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Student Town Hall
Educate to Innovate
ARRA Outreach (Race to the Top)
Rural Superintendents Meeting
National Educational Technology Plan
Odds and Ends
Quote to Note
Upcoming Events
Student Town Hall
On a "special edition" of the Department's "Education News Parents Can Use" broadcast (December 15, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET), Secretary Duncan will host a national town hall meeting with students to discuss what is working and what needs improvement in the nation's schools. Following President Obama's remarks at Wakefield High School almost three month ago, the Secretary will also explore how America's young people are responding to the President's challenge to take responsibility for their learning and achievement. The Secretary will take comments and questions from students in a studio audience and via telephone and email. To contribute to the discussion, students and other viewers may call the show during the live broadcast, at 1-888-493-9382, or submit comments online.
Also: The broadcast will feature an update on the Department's "I Am What I Learn" video contest for students. Since September 21, students have submitted over 600 video entries explaining why education is important to their future. These submissions came from students with diverse ethnic, economic, and social backgrounds, and the content ranged from music videos to short skits. The common theme in all of these videos is that education is the key to success. The Department's Office of Communications and Outreach (OCO) carefully reviewed the submissions and narrowed them down to 10 finalists. Voting to determine the three winning videos runs through December 4. The three winners will each earn a $1,000 prize. The submissions inspired two friends of the DepartmentShane Battier of the Houston Rockets and Myron Rolle, who deferred the NFL draft to pursue a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford Universityto share their stories on the role education plays in their own lives.
Educate to Innovate
On November 23, President Obama launched a new campaign, Educate to Innovate, designed to improve the participation and performance of America's students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The effort builds on the President's pledge to use his position to encourage students to study and consider careers in the STEM fieldsupon which America's future dependsand elevate those students from the middle to the top of the pack, worldwide. At the kick-off event, the President announced five public-private partnerships that have committed to helping unleash the power of media, interactive games, hands-on learning, and community volunteers to reach millions of students over the next four years:
- Discovery Communication's "Be the Future" Campaign
- Sesame Street's Early STEM Literacy Initiative
- Time Warner Cable's "Connect a Million Minds" Campaign
- National Lab Day
- National STEM Game Design Competitions
The President also announced a commitment by leaders such as Sally Ride (the first female astronaut), Craig Barrett (former chairman, Intel), Ursula Burns (CEO, Xerox), Glenn Britt (CEO, Time Warner Cable), and Antonio Perez (CEO, Eastman Kodak), to increase the impact of private sector and philanthropic support for STEM education, and an annual science fair held at the White House, showcasing the student winners of national competitions in such areas as science, technology, and robotics.
Note: Secretary Duncan and John Holdren, Policy Director for the White House Office of Science and Technology, answered questions about Educate to Innovate online.
ARRA Outreach (Race to the Top)
The Department will host two Technical Assistance Planning Workshops for Race to the Top applicants to review technical and logistical aspects of the grant competition. At the workshops, staff will go through criteria, requirements, and priorities and answer questions about the program. The first workshop will be in Denver on December 3 (register by November 30). The second workshop will be in the Baltimore-Washington area on December 10 (register by December 4). Both will cover the same content, so it is recommended applicants attend whichever one of the workshops is most convenient. For those who are unable attend in person, the Department will supply a conference call number for the December 10 workshop. Also, transcripts of both the workshops will be posted online.
Also: The Department has released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the Race to the Top Fund, which will be continuously updated based on the comments received via firstname.lastname@example.com, as well as two PowerPoint presentations: one, an overview, the other, a guide to understanding the application itself.
Rural Superintendents Meeting
Last week, Secretary Duncan met with a group of rural superintendents from nine states to listen and learn about their needs and to discuss ways that the Department can be a better partner in helping to find solutions to their education challenges. "Rural schools have unique challenges and benefits, and we value the input of rural school leaders as we work together to improve education for all children," he explained. "Nearly every state has rural schools, which frequently lack resources, have trouble attracting teachers, and serve students living in areas with high concentrations of poverty. At the same time, we know that all children can learn with the appropriate support. We must learn from and replicate the examples of success in small rural schools." The meeting was part of the Administration's ongoing effort to solicit input on how to strengthen rural America. This summer, the Secretary visited Alaska and North Carolina on the White House's Rural Tour and rural schools in Arizona, Montana, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming on his Listening and Learning Tour.
Also: "Why Rural Matters 2009," from the Rural School and Community Trust, is the fifth in a series of biennial reports analyzing the contexts and conditions of rural education in each of the 50 states and calling attention to the need, for policymakers, to address rural education issues in their respective states.
National Educational Technology Plan
The Department is developing a new National Educational Technology Plan to provide a vision for how information and communication technologies can help transform American education. The plan will provide a set of concrete goals that can inform state and local educational technology plans, as well as inspire research, development, and innovation. A preliminary plan is expected in early 2010. Meanwhile, the development team is looking for insights from the field to help understand how to improve education through the innovative use of technology. Submissions will be accepted until November 30.
Note: Karen Cator, the former Director of Education Leadership and Advocacy at Apple Computer, is the new Director of the Department's Office of Educational Technology.
Odds and Ends
A new Department video tells the story of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's (ARRA) impact on the school districts of Clark County, Nevada, and Memphis, Tennessee.
On November 13, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Reverend Al Sharpton joined the Secretary in Baltimorethe latest stop on their tour of several citiesto expose challenges, highlight reforms, and rally support for greater transparency and accountability in all schools.
Just two days later, the group discussed their national tour on NBC's "Meet the Press."
The Secretary recently addressed the National Association for the Education of Young Children's Annual Conference. "This is a unique moment in time when early learning is no longer an afterthought but has come into its own and is recognized as the first and most critical stage in human development," he said. "We have a special opportunity to build a bigger, better, coordinated system of early care and education. It is time to transform early learning from a system of uneven quality and access into a system that truly and consistently prepares children for success in school and in life. And, it is time to learn from the success of high-quality programs, even as we take on the challenge of raising the bar for early learning programs in the 21st century."
"National Survey of Student Engagement: 2009 Results," from Indiana University's Center for Postsecondary Research, summarizes the views of 360,000 first-year and senior students at 617 four-year colleges and universities on five benchmarks: (1) level of academic challenge, (2) active and collaborative learning, (3) student-faculty interaction, (4) enriching education experiences, and (5) supportive campus environment.
"Open Doors 2009," published annually by the Institute of International Education, reports on Americans studying abroad and international students in the U.S.
In preparation for reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the Department's Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) is hosting a series of community conversations.
In a recent Gallup poll, the U.S. Department of Education was the runner-upsecond to the U.S. militaryin a survey that asked respondents to name the "government agency that is the most important to the future of the U.S."
Quote to Note
"Yes, improving education in math and science is about producing engineers, researchers, scientists, and innovators who are going to help transform our economy and our lives for the better. But, it's also about something more. It's about expanding opportunity for all Americans in a world where an education is the key to success. It's about an informed citizenryin an era where many of the problems we face as a nation are, at root, scientific problems. And, it's about the power of science to not only unlock new discoveries but also to unlock, in the minds of our youngest people, a sense of promise, a sense that with some hard workwith effortthey have the potential to achieve extraordinary things."
|President Barack Obama (11/23/09), announcing the Educate to Innovate campaign
Upcoming Events
On December 8, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the Department's headquarters (400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.), the Department will host the final education stakeholder forum on reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), focused on "college-ready graduates." (Note: Anyone unable to attend is invited to send comments to firstname.lastname@example.com.)
On December 15, the Department will hold its next web conference designed to assist grantees and subgrantees in managing ARRA grants. The topic is equitable participation provisions for private school students. Remember, previous conferences are archived for review.
On December 17, in the next of a series, the What Works Clearinghouse will host a webinar concerning the recommendations of its "Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision-Making" practice guide.
Credits, Subscribe & Unsubscribe
Please feel free to contact the Office of Communications and Outreach with any questions:
Director, Intergovernmental AffairsStacey Jordan, (202) 401-0026, firstname.lastname@example.com
Program AnalystAdam Honeysett, (202) 401-3003, firstname.lastname@example.com
To be added or removed from distribution, or submit comments (we welcome your feedback!), please contact Adam Honeysett. Or, visit http://www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/edreview/index.html.
This newsletter contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user's convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.


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Americo M. "Nick" Cruz, 89, formerly of Chicopee, Mass., died Friday, March 30, 2012.
A memorial gathering will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. Burial will be in Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, Mass. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Mr. Cruz was born March 19, 1923, in Chicopee to Manuel and Mary Cruz. He married Veronica Rusinowski on July 5, 1948. They were married for 63 years. He served in the Navy, receiving three battle stars during World War II and the rank of first class petty officer.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Veronica; and a son, Michael.
Survivors include his daughter, Arleen Morley and husband Roy of Amarillo; two granddaughters, Amy Eaton and husband Chris and Jaime Tirado and husband Isai, all of Amarillo; and four great-grandchildren, Jeremy Ray of Idalou, Addison McCauley, Adrian Triado and Khloe Eaton, all of Amarillo.
Sign the online guestbook at www.boxwellbrothers.com.
Amarillo Globe-News, March 31, 2012

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Many offices choose to dress their premises with Christmas decorations to spread the joy of the holiday season. Here are several artificial Christmas tree options to brighten up your workplace.
Full-sized Trees
If you're tasked to procure a full-sized tree for your reception area or break room, here are some useful tips to remember:
1. Generally, a traditional, full-silhouette green tree, such as Treetopia's Oh Christmas Tree, is a safe and suitable choice for most offices. For offices with more casual, contemporary, or distinct interior décor, you may opt for more stylized Christmas trees, such as Treetopia's Purple Groove Tinsel Christmas Tree. When considering your options, keep in mind that the artificial Christmas tree you purchase will most likely be used again in the next few years.
Office time is valuable, so choose a tree that's easy to assemble and take down. Look for features such as hinged branches and pre-installed lights to make setting up faster and more convenient. (more…)


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The Barrow County Board of Education will officially set its tax rate at a called meeting on Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. in the board office. The board doesn't plan to hike its millage rate this year since the county's tax digest didn't go down, the first time in five years the digest hasn't fallen. The millage rate will remain at 18.5 mills as it has since 2005.
For the full story, see the Aug. 28 issue of the Barrow Journal.
BOE to set tax rate on Sept. 24
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|A blend of white wine, lemon, pineapple, orange, apple and strawberries, it's a perfect party cocktail for spring and summer!
Pineapple Lemonade SangriaI just love a good sangria for a party don't you? And this one is perfect for any party you're planning. This goes super fast so double it up, at the least!
You may have seen my Cranberry Pomegranate Holiday Sangria that I posted back around Thanksgiving. Made with a combination of cranberry and pomegranate juices and fruit, apple, orange and lemon, it's a perfect fall and winter sangria. Well, spring is finally upon us, and so I think it's a perfect time to introduce a Spring Sangria for our weekend cocktails series - lemon, pineapple, strawberries, orange, apple - so fresh and delicious. I just love it!
I used a bottle of Mondavi Woodbridge Chardonnay and a Gala apple for my sangria - use whatever your favorites are. While you're here, be sure to check out our newest addition to the sangria family, Apple Julep Sangria!
Recipe: Pineapple Lemonade Spring Sangria Blanca©From the Kitchen of Deep South Dish
Prep time: 10 min | Total time: 24 hours, to soak| Yield: About 16 servings
- 1 (large) bottle of Chardonnay
- 1 (12 ounce) can of frozen lemonade
- 1/2 cup of Light Rum
- 1/2 cup of Triple Sec
- 3/4 cup of simple syrup
- 1 large (approximately 20 ounce) can of pineapple chunks or tidbits, in juice
- 1 apple, unpeeled, cored, quartered and cut into chunks (I used a Gala)
- 1 orange, halved and sliced thin
- 1 lemon, halved and sliced thin
- 6 strawberries, sliced
- 1 can of lemon-lime soda (like 7-up, Sprite, Sierra Mist)
- Whole strawberries, or lemon or orange slices, for garnish, optional
- Maraschino cherries, for garnish, optional
In a one gallon pitcher, combine the wine, lemonade, rum, Triple Sec and simple syrup. Stir well. Add the pineapple with the juice, apple chunks, orange and lemon slices, and sliced strawberries. Stir and refrigerate overnight or for several hours.
Just before serving, add in the 7-up and stir. Fill individual glasses halfway with ice, scoop out some of the fruit, then add more ice. Pour the sangria in and top off with a garnish of a fresh strawberry or a fresh slice of lemon or orange. Toss a cherry or two on top and serve!
Remember, drink responsibly, don't drink and drive and don't let your friends drink and drive.
Source: http://deepsouthdish.com
Requires Adobe Reader - download it free!©Deep South Dish
☛ Are you on Facebook? If you haven't already, come and join the party! We have a lot of fun & there's always room for one more at the table.
Pat O'Brien Hurricane
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
Perfect Mojitos
Vodka Slush


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Sea level rise is the subject explored in "Shored Up," a film to be screened 7 tonight at Christopher Newport University's Ferguson Center for the Arts. The movie spotlights issues facing coastal communities like those in Hampton Roads.
"'Shored Up' is an urgent call to action in the face of accelerating sea-level rise, presenting the devastation of Hurricane Sandy as a window into the future," a promo for the film reads. "Set in Long Beach Island, New Jersey and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the film explores the political conflicts and personal stakes of seaside communities."


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Set personal goals and achieve real results with an unparalleled mixed martial arts (MMA) fitness program designed by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and leading MMA training experts. UFC Personal Trainer provides players with an extensive assortment of effective and challenging MMA-inspired exercises, in both pre-set and customizable routines, to build strength, increase endurance, burn calories and get results. Personalized instruction and tips from the MMA trainers guide players to stay motivated, get fit and track their goals with a helpful in-game journal. In addition, the game's Ultimate Training Mode enables players to participate in high impact agility drills, with opportunities to earn rewards and have fun with friends in a competitive, multiplayer environment.
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Did you ever think about the fact that the purses we carry around as women tell a lot about who we are? Not only the style and color of the purse we chose to wear but also what is inside our purse and how tidy we keep it. As women most of us are pretty particular about the kind of purse we carry because we feel it is a reflection of who we are and the type of style and personality we have. There is even a quiz to tell you what your purse says about you:
I took the quiz and to my surprise I am a High Street Honey! One of the qualities of a High Street Honey is "You constantly change your bag to suit your mood - it reflects your fast-paced lifestyle: multiple choice is the name of the game!"
What got me to thinking about the power of our purses was that I recently met the owners of "Chaume", a very unique purse business started by two women, Mollie Thiry and Mandy Rhodes. The purses they created have interchangeable accessories, such as scarfs and belts they also have insulated and collapsible bags. Mollie and Mandy understand the need women have to make sure that your personality and lifestyle is reflected in the purse that you wear every day. You can view their many styles of purses and purse accessories at the Chaume website: http://www.mychaume.com. My personal favorite is the Volcano Signature Tote with the Puppy Tooth Belt!
Once you have chosen the perfect purse that exudes your personality then it's time to take a look inside your purse to find out what it says about your financial personality! I know this part is a bit like the golden rule of never going in another women's purse -- a rule most husbands know of very well. The truth is, though, that a purse cluttered up with old receipts, misplaced business cards, and a messy wallet can be an indication that we are not being proactive with our finances. It could mean that my financial personality as indicated by the inside of my purse would not match up with the outside personality that has declared me a High Street Honey!
So the next time you are deciding on which purse to buy or wear – remember that what is inside is just as important in reflecting your personality as the outside. Keeping organized reflects the benefits of being proactive and maintaining financial habits that don't clutter up the inside of that purse and allows the outside to scream your unique personality as well. Holding to good financial habits can:
So wear that purse proudly from the inside out and know that when you take care of the inside of your purse it is truly an expression of how you take care of your money and yourself on the outside. That is a pretty powerful message we send to others and ourselves with our purses!
Founder of Saving Smart for 5 Generations


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Every night of the week you can enjoy live music from both local and big-name artists. Check our calendar regularly to stay up to date on live music performances and upcoming events!
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: June 18Live Music - Kris Smith
Later Event: June 20Live Music - Cody Coggins


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Francisco Urena was part of an elite group on UMass Lowell's campus. He is a veteran of the U.S. military. The Lawrence-born Marine served his country overseas and was stationed in faraway places such as Iraq and Syria. It was during this time that he sustained a serious injury and was subsequently awarded the distinguished Purple Heart Award.
Back home in the Merrimack Valley, Urena transferred from Northern Essex Community College and completed his education at UMass Lowell. He balanced a full-time course-load with his job as Director of Veterans Affairs for the City of Lawrence. "I think my military background helped me prepare for the kind of discipline it takes to work and go to school at the same time," he says. As commissioner of Veterans Services for the City of Boston, Urena was awarded Veterans Services Director of the Year in 2008 for his work assisting the family of Staff Sgt. Alex Jimenez who was captured, tortured and murdered by insurgents in Iraq. In 2015, Urena was appointed to Gov. Charlie Baker's Cabinet as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He oversees services for 385,000 veterans statewide.
Urena was attracted to UMass Lowell for the "ease with which I could transfer my community college credits." He was also impressed with Chancellor Marty Meehan's commitment to veterans, helping them continue their education. "It's great to see so many veterans in the classroom as part of the campus community," he says. "I know the Chancellor has been a big advocate for us."
In regard to his experience at the university, Urena admires the dedication of his instructors. "The professors go above and beyond to make sure you really understand the material," he says. "I've seen them come to class early and stay late to go the extra mile for their students."


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The state's school finance laws are again under public scrutiny because of escalating property taxes even in the face of declining school budgets. Politicians and residents opposed to Act 60 and Act 68 have been quick to pounce on the legislation's shortcomings and demand reform, or use the issue to fan the fires of discontent to gain favor (by virtue of a public disconnect with reality) among voters.
Along with this hoopla comes the inevitable lament that the finance laws are overly complex and we need to simplify the system.


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Bandai America Incorporated has introduced a new generation of Tamagotchis, the virtual pets that allow kids to act like caregivers. The new TamaTown Tama-Go by Tamagotchi–available in dozens of Gotchi figures–is redesigned with a new high-contrast, four gray-scale display screen, a changeable design faceplate, and includes the new "pause" option that eliminates the need to babysit.
Also, caregivers can go online at www.tamatown.com to play games and nurture their Gotchi characters in simulated worlds, including Swirly Sweet City, Forest Falls, and Flower Hills Park.
To celebrate the release of TamaTown Tama-Go, Bandai has teamed up with select Toys "R" Us stores to demo the product on the first and second Saturdays in October (October 2 and October 9). Bandai is also sponsoring the "Oh My Gotchi!" Sweepsakes, giving entrants the chance to win a Swarovski-encrusted TamaTown Tama-Go toy and more. The contest runs through November 28. For more information, visit www.tamatown.com.


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Justin Bieber Performs 'Hold Tight' for First Time Ever in Australia [VIDEO]
There is a first time for everything, like Justin Bieber performing 'Hold Tight' for the first time ever. He did so at the Dec. 4 stop of his global Believe Tour in Sydney, Australia.
Ignoring the Biebs' recent issues Down Under, we must point out that he delivered a heartfelt, emotional rendition of the song while wearing a red tank and black leather pants, along with fingerless black leather gloves and cherry red kicks.
The Aussie Beliebers served as a great batch of backup singers for the teen. They held tight to every word that tumbled from his mouth and sang along with him.
Things we're feeling besides the song and its lyrics? The pompadour. The headset. When he closes his eyes while singing. Yep, we dig Da Biebs.
When he closed out the performance, which saw him accompanied by an acoustic guitarist, he pointed out that he never sang the song live before.
The first time is the best! Beliebers, what did you think of this live rendition of a new Biebs song?


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Canadian Cancer Society Statement about Canada's opposition to adding chrysotile asbestos to the Rotterdam Convention's listing of hazardous substances ("Prior Informed Consent" list)
23 June 2011
Toronto -
The Canadian Cancer Society is shocked and embarrassed that the Canadian delegation has chosen to oppose adding chrysotile asbestos to the Rotterdam Convention, a list of hazardous substances. This is the third time Canada has played a role in blocking the inclusion of asbestos under the Rotterdam Convention, which operates by consensus.
"This is an unethical decision. We know that all forms of asbestos cause cancer and we are frustrated and deeply concerned about Canada's lack of leadership on this important worldwide health issue," says Paul Lapierre, Vice President, Public Affairs and Cancer Control, Canadian Cancer Society. "It's imperative that the health of people around the world be put ahead of the interests of the asbestos industry. The federal government is continuing to ignore the advice of its own health department which recommended in 2006 that Canada support the addition of this substance."
Worldwide about 107,000 people die every year from disease related to occupational exposure to asbestos.
The Society will continue to work hard to end exposure to asbestos including lobbying the federal government to add chrysotile asbestos to the Rotterdam Convention.
The Canadian Cancer Society believes that all efforts must be made to eliminate exposure to asbestos and to eliminate asbestos-related diseases. The Society is urging the federal government to adopt a comprehensive strategy to address all aspect of the asbestos issue, including:
Read more about our position
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.
For more information, please contact:
Christine Harminc
Senior Manager, Communications & Media Relations
Canadian Cancer Society
Phone: 416 934-5340


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Postmedia Network Inc. Appoints President and Publisher
Postmedia Network Inc. has announced the appointment of Gordon Fisher to the position of president and publisher, Pacific Newspaper Group.
Fisher has held a number of senior executive positions in many Canadian cities on both the editorial and business sides of the media industry including most recently as Postmedia's executive vice president Eastern Canada and president, National Post.
Prior to his appointment as publisher of the National Post in 1997, Fisher served as president, news and information, Canwest Global Communications Corp., with responsibilities covering newspaper, television and digital information. Other responsibilities of note include roles as editor-in-chief, general manager and publisher of the Ottawa Citizen; publisher of the Kingston-Whig Standard and managing editor of The Vancouver Sun.
"Gordon is not only a seasoned media executive but a progressive business leader who will bring valuable insights and passion to his new role," said Paul Godfrey, president and CEO. "Gordon's success in our Eastern operations will no doubt serve us well as he heads back to Vancouver."
Postmedia also announced the decision of Kevin Bent to leave the organization. "We all wish Kevin the very best as he moves on from Postmedia Network and pursues other opportunities," Godfrey said.
About Pacific Newspaper Group
Pacific Newspaper Group includes the print and digital operations and brands of The Vancouver Sun and The Province newspapers, in British Columbia.


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R.E. Whittaker Co., a Pennsylvania corporation based in New Castle, PA, filed a trademark infringement suit against Misco Products Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation based in Reading, PA on July 9, 2010 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Whittaker has been in the business of manufacturing and selling commercial carpet cleaning products for over twenty-five years. In 1992 Whittaker introduced a carpet cleaning product under the brand name Crystal Dry®. The Complaint alleges that Misco recently started promoting, advertising, and selling a carpet cleaning product identified by the mark "Crystal Clear."
The causes of action in the Complaint are: trademark infringement under federal trademark law, false designation of origin and unfair competition, dilution of famous marks, and trademark infringement and unfair competition under Pennsylvania common law.


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My girls are visiting their grandparents up in Maryland this week, so Jim and I have the place to ourselves. The funny thing is, we really haven't done anything different than we usually do. I thought we might try some different meals this weekend, but we really didn't. I just couldn't think of anything to cook that my kids wouldn't eat. We realized this weekend that we are really pretty content doing the things we typically do when the kids are around. We go on walks with our dog, sit on our deck and grill, run errands or other little outings…. and that is exactly what we ended up doing this weekend. They also eat pretty much anything that we serve, too so I really can't complain on the food front, either. I did enjoy having a clean house and not having to break up little silly arguments all weekend, but that was really about it.
The one food flavor that my kids don't do well however, is spicy. I decided that today I would attempt to recreate one of my favorite restaurant meals – Spicy Thai Basil Chicken. I don't know about you, but I can't have a respectable Thai meal and not have some type of a roll. So, I decided to make Thai Fresh Summer Rolls to go along with my Basil Chicken.
I didn't really take into account how long it would take me to put everything together and I will say that I definitely got a workout tonight in the kitchen. Neither dish takes all that long by itself, but when you make them at the same time, it does take a little while. There's a lot of chopping and soaking and trekking outside to my herb garden. I was just finishing up when Jim came in the door and I didn't have the table set like I had originally planned. Oh well, luckily Jim is great in the kitchen (sometimes even better than I am) so we worked together and got dinner on the table pretty quickly.
Both dishes were absolutely amazing so it was definitely worth all of the chopping and wrapping and grinding. Tonight I am going to share with you my recipe for the Summer Rolls and Peanut Sauce. These honestly tasted exactly like any roll that you would get in a restaurant. I made these vegetarian, but you could add some cooked chicken or shrimp and they would be great. The sauce was awesome and had a bit of heat to it and a great peanut flavor. Once you have all of your food chopped and noodles soaked, they are really easy to assemble. The rice paper was really easy to work with and extremely forgiving. I was a little bit worried that they would be hard to wrap and I probably didn't roll them as tight as I should have but they still looked and tasted great.
I definitely urge you to give these a try. They are pretty healthy and the fresh taste is awesome. I used the Thai Basil from my garden, however, if you don't have access to Thai Basil you could also use Cilantro, Mint or Italian Basil and any of these would be a fine substitute. I do love the flavor of the Thai Basil though and the plant in my herb garden is still going pretty strong, so I am going to use it until it kicks the bucket. You can buy the spring roll wrappers at some grocery stores in the Asian Foods section, but I got mine at the huge Asian market not too far from my house (which is a really fun place to go by the way.) I figured out how to put the rolls together myself, however the peanut sauce is from Steamy Kitchen. She also has a spring roll recipe there which sounds fabulous and it has shrimp, mango and mint in it. See, you can really change these up with lots of different flavors.
Enjoy these tonight! And then when you are done you can take the kids and the dog for a walk:-)
Thai Fresh Summer Rolls with Spicy Peanut Sauce
- Summer Rolls
- 8 Spring Roll Wrappers
- 1 Carrot cut into matchsticks
- 1 Cucumber cut into matchsticks
- 1/2 cup Thai Basil cut in a chiffonade
- 2 oz rice vermicelli or bean threads
- rice vinegar
- Peanut Dipping Sauce
- 2 tsp cooking oil
- 2 cloves of garlic crushed in garlic press
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 3 tbsp sweet chili sauce
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 tbsp chunky peanut butter
- For the spring rolls....
- Have all of your veggies prepped and dried thoroughly.
- Soak vermicelli in hot water for 15 minutes. Drain and then dry noodles on a paper towel. Toss with a few splashes of the rice vinegar.
- To assemble spring rolls soak the wrapper in warm water for 3-5 seconds. Lay flat on your work surface and cover the lower third with some of the vermicelli, carrots, cucumber and basil. Fold the filling over once so it is completely nestled in the wrapper and then fold each of the ends in (like you are rolling up a burrito.) Then roll the rest of the way as tight as you can without tearing the wrapper. Let finished rolls sit, seam side down on a plate.
- Serve with spicy peanut sauce.
- To make the peanut sauce, heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook garlic and ginger until fragrant and then add remaining ingredients. Cook until thickened and then cool in the refrigerator before serving.


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Northern Michigan Kids: 1st Annual Young Playwrights Festival
Northern Michigan Kids: Curtains please! It's time for the first annual Young Playwrights Festival! Six one act plays, written by area youths, performed by Traverse City area performers and directed by local directors in affiliation with Old Town Playhouse will come alive at the City Opera House in Traverse City at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 20th.
In a region filled with talented writers, the first annual Young Playwright Festival offers a great opportunity for Northern Michigan's creative youth writers to get involved and be rewarded, and for others to get inspired.
Back in November, Northern Michigan high school students wrote and submitted scripts for one act plays. Out of thirty entrants, six finalists were selected by a juried panel, and now have the chance to see their one act plays produced and performed by local directors and actors up on stage at the City Opera House.
The six finalists, whose plays will be produced on May 20th, were paired with theatre mentors from professional theaters and organizations. Mentors helped students work on their plays for a period of four to five weeks, with the goal of educating students in the art of playwriting. These revised plays were submitted to directors for production, with a grand finale of the students' plays performed on stage for parents, friends, family and mentors to enjoy.
Come bear witness to Northern Michigan's local talented youth playwrights! The performance is free and open to the public. For details, visit cityoperahouse.org/youngplaywrights.php.
Congratulations to the City Opera House 2012 Young Playwright finalists:
Kelly Clare, Interlochen Arts Academy Wayne Campbell, Petoskey High School
Krysta Schaub, Traverse City Preparatory Academy
Sella Malin, Interlochen Arts Academy
Clem Turner, Petoskey High School Nicole Acton, Interlochen Arts Academy


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Jermaine Jackson files papers to change last name
JERMAINE JACKSON has filed legal papers in a bid to change his famous last name.
The singer, who shot to fame with his brothers in The Jackson 5, submitted documents at Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday (06Nov12) asking to have his surname altered to Jacksun.
In the papers, obtained by TMZ.com, the star claims he wants to make the change for "artistic reasons".
The request has not yet been approved by a judge, but a future hearing has been scheduled.


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Moraine Lake Fire
Fiery sunrise at Moraine Lake, Alberta, Canada.
A young Grizzly bear munches on wildflowers in Kananskis Country, Canada.
Hamnøy Bridge
The quaint village of Hamnøy with some warm afternoon light
The green fairy
Northern lights over Haukland beach in Lofoten.
Cuernos del Paine
Cuernos del Paine peaks with torres del Paine in the back
Oxbow Bend
The Oxbow Bend in early morning light.
Johnston Canyon Secret Cave
An explorer gazes at the blue river in the Johnston Canyon secret cave.
Cystal MIll, Colorado
An old abandoned mill stands amidst a river in Crystal Colorado
Salto Grande
Sunset shot from el Salto Grande in Torres del Paine
Cenote Explorer
An explorer standing amidst a perfect blue and green cenote in northern Guatemala.
Matterhorn Blues
Iconic Matterhorn reflection over an alpine lake.
Blue Hour Manarola
Manarola shot at blue hour
Icy Madness
A small glacier fed lake sits bellow a few glaciers in the Iceline Trail at Yoho National Park
Purple Haze
Purple Sunset shot from el Salto Grande area in Torres del Paine
As above so below
Milky way Rises over Los Ojos del desierto in Atacama, Chile
The Dragon's Eye
The Dragon's Eye at Utakleiv beach in Lofoten.
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland shot from above
Snake River Overlook
Grand Tetons mountain range shot from the Snake River Overlook
Mars meets Venus
Panorama shot at Piedras Rojas, Atacama, Chile
Winter Wonderland
Let it snow
Lake Patricia Wilderness
A family of deer gaze on the shores of Lake Patricia in Jasper National Park.
Mossy Paradise
Mossy rock formations at a beach in La Libertad, El Salvador
Eggum Aurora
Aurora dancing over Eggum beach in Lofoten
Fall at LIzard Lake
Fall at LIzard Lake near Marble. Colorado
Lines and Curves
Mesmerizing Pattern of Lines and Curves blending orange and purple. Shot at Upper Antelope Canyon
Yosemite Reflection
A reflection from the Merced river in Yosemite National Park.
Volcan de Fuego Eruption
Volcan de Fuego in Guatemala erupting in the night.
Moraine Lake Fun
A few Kayaks are lined in an early morning at Moraine Lake.
Val di Funes
The town of Santa Maddalena with the Odle Range Mastiffs in the back
Tuscany Fire
Sunrise over Podere Belvedere, Tuscany.


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Employer acted on WISE consultant's advice.
First the nutshell in a 2006 news item, then the Auckland Employment Court decision.
Auckland Employment Court decisionEmployer drove woman to quit for 'draining life force'
stuff.co.nz - 03 November 2006
An Auckland accountant who drove an employee to quit after a scientologist convinced him she was "draining his life force" has been ordered to pay her $13,000.
The Employment Relations Authority found accounts clerk Yunpei Chin had been unjustifiably constructively dismissed by Yong & Co chartered accountants and she had a personal grievance.
Ms Chin tendered her resignation to her employer, Andrew Yong, saying she had been mistreated by him and that he had said bad things about her behind her back.
In September 2005, Mr Yong met scientologist Andrew Wenborn near the accountant's Panmure office.
The scientologist stress-tested the accountant and found him to be "very stressed and (that) his health was not good".
He indoctrinated Mr Yong into the Church of Scientology, and offered to reorganise his business for him to make it work better and more efficiently.
Mr Wenborn told the accountant Ms Chin, despite being his longest-serving employee, was the cause of his stress.
The three had a meeting that Ms Chin attended, understanding it was to be about restructuring the business.
However, Mr Wenborn, who was introduced as Mr Yong's consultant, interrogated Ms Chin about her husband to the point she felt threatened. Mr Yong did nothing during the interview but sit back and smile, the Employment Relations Authority said.
Ms Chin's husband had been involved in a secret 2003 business deal with Mr Yong and had borrowed $50,000. Ms Chin only found out about it two years later.
Later, Mr Yong sent Ms Chin a letter which described Mr Wenborn's investigation as necessary to ensure she was not conspiring with her husband.
"This has badly affected my personal efficiency and my life force has been drained.
"As you are aware of (sic), I am now a member WISE (World Institute of Scientology Enterprises), which require that there are no unethical and unscrupulous staff in our firm," Mr Yong said.
The Employment relations Authority found in favour of Ms Chin.
"His new found enlightenment and involvement with the Church of Scientology did not release him from his legal duties owed to Ms Chin," the authority said.
The authority ruled Yong & Co owed Ms Chin reimbursement of $3653.85, $5000 compensation, $2192.31 in wage arrears and $2192.31 interest in the judgement sum.
Yong T/A Yong & Co Chartered Accountants v Chin AC 37/07 [2007] NZEmpC 74 (20 June 2007)
Last Updated: 21 July 2007
IN THE MATTER OF a challenge to a determination of the Employment Relations Authority
Hearing: 18 and 20 April 2007 and 7 May 2007
(Heard at Auckland)
Appearances: Evgeny Orlov, Counsel for Plaintiff
Mark Nutsford, Advocate for Defendant
Judgment: 20 June 2007
[1] Mr Yong has filed a challenge against the determination of the Employment Relations Authority at Auckland dated 4 October 2006. Under the determination Mr Yong was ordered to pay his former employee, Ms Chin, the following:
a. Reimbursement of the gross sum of $3,653.85;
b. compensation of $5,000;
c. outstanding holiday pay of $2,192.31 gross as arrears of wages;
d. interest on the judgment sum of $2,192.31 for arrears of wages at the rate of 9 percent per annum from 25 November 2005 until the date of payment.
[2] While the plaintiff's pleadings were somewhat deficient I allowed the matter to be set down at the callover so that there were no further delays in bringing this challenge to a conclusion. A detailed statement of defence has been filed to the rather poorly pleaded statement of claim. No cross challenge has been filed. However, as the challenge seeks a hearing de novo against the whole of the determination, it is open to the Court to increase the awards if the plaintiff is unsuccessful. I also mention that while the determination of the Employment Relations Authority correctly named Mr Andrew Yong trading as Yong & Co Chartered Accountants as employer party to the determination, the documents subsequently filed by the parties simply named the plaintiff as Yong & Company, which is not a legal entity. At the callover hearing, which I conducted on 16 February 2007, I made an order directing that the correct plaintiff in the challenge is Andrew Yong trading as Yong & Co Chartered Accountants.
[3] The original estimate given for the trial was one day. It soon became apparent that this would be inadequate. The trial in fact lasted three days. While the Court made every effort to ensure the trial was completed as quickly as possible there was an unacceptable delay between the second and third days.
The employment history
[4] Ms Chin first commenced employment with Mr Yong's accountancy practice in July 2002. She resigned on 28 October 2003 but resumed employment with him again on 3 May 2004.
[5] During the first period of employment Mr Yong entered into a financial transaction with Ms Chin's husband, Mr Julian Chan. Under this transaction, taking place in February 2003, Mr Yong lent Mr Chan $50,000, ostensibly to help finance a deal involving export of dairy cattle to Asia. The agreement was that Mr Yong would receive back $75,000 at the expiry of three months. Mr Chan never repaid Mr Yong. It was agreed between Mr Yong and Mr Chan that Ms Chin would not be informed of the transaction. I am satisfied that Ms Chin did not know of this transaction until alerted to it confidentially by Mr Yong's wife in mid 2005 when Ms Chin was back in his employment for the second time.
[6] While employed during the first period, Ms Chin had assisted the Lee family, clients of Mr Yong's practice, with an Inland Revenue Department investigation into their family business, Lywist Tobacco Ltd. Through her skill and expertise, Ms Chin procured a successful outcome for the Lee family and Mr Yong received a substantial fee for her work. During his evidence, Mr Yong described Ms Chin as his most valuable employee. Clearly that was the case.
[7] The Lee family was very grateful for the outcome Ms Chin had procured and persistently offered to have her to their home for dinner. Ms Chin resisted the invitation as she felt uncomfortable going to the home of a client of her employer. Eventually, she succumbed to the invitation and she, her husband and children visited the Lees' home for dinner. As part of the cultural requirements, it was necessary for the invitation to be reciprocated and on a later occasion the Lees were invited back to Ms Chin's home in Bucklands Beach for dinner. Mr Yong was not informed of these events. It was put to Ms Chin in cross-examination that these social events amounted to a breach of Ms Chin's obligations of trust and confidence towards her employer.
[8] Following the final dinner meeting, Mr Lee and Mr Chan entered into a financial transaction. This was coincidentally similar to the earlier transaction between Mr Chan and Mr Yong. Mr Lee agreed to lend Mr Chan $60,000 to finance the trade of white veal from New Zealand to Asian countries. The return to Mr Lee was to be 10 percent per annum and a share of the expected profit. At the end of November 2003, at a time incidentally when Ms Chin was no longer in Mr Yong's employ, Mr Lee advanced the $60,000 to Mr Chan who, in return, gave him four post-dated cheques totalling $66,000. The cheques were due for presentation in December 2004 but Mr Lee, apparently concerned about Mr Chan's bona fides, attempted to unsuccessfully cash the cheques in February 2004. Mr Chan informed me during the course of his evidence that through a change in export/import requirements of meat into Asia, the transaction failed. Like Mr Yong, Mr Lee was never repaid. Mr Chan asserted that the transactions, for which he borrowed from both Mr Yong and Mr Lee, were bona fides. I have considerable doubt about that and was never provided with documentation to verify his assertions.
[9] However, I am satisfied that Ms Chin knew nothing of the transactions when they were first entered into. She became aware of the Lee transaction when she came across a notice of dishonoured cheque and confronted her husband. There was considerable disagreement between them about it. At that time, of course, Ms Chin was not aware of the similar dealings between her husband and Mr Yong. She did not become aware of those transactions until much later.
[10] Ms Chin gave evidence that she was concerned about her husband's financial affairs. She owned the house in Bucklands Beach and other properties as her separate property. Some years earlier she had ensured that her position with respect to her separate property was protected by entering into a matrimonial property agreement with her husband. She had become concerned about his gambling habits. She wished to protect her separate property against any attack from potential creditors of her husband. The matrimonial property agreement was entered into in May 2002, before Ms Chin even commenced employment with Mr Yong. As it transpired, the protection Ms Chin had gained held her in good stead as the Lees obtained a judgment against Mr Chan for the borrowed money. Mr Chan was adjudicated bankrupt on 17 August 2005. This then left the Lees and Mr Yong without further recourse against Mr Chan personally for the debts. The solicitors for the Lees attempted to seek payment for the debt from both Mr Yong and Ms Chin on the basis of alleged breach of fiduciary duty arising out of the Lees' dealings with the accountancy firm. These allegations were rejected and nothing further transpired.
[11] Mr Orlov, in his submissions, insinuated that Ms Chin was a party to the failed transaction which, in turn, gave rise to grounds for Mr Yong to make further inquiries of her. Mr Yong had previously become aware of the Lee transaction by virtue of the actions of the solicitors for the Lees against him and of course had suffered loss himself. However, when discussing these matters with her later, he accepted Ms Chin's assurance that she did not know of the transactions and was not involved. Mr Yong was not aware at that time of the social dinners, which had taken place. Mr Orlov also insinuated during his cross-examination of Ms Chin that the matrimonial property agreement and the social dinners were part of an alleged conspiracy between Ms Chin and her husband to defraud the Lees and Mr Yong. Such allegations were simply not established during the course of evidence and were completely without factual foundation.
[12] Clearly the loss of money was a source of irritation for Mr Yong. However, with the adjudication of Mr Chan as a bankrupt, the debt was extinguished. Any recourse would need to be directed to the Official Assignee. Ms Chin stated that within days of her husband's bankruptcy, Mr Yong and his wife began hinting that Ms Chin personally had a responsibility to them. Ms Chin was in a difficult position, having resumed employment with Mr Yong. She diplomatically rejected their suggestions. Mr Yong clearly relied upon Ms Chin as one of his most valued and able employees and did not wish to lose her. There was no suggestion from him that she would be dismissed or that she should resign at that time.
[13] It was around this time that Mr Yong appears to have converted to http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.p ... cientology - disp0http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp0Scientologyhttp://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp2" src="/images/contextdown.gif" border=0http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp2 and unwisely fell under the spell of a Mr Andrew Wenborn. Mr Wenborn held himself out as a business consultant. He was attached to an organisation called WISE (World Institute of http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.p ... cientology - disp1http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp1Scientologyhttp://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp3" src="/images/contextdown.gif" border=0http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp3 Enterprises), which adhered to principles enunciated by L Ron Hubbard, the founder of http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.p ... cientology - disp2http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp2Scientologyhttp://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp4" src="/images/contextdown.gif" border=0http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp4. Mr Wenborn did not give evidence although there was clearly an intention earlier that he would. I was informed by Mr Orlov that Mr Wenborn now resides in Australia and was unavailable. Mr Yong under cross-examination seemed reluctant at one point to concede the connection between WISE and http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.p ... cientology - disp3http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp3Scientologyhttp://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp5" src="/images/contextdown.gif" border=0http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp5 but Mr Nutsford was able to point to documentary evidence that the enterprises were linked.
[14] Ms Chin described her dealings with Mr Wenborn after he was employed as the business consultant for Mr Yong's practice. Mr Wenborn introduced time recording systems for the firm, which would be consistent with his advising Mr Yong on business matters. However, it appears that as part of the philosophy attached to WISE, Mr Wenborn wished to ascertain the integrity of all the staff then working for Mr Yong and undertook a series of individual interviews with the staff at which Mr Yong was present.
[15] Mr Yong in his brief of evidence stated that Mr Wenborn had identified one of the "issues" as the debt Ms Chin's husband owed and that "... all these events had virtually undermined the relationship of trust between employer and employee". Of course by this stage there was no longer any debt as Mr Chan was bankrupt. It seemed rather late in the stage to be claiming the employment relationship had been undermined given Mr Yong's earlier discussions with Ms Chin at the time of the adjudication in which he reinforced her position in his employ. He had previously become aware of the Lee debt as I mentioned when the Lees' solicitors wrote to him in September 2004, nearly a year previously. He had on that earlier occasion also reaffirmed Ms Chin's employment with him. At that stage in September 2004, he also knew that Ms Chin's husband was indebted to him but did not reveal that to Ms Chin and knew that she was not aware of this position.
[16] Ms Chin stated that the interview with Mr Wenborn and Mr Yong took place on 29 September 2005. She was informed at the outset that the purpose of the interview was to settle her role and to help Mr Yong reorganise the practice. She stated that during the interview Mr Wenborn spent most of the time delving into her personal affairs rather than her professional skills and any practice issues. Mr Wenborn's notes of the meeting confirm that. Indeed, it is plain from the notes that Mr Wenborn was more interested in the debt owing to Mr Yong. Drawing reasonable inferences from the notes and subsequent correspondence, it is clear that Mr Wenborn was keenly interested in how Mr Chan or Ms Chin was to repay the debt.
[17] Ms Chin stated that she protested to no avail at the meeting as to the tone of the questioning. She remonstrated further with Mr Wenborn in a letter she wrote to him dated 14 October 2005. In that letter she tried to ascertain what role in the practice she was to play. She ended the letter by stating that she was the longest serving staff member of the practice and remained loyal and hard working.
[18] Mr Wenborn replied to Ms Chin on 19 October 2005. He used Mr Yong's practice letterhead to do that. He set out a series of business issues, which one would have thought would have provided a better agenda for the previous interview. Clearly, however, they did not. Mr Wenborn then disingenuously disclosed what I think was his real purpose for interviewing Ms Chin when he wrote:
Being a loyal, and the longest serving staff member, please send by return a written solution to the following situation which came up in the meeting: That your lawful husband owes a sizable debt to Mr Yong, is declared bankrupt, is now being supported by you on a salary you are receiving from Mr Yong.
I look forward to a prompt reply to assist with establishing the role you will play, in the expansion of Yong & Co.
[19] Further correspondence followed in which Ms Chin reiterated that she was not liable for her husband's debts and felt stunned that she had been asked to provide a "written solution" to the financial problem between her husband and her employer, Mr Yong. Mr Wenborn's response on 9 November 2005 to Ms Chin's first letter is concerning. It raises the suggestion that Ms Chin may wish to resign. It implies that Mr Yong may merely be providing Ms Chin with employment from some altruistic motive. The letter concludes:
Please explain in writing your exact position at Yong & Co. and your future intention. This is needed within 7 days for decisions to be taken to allow for the expansion of the company.
[20] On 14 November 2005 Ms Chin wrote to both Mr Wenborn and Mr Yong. She considered Mr Wenborn was misinterpreting her earlier letter. She reiterated she had no intention of resigning nor had she given any indication of that. She emphasised that she was not liable for her husband's debts and objected to Mr Wenborn's intrusion into her personal affairs. The letter, which she wrote to Mr Yong on the same day, was a plea to him to tell Mr Wenborn to stop harassing her.
[21] Mr Yong responded twice to this letter. He maintained, in the first letter dated 16 November 2005, that Ms Chin was over-reacting to Mr Wenborn's "project". He then dealt at some length with the debt owing to him by Ms Chin's husband. The matter took a somewhat sinister turn in the following paragraphs:
From what I understand, in order to do well in a professional firm like ours, integrity plays an important role in our work place and is critical and vital to our survival. You are identified as one of the potential candidates to help in this respect but however, your husband's financial affair has been viewed as an irregularity of our practice. Therefore, an investigation of this case is unavoidable. This is to ensure that you are not conspiring with your husband. As a loyal employee of our firm we now require you to cooperate and assist in this matter. As you are aware of [sic], I am now a member of WISE (World Institute of http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.p ... cientology - disp4http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp4Scientologyhttp://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp6" src="/images/contextdown.gif" border=0http://www.worldlii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/nz/ca ... cientology - disp6 Enterprises), which require [sic] that there are no unethical and unscrupulous staff in our firm. Unfortunately, you are the first one that has to go through this process due to your position in the firm and also your relation [sic] with Mr. Julian Chen [sic] who is now bankrupt.
I hope this letter will make you understand that Mr. Andrew Wenborn is here merely to carry out his duty as our firm's consultant. Investigating your husband's financial affair is unavoidable in order to restructure our firm. Hence, in order to move forward together I need all of my employees to cooperate with Mr. Andrew Wenborn at his/her uttermost sincerity and from the bottom of their heart.
If you wish to continue your stay with us, your cooperation to work towards the best for all of us is needed. If you need a formal written employment contract to replace our verbal contract, please do not hesitate to let me know. As I said earlier it can be printed out for you straight away.
[22] From my observations of Mr Yong's standard of English, I suspect that this first letter had considerable input from Mr Wenborn. The second letter, dated 17 November 2005, which had been typed in a totally different font, deals with Ms Chin signing the written employment contract enclosed with the letter. The letter re-confirmed Ms Chin's duties. Again, for the same reason, I have some suspicion that the second letter may have been drafted by someone other than Mr Yong.
[23] Mr Wenborn also responded to the letter he received from Ms Chin dated 14 November 2005. His letter, dated 18 November 2005, again written on the firm's letterhead, notes the absence of a written employment contract. The letter fails to deal with the concerns raised by Ms Chin. However, it concludes with the following, also somewhat sinister paragraph:
Please ensure that the employment contract is finalized, as there can be no real position for you until it is signed.
[24] It is clear from the correspondence in reply from both Mr Yong and Mr Wenborn that they had been, up to that stage, unfamiliar with the requirements imposed on employers in New Zealand under the Employment Relations Act 2000. It was very late in the piece to be requiring Ms Chin to sign the individual employment agreement. It was facetious of Mr Wenborn to suggest that Ms Chin's continued employment might be in doubt if the contract was not finalised.
[25] Ms Chin then replied to Mr Wenborn advising that she would sign and return the agreement after discussing it with her legal adviser. On the same day, being 21 November 2005, she wrote to Mr Yong rejecting his assertions that she had been over-reacting to Mr Wenborn's "project". She responded to the matters concerning the debt, confirming that it was not her concern. She expressed some amazement at the belated request to sign a written employment agreement. She required time to consider the agreement. She confirmed that her intention was to remain a co-operative employee and reminded Mr Yong of the long hours that she had previously worked on his behalf.
[26] Mr Orlov submitted that the final letter from Ms Chin affirmed her contract. He raised this in the context of Ms Chin's allegation that she was constructively dismissed. I have considerable doubt about Mr Orlov's proposition. He submitted that Ms Chin had agreed to sign the agreement but that is clearly not so. By that stage the relationship had been seriously undermined by the allegations directed at Ms Chin that she may have conspired with her husband in perpetuating a fraud on Mr Yong, that she was personally responsible for the debt, and that her continued employment was in doubt if she did not sign a written agreement.
[27] While Mr Yong denied in evidence that he required Ms Chin to discharge her husband's debt, the whole tenor of his and Mr Wenborn's actions and correspondence was clearly aimed at that objective. Mr Yong frankly conceded in evidence that he believed Ms Chin had acted conspiratorially with her husband in defrauding him and that attitude is clear from his correspondence.
[28] There was of course no basis upon which Mr Yong and Mr Wenborn could come to that view of Ms Chin. Mr Orlov submitted that there was sufficient evidence for Mr Yong to form suspicions on that score and therefore entitle him to interrogate her. I do not accept that submission. Mr Wenborn's arrival on the scene, and the upset he created, occurred over 12 months after Mr Yong had confirmed to Ms Chin his acceptance that she was not involved in either the husband's alleged fraud on him or Mr Lee. No grounds existed for this to be reopened in the way Mr Wenborn did. It is significant that shortly before this, Mr Chan had been made bankrupt and the debt extinguished. At that point it would have dawned on Mr Yong that he could not be paid and it seems to me that he, at the suggestion of Mr Wenborn, turned his attention to obtaining payment from Ms Chin. I do not accept Mr Yong's assertions in evidence that he lent the money to Mr Chan from some altruistic motive. I believe he was motivated by greed. His subsequent actions and correspondence are all consistent with his desire to have Ms Chin repay her husband's debt. His behaviour seriously undermined the employment relationship.
[29] The matter came to a head on 21 November 2005. Mr Yong and Mr Wenborn arrived on that date at Ms Chin's home in the early evening. Ms Chin had been home on sick leave. Mr Yong stated that the reason for going there was to speak to Mr Chan about repayment of the debt. Mr Yong spoke of his dealings with the Official Assignee so I infer he had proved his debt in Mr Chan's bankruptcy. It is hard to know therefore, on what basis he was wishing to speak further to Mr Chan about repayment of the loan. Any communications on the matter should have been with the Official Assignee pending any discharge from the bankruptcy. It was inevitable that Ms Chin would become involved in the presence of Mr Yong and Mr Wenborn at her home at that time of day. Initially Mr Chan answered the door. He stepped outside but realising the presence of Mr Wenborn who appeared in charge of proceedings, Mr Chan asked them both to leave. They refused to do so. Ms Chin came to the door. She first spoke to her lawyer by telephone for advice. The direction to them to leave was then repeated. When they refused to do so the Police were called. Mr Wenborn and Mr Yong waited at the front of the garage for the Police to arrive apparently suspicious as to whether the Police had indeed been summoned. When the Police arrived they were directed to leave and did so.
[30] This appalling turn of events was the last straw for Ms Chin. She wrote to Mr Yong advising she was resigning her position and intended to pursue a personal grievance. Her letter of resignation reads as follows:
Dear Mr. Yong,
I am writing to tender my resignation as the situation at your office is untenable for me to continue working there any longer. And I am giving you one week notice in this regard.
The reasons of my resignation are as follows:
1. I was badly treated by Mr. Andrew Wenborn at the interview held on September 29, 2005, and both you and he have also written me letters making unreasonable demands.
2. You have made so many disparaging comments about me to some of my colleagues behind my back, specifically on the financial deal between you and my husband.
The above has caused stress on me and I am suffering a health problem because of those unpleasant events.
You must be aware that I am entitled to my sick leave till Tuesday next week, and hopefully I shall be able to come back to office that day.
The opportunity is also taken to tell you that I am going to take a personal grievance against you.
Legal principles - constructive dismissal
[31] Regardless of the allegations Mr Yong has raised against Ms Chin, this case turns upon whether, following the events immediately leading up to her resignation, she was constructively dismissed.
[32] The concept of constructive dismissal was considered at length in Wellington, Taranaki and Marlborough Clerical etc IUOW v Greenwich (t/a Greenwich and Associates Employment Agency and Complete Fitness Centre) [1983] ACJ 965; ERNZ Sel Cas 95. Williamson J and the members of the Court considered the cause at length. The ratio of the decision is summarised from the following brief statements at 975; 104:
A constructive dismissal is one in which the employer's actions are equivalent to a dismissal, or the employer's conduct tantamount to a dismissal.
There is no substantial difference between the case of an employer who, intending to terminate the employment relationship, dismisses the employee and the case of the employer who, by conduct, compels the employee to leave the employment. This is the doctrine of constructive dismissal.
[33] Issues of causation and foreseeability are part of the consideration as to whether the employee can rely upon a constructive dismissal:
(a) In Greenwich at 976; 104 the Court stated:
In identifying cases of constructive dismissal, and in separating them from cases of employee resignation, we suggest there is a useful insight to be gained from a consideration of the real or true source of the initiative for termination. If the real source of the initiative for termination is the employer, or the basic causation comes from the employer, then the case is one of constructive dismissal. We appreciate that the concept of causation has caused difficulties in some branches of the law. However, we think it has some utility here, particularly since for years the Court has been applying principles of apportionment of loss having regard to the employee's share in the responsibility for the loss. In that respect the Court's policy is broadly similar to that contained in the Contributory Negligence Act 1947 applying to certain liability for tortious damage.
(b) In Auckland Electric Power Board v Auckland Provincial District Local Authorities Officers IUOW Inc [1994] 1 ERNZ 168, 172 the Court of Appeal outlined the correct approach to constructive dismissals as follows:
In such a case as this we consider that the first relevant question is whether the resignation has been caused by a breach of duty on the part of the employer. To determine that question all the circumstances of the resignation have to be examined, not merely of course the terms of the notice or other communication whereby the employee has tendered the resignation. If that question of causation is answered in the affirmative, the next question is whether the breach of duty by the employer was of sufficient seriousness to make it reasonably foreseeable by the employer that the employee would not be prepared to work under the conditions prevailing: in other words, whether a substantial risk of resignation was reasonably foreseeable, having regard to the seriousness of the breach.
[34] In the first Court of Appeal decision considering constructive dismissal, Auckland Shop Employees Union v Woolworths (NZ) Ltd [1985] 2 NZLR 372, the Court enunciated three situations where a constructive dismissal may occur at 374, 375:
where the employee is given a choice of resignation or dismissal;
where the employer has followed a course of conduct with the deliberate and dominant purpose of coercing an employee to resign; and
where a breach of duty by the employer leads a worker to resign.
[35] It is the last of these three situations that applies in the present case.
[36] In respect of that last factor, the Auckland Electric Power Board decision elaborated upon it as a breach of contract relied on by the employee that the employer had breached the implied duty not to act in a manner calculated to destroy or seriously damage the employment relationship. In other words, to destroy the trust and confidence between employer and employee, which must exist in every employment relationship.
[37] Mr Orlov submitted on the basis of Auckland Shop Employees v Woolworths (supra) that the employer has a right to investigate and discuss alleged or suspected breaches of the employment contract and relationship. That was a case involving a shop employee suspected of stealing money from her employer. She was comprehensively interrogated by a security officer who was a former police officer. Following this she resigned. The Arbitration Court held that the employee's resignation in such circumstances was not a constructive dismissal. The case went on appeal to the Court of Appeal by way of case stated. The matter was then referred back to the lower Court for reconsideration. However, the decision of the Arbitration Court has some pertinence to the present. While the employer clearly had a right to carry out an inquiry in the circumstances of that case the Court stated that such inquiry must not only be carried out in a fair and reasonable manner, but more importantly that the employer must be initially justified in setting up the inquiry. In that case suspicions were strong and the employer embarking on an inquiry was reasonable, whereas in the present case that is not so. In addition the inquiry was conducted without delay whereas in the present case that is not the position.
[38] Woolworths is important in the context of constructive dismissal for other reasons. The Court of Appeal's decision dealt at considerable length with the obligations of trust and confidence implied in the employment relationship. There had been some dissension on the point in the United Kingdom now resolved in Woods v W-M Car Services (Peterborough) [1981] ICR 666, [1982] ICR 693 (on appeal). In the Employment Appeal Tribunal, Browne-Wilkinson J (as he then was) indicated that constructive dismissal may not fall to be determined just in the context of common law repudiation of contract with an election to cancel. Rather the conduct of the parties and its cumulative impact on the employment relationship is to be considered. This approach appeared preferable to the New Zealand Court of Appeal in Woolworths rather than the common law test of repudiation applied in Western Excavating (EEC) Ltd v Sharp [1978] QB761, which was also discussed in Woods. That approach was then endorsed in the Auckland Electric Power Board case (supra).
[39] In New Zealand these issues may now be academic with the statutory overlay of the Employment Relations Act 2000. Section 4(1)(a) of the Act requires the parties to an employment relationship to deal with each other in good faith. Section 4(1A)(a) states that such duty "is wider in scope than the implied mutual obligations of trust and confidence".
[40] Applying those principles, whether it be as a breach of the implied mutual obligations of trust and confidence or the overall obligation of good faith, it is then necessary to look at whether in this case the employer's conduct as a whole, judged reasonably and sensibly to use the words of Browne-Wilkinson J, was such that Ms Chin should not have been expected to have put up with it.
[41] Mr Orlov spent a considerable period of time in his cross-examination of Ms Chin with the issues of the matrimonial property agreement and the social contact between Ms Chin and her husband with the Lee family. I raised the relevance of these issues at the time and Mr Orlov assured me he would deal with the relevance of such matters in his submissions. The question of the Lee dinners was mentioned but not developed in his final submissions. The two matters appear to be thrown into the pot as part of the allegation of conspiracy between Ms Chin and her husband, which I reject as being unsubstantiated. It is clear that both issues are red herrings. Any allegations of impropriety in Ms Chin's social contact with the Lees without her employer knowing might have some marginal relevance to a dismissal for misconduct but no dismissal for such grounds was contemplated in this case. In any event I do not consider there was any impropriety in Ms Chin accepting the invitations to dinner or reciprocating. There is no principle of employment law forbidding such contact between an employee and employer's client, which I venture to suggest is a regular occurrence. More pertinent, however, is that Mr Orlov submitted that these were among the matters, which provided the basis for Mr Yong and Mr Wenborn to question Ms Chin on her integrity and loyalty. That submission cannot be correct. It is debatable whether Mr Yong or Mr Wenborn knew about either matter at the time of the questioning of Ms Chin. If they did, certainly neither matter was recorded in Mr Wenborn's notes as the basis for the interview. It therefore could not have provided the basis for the interview. The statement of claim clearly pleads the social contact with the Lees as new evidence so that matter cannot have been known to Mr Yong until after the Authority's investigation. Both matters appear to have been belatedly raised at the time of or after these proceedings were commenced. Neither are mentioned in the determination of the Member of the Employment Relations Authority and I presume were not raised there.
[42] There were two other matters raised, which I consider have no relevance to the issues to be decided in this case. The first was that Mr Yong in his evidence refers to his heart attack and hospitalisation. Mr Orlov in his submissions, perhaps for dramatic effect, effectively stated that Mr Yong was so clearly stressed and worried by the whole matter that he suffered a heart attack. It was submitted that he wanted a solution and that it was natural that Ms Chin should be requested to provide one. The reality of course was that so far as their employment relationship was concerned, Mr Yong had, over a year earlier, accepted that Ms Chin was not a party to the loan transaction. He did not need any further assurance from Ms Chin on that score in any event because he had agreed with her husband at the time that he made the loan to him that she should not be informed. As to his heart attack, this took place several weeks after Ms Chin had left his employment and there could be no link between the events leading up to Ms Chin's resignation and that unfortunate hospitalisation. The second matter was the allegation that Ms Chin set about taking clients from Mr Yong after she terminated employment. While such allegations are contained in Mr Yong's evidence, it is notable that this point was not mentioned at all in Mr Orlov's closing submissions. It was not raised in cross-examination of Ms Chin. In any event the evidence of Mr Darren Liu would appear to dispose of that matter. Following her resignation Ms Chin did not immediately undertake other employment. In mid December 2005 she met Mr Liu by chance. He offered her a position. She commenced employment with him in January 2006. Mr Liu and his company were clients of Mr Yong but had independently decided for business reasons to use another accountant. Ms Chin's skills were naturally used by Mr Liu to perform accounting duties formerly carried out by Mr Yong's practice. She did this as an employee. She was under no restraint of trade and there could be no impropriety in her working as an employee for Mr Liu in this way.
[43] Mr Orlov submitted that, Ms Chin having affirmed the contract, nothing transpired between 21 November 2005 and her resignation to negate that. That argument, however, is only relevant in the context of constructive dismissal arising from repudiatory conduct followed by the election to cancel the contract. The decisions earlier discussed show that the inquiry must be wider than that. Nevertheless, Mr Orlov's submissions in this respect could not be further from the truth. First, Ms Chin did not affirm the contract of employment or, more correctly, waive previous conduct towards her by her employer. She specifically stated she wanted to take legal advice before signing the written contract belatedly provided. Even if she had signed the agreement, so that there was retrospective technical compliance with the law, that would not amount to waiver or affirmation. Secondly, however, the act of going to Ms Chin's home to either remonstrate with her husband or more likely enter into discussion with both of them about the debt must have been likely to have created an altercation as it did. A foreseeable outcome of that action, against the previous background and correspondence, must have been Ms Chin's resignation from employment. Ms Chin was on leave when these events took place. It is clear that whatever her attitude or decision was on the conduct towards her by that point, the events of the evening of 21 November 2005 were the last straw.
[44] A lot of matters have been thrown into the "whole factual matrix" as Mr Orlov calls it. But that does not make all such matters relevant. Ms Chin's decision to resign is to be assessed against the circumstances occurring between 29 September 2005, when without notice she was summoned to a meeting with Mr Wenborn, and 21 November 2005 when Mr Wenborn and Mr Yong arrived at her home unannounced. The events previous to and after that period, consisting of the loans to her husband by Mr Yong and Mr Lee, the social dinners with the Lees, the matrimonial property agreement between Ms Chin and her husband, and the employment with Mr Liu, cannot be relevant. The fact that Ms Chin was not involved in the loans was accepted by Mr Yong. The social dinners with the Lees could not possibly provide grounds for the subsequent attack on her integrity. Even if they could, neither Mr Wenborn nor Mr Yong knew about them at the time of the meeting on 29 September 2005 and therefore they could not have provided justification for the inquiry they made. The matrimonial property agreement is totally irrelevant. It was raised in evidence as some fortification for an allegation that Ms Chin conspired with her husband to defraud Mr Yong and Mr Lee. That allegation was simply never substantiated by the evidence. Nor was the allegation that Ms Chin's subsequent employment with Mr Liu was in some way a breach of her contractual duties. The allegation Mr Yong made that Ms Chin had also encouraged clients to leave him, both during her employment and after, was not corroborated by any evidence.
[45] This case is determined by whether or not the actions of Mr Wenborn and Mr Yong justified Ms Chin's resignation and thereby amounted to a constructive dismissal. It is clear that they did. There was no reasonable justification for Mr Wenborn and Mr Yong to convene a meeting with Ms Chin without notice and then proceed to delve into the personal matters they did. If that meeting had been simply to discuss management issues affecting the practice (as it appears to have been with other employees) then no criticism could be levied. However, Mr Wenborn proceeded to delve into issues of a quite personal nature with Ms Chin. He undermined her position. He attacked her integrity. In later correspondence he made statements tantamount to threatening her continued employment. Mr Yong stood by and encouraged these actions by Mr Wenborn. When Ms Chin made a plea to Mr Yong to relieve her of her continued attendance at the meeting he refused to do so. Similarly when she pleaded with him to stop Mr Wenborn's written demands he stood by and did nothing. Mr Orlov submitted that the employer was justified in delving into such matters as part of his inquiry. He used the analogy of the disciplinary inquiry into an employee's alleged misconduct. But in this case there was no reasonable basis for such an inquiry to take place in the first instance. The events, subsequently raised in an attempt to provide such justification, were either not within Mr Yong's knowledge then or had occurred and been known by him a year previously, been inquired into then and resolved.
[46] The effect on Ms Chin was considerable. She suffered headaches, difficulty in sleeping and other symptoms of stress. When she took leave Mr Yong and Mr Wenborn inappropriately came to her home in the evening and continued their pressure on her and her husband there. It does not matter what one can say about the actions of Mr Chan, there was no justification for the visit as Mr Chan was by that stage bankrupt. Looked at cynically, the visit can only have been intended to increase pressure on Ms Chin.
[47] Whether or not those actions are couched in terms of conduct repudiatory of the contract, breach of implied terms to maintain trust and confidence, or breach of the obligation of good faith the effect is the same. All of these events were causative of Ms Chin's resignation. Her resignation must have been a reasonably foreseeable outcome of their behaviour, which was unjustified. She should not have been expected to put up with it. Her resignation amounted to a constructive dismissal.
[48] In a case involving facts such as this, it is clear that the finding that there has been a constructive dismissal resulting from the behaviour and breach of duty or obligation of the employer means that there does not really need to be a further consideration of the threshold prescribed by s103A of the Act. Nevertheless, the behaviour of the employer in this case was clearly not what a fair and reasonable employer would, or for that matter could, have done in all the circumstances.
[49] The Authority awarded Ms Chin the sum of $3,653.85 as lost remuneration. I do not understand Ms Chin to be claiming that sum is inadequate. She took proper steps to mitigate her loss by obtaining alternative employment. Accordingly, as part of this judgment there is an award of $3,653.85 for lost remuneration.
[50] So far as compensation is concerned, it is open to me on a de novo challenge to review the sum awarded. As I have indicated, the evidence in this matter was presented in a reasonably lengthy hearing. It is probable that I have heard evidence, which was not before the Authority. Having regard to the serious undermining of Ms Chin's integrity and the quite despicable way Mr Yong and Mr Wenborn behaved towards her or corresponded with her, the level of compensation awarded by the Authority appears to me to be inadequate. Comparing the level of behaviour of the employer in this case with other cases, which have come before the Court, I consider a more appropriate level of compensation would be $8,000. I award that sum.
[51] The Authority also awarded outstanding holiday pay of $2,192.31 plus interest of 9 percent per annum from 25 November 2005 until payment. No evidence was led by Mr Yong to suggest that such sum was not owing by him. If the holiday pay and interest have not already been paid then Mr Yong is ordered to do so.
[52] The Court is required by s124 of the Act to consider contribution. There is no allegation in this case that if a constructive dismissal was upheld, Ms Chin did contribute towards the situation that gave rise to her personal grievance. There can be no such contributory conduct in this case and therefore no reason to reduce any remedies.
[53] I did not receive submissions on costs and they are reserved. Mr Nutsford has 14 days to file a memorandum as to any costs sought in respect of the court proceedings. If no award has been made in respect of the inquiry by the Authority, then such memorandum will need to cover the costs of such inquiry, which the Court is now authorised to award. Mr Orlov has 7 days thereafter to file any memorandum in response.
ME Perkins
Judgment signed at 12.45pm on Wednesday 20 June 2007


text:
Congrats to both Sarah Winter and Amanda Ten Haken for correctly matching five of the eight faculty members with their New Year's Resolutions. We had to consult The Pink Flamingo Trivia Contest Rule Book to find out how to deal with ties and were surprised to find out that we must either (A) hold a dance-off during graduation between the two contestants or (B) flip a coin. After careful deliberation, we decided on option B, and the winner of the coin toss was Sarah.
Nice work to both of you and thanks to all who participated. See below for the correct answers.
Dr. Burns: To eat at home more so that my son stops naming his favorite dish at every restaurant we drive by.
Dr. Martin: To buy myself an outbreak suit so I can still hug my son without catching every virus that makes its way through the infant room at his daycare.
Dr. Vespia: To train my cat to sign waiver forms.
Dr. Illene Noppe: To convert all my lectures to hip hop.
Dr. Gurung: To be able to understand how to operate the technology I own to at least 60% of their potential. Is that too much to ask?
Dr. Zapf: To do my best to ensure my children do not swallow any more coins.
Dr. Bartell: To refrain from analyzing the behaviors of couples at nearby tables when I'm out with friends at bars or restaurants.
Dr. Wilson-Doenges: To give out raisins ("nature's candy") next year for Halloween to avoid the temptation of eating the hundreds of leftover Reese's Peanut Butter Cups I had this year.


text:
Mark Mitchell
Aaron Cooper
Governor.OK.gov and OK.gov Receive National Awards
OKLAHOMA CITY – January 9, 2013 - MarCom Awards recently announced winners for the 2012 international awards competition that recognizes outstanding creative achievement by marketing and communication professionals. Mary Fallin's official website, http://www.Governor.OK.gov received a Gold Award in the Website/Government category. OK.gov, Oklahoma's official website, received a Gold Award in the Design (Web)/Website Home Page category.
The Gold Award is presented to those entries judged to exceed the high standards of the industry norm. Approximately 18 percent of the 6,000 entries from throughout the United States, Canada and several other countries were Gold Winners.
"When we redesigned our website, the goal was to provide a functional site that gave visitors easy access to information about their state government, services we offer and the latest news from the governor's office," Fallin said. "The MarCom Gold Award is a great sign we achieved that goal. I want to congratulate my staff and the team at OK.gov for all their hard work in providing my office with a great website."
Governor Mary Fallin's official website, Governor.OK.gov, features a never before seen template layout, which includes: panoramic banner graphics, photo and media galleries, and social media platform widgets. The website has a more aesthetically pleasing and modern feel, as well as a more functional and navigable layout.
Fallin said her goal was to have an exciting yet open platform. She said the most important aspect to her was that visitors feel welcome and trustful of the information presented to them.
The OK.gov Web Portal features a completely new aesthetic feel, interactive features, and a cutting edge responsive design. Visitors are greeted with new technologies such as a "Companion Search" utility, which follows users as they scroll up and down a page. The search bar also contains easy to find links to assist Oklahomans in finding answers fast by displaying the most recent and popular content, as well as one-click access to share information to different social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
"We are honored to receive a Gold rating through such a prestigious award," said Alex Pettit, State Chief Information Officer. "The OK.gov staff spent countless hours brainstorming, designing and implementing the new look and feel."
Governor Mary Fallin's official website and the new OK.gov Web Portal is designed and maintained by OK.gov, a public-private partnership with the Oklahoma Office of Management (OMES) and Enterprise Services and eGovernment firm, NIC.
About the MARCOM Awards
About OK.gov
About NIC
- 30 -


text:
James joins honor society
- Details
- Category: School
- Published on 10 April 2014
- Written by Mount Vernon Optic-Herald
Katelyn James was inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi last week. She is a junior at Texas State University and is studying to be a science teacher and coach.
Miss James has been on either the Dean's List or President's list each semester.She is the daughter of Chris and Susie James and is a 2011 graduate of Mount Vernon High School.


text:
Blogging the journey...
Labels: anthology, garden, poetry, seasons
posted by jmk @ 5:35 pm
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Harwich, Essex, United Kingdom
I'm a 50-something (when did THAT happen??) crochet crazy, tarot hugging, internet addict. I live in Harwich, Essex with Hubby and three beautiful cats.
ETA: now four beautiful cats - we've been adopted, LOL!
17/11/14 Three again. :( Sleep well, little Sasha.
24/5/16 Now only two. We'll miss you, Tinkle.
5/8/16 And then there was one. Bye bye Blue, my favourite furry fella.