the stocks that matter to you.
Help yourself with the Fool's FREE and easy new watchlist service today.
With so many people seeing much of their savings disappear, calls for reform throughout the financial industry have found renewed vigor. And after the revelation of the Bernie Madoff scandal, investors increasingly see Ponzi schemes lurking behind every corner, trying to draw unsuspecting innocents into their web.
Yet while 401(k) plans definitely have their flaws, the idea that they're a complete ripoff for investors is a huge exaggeration. Used correctly, your 401(k) can still be one of the most useful tools in your retirement savings arsenal to help you accumulate enough wealth to retire well.
Suffering huge losses
Obviously, many workers have seen their 401(k) balances shrink substantially over the past year. From estimates made by the Employee Benefits Research Institute, typical workers with at least 10 years of job tenure have seen losses of between 20% and 30% in their account balances since the beginning of 2008 through the end of January 2009.
Moreover, given that those estimates are more than a month old, you might have suffered even more pain from your plan account since late January. So, are 401(k)s really just a tool developed to ruin your retirement?
A conspiracy?
It's easy to create a reasonable-sounding conspiracy theory behind 401(k) plans. Back before 401(k) plans existed, many companies offered traditional pension plans to workers that would pay a certain monthly benefit for the rest of their lives after they retired. Workers didn't have to do anything to get that benefit -- rather, it was all up to employers to figure out how to invest so that they'd have enough money to pay their workers' retirement benefits.
Now, though, traditional pensions are becoming a thing of the past. Huge pension liabilities are part of the problem faced by long-time American institutions like General Motors (NYSE: GM ) and Ford (NYSE: F ) . Several years ago, large companies like Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ ) and IBM (NYSE: IBM ) started freezing their traditional pension programs and encouraging 401(k) participation in their place.
More recently, though, companies have started looking at their 401(k) programs as places where they can cut costs. Many struggling employers, including Motorola (NYSE: MOT ) and UPS (NYSE: UPS ) , have suspended or discontinued making matching contributions to 401(k) plans. With corporate profits down, the profit-sharing contributions that some employees enjoy might be the next thing to disappear. And while some employers insist that these cutbacks will be temporary, workers need to prepare to take sole responsibility for using their retirement accounts to greatest effect.
Why it's not a Ponzi scheme
Regardless of whether you believe the policy behind 401(k) plans is flawed and has merely served to help employers get the monkey of paying employee benefits off their back, you can't blame investment losses in your 401(k) account on a grand conspiracy.
In fact, you may end up better off than some with traditional pensions. Employers haven't had much better luck with their investments than workers, as companies like Northrup Grumman (NYSE: NOC ) have faced massive pension shortfalls. Meanwhile, the government agency that backs up employer pensions, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, already faces a huge deficit and could see additional losses. Although the government will likely ensure that pension recipients are made whole, it could just add to the trillions spent bailing out the economy thus far.
Meanwhile, your 401(k) remains a huge and completely legal tax shelter opportunity, letting you defer tax on as much as $22,000 in 2009 if you're 50 or older. That could add up to tax savings of $7,700 for those in the highest tax bracket -- an amount you'd be hard-pressed to match with other tax-cutting techniques.
For more on protecting your retirement, read about:
- Do this before you lose everything.
- Why stocks are a better bet than ever.
- Can you deal with another 40% loss?


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Constitution Week 2009
Contact: Carlin Timmons, (843) 881-5516
Join the National Park Service in celebration of Constitution Week by attending one of the free special events scheduled September 17-23, 2009 at Charles Pinckney National Historic Site at 1254 Long Point Road in Mount Pleasant. The park preserves the last 28 acres of Snee Farm, a plantation that was once owned by Charles Pinckney, a principal framer and signer of the U.S. Constitution.
On Constitution/Citizenship Day, Thursday, September 17 at 10:30 a.m. the park's annual naturalization ceremony will be held when up to 150 candidates will be sworn in as America's newest citizens. The public and school groups are invited to the free program, and are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets as seating will be limited.
Throughout the week visitors may take part in the "I Signed the Constitution" program, signing a scroll that will be sent to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the city where Charles Pinckney and 38 other delegates signed the world-changing document on September 17, 1787.
All events are free. For more information or group reservations, please call the park at (843) 881-5516.


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Kill your sacred cows.
Flexible, aggressive businesses need to concentrate on the competition. They do not need to waste energy worrying about hurting people's feelings.
Whether it is being thin-skinned, political correctness or delusion, companies can create barriers to success by limiting internal communication.
I first came across this idea in Jim Collins' "Good to Great." He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the truth. Not the truth we want to hear — the real truth. The phrase "It is what it is" from the sports world describes the effort to confront reality without explaining it away.
Collins has a section on how Pitney Bowes destroyed the much-larger Addressograph. The theme for the chapter is "Facts are Better Than Dreams." He goes on to describe how the annual management meeting at Pitney Bowes consisted of 15 minutes of feel-good reports and two hours worrying about less-than-optimal performances.
The monthly sales meetings were more intense. Everybody wore their big-boy britches to these meetings. There was no doubletalk or glossing over bad news. Everyone was empowered to hold each other accountable. Voices were raised. They debated, but there was no coercion.
By being truthful and passionate about success, profitable behaviors continued and unprofitable actions were stopped.
When thinking about free and open dialogues, I thought of my artist friends. They are always teasing each other and mocking their failures. The stakes are too high to screw up a $500 gig when that money will buy groceries for a week. Nobody worries about hurt feelings if they have to choose between a show with 200 attendees or one organized by their friend with five tickets sold.
The art scene continues to grow and thrive because talent and success are celebrated more than connections and familiarity. You can see Grand Rapids grow up now because idiots and bad ideas are mocked and tormented. An inherent West Michigan boosterism is tempered by a growing big-city cynicism.
Much of both is enabled through social media.
So, what do you do to foster open and honest discussion in your business? Do your employees have the ability to criticize your most cherished project? Or are they intimidated into following the company line?
Because, that line leads straight to mediocrity.
Steven Geoffrey de Poloworks in foundation relations at Grand Valley State University. He blogs for Influence West Michigan, a weekly business e-pub from Business Review. He is a strong supporter of Kids Food Basket and a board member of the Local First Educational Foundation. Feel free to friend him on twitter.


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Reading Group Guide
Reading Group Guide
- Jewel's mother referred to the stories of who Jewel was and where she came from as "stones in your pocket." What did she mean by this? What were Jewel's "stones" and how did they affect the course of her life?
- "I say unto you that the baby you be carrying be yo' hardship, be yo' test in this world. This by my prophesying unto you, Miss Jewel." These words of Cathedral not only carried great portent, but also haunted Jewel throughout her life. Discuss the various implications of Cathedral's prophecy.
- With this same statement, the author interjects a spiritual element to the story. Is it believable? Or does it seem to run counter to the tone of the rest of the book?
- When Jewel slaps Cathedral, it is a defining moment for them both. Besides expressing Jewel's blaming of Cathedral for Brenda Kay's accident, what else did this act signify? Was slapping Cathedral a slap at faith?
- Did Jewel's determination and action-oriented path to help Brenda Kay diminish her own religious faith?
- When Jewel returns to make amends with Cathedral, why does Cathedral reject her and offer no comfort? Why is Cathedral angry and unforgiving?
- Why did the author assign the names Jewel and Cathedral to these characters? Are we to find meaning in them? If so, what?
- Jewel's attitude toward blacks and her understanding of racial issues evolved after she moved to California. Was she able to overcome all of her prejudice? Did she eventually see blacks and whites as equal?
- To what degree did the differences between the racial attitudes of the south and those of Los Angeles affect Leston's ability to adjust to life in Los Angeles?
- Is Leston a racist? Discuss his attitude toward blacks.
- Was Jewel's decision to move to California based solely on her desire to get help for Brenda Kay or was she just as eager to climb out of the ignorance and stagnation of being "white trash?"
- Can any of Jewel's determination to do better for herself, for Brenda Kay, and for her family be attributed to Missy Cook, the grandmother whom she despised?
- What was the significance of Missy Cook burning Jewel's and her mother's belongings?
- What did it mean to Missy Cook? What did it mean to Jewel?
- Is Jewel fair to Leston? Does she sacrifice too much of him, his happiness, and his wishes for Brenda Kay?
- Does Leston die a broken man?
- Leston implies that because of Jewel's fierce love and determination, Brenda Kay would have progressed just as far if they had remained in Mississippi. Do you agree?
- When Leston insists that they move back to Mississippi, did Jewel give it a chance at all to work? Did Leston deserve to live out his life there? Did Leston really want to return to California or was he bending to Jewel's will?
- Does the author let us know Leston as much as we need to in order to understand all of his actions?
- Why does Leston throw away the very lighter that he proclaims is the one thing that will always be his?
- What finally makes him agree to sell the house he built and move to California? Is it weakness in the face of Jewel's fierce will, or is it the strength of his love for her?
- How would the experience of a woman today giving birth to a child with Down's syndrome differ from Jewel's? How would it be the same?
- Jewel considers Brenda Kay both a burden and a blessing. Are these in equal parts? What blessings does Brenda Kay bring? In the end, does Jewel see her as the hardship she had to bear?
- If Brenda Kay had been born a normal child, what would have happened to Jewel and her family? Would they have stayed in Mississippi?
- Does Jewel love Brenda Kay more than her other children?
- Is Jewel a believable character? Is she flawed enough or too good to be real?
About the book:
Jewel is Bret Lott's story of an American family's odyssey from the dense backwoods of Mississippi to the dry heat and bright hope of the city streets of Los Angeles. "Sweeping and beautifully written," according to The New York Times Book Review, Jewel is a "parable for our age." It is a journey out of poverty and out of ignorance driven by one woman's unbendable will, and her unstoppable love for her family.
With five healthy children and a war which allows for her husband Leston's steady work -- "a twisted sort of blessing," as Jewel notes -- the Hilburns' are happy and life continues in a slow-paced Mississippi way. But when Jewel and Leston's sixth child is born a "Mongolian Idiot," as the New Orleans doctor declared, their life forever changes and Jewel leads her family on a journey to California that will bring all manner of hardship and joy.
In post-war Los Angeles, a city brimming with promise, Jewel gratefully adopts new terms to replace the stinging words "Mongolian Idiot" that describe her daughter Brenda Kay's situation. She also learns to replace her own words that sting, substituting "colored" for "nigger." And, most importantly, she learns about the force of one person's will, and about the power of love. With these great tools, she forges a mother-daughter bond that strengthens the whole family, allowing for a life as rich in blessings as it is in strife.
Through Jewel's eyes we witness the progress of her family through the generations against the backdrop of an America undergoing its own myriad post-war transformations. A vividly-drawn, indomitable heroine, Jewel's actions define the intensity of mother-child relationships and the depth of family love. "In Jewel's crude but generous understanding," says The Dallas Morning News, "we find not only the human condition, but compassion for the human condition -- and the redemptive power of love..."
Praise for Jewel:
"Bret Lott's Jewel is a beautifully crafted first-person epic of one poor southern woman's personal duel with God...This is a voice we don't want to stop hearing...some of the tenderest scenes of family love since those in Dickens..." -- Chicago Tribune
"Lott is one of the most important and imaginative writers in America today. His eye for detail is unparalleled; his vision -- where he looks -- is like no one else's in this country." -- Los Angeles Times
"Bret Lott has a gift for making the ordinary seem luminous. In Jewel, he applies his art to a broad canvas and produces what may stand as his masterpiece....Lott matches the honest strength of his characters with that of his prose. His jewel is a perfect, seamless union of teller and tale. -- Boston Globe
"Bret Lott's brilliant novel Jewel is a reminder of one of the chief reasons to read: for the experience, for the story. Jewel is a simple first-person tale of a family that faces life with courage, if not always insight, and grows wiser for the doing. The work has the solid characterizations of Steinbeck or Harper Lee -- and the corollary scope and universality of three-dimensional people doing believable things...Bret Lott's creation of full humanity in Jewel, both in voice and spirit is near-perfect....This book is pure gift." -- The Dallas Morning News
About the Author:
Bret Lott is a native of Los Angeles, California. His parents were raised in Mississippi and East Texas and relocated to Los Angeles in the 1950's. It is this Southern heritage -- all the way back to the War Between the States -- on which Mr. Lott has drawn in writing Jewel. He is the author of five highly acclaimed novels, The Man Who Owned Vermont, A Stranger's House, Jewel, Reed's Beach, and The Hunt Club, as well as two collections of widely anthologized short stories, A Dream of Old Leaves and How to Get Home, and a memoir, Fathers, Sons, and Brothers. He lives with his wife and two sons near Charleston, South Carolina, and teaches at the College of Charleston and Vermont College.


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By Greg Kimball
Special to the Times
Years ago, based on input from my children and their friends, I attended a West Deptford school board meeting to encourage the group to step up anti-drug abuse efforts in the middle and high schools. I was immediately treated like a vile heretic; if dunking stools were still in vogue I would have walked out of that meeting soaking wet.
It amazed me how ardently those folks attacked me for so much as insinuating that our school might need some extra effort with regard to fighting drug abuse. Fast forward another 20 years and here we are killing the messenger again.
First, let's consider what Township Committeeman Samuel Cianfarini said and did, based on two quotes from the Times:
"A township committeeman's query whether the local high school had the reputation of being "heroin high" drew the ire … ."
"A minor furor started when Township Committeeman Samuel Cianfarini told officials in a closed meeting how students supposedly dubbed their school."
He did not walk down the streets of Paulsboro with a plaque announcing that West Deptford High School is a cesspool of drug use, thus denigrating us in front of our wrestling and football arch rivals. He simply asked, based on comments by teenagers he knew, if there was a drug problem that deserved greater efforts than we are currently applying.
It should be noted here that when quoting someone else — which Cianfarini was — the comments are generally not attributed to you, unless, of course, someone is trying to distort the facts.
Immediately the "For Political Gain Spinners" and the "How Dare You Meisters" came out of the woodwork. Their battle cry seems to be that the context in which Cianfarini's statements were made is not important. Excuse me, but in what universe is context not important? How does one communicate exactly what he actually means without a sense of context?
In their hypocritical hue and cry to demand a public apology from Cianfarini for allegedly casting aspersions upon the town, many are creating infinitely more negative publicity for the township than his remark behind closed doors ever could have accomplished. In an adult, constructive environment, which is what the meeting should have been, the comment should have led to further discussions between decision makers to determine if, in fact, further action was required.
Virtually all public schools have drug problems including heroin use, and to think otherwise is nonsense. The fact that West Deptford figured out a way to test approximately 22 percent of its students for drugs is laudable and a good tool in their tool chest. The fact that there are students who have made their concerns known to Cianfarini speaks for their good intentions as well, if not their ability to correctly determine how big in comparison to other schools the problem really is.
Unfortunately, we adults have no idea what heroin use is among the remaining four-fifths of the student population that is not subject to testing, so there it stands. In this whole debacle, the most measured and wise remark was made by Cianfarini when, in response to whether or not he would show up at a future meeting to apologize for his comment, he stated he chose not to comment on the situation anymore. I commend him for his candor, effort, and the ability to recognize a lost cause.
Other than when away in the military and college, I have lived in West Deptford all of my life because I choose to live here, it is by far the best community with the most amenities, a professional police department, and the greatest services in all of Gloucester County. Let us not reduce both our image and substance by conducting seemingly indignant public arguments rather than pursuing constructive solutions. We've always had a good school system; there is nothing wrong with exploring ways of making it even better.
Greg Kimball writes from West Deptford Township.


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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Louise A. Treval, 92, of Grasmere, a longtime Staten Island resident who sang in the church choir, died Monday at the Addeo Hospice Residence, Egbertville.
Born Louise O'Brien in the Bronx, she was brought to Great Kills as an infant. She also lived Tottenville until moving to Guilford, N.Y., in 1982. She returned to the Island and settled in Grasmere in 1994.
A graduate of Tottenville High School, she worked at the former Gimbel's Department Store as an elevator operator in the 1940s. She was also an environmental worker at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, in the 1960s. In the 1970s, she worked as a house mother at the former St. Michael's. Mrs. Treval also worked as a teacher's assistant in Chenango County, N.Y., for a short time, retiring in the mid-1980s.
Mrs. Treval was a member of the American Legion and the Women of the Moose. She enjoyed playing piano, and she sang in the choir at Our Lady Help of Christians R.C. Church, Tottenville. Mrs. Treval also enjoyed crocheting, quilting and spending time with her family.
Her daughter, Lisa, died in 1958. Her husband of 40 years, Thomas, died in 1995.
Surviving are two sons, Richard Ruquet and Thomas Treval Jr.; four daughters, Sharon Mazzotta, Barbara Fuoco, Loree Begina and Tenez Shaw; a sister, Eileen Johnson; 18 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be Monday from the Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home, Port Richmond, with a mass at 11 a.m. in St. Patrick's R.C. Church, Richmond. Burial will follow in Ocean View Cemetery, Oakwood.


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Leave your political affiliations at the door, sports fans. This isn't about who lied about what or who invaded who.
The next 20 slides are about U.S. presidents getting out there and handling the rock, reading the greens and picking up spares. In short, this is a celebration of presidents taking off the kidskin gloves and acting more or less like your average Joe.
Just remember: They weren't always the president, and even while in office they didn't just play for themselves. They played for America.
If the commander in chief can't go out and shoot nine, the terrorists win.


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HOUGHTON - The No. 22 ranked Michigan Tech football team is putting together an impressive season so far with a 5-1 record, but after missing the playoffs with an 8-2 record two years ago, the Huskies know full well the importance of each game going forward.
No game is mathematically a must-win with still four games to go and three 5-1 teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division, but Saturday's game at Ferris State (4-3, 3-3 GLIAC) will certainly have playoff ramifications.
"There's only three teams in our league right now with less than two losses, and we're one of those three," Tech coach Tom Kearly said. "As long as you can keep that string intact you're playing in a big ballgame. That's what we'd like to do is play in a big game every week."
While the Bulldogs have a .500 record in the GLIAC, they've beaten Grand Valley 40-24, and lost to the other two 5-1 teams by a combined 17 points, including a 31-24 overtime loss at Saginaw Valley.
Statistically it'll obviously be a challenge for the Huskies, ranked 22nd by the American Football Coaches Association, to earn their 10th straight win over the Bulldogs.
One statistic that instantly jumps off the page as it relates to Tech and Ferris State is rushing. The Huskies have the GLIAC's best rushing defense (98.8 yards against per game) while the Bulldogs have the GLIAC's best rushing offense (315.7 yards per game).
And FSU's leading rusher isn't even a running back.
Quarterback Jason Vander Laan, a 6-foot-4, 222-pound redshirt freshman, averages 117.4 yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry, with 10 rushing touchdowns in seven games.
"He's tough. He doesn't care where he gets to, outside, inside, he's going to lower his shoulder and try to get that extra yard," said Tech senior linebacker Justin Armstrong, who led the Huskies with 10 tackles in last week's 28-21 win over Northwood.
FSU presents a unique challenge in the sense that they're so heavily run-based, but with a quarterback leading those efforts, that running game opens up the pass just enough to keep defenses honest, even though they would be considered by many to be one-dimensional threat.
"I think they have a very diverse scheme. There's a lot of option involved, but there's a lot of other things," Kearly said. "You have to really play assignment football."
He said the key will be players being able to get off blocks and make tackles in space.
"The people that have done that against them defensively have kind of held them in check or at least contained them," he said.
Ferris is in the middle of the pack defensively, so Tech feels like it can establish the run and open up opportunities for big plays downfield, which the Huskies have done successfully.
Tech senior wide receiver Matt Curtin is currently second in the GLIAC with 100.3 yards per game receiving, averaging 18.2 yards per catch, opening up other options underneath, like tight end Bryan LaChapelle, who scored a 60-yard touchdown on a short crossing route last week.
"Curtin is coming up as a go-to guy for us and makes big plays, and that's what our offense needs," LaChapelle said. "We kind of feed off each other."
Tech's rushing attack will be back to full force with Charlie Leffingwell back in the mix after missing time with an injury. He practiced Wednesday and Thursday and left with the team for Big Rapids, Mich., this morning at 9:30 a.m. It is only the Huskies' second trip outside the Upper Peninsula this season.
Saturday's kickoff between the Huskies and Bulldogs is slated for 1 p.m.


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Western Washington Center for the Arts takes on 'Fiddler on the Roof'
Good fortunes to all, indeed, as the Western Washington Center for the Arts presents one of the mightiest, most immense, most intense and longest-running musicals of all time: "Fiddler on the Roof."
It opened last weekend to near sell-out crowds at the Port Orchard playhouse and will run through May 24 with curtains at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 5 p.m. Sundays.
While it's absolutely monumental musical theater, it's also show that could fall into that category of musical theater that even non-musical theater people can get into. That's because it's not your typical musical, longtime WWCA actor and director Liam Sanchez said, dressed in full yiddish butcher garb, sporting a thick, natural beard that makes him almost unrecognizable. Sanchez says he doesn't usually do musicals.
But "Fiddler" is different in that its story line and dialogue aren't merely a means of getting to the next big band stand, nor are the songs simply sugary stuffing. The story of Tevye the Milkman, his wayward daughters and his community evicted from Tsarist Russia, is easily one of the most emotive, evocative and utterly humane pieces of theater from the 20th century.
And it's all the more powerful within the close quarters of WWCA.
The little Port Orchard playhouse is packed to the gills with a multi-generational cast of more than 50 for the affair — with Carl Olson as Tevye, Leslie Engelhardt as his wife Golde and Danni Krehbiel as his disowned daughter Chava, all directed aptly by the musical theater master duo Jan and Bruce Ewen. It's massive musicals like these that seem to be WWCA's specialty.
Like they say, "It's tradition!"
"FIDDLER ON THE ROOF" plays through May 24 with curtains at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday at the WWCA playhouse, 520 Bay St. in Port Orchard. Tickets and more information, online at www.wwca.us or by calling (360) 769-SHOW.
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WineAccess Travel Log
Read stories from the world's greatest wine trails.
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2008 Hugel et Fils Gewurztraminer Jubilee
Producer: Hugel et Fils
Style: White Wine
Grape Type: Gewurztraminer
Origin: France
Region: Alsace
88(+?) Points | Stephen Tanzer's IWC - November/December 2010
($52) Wilder, high-toned aromas of yellow fruits and game; less pristine than the 2009. Then concentrated and spicy but a bit youthfully disjointed, with a sweet/sour quality giving the wine an edgy quality. There's an oily character and good cut but this wine needs time to harmonize in bottle.


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Fan satisfaction rankings
In a surprising turnaround, the Tigers ranked second among Major League teams (behind the Angels) and 12th among all pro sports teams in a fan poll conducted by ESPN.com. The survey involved more categories than I care to explain, so I'll just let you look at it for yourself. The Pistons are fifth, the Red Wings aren't far back from the Tigers, and the Lions are dead last.
Interestingly, the Tigers placed in the top 10 for baseball teams in stadium experience with the same ballpark that used to draw low ratings. Winning makes any ballpark look good, and losing can make a lot of ballparks look bad.
7 Comments
I'm really glad to see that the Tigers are that well liked– they're a fun team to watch and I stress the word TEAM. I'm also very glad to see that Sheffield is fitting in. I was really worried over the Winter when they traded for him as I thought he could disrupt team chemistry. Its still early but it seems like he is fitting in quite well.
Its sad but true about the Lions. Man, they're a depressing team…
Well, the roster is a done deal now. I hate to say it but as much of an Infante supporter as I have been it seems to me he is probably the one that shouldn't have made the club. yeah, I know he can play CF. But that's a but and an if. And let's face it he is no more a CF than any pretty much anyone else if you had to put someone out there.
If he continues to struggle at the plate and in the field I think we will see Timo Perez or Brent Clevlen get a call. His saving grace is that he can play bout in the infield and outfield—but geez–so can Ryan Rayburn.
Maybe he can turn things around but I don't think he is going to get the proportion of at bats that he has been getting in spring training.
The reason I think they might consider timo is that he had been hitting, hits from the left side (we need a lefty swinger), can play all 3 OF positions and he is not a young home grown prospect that needs to earn his stripes and cultivate his skills in the minors. The Tigers don't have a huge committment to his long-term success and I think they won't worry too much about how much inactivity he might get if he were on the bench.
The leftys have looked pretty darn good this spring-expecially Nate. Bondo will be very good and let's just hope Verlander figures it out.
Polanco looks like he could win a batting championship the way he handling the lumber and you gotta give it to Pudge–he is playing and performing like an all-star.
Kudos to Granderson and to the staff that have influenced his remarkable turnaround at the plate.
Best of luck this year to all the Tigs and to all the fans, wherever they are on this planet of ours.
I know Dan, no one is talking about it but what the heck is up with Omar's batting. I know that he is not a 300 hitter, but he is not a .172 hitter either. I would like to know from Jason if anyone is at all concerned or talking about it???
The other guy that is not batting well is Carlos Guillen, although I think that he will probably work it out. I mean for gods sake Nefi is batting better than Carlos.?? Whats up with that??
I agree, Brent, they are a fun team to watch, and had become so even before they began winning. I got hooked on both the '04 and '05 teams. They have a group of interesting personalities, something Mr. Ilitch touched on a few days ago. If anyone was fortunate enough to see today's game, Verlander and Jones arriving in the broadcast booth unannounced, then taking over the play by play, was priceless.
The Lions, on the other hand, have caused me to stop watching NFL football altogether. I could stand no more.
Funny thing about being a Tiger fan: there seem to be no bandwaggoners.
You're either a Tiger fan for life, or you aren't. No middle ground.
Sitting in the bleachers of old Tiger Stadium as a kid(my gawd, my dad used to flip me $3, which was more than enough for a $1 bleacher seat, a 'dog and a coke), and sitting and talking to all the "old men"(I am at least as old now………….ouch), I was taught to not only respect the game, but to be a true Tiger fan. Their history, the integrity of the franchise, and to always root, no matter what, for the home team.
Even during '03…………..on the radio I listened, hoping against all hope, that they would NOT set the record for losses in a season.
Now, we have once again come full circle(it seems the Tigers are always good at least every twenty years or so……..), and have done it the right way. Home grown players, some additions to fill out the talent, a manager and players with real character, and a team that only real fans can be proud of.
Having lived in California during the '84 season, I got to see the Tigers set the record for best start beating the Angels three straight, to start 35-5.
Being 12 years old, and sitting in those $1 bleacher seats, I got to see McClain and Lolich and the rest of the crew win a crown.
Now……….watching home-grown players like Granderson and Bonderman and Verlander and Zumaya and Inge make the Tiger fans proud……….dare I say, there are few sports franchises that mean as much to their fans as the Tigers. Thank gawd we have an owner who is willing to win, and sign his talent, and keep them together. A fan can ask no more.
The Lions? Yeah………I have neen disappointed, I must confess. Nothing good will happen to them, until Ford sells them. Anyone that can make Barry Sanders quit, is not good for the sport. Picture a Tiger owner making Al Kaline, or Alan Trammel quit! It is unheard of.
All I can say is, thank you Mr. Ilitch. You are a Tiger fans dream.
That's a great bump from 116 in 2003 and 113 in 2004. What I don't understand is how Comerica was ranked 60th in stadiums last year and 16th this year. Shouldn't that number pretty much stay the same?
I remember my first game at Comerica. It was the stadiums first year and the Tigers were playing the Yankees. The place was packed and it was electric, since Clemans was pitching. Then I go down the 2003 year and almost get hit by a baseball thrown by Higgenson in the stands sitting behind the home dugout. There were maybe 2,000 people at the game and the Tigers made more errors then a little league team.
My dad made a comment that he missed Tiger Stadium, not because of the stadium it self, but all the memories that were left behind with it. Now that the Tigers are winning Comerica isn't that new place were the Tigers stink. Its the nice new stadium that actually has heat bathrooms and urinals in them. That you don't have to move around the pillar to see if the outfielder with catch the fly ball along with trying to move your neck and eyes to look past the overhang of the upperdeck to maybe see the ball land in the outfielders glove.
Comerica is a great stadium, it just needed a little winning memories to make it feel like old Tiger Stadium, and it is a plus to go without the obstructed views.