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Shikellamy Scout Camp Dam Dive.
Two years ago I began the planning of this dive. The planning was done within a week or two, but working out the schedule was another story. My dive buddy Shane Keller is a busy man, as am I. But now, two years later, we got it done. During my planning I searched maps, as usual, for the shortest route to get us to this dam. According to my original post, we would have to hike a little over 3 miles in from Rt. 183. This is a tough hike, even without gear, with gear… miserable, and requiring 2 trips. So I had to find a better way. You will also notice, from that original post, that I really didn't know a lot about this dam, as it seems from my time online and contacting people, that not too many do. The information is scattered and a seemingly much forgotten part of history, which is sad, because I was amazed at what I found, as well as impressed and proud of the ingenuity of some of the folks in the rural small town area the I grew up in. I grew up in Rehrersburg Pennsylvania, which will figure into this a bit, as you will see. But we will get into the history in a minute. In September of 2011, I hiked into this location from Rt. 183. This is about a 3 mile hike, perhaps 3.4 miles as I have heard, and it is a rough one toward the end. Coming down into this gap, Schubert's gap, is steep and rocky. The climb back out is grueling if you aren't up for it. I had already decided that I wanted to dive this pond, but had to get some details. I took my dive computer with me that day, and a length of rope/string. I wanted to get the depth and temperature of the water, so I tied the string to my dive computer, and started hurling it off of the dam to various locations, letting it settle, then reeling it back in, the whole while praying it wouldn't get hung up on any unseen obstruction. The deepest depth that I found was 12 feet, and the water was a chilly 49 degrees Fahrenheit. Pretty cold, and not very deep. That is the temperature of a quarry that I like to dive at 90 feet, so… wow. I have the wet suit required for this though, so it's still a go. Now.. to find a shorter route. A few weeks later, I believe we were into early October at this point, I was searching maps on google, and found that my best way in was to try to get into Arrowhead Estates. There are, what appeared to be, dirt roads that would get me close. I had already hiked a trail leading down the mountain directly below the dam, and found a dirt road with a small bridge across the creek that comes from the dam, Schubert's Creek. There is a curious looking round building that I knew I would be able to spot on aerial maps as a point of reference. So, with maps printed and in hand, with notes marking my proposed route, I made my way back to the mountain, but this time to see how far into Arrowhead Estates I could get. Not far was my answer. This is a gated community. As luck would have it though, on that day, the gate was open. Should I chance it? I could get locked in behind that gate. Never one to let much stop me, I continued, this might be my only shot. I followed my mapped route up the mountain. The road is quite rough, but manageable if you are careful, even with a car, but I sure wish I had one of my previous four wheel drive vehicles back again. Up the road I went, up to the old Shikellamy Scout Camp and it's lake. Around the lake to the left, then a left into the tree line, then a right, and up we go. The dirt road held, just as it looked it may on the aerial photos. Homes tucked in trees. Not permanent dwellings, but camps if you will, cabins, but not in the truest sense. They mostly look like regular homes. This community, as I was to find out later, is a part time residence for people looking to get away to the mountain on weekends, or whenever schedules permit. I continued up this road and found the curious round building. Now I had a route, but there was a legal issue. I may be trespassing for all I know. I didn't see any signs, but you don't have a locked gate across your road without a reason. The Arrowhead sign did say it was a private community though I believe. So after finding my way up, I turned around and made my way back down, taking note of some for sale signs on wooded lots. I sure do wish I had the money, as this is an area that I have spent a lot of time in my life, and would love to have a place up here. Nevertheless, it was time to get out before the gate was closed and locked, if it wasn't already. Cringe. Back down the hill, past all the homes I wish I could have a home up the road from, around the old scout camp lake, down the rest of the way and….. the gate is still open. Relief. I passed through, and then parked off to the left. There is a community bulletin board that I wanted to look over and see what information I could glean from it. I got out of the car, and started perusing this board, when not a minute later, someone came driving down the dirt road I had just made my own escape on, and didn't he get out and lock the gate up behind him. Wow, close call. But this was also my chance. Being the honest person I am, I admitted my trespass to him, and continued to tell him what I was looking to do. To dive in that cold pond further up the mountain. He was very friendly, welcoming even, and gave me his phone number, and informed me that he was the President of the Home Owners Association up there, and he would get me in anytime, right up to where I had wanted to launch this little 'expedition' from. Of all the luck! Wow. Kismet. Or something. I tend to fall butt backward into luck, I swear. But I am always grateful, and try to never take it for granted. Enjoy everything. Live a life while you have breath in your lungs. I kept this phone number, got a hold of Shane and told him my progress. We had a solid plan, now just the timing. And that's where we were stuck. Every time it was good for one of us it wasn't good for the other. As I said before, we are both busy fellas. There was no rush, we could get this done whenever. So as it would happen, 2 years after the initial plans were set, the chance arose. We had a weekend that lined up, just one day really. Sunday, the 18th of August, 2013 I woke around 7 am and began going through gear, sorting out just what I would need, and packing it into my car. I had gone to Hershey to the dive shop there the day before, Saturday, because I wanted to make sure I had a full tank. We would each only be bringing one tank, since the depth was so shallow it was basically a large swimming pool. But I wanted to get all the time I could and my tank was down a few hundred PSI. The dive shop is Diver's Descent, and John Weaver (scroll to the bottom) was working that day. He took my tank back for a fill, they have 32% Nitrox banked, so it wasn't a problem to get the fill. I told them it only needed a few hundred and that I would gladly pay for a full fill for their time. When he returned he informed me that it only took about 300 psi, and that he wouldn't charge me for it. What a great shop!! (that's why I included the links). I did purchase 10 lbs of weight, and of course promised that I would be back for another tank fill, they are my local shop, where else would I go. I also told him and another fella that showed up what we were up to after I was asked if I was headed to Dutch Springs for the weekend. Not sure if they found my plans interesting or crazy, but either way, I think my plans are both a little crazy and interesting, and that's what matters. 🙂 So my car is packed, and Shane was already on his way to our meet up spot from Maryland. I met up with Shane around 11:30am, and moved his gear to my car and off we went. I had contacted the fella that I met 2 years ago, in the last few weeks, once I knew that the weather would work in our favor and that plans were still solid. I asked if he remembered me, and he did. Great news. He would also be available that day to get us in the gate. Fantastic. Charlie is a great guy, and when we called him from the gate, he headed down and let us in. He took us to his cabin, invited us inside, and then proceeded to tell us that he will be in and out all day, but he would leave a key for us to get into his place so we could shower, etc. WOW!! Talk about hospitality! He barely knows me, and he has never met Shane before. We talked about that most of the rest of the day on and off. We just couldn't believe there are still people that kind out in the world. We though, being the sort that we are, I suppose 'raised right' would be a term I would use here, were absolutely not going to overstay our welcome in any way. We were so grateful that someone was willing to help us out and get us access to this great little pond. We headed the rest of the way up to, and then across, the little creek, and found a parking spot tucked in the trees. Charlie came up the road a short time later just to make sure we found our way up there, again, what a great guy. We still have an open invitation from him to come up anytime, all we have to do is let him know. I don't use last names here often, in case you are wondering, because I don't want people who are kind to me to be pested.
We unpacked gear and began organizing it all onto two dollies I had rented from Uhaul the day before. I wonder if they have ever had dollies rented for quite such a reason. These turned out to be more of a hindrance about 200 feet up the trail, and we abandoned the idea, and just carried all the gear in two trips, but now we were carrying dollies with us too. It didn't take long though, and now we had all of our gear up at the dive site, almost a quarter mile straight up the mountain from the car. We had done it. All the planning. The waiting. We were here, and it was beautiful.
We did 2 dives, as I just mentioned the first was 62 minutes, the second was 37 minutes. Max depth was just shy of 12 feet, although I did see my dive computer hit 12 once. We did our first part of the first dive following each other, to look around and get an overall feel of what is in here. A few downed trees, a few fish that seemed intent on staying out of sight. It didn't seem that there was much in there at first pass. Then we started looking a little harder at the bottom, and then it began, the search for the strangest discarded thing we could find. Shane won… hands down. He has some kind of uncanny knack for spotting the out of place that I can't explain. The fishing pole… whole fishing pole.. was one thing, and not really out of the ordinary. Bottles, including an unopened minute made orange juice from who knows when, CO2 cartridges from BB guns, things like that. The Naval Flare was a curious object he found. But the best, and I wish I had it on film as he pulled it from the muck and we looked at each other laughing and wide eyed, was the 4 quart sauce pan. He pulled it out by the handle, it was just a block shaped thing at the end of a handle, but as he twisted his hand to spin the object, and the muck began to fall away, it revealed itself. What a laugh we had underwater on that one. I want to say that finding that pot is not so odd, but what is odd is that it is a quarter mile from the nearest very private road. It is 3-3.4 miles from the nearest public road with a clear trail to get you there. So the wonder comes from… who carried that here, and then discarded it by chucking it into the middle of this pond? He also found an entire sleeping bag, still rolled up but couldn't remove it, and then we couldn't find it again later. Another time perhaps. We piled our collected findings on the dam, perhaps Shane got a picture of it that I can include here, but when the day was over, we packed all of that back down to my car also and discarded in a trash can properly. On the second dive, we mostly split up, but kept an eye on each other. Shane was still on the search for that sleeping bag. I on the other hand, was after fish. There are native brown trout in this pond. Not many, but we would see them jumping occasionally, and we were told by a fella walking his dog as we were packing to head up that they were in here. I would catch glimpses, but they would dart away. I wanted some on film. I eventually located a small school of fingerlings in a few inches to a foot of water, at the upper end where Schubert's creek enters the pond, and keeps it filled. There is a downed tree there, with all of it's branches and trunk sections in the water. I had to swim/crawl through this tree, climbing it horizontally if you will, to get close enough for video. I was in perhaps 2-3 feet of water, but the bottom is so thick with muck that standing wasn't possible, and to mess with the muck only stirred it up badly, so there I am with scuba gear, breathing from the tank, in knee to waist deep water. I felt a little silly, but knew it was also the only way. I would get caught up on branches, snagging my regulator hose or my tank. Back up, get untangled, and try again at a different angle. I finally made it into where they were and got a little video before the swam off. I was happy with that. Quality isn't the best, but it's something at least. Then we finished up, got out, changed, and hauled everything back out. And that was that. I called Charlie later that evening to thank him once again and let him know that we had safely done all that we came to do, and had gotten back out of the community. I told him of all we had found, and promised him photos and more information for him to share with his community if they were interested. I will no doubt be calling him tomorrow to get an email address, or let him know that if he wishes he can accept my friend request on FB, and I can get him the link for this page, and anything else that I would like for him to have. Now, for the history of this dam. Upon getting home, I had so many renewed questions. When was it built… why .. was it built. Why was it called the 'power dam' as we had called it when we were kids? I believed this to be just a name that was passed on or we had made up, since the dam does resemble something that could have been used at one time for a purpose like Hydro-electricity. Was it part of the Scout camp (Shikellamy) that is now defunct, closed and the land sold, the camp merged with one just on the other side of the mountain? Why would a scout camp want a dam such as this? The list goes on, but after a few days of talking to my uncle Harry, who has been involved in the scouts for decades, and further searches for articles, I found the truth… and I was amazed and excited to say the least. This deserves a separate article which I am linking to here. Read on if you wish to see the history, especially if you grew up in Rehrersburg, Bethel, Straustown, or Schubert PA. Links to videos that I took during the dive. Some are quite awful. My camera work was NOT on par that day, hopefully Shane's was, but this is what I have for now if you wish to look. Getting Video of some fingerling Brown Trout, squirming through a downed tree, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMFdAdF63A4 WARNING: Cursing in this one! Dropping into the water, gearing up. I almost fell off the backside. The dam wasn't level at that spot. All for a dramatic entrance, we walked in after this. 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9nJ_qjzLuo Just another underwater video, I'm not even sure there is anything to see in this one, and the water was getting murky by this point. We had been cleaning up trash on the bottom, stirring the water up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dvnk3eLLEE Just another random video, shoreline at first, then me following Shane and searching the bottom. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuRY-Vy02pA Searching for trash on the bottom, Shane finds a CO2 cartridge near the shoreline. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF4GpiRU3v0 A fella came along with his dog, named Mellow, while we were down. He never asked a single question, just watched the bubbles coming up. Then he threw a stick for Mellow to fetch, Mellow wasn't real sure of the strange creatures in the water. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMjEspzAoIA The three of us checking out the water right after we arrived, and had hauled all of our gear up. It's a little glitchy, sorry. I was a little tired from hauling gear, so I let YouTube correct the shakiness. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1ny7ve12uQ Just a short video featuring Shane Keller, to show the clarity of the water. I think this was shortly after we got in, we may have made one lap around the pond at this point. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehaFLHKphTs And a few more photo's that I figured I would include.
Thanks for reading, now go find your own adventure while you have air in your lungs. Every day you can take a mini vacation in your own backyard, if you'll only look. Denny
Nearly forgotten history of the Power Dam in Schubert's Gap
I have searched far and wide, for a long time, years perhaps, on and off when the mood would strike me, but now I finally have the answers, and if you grew up in this area, you will find it interesting too I believe. Growing up, we use to trek up to this dam all the time, whether on bicycle, or after we could drive. We hiked in here year after year from RT. 183, a 3-3.5 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT). Not the easiest one either. Pennsylvania's section of the AT is known to be one of the rockiest. I have always loved this hike though, and after pulling off this Scuba Dive 'Expedition', I really wanted to know more about it.
- What did I call this place in my log book?
- What is it's history so that I could write up the dive report/article/post on this dive for my blog?
- When was it built?
- WHY.. was it built?
- By whom?
I am a curious person by nature, and I need answers to things or I simply can't put the thought to rest. I contacted my Uncle Harry about it, since he has been involved in scouting for decades in this area. This goes back into his childhood, and he remembered the scout camp below, describing in detail how I probably got up to the dam by car. He mentioned that there were articles to be found, and that one had been written as recently as a few years ago, so off I went on Google with a renewed vigor to find the answers. He had a few details that got me started on this search, so special thanks to him! Here is what I found….
September 24th, 1906. The Reading Eagle prints a small article titled "Electric Light and Power Bethel"
This article announces that on October 18th, a group of men will be forming a charter for a corporation to be known as the Blue Mountain Electric Company. This corporation's character and object will be to supply light, heat and power, by means of electricity, to the public in Bethel Township, Berks County. The surprising thing, at least for me, is that it goes on to state that the power will be generated by Hydro-Electric generation, and that the water will come from a large dam at the top of the Blue Mountains. Power, heat and light will be supplied to Bethel, Millersburg, Strausstown, and Rehrersburg. It should be noted, that Millersburg is now Bethel as you can see from this map of the area from 1876. I am not sure why they named it twice in this article, perhaps a misprint? Later articles, as we shall get to, name Schubert as the 4th town to be supplied power. It then goes on to name the members of the company, which reads as an almost who's who of family names, names we are mostly all familiar with. If you grew up in this area, you most likely have known of one, or several, of these last names. This is a short article, just a little announcement. But judging by the next write up I found, it was a huge success! And that is where the pride in our little area of the world comes into play for me.
December 8, 1907. The Reading eagle. Only 11 pages in the Sunday Edition, but it prints nearly a full page article on these 4 men and their accomplishment titled, "Blue Mountain Streams Furnish Cheap Electricity, Light and Power for Enterprising Villages in NorthWestern Berks"
Read this article, because I cannot do it justice. Here is my overall take on it though.
The first paragraph states that OUR little area was "far in advance of the average village in that they are lighted with electricity". From Hydro-Electric power! Over 100 years ago! Amazing! Four of our towns, fairly wide spread, were all powered from that one little dam. We had green energy when it simply made sense to harness it, not as a statement. They even mention in the article that for years this resource has simply gone to waste. It goes on to say that two years ago it was announced that these men would be building this electric plant, and that basically many scoffed at the idea and "prophesied" that nothing would come of it and that it was all just talk. It was the idea of a teacher in the Electrical Engineering department of Lehigh University. His name was Stanley S. Seifert, of Strausstown Pennsylvania. He shared his plan at a meeting with several other well known names from our history in this small town area, and after a little checking into the feasibility, they agreed to the plan. They started with a capital of $8,000, the company was incorporated, and work commenced. It doesn't state exactly when the dam itself was physically build, but from what I can gather this was done either in '06, or '07, as the preliminary tests were done during the summer of '07 and it was put into full use by October of that year. My best guess is that it was built in early to mid 1907.
The dam is 120 feet long, and 22 feet high, and extends into the side of the mountain. This, to me, would explain why this dam is still so solid. It shows no signs of giving way anytime soon. It doesn't appear to even leak. Go to the York haven Dam near York Haven Pa (it backs up the water known as lake Frederic for Three Mile Island) and look at it from the downstream side, it leaks. Now granted, the Susquehanna river does take it's toll on that dam. The York Haven dam, but the way, was built in 1904. I only mention so as not to leave that detail dangling.
It goes on. From the dam the water is carried in eight inch steel pipes a distance of 3200 feet to the foot of the mountain where it shoots from a nozzle one and one half inches in diameter to spin a pelton water wheel 23 inches in diameter. The drop from the dam to the power station is 372 feet and can generate 75 horsepower.
The power is then distributed a distance of 10 miles to the 4 towns previously mentioned. It states that the electric plant is a success in every way and that the users of the current are loud in their praises of the conveniences they enjoy, because of the enterprise of a few of their neighbors. Some had power put in their homes, and in the local hotels. The streets were lit. The shirt factories we all remember were provided power. At the point this article was written, and remember, it was JUST after they got the service under way, there were 300 lights in Strausstown, 200 in Rehrersburg, 200 in Bethel, and 35 in Schubert (Schubert is a smaller town, little more spread out in it's set up). It then goes on to list the various businesses, mostly shirt factories, and how many machines are now powered from this new enterprising source.
Of interest is the charges for power, I won't go into them, read for yourself please, but they charged a flat rate per month by what you were powering. For instance, 1 downstairs 16-candle power light was 50 cents per month. If you had two of them, 40 cents each, and the rates kept dropping as such per additional light.
It concludes that many other local areas were going to watch and see how their venture turned out, and no doubt, launch similar plans. "These will have the advantage of the men who engaged in this undertaking for they will have some precedent to go by."
I can't seem to find the links anymore, but the company was said to have run this plant for 10 years before taking it out of operation. I assume it was to move to a more 'modern' type of generation such as coal firing. The company was then sold to Met Ed around 1927-1928 as a lot of the smaller companies were doing.
Thanks for reading. I hope you found this as interesting as I did. That our little area of the world was on the forefront of a technology that we still dream of harnessing well.
Wind Cave
It's about time I get around to this, it's been nearly a year since I was there for the first time. I have noticed a lot of people searching for 'wind cave' and 'wind cave map', and coming across this blog, so I will do what would only be decent, and post a map of this fantastic and fairly safe cave.
It was February 19th of 2011 when I went in search of this cave…well, actually it was February 18th, but I started too late in the day and didn't make it down here in time, so I went back the following day to locate it. I have made one subsequent trip since, on June 9th, with my friend Tom. Like a gleeful little boy, I proudly introduced my my old pal Tom to this wonderful dark earthen place. I would call it a sanctuary, but since the 'kids' find, litter, and paint the walls, …..yea…not so much the sanctuary as I would like. I don't understand it for the life of me. I have never felt the need to spray paint walls, not even in my youth. It just looks hideous. But then hey….perhaps I have a bit of sense. Or my parents raised me correctly, not sure which.
At any rate, this is still a great trip underground into a 'wild' cave. And as far as I am concerned, quite safe also. There really isn't any place to get yourself turned around and lost in here. The whole of it is basically shaped like an upper case 'I'. There are, however, over a thousand feet of passages, and something for everyone in here. In fact, there may be more undiscovered cave in there that we have yet to find, at least as far as the General Geology Report from 1974 goes. I have seen portions that I haven't attempted yet, that are not yet mapped, so it just may be possible, and at one time a fella blasted open a section (prior to the Geology report mentioned) and found more cave, so who knows what is out there for the CAREFUL explorer! I stress CAREFUL! If you do not know what you are doing, stick to the simple routes that everyone follows and just be happy you are there to experience it. A good many caves in Pennsylvania have been blown shut, or gated due to people getting lost or hurt. Do not ruin this for the rest of us. Know your abilities and stick to them until you are better prepared. End of lecture son. 🙂
As you walk into this cave, you don't even need to stoop. So if you have someone in your party who is a little leery, but still curious, this person will feel comfortable for at least the first 50 feet or so. If you don't mind climbing, there is a bit of that as you head straight in, and past the right hand connection to the rest of the cave. In fact, this section, straight into the cave, winds up around to your right, then you can come back to your starting point by following around and under the passage you took in. Pretty neat.
Venturing off to the right at the previously mentioned connection, will take you down a fairly long section that forces you to stoop a bit, but still no crawling needed. At the end of this section is some breakdown (caver speak for chunks of rock or dirt that have fallen from above) that you will need to climb over. This will lose some of your party also if they are not fully into this, but again, they had an experience in the 'wild' without risking their safety or comfort level. For the rest of us….well.
Climb over this boulder, and drop down to the lower portion of the upper case 'I'. In here you will find the best parts of the cave I believe, and the parts that all of my pics are from with the exception of the entrance and the map itself. There are very tall areas, as seen in my pictures, and some very low ones, that will require crawling. There are some sections that haven't been surveyed, possibly because they cannot be gotten into, but I don't know that for sure as I haven't tried to get into them either. One is a slide that sort of disappears to God knows where. I would love to get a better look into this drop off, but not without ropes.
Directions to the hike. Oh, I didn't mention? This is a pretty steep hike, so be in decent shape, or simply take your time.
Get yourself to approximately 618 Bridge Valley Road, Pequea PA. If you google search this, and zoom in on the map to street level, you will see a black car and a white pickup truck parked on the other side of the road on a small pull off spot. Park responsibly, as these two did. You should be able to get three cars in this location at least, and they left room for the third. You can also see them walking the direction you want to travel to the hike, which I will bet is where they were headed.
Once parked, there is a trailhead with an orange diagonal double blaze. Follow this trail across a creek and down a access road to the rail road. Watch carefully for the trail leading up the hill on the left. Follow the trail up the hill and check out the amazing views of the river. At the end of the trail you will arrive at the Wind Cave.
Now, since you may have no cave experience at all, here is the absolute basic of basics that you MUST do if you are to go in here. Take at least 3 sources of light. If one goes out, or you drop them in water, you need backup or you are alone in the dark for who knows how long. There are other things to take that are a good idea (like a helmet) but at least take more than one light source. Absolute minimum. And don't go alone (says the guy who goes alone quite often on everything he does).
Have fun, but be careful, as always, use your head.
Tucquan Glen Hike
Located in the absolutely beautiful area of Pequea and Holtwood are several gorges with swift flowing streams making their way to the Susquehanna river. Tucquan Creek is one of these. Located on a Nature preserve named after the creek itself are several trails leading from River Rd down the gorge to the River. On this particular trip, I chose to take the a yellow blaze, river right, down to the Susquehanna. I then took the blue blaze, river left, back up to where I had started at the parking area.
This is considered a difficult hike, children can handle the beginning portions, but it does get a little dicey after perhaps half a mile to three quarters of a mile. For very young children (mine are 5 and 6 yrs old) I would choose the blue blaze. Both trails skirt the creek, generally along it's bank as close as possible without falling into the creek itself. I generally prefer hikes that stay close to water, and chose them purposely.
I parked at the large parking lot located at River Rd, and Tuquan Glen Rd. Directly in front of the parking area, is a very large rock that I believe is called Tuquan rock. That spelling is correct, if I have the correct rock. The spelling was found in the now out of print book "Caves of Southeastern Pennsylvania".
When I parked and looked up at this 'rock', realizing it is 3 to 4 stories high, I was compelled to climb it first thing. To my incredible surprise, I found multiple small caves, or shelters, littering this massive boulder on multiple levels as I made my way up it. At the very top is a peculiar arch carved at the top that one can walk through, crouched slightly. I was excited to find this, as I had just come from Mount Joy in search of a cave called 'Donegal Cave' and suffered a near miss in locating it, but did gain permission to search the property, and was informed that it does reside on this particular property. When I returned home and consulted the book that I just mentioned, I found a listing that matches what I found, with the clincher being the stone arch found at the very top. This, if I am correct, is know in collection as Erb's Mill Shelter Caves. You cannot see them from the ground, it is only by climbing and exploring the rock that you begin to find them.
I continued on to the hike after about an hour exploring the large rock and caves. I headed downstream, as mentioned previously, on the yellow blaze, river right. I followed the trail most of the way, but when it began to ascend well above the creek to the top of the gorge I decided to go off trail and skirt the creek for photos. I do NOT recommend doing this. It was mid January, and the water would have been incredibly cold if I had fallen into it. There isn't a stream bank in this area, just steep, sometimes vertical walls of solid rock, with some break down that you can hop your way down stream on. At times it was strictly rock climbing, shimmying my way down stream clinging to the walls.
There are many falls on your way downstream. It is incredibly serene and beautiful. The hike down to the river was just over two miles, but again, I had gone off trail and explored quite a bit. If you followed the trail strictly, I would have to guess that the trip is approximately 1.5 or slightly more miles. Toward the bottom of the gorge, meaning as I got close to where it dumped it's contents into the Susquehanna, I was out in the middle of the creek on large boulders, hopping around and taking pictures and video.
I took the blue blaze trail back. Much easier than my trip down stream. I recommend this trail wholeheartedly. I believe the scenery was every bit as good as from the yellow blaze, and much easier going. There is even a wooden bridge that get's the hiker over the one section that has a sheer wall on that side of the creek. Again, this trail skirts right up against the creek the entire way, even more so than the Pequea creek hike does.
This is a wonderful trail system that I recommend to anyone looking for a good hike. There are so many areas to explore in this region, and they deserve much more exploration as this year wears on. Expect to hear more.
Pequea Creek Hike/scouting
I discovered the Pequea area of PA, while searching for a cave. Wind Cave. It's not a tough one to find. Kids find it all the time and party there. It's fairly large, and fairly safe, so I chose it for my first official foray into the underground world. While traveling to Pequea to find this cave, I traveled 324, which skirts the Pequea creek for a bit as you get closer to it's confluence with the Susquehanna river, and it's beautiful. The creek as well as the countryside. The whole of the area. The total distance of the creek is fairly long, 40 plus miles, but this portion, the last 4 miles or so, is the portion I have fallen in love with. The beginning of this section is set in a gorge. It's when the drop in elevation begins in earnest to make it's way down into the Susquehanna. Michelle, Rob, and I kayaked the last mile or so up creek from the Susquehanna, and I knew I had to find a way to run this creek.
I did some research online, I'll include some of that at the end for anyone interested in getting more details. The hike alone is worth it. One of the best in this area that I have seen. Beautiful is the only word I have. The hike, the trail itself, skirts the creek the whole way, even if it is only 1.2 miles. Here is a map showing the start and end points.
Near the green flag is a parking area. Just a short way up the road, just past the ruins of an old hotel foundation, you will see trash cans and the trail head. These trash cans, by the way, were installed and paid for by a local fella who has sort of adopted the trail, and walks it regularly picking up trash that people leave behind.
Do us all a favor and pack out what you pack in.
You will hear, and see the creek a bit, off to your right. Within a few hundred feet you will be next to the creek, and there the rest of the trip. Be aware, that PPL owns the land. They cannot own a creek because it is a navigable waterway, but they can, and do, own the land beside it. If you cross this land to go down creekside and get caught, you can be fined. I do this myself, but just wanted you to be aware also. You really cannot miss the signs though, posted every 50 feet or so on trees. Unsightly. But that's what happens when people cannot use sound judgement and ruin things for the rest of us.
My original trip here was a quick one. I basically ran the trail, so that I could get in to see the whitewater section. To gauge if I was comfortable running it. It's a little tricky, but not too bad, so as far as I am concerned this is a go. I went back however, because not only did I really want to see the area again and take a little more leisurely pace, but I wanted to take my boys to see it too, it's a fairly simple hike. We walked the trail, took pictures, and admired the beauty of the place. It's like being in a church. Simple peace. We walked the entire section, down to where it ends by a covered bridge that crosses the creek. Then we hiked back up to our starting point. Along the way back, we stopped so that I could get a feel for where the take out should be for anyone who may go with on a kayak run, to see where to portage their kayak should they not want to run a difficult section. It's short, but it looks as though the center of it could be demanding if you don't have a really good feel for how your boat will react in currents. I found a great spot…as it happens…right where the sign is posted on a tree warning you of rapids and that you should consider a portage. There is a nice sand bar on river left. So the plan, as it stands now, is to portage anyone uncomfortable with it, around the drops, and then go back and run this with whomever else is on the trip that does want to run it.
At any rate, this is a wonderful hike. It's great for kids also, even fairly young. My boys are all of 4 and 6, and I plan to take them on this hike again. Not demanding at all, just a nice flat walk through the trees by a creek. There are also two nice side creeks that feed this along the way that deserve some exploration by young kids. When I say creek here, I mean a trickle.
This makes a nice relaxing evening hike after work if you live close enough. I am an hour away, and I still made the trek after work. Well worth it.
Some links to other stories about this section of creek, and the hike. http://www.bluemountainoutfitters.net/Rvrtales/pat_55.html http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/204245_Where-is-Suzy-s-Hole--You-think-you-know--Well--think-again.html
Diving and Money – The politics of the Buddy System.
I was out diving with my good friend Kai over the past weekend; it was Sunday the 4th of September. We were setting up for our second dive when a friend of his came over to give us the revelation I am going to try to quantify here. I thought about it a lot the last few days, because things like this bug me greatly. I don't know this fella's name, but he is definitely a very skilled diver. I am thinking he is a tech diving instructor, and on this particular day he was doing tri mix dives (oxygen, helium, and nitrogen). He was also diving solo, and this is where the story spawns from.
There was another fella there on Sunday also, who was diving solo. When you dive solo, this particular quarry makes you rent a locator beacon from them so they know where to find you if something should 'happen'. The cost of the locator is sixteen dollars. One of the owners, or the owner himself, not sure who exactly owns this place asked him to buddy up with the other solo diver, the fella that was telling us this story said he would, but then wanted the sixteen dollars refunded. The quarry operator declined, citing that it was a bad year.
While relaying this story to us, this diver expounded on the monetary issue and the safety issue. He pointed out that many years ago when new divers were going for their open water certification, a lot of dive shops would make you find a dive buddy to take the class with. From a safety point of view this makes perfect sense, until you stop and think about the fact that when learning to fly a plane and getting your pilots license, the focus is on solo flight. Isn't it also fairly dangerous in the air? Wouldn't a second set of eyes, ears, thoughts, etc help a pilot during user error, much as a second diver in this buddy system is a backup for the first?
But …..when you have divers learn in pairs, you sell two sets of dive gear, not just one. If you had pilots learn in pairs, you may only sell one plane. Now don't get me wrong, I am not faulting the flight industry. I believe they are doing it right. This is a choice that you as an individual make, as far as how much of your own life to take into your own hands. I just believe the dive industry should be the same also.
I go kayaking alone all the time, sometimes when conditions are such that I should not. I, however, am free to make that decision and free to determine my own life's bad and good choices. I take full responsibility for me. I also hike alone, again, if I fell while running on boulders through the Appalachian trail and badly hurt myself, I could be alone there to starve or whatever, yet there are no checks on the AT (AT is short for Appalachian Trail) to see if you have a buddy with you, just as there are no checks or such requirements for being out in a boat on a river or creek, no matter what the conditions.
Now, all that said, I do feel safer having a buddy with for deeper dives, and prefer that, but that is MY choice. I DO however, have no fear of hoping into 20-30 feet of water and carrying out a dive alone, and even though not certified as a 'solo diver' I would not hesitate to do it. If I was staying shallow, there were no overhead obstructions, or any sort of obstructions that looked like I could get caught up in them, I would do it without a second thought. At that shallow depth, I can pop to the surface like a cork with little problem other than perhaps a headache. Not the greatest idea, but in a life or death scenario, something goes horribly wrong with my equipment, it can be done relatively safely.
I do not need a nanny telling me what is right for me. I always learn the risks, and decide for myself. I always have. And when things go wrong, I also take full responsibility on myself.
But hey…..that's just my two cents worth.
Shikellamy Scout Camp Dam – pre-planning
UPDATE: This dive has now been planned and executed. Successfully I might add.
So here is what I know of this location:
I hiked there a lot as a child with friends. We would come in from Route 183 I believe, along the Appalachian trail, to the dam, located just below the AT trail. I personally can do this hike from 183 in 45 minutes, but that's at my pace. At a comfortable clip, this is almost a two hour hike. The water is clear….crystal clear….and cold. As kids we hiked up creek from the dam to the rock pile above, and could hear, but not see, the spring that feeds this dam. It popped in my head a few days ago, that I have never swam in this dam/pond as a child because it was just too cold. I have a wet suit now though, and am curious just what may be in there. In addition, I am doubtful anyone has ever dove this location, and if others have, it is but a handful I am sure…because who else would hike into this, uphill from the closest access (dirt road) for 1300+feet…straight up the mountain…with full gear….including a 7 mil wet suit? Who??
Me, that's who. And if I can talk Shane into it….it's on.
We used to call it the 'power dam' as kids. We didn't know what it was, where it came from, or what it was for. It is only recently that I looked it up to find out it's history. I found that it was apparently built for the Scout camp back in the 1900's at some point. As kids we tried to fish there, but I don't remember ever catching anything, and am sure I have never seen any fish. How would they get in there? What I am saying is there may be nothing to see. Nothing at all. But we won't know until we have tried, and hey, let's face it, who else will have this in their log books? This makes me happy.
I'll add more information later, but for now this is what I have, along with some maps I pulled just a few minutes ago. Stay tuned….if you wish.


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There are many risks associated with various sources of disease, one of which comes from dust mites or often called dust mites on the upholstery. The dust mite is a hobby really stuck to the couch, mattress, or carpet in our homes. In the meantime, perhaps you need to call the recommended upholstery cleaners north shore to clean your sofa professionally.
What are the dangers of the dust mites?
Actually, the dust mite itself does not bite or injure humans directly. The element that is harmful to humans is dirt and fragments of body parts from the dust mite. According to the study, one dust mite (from the thousands that exist on the couch) can produce about 20 droppings per day.
The most common symptoms are itching of the eyes and nose, accompanied by coughing and sneezing. On an ongoing basis, the eyes and nose will start to water because our body processes antibodies against foreign substances that enter the body. Just imagine your sleep is disturbed because the nose is watery and hard to breathe, annoying for sure!
Dust mites are a major cause of asthma and allergies, especially skin allergies such as eczema or eczema. Eczema is a red speckled rash that usually clumps at one spot on our skin. The rash is very itchy and encourages us to frequently scratch it, causing scars on the skin. Of course, this is a nightmare for women, especially for those who crave clean skin nan smooth.
Carpet Cleaners North Shore
191 Pacific Highway Lindfield NSW 2070
(02) 8310 7640

subset: commoncrawl


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Rome: A food guide
There is a light freshness about Rome in the summertime which has catapulted the city into my list of favourites. The thing about Italy is that you need to be ready for a drink and a bite at all times. The city is so full of great food it almost seems like a sin to be empty handed or on a diet. Our first night in Rome was spent bar-hopping in Trastevere, the Brooklyn to Rome's ancient centre, starting with the obligatory Aperol Spritz and moving on to local 1-2 euro glasses of wine. My companion began his journey of Italian beers and found that at the end of 12 days he had only had the same beer maybe twice. After you travel around Italy you will find that different cities will have different menus that are quite constant across their respective restaurants. In Rome, you will find lots of amatriciana, cacio e pepe, lasagne and carbonara. We ate each of these at least twice, for our own research of course.
A few things to note, if a dish says it is spaghetti and tomato sauce, it will literally have those two things and nothing else. Most dishes are served without sides and sauces (including meats) and may be considered under-salted to the Indian or Asian palette. Also, tap water here is drinkable so try to ask for a glass of tap water rather than spending money and wasting a bottle. If you're getting a coffee, always take it standing up at the bar as the prices for sitting down and take away are always a few euro more. Always look out for places where you hear people speaking Italian. Rome is a very touristy city so you don't want to end up eating somewhere locals would never step foot in. Last but most definitely not least, you can drink anywhere in Rome so if you're done eating and want to carry your wine while you stroll simply ask for a takeaway cup and move on.
Having spent almost a week in the city, I was hard-pressed to pick favourite meals however a few experiences really stood out in my mind.
Image: Trip Advisor
Da Augusto– a small, family-run trattoria in a piazza in Trastevere. This might have been my favourite meal in Rome. This was also one of the cheapest meals I've ever eaten! Something like 30 euro for two people including a carafe of wine. We waited in line for about 30 minutes on a hot afternoon before being rushed to a small wooden table where the waitress threw down menus and glasses of water. We were lucky enough to be here on a Sunday when the daily special is a homemade lasagne so delicious you may be tempted to order a second. When you're done, the hurried waitress will scratch your bill down on your paper "table cloth" and let you leave satiated and ready for a nap.
Image: Zomato
La Carbonara– a Roman institution, definitely a fun dinner place which was very busy and lively when we went. I was unfortunately really tired so I don't think we were able to fully appreciate the space however it's geared towards both tourists and locals so though you may find slightly elevated prices, the servers speak good English and will help you out with the menu. The carbonara here is unbelievable as are the desserts and mains.
Image: Trip Advisor
La Campana– a great place which is both classy and really authentic. According to our server, who was hilarious by the way, there has stood a restaurant in this same venue for over 500 years. The saffron and artichoke risotto here might have been the best thing I've eaten in my entire life- though my sister ordered it so I only got a few bites. I ordered the fettucine with porcini mushroom and, to my misplaced surprise, was given a plate of fresh pasta, mushroom and little else. Seeing that I wasn't too pleased, our incredible server quietly removed my plate, replaced it with a small serving of ravioli with the instructions 'Eat'.
Da Enzo– extremely similar to Da Augusto, Da Enzo is one of those places every guidebook will list out as a must visit while in the city. Here you will find long lines, delicious food and quick service. We did not enjoy our meal as much as we did at Da Augusto but look out for their specials because we only noticed these much nicer sounding dishes, after we ordered.
Image: oishiness.wordpress.com
Gelato– we enjoyed Fatamorgana and Fleur de Lis way more than the famed Giolliti where you need to wait in line for 15-20 minutes. When looking for authentic gelato, keep an eye out for the word 'artigianale' and do not fall victim to high, creamy looking piles of cream. The higher the gelato is, the more sugar, air and artificial flavouring that has been used.
Rome is one of those cities where every person's 'must-try' list will be diverse and probably only feature a couple of the same names. This is simply because you have restaurants on every corner, each doing something right or else they wouldn't be standing there. The best way to go about finding places to eat is doing a little bit of research on the internet, beyond TripAdvisor. Looking at personal blogs is really helpful as you'll get first-hand, personalised advice. Also, make sure to ask locals where they eat whenever you can for an authentic dining experience!


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Van Bommel pain for PSV
Thursday 30 October 2003
Article summary
Mark van Bommel will miss crucial games for PSV Eindhoven and the Netherlands following groin surgery.
Article body
PSV Eindhoven captain Mark van Bommel has been ruled out for up to two months following groin surgery.
European absence
The 26-year-old midfield player underwent an operation to treat a small hernia at the St Anna Hospital in Geldrop. Van Bommel will definitely miss the remaining UEFA Champions League group stage matches against AEK Athens FC, RC Deportivo La Coruña and AS Monaco FC and is not expected to play again until after the winter break in the Netherlands.
Dutch despair
The injury, which has an expected recovery time of six to eight weeks, also has consequences for the Dutch national team as Van Bommel will miss both legs of the UEFA EURO 2004™ play-off against Scotland on 15 and 19 November. The winner will claim a place at next summer's finals in Portugal.
Off the pace
The groin problem flared up during last Sunday's Eredivisie match against AFC Ajax, with Van Bommel needing to be replaced after an hour. The game finished 2-2, leaving PSV two points adrift of the leaders Ajax in third place.


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Well apparently this would be a comprehensive blog with relentless truth about Universities of Pakistan, i might say KARACHI in particular.
MOREOVER, it does include with all kind of injustice these big fishes never leaked out on drastically on widespread level. The approach would be on proof basis.
For now consider it an act of goodness to display absolute BADMASHI from most of these private universities. From buying ranking for HEC PAKISTAN or PEC or elsewhere till what they do put on hassle for the students.


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International Trade Update
November-December 2008
(Download complete issue in PDF format.)
In this issue:
Economic Engagement with China Brings Benefits to U.S. Businesses
The Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade and the Strategic Economic Dialogue steer the crucial economic relationship between the United States and China.
China's Second-Tier Cities Offer Opportunities for Service Industry Exports
Service exports and trade advocacy in China are highlighted at the America–China Business Women Alliance's annual conference.
Renewing America's Nuclear Energy Public–Private Partnership
The United States will maintain its competitive position in the international civil nuclear market with the launching of the International Trade Administration's Civil Nuclear Trade Initiative and by focusing on a reinvigorated public–private partnership.
Short Takes—News from the International Trade Administration:
Unique Partnership Offers Expert Guidance for Going Global
New Certification Mark Available for U.S.–European Union Safe Harbor Program
Trade Compliance Attachés: Attacking Foreign Trade Barriers on the Ground
International Trade Calendar
Featured Trade Event: Commerce Event Bolsters Georgia Trade and Investment Ties
International Trade Update is published monthly by the Office of Public Affairs of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration. A subscription service is available to receive notification by e-mail when new issues are published.
Material in this newsletter may be reproduced unless otherwise noted. When reprinting, please credit the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration.


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The Constitution in 2013: Gains or losses on rights?
The Supreme Court—the place in America where the Constitution most often gets new meaning—moves into 2013 after a momentous year of re-examining the core constitutional structure of the U.S. government. As the New Year unfolds, the court switches its center of attention from constitutional architecture to constitutional rights.
Many other public actors, of course, contribute to constitutional development every year, but often that merely sets the stage for the court to have the final word.
In a series of decisions in 2012, the court did some alterations on the constitutional division of power between national and state governments.
It gave Congress power to move toward nationwide health insurance even while giving states more veto power over some federal spending. It narrowed somewhat the authority of states to limit the rights of undocumented immigrants living within their borders. It reminded federal judges not to go too far to second-guess the states' legislative redistricting process. And it restricted the power of states to curb heavy political campaign spending by corporations.
The net effect of that was twofold: the court's own powers were enhanced, along with those of the other two federal branches, and the long-term trend of shifting power toward Washington and away from state capitals was not significantly interrupted.
What comes next for the court—partly by its own choice, partly by the actions of other public actors—is a heavy concentration on individual rights. But there is no certainty that, when the final decisions emerge by next summer, the results will expand rather than narrow those rights.
The justices will be deciding two major cases dealing with race relations. They will decide whether public colleges and universities may continue to use race as a factor in choosing their new freshman classes, and they will decide whether history's most successful voting rights law—the Voting Rights Act of 1965—has outlived its constitutional justification. Both college affirmative action plans and minority voting rights appear to be at some risk.
The court will get its first close look at recent efforts to make voting more difficult, especially for the poor, when it examines whether states can demand documentary proof of U.S. citizenship before a voter may register. Moreover, the court will probably be examining anew the constitutionality of requiring photo IDs for voters at the polling place.
On affirmative action, the court is likely to decide whether a states' voters have the power to direct a complete end to college affirmative action plans, even if those survive the year's basic constitutional test before the court.
The justices will be making a historic foray into the newest cultural clash in America, over whether gay and lesbian couples will be allowed to marry, and whether they will qualify for federal marital benefits. The court has taken on two cases that potentially could result in either a sweeping decision on same-sex marriage, or a narrower ruling that puts off the ultimate constitutional reckoning on such unions.
There very likely will be a review of the constitutionality of at least a part of the new federal health care law that was not examined at the court's last term: the Affordable Care Act's mandate that employers provide for their workers, free of charge, health insurance coverage for the leading forms of birth-control drugs and methods. That mandate has been challenged by a wide array of religious schools, colleges, and hospitals, and by profit-making businesses run by religious families or executives whose faith counsels against medical methods that may lead to abortion. They argue that the contraceptives mandate violates their right to religious freedom.
A spate of new anti-abortion laws passed by state legislatures over the past year may also begin to put that issue back before the justices in 2013.
It is almost a certainty that there will be attempts to induce the court to spell out further the scope of gun-bearing rights under the Second Amendment. The most important single issue is whether those rights extend beyond the home, and beyond self-defense at home—the only site and activity so far recognized by the justices for the exercise of the right to "keep and bear arms." Other gun rights issues may arise if the federal government takes new steps to deal with mass shootings like that earlier this month in Newtown, Connecticut, but test cases over any such initiatives may take some time to reach the justices.
In the field of international human rights, the court is expected to decide whether multinational corporations may be sued in U.S. courts for their role in atrocities committed in foreign lands.
The court also may be drawn into new constitutional controversy over the government's use of military courts at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to try those suspected of acts of terrorism. Among the key issues is whether foreign nationals held at the Navy prison on the island of Cuba have constitutional rights during their war crimes trials.
All of this array of rights issues is expected to be faced by the same nine justices. At this point, there is no sign that any of the justices is considering retirement, and all appear to be in good health. Openings, or at least one, may be more likely later in President Obama's second term in the White House.
Lyle Denniston is the National Constitution Center's Adviser on Constitutional Literacy. He has reported on the Supreme Court for 54 years, currently covering it for SCOTUSblog, an online clearinghouse of information about the Supreme Court's work.
Recent Constitution Daily Stories
The Constitution in 2013: Gains or losses on rights?
Five things to fear most about the fiscal cliff
Why the fiscal cliff is like getting a huge paycheck cut


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Welcome to the Fall 2012 Newsletter!
Welcome to the Fall 2012 MDE Newsletter. This is the place to find the latest MDE Community news. Our presence in distance education events, our publications, awards, and new initiatives is all presented here! The MDE Community has been busy since last summer! Presentations, honors and publications throughout. Read on for the latest and greatest information on your fellow MDE community members.
Important news...
First there was the great news that Lisa was selected as an EDEN Fellow. This was followed up by her election to the EDEN Executive Committee during the 2012 EDEN Annual Conference in Porto, Portugal, June 6-9. Read more here and here.
Significant Changes in Course Offerings patterns... (must read)
There are VERY important changes in the 2-year plan for MDE class offerings, which you should take notice immediately and re-visit your study plan.
Changes starting Spring 2013:
OMDE 601 Re-design
OMDE 601 underwent an extensive redesign recently. Using the backward design process which starts with detailing desired goals and then works backwards determining what practices will illustrate those results and creating instructional activities that will bring students to competency and achieve course goals. Essential to the re-design of OMDE 601, is a closer alignment of learning activities and objectives with support from the writing coach and teaching assistant to integrate more skill building.
New Partnership
UMUC-MDE & Unisa Partnerships
Summer 2012 saw the first students taking advantage of a joint effort between the UMUC MDE Program and the University of South Africa. In the works since a 2011 agreement was signed between UMUC and Unisa. Students joining the MDE this summer, included several Unisa staff members. This collaboration benefits UMUC, Unisa and MDE students in particular. As it provides a great opportunity to hear directly from Unisa staff how distance education is being employed in South Africa.
EDEN 2012 Annual Conference
Porto, Portugal- June 6-9, 2012 "The 2012 Annual EDEN Conference in Porto was again a great success with 350 delegates with over 150 presentations from all over the world. The event was rich both in content and in collaboration opportunities and was highly interactive not only face-to-face, but also on the web."
Several MDE faculty members were present at the event, including Lisa Blaschke, Thomas Huelsmann, Gila Kurtz and Stella Porto.
A few of these presentations can be found here:
In April 2012, MDE Director, Stella Porto received the University System of Maryland Board of Regents Award for Excellence in Mentoring. Nominees for the award come from throughout the System.
Publications & Presentations
Blaschke, L.M. (2011). Sustaining lifelong learning: A review of heutagogical practice and self-determined learning. European Distance and E-learning Network (EDEN) Research Workshop, June 19-22, 2011. Dublin, Ireland.
Blaschke, L.M., Kurtz, G., & Porto, S. (2011). Online teaching and learning with social media: The MDE perspective. DEHUB Newsletter, Winter (8). Retrieved from http://issuu.com/dehub/docs/dehub-newsletter-no-8-winter-2011
Blaschke, L. & Porto, S. (2012). Adopting emerging technologies: Bridging the gap in preparing distance educators for the 21st century. Presented and published in proceedings of EDEN'2012 Conference. Porto, Portugal, June 6-9, 2012.
Chen, D. & Kurtz, G. (Eds.) (2011), ICT, learning and teaching. Or Yhuda: The Center for Academic Studies (Hebrew).
Forster, A. (2012, May). Embedded Learning: "Preserving the core and stimulating progress" – Universities as learning organizations. Canadian Network for Innovation in Education, CNIE-RCIE, Annual conference, Alberta, Canada.
Frank, I. (2012). The New World Library. In: Lee, Sang-Hie (Ed.), Scholarly Research for Musicians: A Comprehensive Strategy. McGraw-Hill Learning Solutions.
Fresen, J. W. (2011). Factors influencing lecturer uptake of e-learning. In J. Dalziel, C. Alexander, J. Krajka, & R. Kiely (Eds.), Teaching English with technology (Special Edition on LAMS and Learning Design) 11(1), 81–97. Available at http://www.tewtjournal.org/VOL%2011/ISSUE%201/volume_11_issue_01-08_article_06.pdf
Highton, M., Fresen, J., & Wild, J. (2011). Making academic OER easy: Reflections on technology and openness at Oxford University. Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, 15(2), 28-40. Available at: http://journals.akoaotearoa.ac.nz/index.php/JOFDL/article/viewFile/49/43
Hill, R., Fresen, J., & Geng, F. (submitted) Derivation of electronic course templates for use in higher education. Submitted to Research in Learning Technology, May 2012.
Hülsmann, T. (2011). Distance education: From access to accumulation. Paper presented at the The Fourteenth Cambridge International Conference on Open: Distance and e-Learning Internationalisation and Social Justice: the role of Open, Distance and E-learning, Cambridge, UK.
Jancke, A., Götter, R., Vogt, S., & Zawacki-Richter, O. (2012). iAcademy – an innovative mlearning approach for lifelong learning. In I. A. Sánchez & P. Isaías (Eds.), Proceedings of the IADIS International Conference Mobile Learning 2012 (p. 377–379). Berlin: IADIS Press.
Johnson, D. N. and Porto, S. (2012). "State of the state of Georgia, Distance Learning Association" Presented at the USDLA Conference'2012. St. Louis, MO, April 29-May 2, 2012.
Khan, R. (2012). An innovative e-mentoring program for graduate students in an online program. European Distance and E-learning Network (EDEN) Annual Conference, Porto, Portugal. Jun 6-9, 2012.
Kurtz, G. & Chen, D. (2012). Online learning: A digital toolkit for teacher. Or-Yehuda: The College for Academic Studies press. (in Hebrew).
Meishar-Tal, H., Kurtz, G. & Pittersee, E. (2012). Learning with Facebook groups. European Distance and E-learning Network (EDEN) Annual Conference. Porto, Portugal, June 6-9 2012.
Olcott, D. (2012). OER perspectives: Emerging issues for universities. Distance Education, 33(2), 283-290. doi: 10.1080/01587919.2012.700561
Olcott, D. (2012). Back to the future: Bridging evidence-based research and evidence-based practice in open and distance education: An integrated framework. DE Quarterly, No.11, Winter 2012, 2-3.
Olcott, D.J. (2012). (In press). Beyond the boundaries: The future for borderless higher education. Hershey, PA: IGI Global Publishing.
Olcott, D. (2012). (In press). Mobilizing open education resources in the UAE and GCC states: A primer for universities. UAE Journal of Education Technology and eLearning. Abu Dhabi, UAE: Higher Colleges of Technology.
Olcott, D.J. (2012). (in press). Beyond open access: Leveraging OER for university teaching and learning. Distance Learning. Published by the United States Distance Learning Association.
New people and new roles...
Dr. Cindy Whitesel
Cindy Whitesel joins the MDE following a long career as technical writer and editor. She began teaching with UMUC in 1976 and has been teaching online since 1993. Cindy is the author of the well-known, at least to UMUC students, The Guide to Writing and Research for UMUC Students and Faculty. Cindy started in the MDE in Fall 2011, co-teaching OMDE 610 - Teaching and Learning in Distance Education. She has co-taught it since then with several different co-teachers in the MDE, including Steve Kerby, Eli Collins-Brown, Christine Walti and more recently with Cindy Emmans. You can read more about Cindy Whitesel here.
Dr. Cindy Emmans
Cindy comes to the MDE via an extensive career that has included posts with Central Washington University, San Diego State University and the American Public University System. Cindy started teaching in the MDE in the Spring '12 She has taught OMDE 603 with Jim Rawson, and now in Summer '12 is teaching OMDE 603 with Gila Kurtz and also teaching OMDE 610 with Cindy Whitesel. Read more about Cindy's varied career and experiences here.
Dr. Rhonda Blackburn
Rhonda comes to the MDE with more than 20 years of experience in higher education. In addition to teaching duties at UMUC she is the Strategic Account Manager for Higher Education at Desire2Learn.
Her experiences run the gamut from positions at University of Texas at Dallas, to various posts with TxDLA (Texas Distance Learning Association). Rhonda will be teaching DETC 630. Read more about her career and philosophies here.
Dr. Alan Tait
Most of you have read some of the works of Alan Tait. He will is now the new Guest Expert in OMDE 601. This is a significant addition to the MDE. According to Alan's LinkedIn profile, Alan "was Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) at the Open University UK from 2007-2012, and before that Dean of the Faculty of Education and Language Studies. He is Professor of Distance Education and Development and has a long record of practice, publication and the support of professional development in distance and e-learning. He is Editor in Chief of the European Journal of Distance and E Learning (EURODL); was from 1989-1998 Editor of Open Learning; President of the European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN) from 2007-2010; and is a senior member of St Edmunds College, University of Cambridge. In 2012 Alan was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Moscow State University for Economics, Statistics and Informatics. Alan is a values-led academic leader who has focused on distance and e-learning in Higher Education, in the UK and internationally."
Dr. Don Olcott
Don Olcott will has joined the MDE faculty and will teach for the first time in the Spring 2013. Don has held a variety of positions in higher education both in the US and abroad. These include a current position as the head of Strategic Planning and Engagement, Higher Colleges of Technology, and previous positions such as Chief Executive of The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education (UK), and Executive Director of the Division of Extended Programmes, Western Oregon University. Among his many posts and honors, Don is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts, a 2010 EDEN Fellow, and adjunct faculty with UMUC and the University of New England-Australia. You can read his full faculty bio here.
Welcome to new TAs and WCs
The teaching assistant and writing coach program continues to grow. This year saw the addition of three MDE graduates: Nancy Smith Wooten (MDE '12), Stuart Adams (MDE '12), and Grace Roscoe (MDE '12). Stefanie Brunner is a new teaching assistant working with the Oldenburg faculty.
Upcoming Events
EDEN Research Workshop : Leuven, Belgium
The Seventh EDEN Research Workshop- Learners in the Driving Seat will be held October 22-23, 2012 in Leuven, Belgium.
The conference focus is "...how are students driving teachers, instructors in the fields where new learning technologies play important role." Read more here.
MDE Orientation The MDE Orientation is held in the third week of each session and brings together a multitude of MDE resources which a valuable to students at every point of their MDE journey. There is extensive information provided on the many support resources MDE students have access to. Additionally. there's great information on the MDE E-portfolio and capstone research project. All MDE students, faculty and alumni are welcome. Sign up either through OMDE 601 or by email to Stella Porto
MDE Virtual Conference Save the date: March 2013. The focus of this 3 day event is Distance Education on the Job Market. Topics will include...
The Seventh EDEN Research Workshop- Learners in the Driving Seat will be held October 22-23, 2012 in Leuven, Belgium.
The conference focus is "...how are students driving teachers, instructors in the fields where new learning technologies play important role." Read more here.
MDE Orientation The MDE Orientation is held in the third week of each session and brings together a multitude of MDE resources which a valuable to students at every point of their MDE journey. There is extensive information provided on the many support resources MDE students have access to. Additionally. there's great information on the MDE E-portfolio and capstone research project. All MDE students, faculty and alumni are welcome. Sign up either through OMDE 601 or by email to Stella Porto
MDE Virtual Conference Save the date: March 2013. The focus of this 3 day event is Distance Education on the Job Market. Topics will include...


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9 May 2009
Memories and Remembering !!!
Dolly cat was a cat mum rescued when a breeder was going to have her put to sleep when she was no longer required. Mum gave her lots of love and pampered her. At first she wouldn't come out from under the bed and was very afraid. Mum took time and gentle persuasion and won her over. I came on the scene when a friend of mum's bought me for her birthday. I was 12 weeks old and used to lots of cats around, I could not understand why Dolly cat hissed and didn't like me. Like mum I persevered and won her over. We became inseparable, but only had two years together before she went to the bridge, I miss her. Hugs GJ x
Grandma and Grandad 60Th anniversary
Grandma and Grandad..
Dolly cat and me
12 comments:
- Sweet Praline said...
What a nice day of memories for everyone. I think as long as you remember the loved ones that have left before us, they will always live in our heart!
Purrs to you and your mom today!
- 9 May 2009 at 17:58
- Khyra The Siberian Husky And Sometimes Her Mom said...
Another post leaving my mom leaky eyed...
WOW....woo used to be a wee khyt, eh?
Please go purrrrrrr at your mum fur us!
- 9 May 2009 at 18:10
- Anya said...
Sweet memories on your post today!!
You are never forget those moments ;)
Gif your mom many purssssss
Ginger Jasper
she deserved it....
purss Kareltje
- 9 May 2009 at 18:26
- Martha Basset said...
What a very special post - glad we visited you today. Sounds like your grandparents had a life well lived and well loved.
No wonder you miss them and Dolly cat.
Sometimes life is happy and sometimes sad - look after each other. xxx
- 9 May 2009 at 19:32
- The Island Cats said...
Those are nice memories to have...although they may be gone from sight, your loved ones live on in your memories and will never be forgotten...
- 9 May 2009 at 21:42
- Shadow / Molly said...
Dolly was a super special kitteh we fink. Yoo and yer mum certainly made her life better and happy! Yer Grandma and Grandpa looks soo soo happy and sweet!
- 9 May 2009 at 22:02
- Goldie, Shade and Banshee said...
What a lovely post of rememberance. The photos of your Grandma and Grandpa are so sweet, they are together now holding hands just like that!
That pic of you and Dolly Cat is great too! Can't picture you that wee!!
Have a great weekend!
Purrs Goldie
- 10 May 2009 at 01:14
- Rocky Creek Scotties and Java said...
This is a good time to remember. Our huMom does a lot of leaking on Mothers Day.
Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Jave
- 10 May 2009 at 04:16
- Gattina said...
Dolly was a very beautiful cat !
I don't know why people should remember something today ? We don't have any special day here besides Motherday tomorrow.
- 10 May 2009 at 06:10
- Tracey and Huffle said...
Wow, Dollycat was a big one like you! And floofy!
Huffle Mawson
- 10 May 2009 at 08:50
- Cliff and Olivia said...
Sweet memories. Thanks for sharing.
- 11 May 2009 at 08:41
- The OP Pack said...
Such beautiful memories to share. Love the photos.
Tail wags, the OP Pack
- 12 May 2009 at 01:00


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Aragan Oil is everywhere at the minute and the Euro Giant shop has a large range of their products from haircare to skincare. I picked up their Hair Treatment Mask and their Night Repair Serum.
I'm just in love with both of them. The mask is your straight forward nourishing treatment that leaves your hair so soft and shiny. A must for this time of the year to help the frizzy bits.
Next up is the amazing serum, which looks like a complete copy of the Estee Lauder Repair Night Cream.
This serum I am practically bathing in. Normally with serums, I would use them sparingly as they are usually so expensive. One of my brides to be (thanks Ciara), gave me my first bottle of this to try and 2 months later I'm now on my third. I am smathering this on my face and neck morning and night and I am really starting to see a difference in how my makeup is sitting.
Time to get the coppers out girls and hit the pound shops..xx


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Fall brings change in Elmwood
By: Jim Maloway, MLA for Elmwood
As published in The Herald
October 16, 2013
We know fall has arrived when the volunteers at Beautify Elmwood Community Committee empty and reclaim the flower boxes along Henderson Highway between Hespeler and Washington Avenue.
Thank you to all the volunteers who arranged and filled the boxes in the spring, cared for them during the summer, and put the boxes back into storage at the end of September. I look forward to their return every year.
The Disraeli Active Transportation Bridge has been open for nearly a month, providing pedestrians and cyclists with a new transportation route, and some beautiful river views. Many of us have already had a chance to check out this new and welcome asset to our community, and I am pleased the province was able to partner with the city to make imaginative use of the old Disraeli Bridge.
At the end of September, the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation held a very successful General Meeting and Neighbourhood Celebration. It was a packed house, with 80 people attending. Many aspects of its five-year plan for the Elmwood area will require continued support from provincial programs such as Neighbourhoods Alive! and Community Places.
Since 2011 alone, these provincial programs have given financial assistance to numerous community projects including critical building renovations, daycare security systems, community gardens, community club equipment and outdoor classrooms at Lord Selkirk School.
It's always nice to touch base with our community's Legions, not just on Remembrance Day or Memorial Day. In mid-September I had the chance to accompany my former colleague Peter Stoffer, Nova Scotia MP and Official Opposition Veterans Affair critic, around Winnipeg, including a meeting with senior members of the executive at Prince Edward Legion No. 81. We discussed veterans' issues in general and recent changes to veterans' benefits. In late September, I was honoured to be a part of Elmwood Legion No. 9's signage dedication at the Legion Gardens at 675 Talbot Ave. I'm sure everyone driving by will notice the impressive new sign in front of the Legion Gardens.
After a busy summer in the Legislature, it has been great to get out in the community more. If you have any questions or concerns, I can be reached at 204-415-1122, by email at firstname.lastname@example.com or stop by my office at 202 Henderson Hwy.


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Do You Need a Boys Home for Your At-Risk Boy In or Near Blacksburg, Virginia? Agape May Be Your Most Cost-Effective Boys Home Option.
Agape is a boys home designed to help struggling teen boys turn their lives around. Most boys homes don't accept at-risk teens or don't have a therapeutic element to their program. So, parents from Blacksburg, Virginia and across the United States have trusted Agape for over two decades. Agape's professional staff works closely with every individual boy to help him to become a respectful, responsible young adult. Parents might consider several reasons to look further than Blacksburg, Virginia for a boys home to help their son.
Agape is known as "A School with a Heart" in the heart of the country, specifically designed for troubled, distracted, misbehaving or underachieving boys. It teaches discipline and responsibility and helps turn around at-risk boys.
On top of a great therapeutic program full of discipline, Agape focuses on demonstrating and relying on the love of God to reach hearts and heal broken lives. Agape's caring staff assists each boy one-on-one in order to meet his needs academically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically.
Compare Agape Boys Home to other homes for troubled boys, and you will recognize that we have an advanced program and appealing facilities at a much reduced rate. We especially work with boys who lack motivation at home or in school, those demonstrating defiance or disregard for authority, and teens who have ADD, ADHD, RAD, ODD or depression. Always employing a loving approach, Agape includes mentoring and character development along with quality accredited education and competitive athletic programs and team sports.
Agape's beautiful campus for its boys home is worth a closer look.
Parents in Blacksburg, Virginia have enrolled their sons in the Agape boys home and saw them achieve a new start along with a future full of hope.
Agape Boarding School supplies a superior residential program experience for teen boys from Blacksburg, Virginia with a surprisingly reasonable tuition. Please look into it even if you are looking for other boys homes that may be closer to Blacksburg, Virginia.
Occupying 200 acres of ranch land in the nation's heartland, we have large recreational facilities, athletic fields, as well as an amazing variety of exotic animals throughout the campus. Unlike military boarding schools, boys experience a rich variety of activities and learning experiences while they stay in shape and enjoy their stay. The unique setting of this extraordinary campus and our low cost draws families from Blacksburg, Virginia and beyond.
Agape's outstanding school helps troubled boys graduate and get ready for the future.
Through our accredited educational program, boys work on their junior high and high school classes at their own speed, while also assisted by tutors and certified teachers. Plenty of individualized attention helps to ensure that boys at any ability succeed at their coursework. Most students find that they quickly compensate for lost time and gain pride in their academic abilities. Our college-prep program assists students with college entrance testing and applications. Teenage boys graduate from Agape well-prepared for their entrance in the workplace or the college classroom.
While Agape is not in Blacksburg, Virginia, a new location far away from peers can offer your son a fresh perspective for a fresh start in life.
Although you may be searching for boys homes in Blacksburg, Virginia, many boys find that a move across the country was the perfect way for them to find a new beginning. With familiar friends and places left far behind, old habits can more easily become a thing of the past. A new location removes distractions for boys who need to reevaluate their choices. Additionally, the beautiful outdoor surroundings and the rhythms of ranch life on our beautiful Missouri facilities speak strongly to the hearts of boys.
Agape Boarding School is a boys home that serves troubled teenage boys from Blacksburg, Virginia, and from other cities like Houston, Phoenix, Dallas, St. Louis, Kansas City, Los Angeles and San Diego in Southern California.
In the event we do not meet your son's needs or fit your budget, we will provide you with info about loan options or other boys homes near Blacksburg, Virginia that do. In either case, there isn't any risk for considering Agape, a home for boys. We invite you to explore the remainder of our website, and inquire online or give us a call directly.
|More about boys homes near Blacksburg, Virginia:
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses those jurisdictions and all of Montgomery, Pulaski, and Giles counties for statistical purposes. The MSA has an estimated population of 159,587 and is currently one of the faster growing MSAs in Virginia. Blacksburg is dominated economically and demographically by the presence of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , a Virginia land-grant university. Blacksburg is the largest town in Virginia by population. There are many larger municipalities, but they are incorporated as cities.
Excerpt about homes for boys near Blacksburg, Virginia, used with permission from Wikipedia.
"Boys Home" definition: a facility where boys who are unable to be cared for in a home environment, or who have gotten themselves into trouble and need a time apart from peers, are housed and cared for and educated by non-family members for a period of time. Most boys homes do not take boys who are hardened criminals, drug addicts, have severe mental problems or psychosis, or have a violent past. Please check with Agape Boys Home to see if your teenage boy qualifies.


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Year 1 and Year 2 Assessments
Year 1 - Phonics test will take place during the week commencing the 12th June.
Year 2 - English grammar, punctuation and spelling test, English reading test and Mathematics test will all take place in May. A selection of schools will be randomly chosen to undertake these tests in April.
No leave of absence will be authorised during this time.


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Lose Weight, Increase Fertility
November 2, 2012
One third of Americans are overweight, and another one-third are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Losing weight not only lowers blood pressure and improves blood sugar levels but weight loss is associated with increased fertility potential in women and men.
Typically both partners in a couple have similar diet and exercise habits, and a similar Body Mass Index (BMI). If both partners are overweight, chances are their fertility issues will be compounded, says Kathryn Calhoun, M.D., a fertility doctor with Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine. "We know from research in women who have used IVF and women who haven't used IVF that it affects all parts of the reproductive cycle," Calhoun says. "And we know that being overweight can affect a man in terms of sperm production, erectile function, and in terms of libido."
Women, Weight and Fertility
In overweight women the hypothalamus, pituitary and ovaries are all disrupted. But the most common way that body weight affects reproduction is that it alters ovulation. It also affects rates of conception, rates of miscarriage, birth defects, birth weight, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and even mode of delivery - women who are over their ideal body weight are more likely to have a c-section.
"At the very most, Calhoun says, "It affects your longevity and your lifespan and how healthy you're going to be as a parent. You want to be alive to see this baby that we're creating get married and graduate college. You don't see a lot of 70 and 80 year olds who are morbidly obese," she adds.
Men, Weight and Fertility
The scrotum contains the testicles and the testicles produce sperm. You've probably heard that heat near the scrotum can impact sperm production. But what you may not know is that fat surrounding the testicles can elevate the temperature. Thus excess fat can hinder sperm production. In addition, men who are overweight or obese are more apt to have diabetes and vascular trouble which can impact the ability to have an erection.
At a more central level, Calhoun explains, fat is constantly converting male hormones or testosterone to estrogen. So if you have more fat, you have more estrogen. Higher estrogen and lower testosterone can not only impact well-being, but can impact sperm production. Obstructive sleep apnea, untreated, also causes a central suppression of testosterone, Calhoun says.
What's an Overweight TTC Couple To Do?
As anyone who's tried to modify their dietary and exercise habits knows, it's a daily battle. Dr. Calhoun laughs as she repeats what a colleague says, "You only have to exercise on the days that you eat."
In men, testosterone or sperm production can recover with weight loss, or use of a CPAP machine for those with sleep apnea. It takes approximately 70 days to produce sperm, so typically following weight loss, it may be one to three months before there's a change in sperm production.
Typically the older you get, the less likely you are to have an isolated fertility problem, such as anovulation – or lack of a period. But the older we get the more likely we are to have age effects on the ovaries, some tubal problems, or uterine problems. "In isolation, with even modest weight loss, women can see a return to ovulatory cycles. But if not, they'll be better able to respond to ovulation induction medicines," Calhoun says. The heavier you are or the more elevated your BMI is, the more medicine you require – and despite the higher doses these women still experience a lower response to the fertility drugs and a lower pregnancy rate.
In women, weight loss as low as 5 to 10 percent of body weight can restart ovulation. The optimal BMI range for successful pregnancies and live births is 20 to 28.


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Honeycomb at CBDNA National Conference
- Posted March 11, 2017 -
At the Kauffman Center for the performing arts on March 16th, the University of Georgia's Hodgson Wind Ensemble will perform Honeycomb, for wind ensemble and electronics, as part of the CBDNA National Conference in Kansas City, MO. Led by Cynthia Johnston Turner, the Honeycomb performance will feature special guest conductor Jaclyn Hartenberger.
Honeycomb is the centerpiece of my dissertation work, and the electronic component features the spatialization and mapping of 32 different audio tracks to the audience's web-enabled devices, to play in synchronicity with the live ensemble. The delivery and synchronization of the music will be executed by new streaming technology SynkroTakt, created by three other musician/technologists and myself.
Website Overhaul
- Posted March 10, 2017 -
I'm doing a much needed update to the website. Deleted a lot of old news and starting fresh. Hang tight while I get various parts of the site updated.


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Today, made complete ass of myself with a school secretary. Mr. McP and I were waiting for his school bus. And waiting and waiting and waiting. And freezing. J had taken our only car to a meeting. I fumed and fretted and decided I couldn't wait for even one more second, and took Mr. McP back home and called the school.
All the city schools have similar phone numbers. They start with 245 and have 24 as the first two numbers in the second half: 245-2410, 245-2411, 245-2412, etc. Quickly dialing the number, and not even listening to what the secretary said when she answered, I launched into the sad tale of late bus, no car and Mr. McP will not be in this morning. The secretary kept asking who are you? Can you spell his last name? I blathered on about how Slate bus never showed up. I did think it was strange that she didn't know Mr. McP. Usually when I call his school they know exactly who he is. It was a different secretary. "It's not the nice secretary," I told Mr. McP after getting off the phone. Then I saw the bus, rounding the corner. I shot out of the house like I'd been fired from a cannon, went sprinting up the hill and flagged it down. Our bus driver, bless his heart, came to a grinding halt right at the end of our drive—we are supposed to wait further down the street. I ran back down, wrestled poor Mr. McP back into his coat and dragged him up to the street.
I thought I'd better call the school again, and—you can see where this is going—when I redialed the number, I realized I'd called the wrong school. No wonder she didn't know us. Considering that Slate bus doesn't even go to her school, she behaved with remarkable aplomb.
Slate bus. Here in Ch'ville, all the school buses are given color names to help the children remember which bus they ride. Apparently, last summer they gave the job of naming the buses to the gifted ed coordinator, or an interior decorator, because the buses have color names that are also things : Forest, Bubblegum, Mango, Peach, Rose, Slate, etc. For a day or so, the Slate bus was renamed the Silver bus, and then—get this—they changed it back to Slate. I'm not complaining, I'm just amazed that they gave the matter that much thought. The rest of America's kids ride the red bus or the green bus, but Charlottesville's children are driven in buses named like paint chips. Which is typical of Charlottesville, I must say.


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Throw together the aloha spirit, Celtic music and Scottish food, and you've got a great formula for fundraising for education.
Tickets are now available for the 15th Annual Rotary Club of West Kaua'i Burn's Supper Scottish Banquet Jan. 31 at Wrangler's Steakhouse in Waimea. Proceeds from the event will go toward scholarships for Waimea High School seniors.
The event begins at 5 p.m. with pupus, no-host cocktails and bidding on silent auction donations from local businesses to support the fundraiser.
Last year, the Rotary Club of West Kaua'i raised enough in partnership with local businesses to present five $1,000 scholarships to graduating students pursuing post-secondary education.
At about 5:45 p.m., the grand march of the Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawai'i will precede the call to dinner. The band will play an opening set followed by a customary Scottish opening to call the host to a traditional dinner complete with Haggis.
The cost of tickets is $80 per person. Call Wrangler's at 338-1218 or Dave Walker at 652-0616 for tickets and information.


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Let your applications drive your infrastructure
Businesses are finding that traditional approaches to IT are not fit for purpose and are preventing them from delivering in the new digital era. To meet the evolving needs of today's business, IT must become more agile, innovative and efficient. This means embracing new technologies and new ways of working.
There are different approaches to IT and they need to support how you manage, maintain and secure core IT systems. At the same time, they must enable you to innovate your business by experimenting with new technology.
To achieve this, you need a new vision for IT. That vision needs to combine modernising traditional applications, developing new cloud native applications and a robust cloud platform upon which to execute your strategy. Powered by cloud, you'll create better products, services and customer experiences. You'll reinvent productivity through integrated communications and collaboration. Growth and innovation will flow from applications that fully exploit the cloud. And your infrastructure will intuitively adapt to your business needs.
What keeps you up at night?
Avanade's Cloud and Application Services can transform your enterprise into a digital business – faster and with less risk.


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Shoreline Pebbles - Growing up in Orkney Scotland, the shoreline has given Sheila a life long interest in the natural forms of rocks and pebbles. Reflecting on this very early beginning, Sheila has created a new bold Pebble Collection inspired by her memories of sea-washed stones. Her chosen colour of enamel being pearl grey on random pebble forms of highly polished silver edges
A special gift to that very special someone to remind them of your walk together on that special beach! - a romantic gesture, a captured moment
Default | Name Up | Name Down | Price Up | Price Down


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Latah Trail Foundation is a publicly supported 501(c)(3) organization that provides support to Latah County in maintaining and extending the Latah Trail, a County- owned linear park. Latah Trail Foundation is governed and managed by a volunteer board of directors and is seeking to hire a part-time Executive Director to lead the organization and manage its day-to-day operations.
The job requires communication with and coordination between Latah County elected officials, Latah County Parks Department and the LTF Board. The Executive Director is also responsible for continual interaction with donors, volunteers and other organizations on behalf of the Latah Trail, organizing fundraisers and pursuing addition fundraising opportunities. Strong communications skills essential. The Executive Director reports directly to the Latah Trail Foundation Board of Directors. Job Type: Part-time (10-15 hours/week) Hours are flexible and may include some evenings and weekends. Salary: DOE For complete job description and application instructions; /uploads/ED Job Post 2018.pdf


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The 2016 University of Arizona College of Science Lecture Series explored Climate Change and its impacts. No longer merely abstract projections for the future, instead, they are on-going and growing challenges for both humans and many of the natural systems upon which we depend. Globally, changes in the oceans, ice sheets and atmosphere provide clear fingerprints of human causes, but also important lessons for society to learn as we seek solutions.
Joaquin Ruiz, Dean of the University of Arizona College of Science moderates a one-hour conversation about this important topic featuring speakers from the series. All the panelists are distinguished faculty at the University of Arizona:
Joaquin Ruiz, Vice President of Innovation and Strategy, Executive Dean, Colleges of Letters, Arts and Science, Dean, College of Science, Professor of Geosciences
Joellen L. Russell, Associate Professor of Geoscience
Russell Monson, Louise Foucar Marshall Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research
Kacey Ernst, Associate Professor, Epidemiology ans Biostatistics, College of Public Health
Kim Ogden, Professor, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Jonathan Overpeck, Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Professor, and Regents Professor, Departments of Geosciences and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Science, Co-Director, Institute of the Environment


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Work Package 2 - Development of a social model of gender equality implementation
Led by Trnava University in Tranava, Slovakia (TU)
- To develop a contemporary model of gender equality implementation iteratively - a Gender Change Academy Model - guided by the Change Academy Model and based on the process and outcomes of the GENOVATE project.
- To establish a standard consultation model that will enable the comparison of Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) implementation at micro and macro institutional levels in each partner organisation.
- To identify facilitators and barriers to model implementation from each partner in order to demonstrate a holistic and people-informed way of viewing gender equality implementation in research institutions across Europe
Description of work and role partners
All partners will participate in this work package to contribute to the delivery of the following tasks:
Task 2.1 Creation of appropriate mechanisms through which institutions will feed in their respective GEAP implementation information.
Task 2.2 Gather and analyse data on the processes and outcomes in order to iteratively create the model.
Working Documents
WD2.1 Annual Progress Reports [Months 6, 18 & 30]
WD2.2 Final Report [Year 4. month 41]
D2.1 Gender Change Academy Model: model of gender equality implementation incorporating step-by-step account (road-map) in project progression to model development [Month 42]