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Legislative Update
Sixth District perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline
Traveling the Sixth
The week began and ended with visits across the Sixth Congressional District. On Monday (January 28), I visited the Virginia Inland Port near Front Royal where I got a firsthand view of what a tremendous economic driver the Virginia Inland Port is to the Sixth District. Since its opening in 1989, more than $900 million has been invested and over 14,000 jobs have been created by the 46 major companies that are housed in over 8 million square feet of commercial space in the region. It was truly inspiring.
Later in the week, I visited with about 200 government students at William Byrd High School in Vinton. It was a wonderful opportunity to discuss how our government works using real world examples. The students of WBHS were bright and inquisitive. I was impressed with their knowledge and their desire to get involved in our government. I thank the administration of William Byrd High School for hosting Thursday's event.
Later in the week, I visited with about 200 government students at William Byrd High School in Vinton. It was a wonderful opportunity to discuss how our government works using real world examples. The students of WBHS were bright and inquisitive. I was impressed with their knowledge and their desire to get involved in our government. I thank the administration of William Byrd High School for hosting Thursday's event.
Subcommittee Appointments
In the 116th Congress, I will serve on the House Education and Labor Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. This week, subcommittee appointments were announced. I was honored to receive the following appointments:
• House Committee on Education & Labor
o Subcommittee on Workforce Protection
o Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment
• House Judiciary Committee
o Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties
o Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet
o Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
These subcommittee assignments give the people of Virginia's Sixth Congressional District a voice in some of the most important issues of the 21st century. Through work on these subcommittees, I will stand up for our Constitutional rights, a free and open Internet, and more access to not only higher education, but also expanding opportunity for workforce education. I thank Ranking Members Foxx and Collins for the opportunity to represent Virginia's Sixth on these important subcommittees. I look forward to the work ahead.
A Busy Legislative Week
As a member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, I am committed to supporting legislation which protects the United States. I was pleased to see the House of Representatives bring bills to the Floor on Tuesday (January 29) which would enhance security at the local and federal level. One such bill would direct the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a threat assessment on the use of virtual currency by terrorists. As technologies change at a rapid pace, so too do the ways terrorists and other criminals finance their operations. That is why it is vitally important for DHS to find out the risks and develop a way to stop the flow of money to terrorists and other criminal enterprises.
In the House Judiciary this week, we conducted our first hearing on H.R. 1. Following the hearing on Tuesday, I spoke out against the bill. I was shocked that the Democrats would support the unconstitutional boondoggle that is H.R. 1. It flies in the face of law and order and is nothing more than an attempt by Democrats to hijack our Republic at taxpayer expense. H.R. 1 would limit free speech, use tax dollars to fund extreme candidates, and violate the Constitution by superseding a state's ability to determine voter eligibility.
Casework Staff Mobile Offices
My office will host Casework Staff Mobile Offices across the Sixth Congressional District during the month of February. A staff member will be available to meet with citizens to assist with problems they might have with a federal agency and hear their views on current issues before Congress. Visit cline.house.gov/about/events for a complete list of locations. Next week's locations, dates, and times:
Front Royal Casework Staff Mobile Office
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 – 10:00am
Samuels Public Library (Baxter-Bowling Conference Room)
330 East Criser Road
Front Royal, VA 22630
It is an honor to serve as your congressman. I hope to see you during my travels in the Sixth District. If I can ever be of assistance or you would like to express your views on a particular bill, please call my office at (202) 225-5431.
Legislative Update
Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline – May 31, 2020
As we move into the beginning stages of opening the Commonwealth of Virginia and the rest of the Nation, we should be sure to do it safely, following the CDC's latest guidelines on how to protect yourself and others, including staying six feet away from others, washing your hands, cleaning and disinfecting, wearing a mask where appropriate, and monitoring your health. Please continue reading for further resources and updates on various programs designed to help you through this crisis.
Emergency Relief Payment
The CARES Act, legislation that passed in March with my support, included a $1200 Emergency Relief Payment to help families in need during the pandemic. If you are still waiting on your Emergency Relief Payment from the IRS, be aware that it may arrive in the form of a prepaid debit card. Please take the time to examine the contents of any mail received from the IRS, Treasury Department, or Money Network before you shred or throw it away.
Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act
Another important program authorized in the CARES Act is the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This program has provided much-needed relief to millions of small businesses and their employees. As small businesses adapt to different stages of reopening restrictions, many need more flexibility for the terms of their PPP loans. On Thursday, the House passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act to address the varying needs of small businesses and ensure that they can focus on getting back on their feet. Specifically, the bill:
• Extends the loan forgiveness period from 8 weeks to 24 weeks
• Replaces the 75/25 rule (a requirement that 75 percent of the loan to be used on payroll costs and 25 percent be used on mortgage interest, rent, and utilities) with a 60/40 rule
• All new PPP loans will receive 5-year maturity. Existing loans will remain at 2-year maturity.
• Allows businesses that receive forgiveness to also receive payroll tax deferment
• Ensures small businesses won't be penalized by higher unemployment benefits
• Creates a safe haven for businesses that are required to operate at only 50 percent capacity
The Latest Statistics
In some good news, following the same trend as last week, the number of new cases reported per day in the U.S. continues to decline, as can be seen in the below chart.
Expanding testing and having accurate data concerning the virus is key to both fighting its spread and instituting a plan to safely reopen the economy. Another hopeful sign continues on the same positive trend as last week: Although the number of tests performed each day is still increasing dramatically, the percentage of tests coming back positive is still falling.
Main Street Project
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is administering the Main Street program, part of the emergency lending effort announced by the U.S. Central Bank to keep credit flowing in the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is designed to provide up to $600 billion in credit to small and medium-sized U.S. companies. Boston Federal Reserve Bank President Eric Rosengren said he expects companies to begin receiving money through the Central Bank's long-awaited Main Street Lending Program within two weeks.
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing critical support to our nation's farmers and ranchers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Ranchers and farmers whose operations have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic can apply for direct financial relief through the CFAP. The application can be found here and will also be available at farmers.gov/cfap.
Please visit the new COVIDCheck website at vdg.virginia.gov/coronavirus if you believe you may have contracted the coronavirus. This risk-assessment tool will allow you to check your symptoms, find a testing facility, and answer any questions you may have.
FISA Reauthorization
The Horowitz report exposed serious flaws in the FISA program, particularly abuses by FBI officials targeting President Trump and his team. The House was slated to vote on the reauthorization of FISA this week, but the bill was pulled after a bipartisan majority raised concerns. Should this bill eventually pass without real reforms, I support the President's plan to veto it. I am glad the Speaker sent the bill back to the drawing board before consideration on the Floor.
Centers for Disease Control Resources:
Centers for Disease Control
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can ever be of assistance, please contact my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.
For the latest updates from Washington, please follow my social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Legislative Update
Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline – Memorial Day
Honoring Those Who Perished in Service to Our Country
Among our national treasures in Washington, DC stands the WWII Memorial – honoring those who fought and perished 75 years ago to liberate the world from tyranny and oppression. At the center of this hallowed site lies a wall bearing 4,000 stars symbolizing the 400,000 brave Americans who passed away in the United States' fight for justice and freedom. However, these stars represent only a fraction of the nearly 3.7 million veterans interred in one of more than 140 national cemeteries.
Originally called Decoration Day, this day was set aside to commemorate those who died during the Civil War. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day, and in 1971, the day became a Federal Holiday.
Virginia and the Sixth Congressional District have a long history of heroism and the giving of blood and treasure of its sons and daughters. There are few places as steeped in the sacrifices of those who fought our Nation's battles.
From Arlington to Norfolk, from Winchester to Lynchburg, and from Manassas to the Shenandoah Valley, the Commonwealth can claim the mantle of not only being the cradle of democracy but also the arsenal of freedom.
Memorial Day provides us a chance to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. It reminds me of what President Reagan once said:
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
On my way into Washington, I regularly pass Arlington, the Vietnam Wall, the Korean and the World War II Memorials, and it serves as a sobering reminder of the debt we owe to those who came before us in our Nation's struggles and who sacrificed so that we may enjoy all our Republic offers.
Today my thoughts are also of that Gold Star wife, husband, son or daughter who said goodbye to their loved ones and watched as they boarded a ship or plane to deploy to hostile areas never knowing if that was the last hug, the last wave, the last kiss, or the last goodbye. And that same family getting a knock at their door or seeing the bike messenger deliver the Western Union telegraph afraid to open the door knowing what that visit brought.
The year 2020 marks the 19th year that the United States has been at war in Iraq and Afghanistan with more than 7,000 casualties suffered. Also, in places like Africa and Syria, our troops are engaged in fighting and dying in the name of freedom. Unfortunately, the news of these sacrifices has moved from the front to the back pages of our Nation's papers.
Today, let us resolve that any casualty wearing our Nation's uniform be remembered for their sacrifice and bravery and not relegated to a brief mention or passing comment. The word hero often gets misused, but when it comes to those we honor today, we should never forget the words of Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address. While given at the dedication ceremony of the battlefield, Lincoln encapsulated the meaning of today.
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
May God continue to bless our Nation and produce those willing to stand in the gap and sacrifice for those they never met but are bound to through a shared American heritage all in the name of freedom.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can ever be of assistance, please contact my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.
For the latest updates from Washington, please follow my social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Legislative Update
Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline – May 17, 2020; survey results
The damage of the coronavirus is twofold. It is both a health crisis and an economic crisis. It has led to tragedy for families across our Nation and wreaked havoc on the global economy, putting millions out of work in the U.S. alone. We must work to address both of these problems, keeping our Nation's citizens healthy without infringing on their constitutional rights and God-given freedoms.
As conceived in our great Constitution, our system of government is a federalist one, in which power is split between the federal government and the states. The President has unveiled Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts to guide state and local officials in their efforts to safely return their states and localities to normalcy. States all across the Union are now issuing guidelines for opening a business within their borders, including right here in our part of Virginia.
As your Representative, it is my top priority right now to provide you with the most up-to-date information regarding Congress's response to the pandemic, as well as hear your thoughts so that I can best represent you.
One-On-One With ABC 13:
I recently joined ABC 13 to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and the resources that are available to help individuals and small businesses. As our Nation gets back to work, we can ensure that the American people have the tools they need to triumph over this evolving crisis.
Emergency Relief Checks:
If you have questions regarding your Emergency Relief Check authorized through the CARES Act, I encourage you to visit the IRS's FAQ page at irs.gov/coronavirus.
Since the coronavirus outbreak in the United States began, the federal government has acted to address the needs of Americans. The CARES Act, which the President signed in late March, mobilized new resources to fight on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic and injected funding into the economy to help American workers, families, small businesses, and industries so that our country can not only survive this crisis but thrive when we do. While I did not agree with every provision of the CARES Act, I put my differences with my colleagues aside and supported the bill because I believed it provided much-needed assistance to the American people, while targeting that assistance to address the spreading coronavirus. The same cannot be said for H.R. 6800, which passed in the House on Friday.
While there are a few provisions in this bill that I could support and, in fact, have supported in the past, this specific bill is primarily an 1800-page wish-list of liberal policies along with billions of dollars of taxpayer funding for programs entirely unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic. It is a massive overstep and expansion of the size and scope of the federal government.
While the CARES Act provided billions in assistance to Virginia and other states, it focused that funding toward those costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic. It did not allow states to put federal funding toward any program they wanted, especially those unrelated to the coronavirus. Unfortunately, H.R. 6800 has no such protections. An open-ended $500 billion for states and $375 billion for localities would send a message to these officials that they are not interested in pursuing fiscal responsibility. H.R. 6800 is an open door for states and localities to spend recklessly and get a handout from struggling federal taxpayers for past fiscal mismanagement.
Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, Congress has spent trillions of dollars to help struggling families and businesses. Now, instead of swiftly, directly, and specifically helping those hurting the most, Democrats in the House are using the pandemic as a pretext to accomplish their longstanding political goals. In addition to extending Medicaid coverage to illegal aliens, H.R. 6800 removes voter ID requirements and expands mandates on employers. Further, it provides millions to the National Endowment for the Arts, authorizes the release of federal prisoners, and repeals work requirements for welfare. Congressional leadership should focus on helping the households hit the hardest by this catastrophe, instead of pushing pet projects and pork-barrel spending.
Veteran Resources:
In an effort to help civilians and veterans deal with the stresses of daily life caused by the coronavirus, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a mobile app called COVID Coach. To learn more and to find available resources, please visit mobile.va.gov
Further, the Under Secretary of the Veterans Benefits Administration will be hosting a telephone town hall this Thursday at 4 pm to answer service members' questions regarding the benefits they have earned.
May 2, 2020, Survey Results:
Two weeks ago, you received a survey, requesting your opinions on reopening the economy. For those who took the time to fill it out, thank you for the opportunity to hear from you. Below you can view the results.
Based on what you know and have heard, when do you think Virginia should begin to allow "nonessential" businesses to reopen?
2,164 (37.79%) Immediately, but with public health safeguards in place
710 (12.57%) 2 or 3 weeks from now, but with public health safeguards in place
2,394 (41.82%) Not until the number of new cases of COVID-19 in Virginia declines for 14 days in a row
458 (7.99%) Other Answers
Should the Governor implement a plan to reopen Virginia on a regional basis, allowing areas that have fewer reported cases of COVID-19 to reopen first, or should he wait until the entire Commonwealth has met the federal standards for reopening?
3,380 (60.08%) Open areas with fewer COVID-19 rates first
1,787 (31.76%) Wait until entire Commonwealth has met federal standards to reopen
458 (8.14%) Unsure
Should Virginia public K-12 schools, colleges, and universities open this fall for classes, even if there are still new cases of COVID-19 being reported?
2,655 (46.71%) Yes
1,401 (24.64%) No
1,628 (28.64%) Unsure
With health care professionals, first responders, and other front-line workers reporting to duty every day, should Congress also return to Washington to get back to work?
4,452 (79.58%) Yes, but with appropriate health safeguards in place
916 (16.37%) No, not until there are fewer health risks
266 (4.75%) Unsure
According to reports, China knew about the spread of COVID-19 earlier than first reported but suppressed information and denied access to U.S. health officials. Should Americans be allowed to sue the Chinese government for monetary damages sustained as a result of the spread of COVID-19?
3,025 (47.29%) Yes
2,068 (32.33%) No
1,303 (20.37%) Unsure
At cline.house.gov/covid-19, you can access further information about the coronavirus pandemic, including administrative, congressional, and state action that has been taken to curb the spread of the virus, resources for businesses, and information from the CDC on how to keep you and your families healthy. Rest assured, I will continue to monitor the situation in Virginia and around the country and work with my colleagues to ensure the full, coordinated force of the federal government is behind our efforts to stop the spread of this disease.
Centers for Disease Control Resources:
Centers for Disease Control
How to Protect Yourself
Symptoms and Testing
If You Are at Higher Risk
If You Are Sick
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow @CDCgov on Twitter
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can ever be of assistance, please contact my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.
For the latest updates from Washington, please follow my social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Legislative Update
Rep. Cline statement on H.R. 6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions
Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) released the following statement regarding the upcoming vote on H.R. 6800 – the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act.
"Instead of focusing on addressing the economic and health care challenges of the coronavirus, this legislation is an 1800-page liberal wish-list, full of trillions of taxpayer dollars spent on programs entirely unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic," Cline said. "The bill explodes the size and scope of the Federal Government and is nothing more than a political move by Speaker Pelosi to appease the left-wing faction of her caucus."
"Until now, COVID-19 relief legislation has been relatively bipartisan. Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi's most recent proposal is anything but, and her sole reliance on Democrats for input has made this process all the more divisive. Her refusal to negotiate with the White House and Senate Majority means the bill is dead on arrival if and when it reaches the Senate. In a crisis like this, it is irresponsible to pass a partisan bill that has no chance of being signed into law."
"Rather than considering a targeted bill addressing the dire economic and health situation we're facing, Members are instead being asked to vote on a slew of provisions unassociated with the pandemic. In addition to extending Medicaid coverage to illegal aliens, H.R. 6800 also federalizes state elections, bails out failing state and local governments, and expands mandates on employers. Further, it provides millions to the National Endowment for the Arts, authorizes the release of federal prisoners, and broadens marijuana laws. With millions of unemployed, businesses suffering, and uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus, Americans deserve better than this bill, and therefore, I will be voting no on H.R. 6800."
Full text of H.R. 6800 can be found here.
Legislative Update
Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline – May 9, 2020
It has been over three months since a Public Health Emergency was declared, eight weeks since a National Emergency began, and six weeks since the Virginia economy was shut down. As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and its rippling effect on our Nation's public health and on our economy, I wanted to take a moment to update you on recent actions I have taken in Congress to mitigate the pandemic's damage.
Reopening Shenandoah National Park:
Understanding that social distancing guidelines can be accomplished in an open-air space, on Monday, I encouraged the Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to reopen the Shenandoah National Park during his visit for a site inspection. Shenandoah National Park encompasses more than 200,000 acres throughout our region, and despite that it could serve as a safe recreational destination for Sixth District residents, it has been closed to the public since April 8, 2020. Reopening the park would go a long way in keeping folks both mentally and physically healthy.
SBA Opening the EIDL Portal for Farmers:
Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and their survival is critical to the future success of our Nation. Not to be forgotten are our farmers and agricultural enterprises whose operations are vital to the survival of rural communities. Our Nation's producers have been working tirelessly to keep food on our tables during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, market volatility has put many of these small businesses in jeopardy. Last week, I contacted the U.S. Small Business Administration and urged the agency to streamline Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) applications for agriculture businesses which were initially ineligible for this lifeline. Today, I am pleased to inform you that the SBA has opened a portal specifically for those in the agricultural industry. For more information, visit sba.gov/funding-programs.
Botetourt Chamber of Commerce:
It was a pleasure to join the Botetourt Chamber of Commerce on a video-call to hear first-hand from small business owners and to answer questions regarding the federal resources that are available to them in this difficult time. During the call, we touched on subjects relating to the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, future coronavirus relief legislation, and more. Two weeks ago, I partook in a similar event with the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance and will continue listening to business leaders throughout this pandemic to better understand the situation they are currently facing. If you have questions or are uncertain on what resources there are to help during this uncertain time please consult my COVID-19 website at www.cline.house.gov/covid-19.
POWER Act:
Reports of spousal abuse and domestic violence have increased during the current coronavirus pandemic. This issue is one that has been important to me since my time as an assistant prosecutor of domestic violence cases in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Last week, I introduced the bipartisan Protect Our Women and Waive Emergency Requirements (POWER) Act with Congresswoman Lucy McBath. For the past three decades, the Family Violence Prevention Services Act (FVPSA) has supported services such as emergency shelter and related assistance programs for victims of domestic violence and their children through federal grants. This bill temporarily suspends non-federal match requirements on FVPSA grant funds relating to domestic violence services during emergency situations related to coronavirus, which will ensure victims continue to have the resources they need during this ongoing crisis. Social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders have made it nearly impossible for entities to utilize the 'in-kind' contribution option specified in the FVPSA and is why the POWER Act is necessary to safeguard programs for domestic violence victims across the country.
Danger Pay for U.S. Marshals Act:
The U.S. Marshals Service often works alongside their DEA and FBI counterparts on dangerous missions abroad. From working to combat transnational criminal organizations to interrupting human trafficking rings, the brave men and women of the U.S. Marshals Service put their lives on the line to ensure the safety and security of American citizens. Yet under the current statute, Marshals do not qualify for danger pay in certain countries as do employees of other federal law enforcement agencies. To remedy this inequity, I introduced the bipartisan Danger Pay for U.S. Marshals Act in the House in February, and am pleased that Senator Cotton took this issue up in the Senate this week. I am proud to have sponsored this bipartisan legislation which ensures, without requiring additional funding, that our Marshals are compensated fairly and earn the pay they rightly deserve while protecting Americans from violent criminals.
Mothers Day:
Finally, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish every mother a Happy Mother's Day on Sunday. I'm told that motherhood is one of the most challenging and also most rewarding jobs. Mothers wear several hats – among them teacher, counselor, coach, and friend. To my wife, Elizabeth, and all the moms across the District, I wish you all a very Happy Mother's Day.
Centers for Disease Control Resources:
Centers for Disease Control
How to Protect Yourself
Symptoms and Testing
If You Are at Higher Risk
If You Are Sick
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow @CDCgov on Twitter
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can ever be of assistance, please contact my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.
For the latest updates from Washington, please follow my social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Legislative Update
Rep. Cline Introduces H.R. 6651 – The Use Your Endowment Act
WASHINGTON – On May 1, 2020, Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) introduced H.R. 6651 – the Use Your Endowment Act. The legislation was introduced in conjunction with House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jim Jordan (OH-04), Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08), and Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO).
H.R. 6651 deems institutions of higher education with an endowment greater than $10 billion to be ineligible to receive any funds made available by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This bill would also require colleges and universities with an endowment greater than $10 billion to return funds they may have previously received through the CARES Act to the Department of the Treasury.
Congressman Cline said, "Colleges and universities with multibillion-dollar endowments should not be requesting funds from the CARES Act. Money allocated through this legislation should be reserved for businesses and institutions in need, not entities that have virtually unlimited resources through their foundations and endowments. H.R. 6651 ensures that our Nation's wealthiest schools can no longer take advantage of coronavirus relief funding at the expense of the American taxpayer."
Ranking Member Jordan said, "This bill shouldn't be controversial or partisan. If universities have large endowments, they should spend some of that endowment on their students first, before seeking a federal bailout. This legislation ensures that large universities are held accountable to taxpayers in the future, while at the same time directing funds to those actually in need. I'm proud to stand behind this important legislation with Senator Hawley and Congressman Cline."
Senator Josh Hawley said, "Universities with massive endowments should not be getting taxpayer money unless they spend some money out of their own pockets to actually help their students. This is common sense. Relief funds were intended for schools that need it, not wealthy universities that sit on huge endowments. It's greed, plain and simple, and it's wrong."
The Use Your Endowment Act was introduced following the revelation that institutions such as Harvard, which has a $40 billion endowment, had received millions of dollars in aid following the passage of the CARES Act.
King Cartoons
Wind: 4mph ENE
Humidity: 66%
Pressure: 29.93"Hg
UV index: 0


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March is Women's History month and indeed our area is rich with the wonderful histories of women who have given their lives in service to the church through the years. Rev. Joe DiPaolo called to my attention one such woman who was a pioneer woman preacher, missionary, educator and holiness advocate. Her name was Lela McConnell (1884-1870) and she was a native of Chester County, PA. Lela was nurtured in the faith in the Honey Brook Methodist Episcopal Church. She was raised on a farm where she found herself in charge of all of the horses and plowing the lower ten acres by herself when her father died. She became a Christian at a revival service at the Honey Brook Church and the pastor, W. Q. Bennett saw her spiritual giftedness and put her in charge of disciple groups and leading in prayer at public meetings.
She attended the West Chester State Normal School (Now West Chester State University) and served as a school teacher for five years. Later she attended Keystone Norma School which brought her to a job teaching in Atlantic City, NJ. There she became involved in the Central Methodist Episcopal Church and the holiness movement. Doors opened for her to attend the Chicago Evangelistic Institute (an inter-denominational school dedicated to holiness principles.) Upon graduation she moved to Alberta, Canada and helped to found a Bible Institute where she was appointed principal. Health concerns led her back to Philadelphia where she did a great deal of evangelistic work and home visitation.
In 1922 she moved to KY and attended Asbury College. There she became involved in what became her life's work: The Kentucky Mountain Missionary Society. She was ordained a local deacon by Bishop Theodore Henderson at the annual session of the Kentucky Conference. Two years later she was ordained a local elder. The church at that time allowed women to be ordained but they still could not serve as appointed pastors or enjoy full clergy rights.
Her work in Eastern Kentucky was full of dangers and difficult personal sacrifices but she brought the gospel of salvation and many people responded to her ministry and she helped people who lived in poverty. She established the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association and the Kentucky Mountain Bible Institute. Lela gave women many opportunities to preach and she preached widely in the area and frequently spoke on radio.
People who knew her said that she was a great leader, with a determined spirit. Lela always went forward in prayer, never asked for money, and knew how to have fun.
I thank God for the life of Lela McConnell, the "hand maiden of the Lord" from Honey Brook, PA. Her life set many people free and extended the love and salvation of Christ to many.
Daughters of the faith….we have Lela in our cloud of witnesses. When things don't go our way, we can remember her dedication and sacrifice. Remember the generations yet to come who are depending on us and our faithfulness.
Bishop Peggy A. Johnson

subset: commoncrawl


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Orange County cops search for culprits in little league trailer burglary
Trailer vandalized, ransacked
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An Orange County park's little league concession trailer was burglarized and vandalized on Monday, according to deputies, and the culprits are still on the loose.
Officers say multiple items were stolen including items for cooking, announcing, and other electronics.
An undisclosed amount of cash and team equipment was also stolen.
The trailer at 4950 N. Pine Hills Road is used by the Northwest Area Little League exclusively.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call Crimeline.
Copyright 2014 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Older adult gardeners report enhanced optimism, more physical activity, higher energy levels than nongardeners
Does gardening contribute to quality of life and increased wellness for older adults? Researchers from the Texas A&M and Texas State Universities asked these questions in a survey of people aged 50 and older. The survey revealed some compelling reasons for older adults to get themselves out in the garden.
Aime Sommerfeld, Jayne Zajicek, and Tina Waliczek designed a questionnaire to investigate older adult gardeners' and nongardeners' perceptions of personal life satisfaction and levels of physical activity. According to Sommerfeld, lead author of the study published in HortTechnology: "The primary focus of the study was to determine if gardening had a positive impact on perceptions of quality of life and levels of physical activity of older adults when compared with nongardeners".
A 2007 Administration on Aging report titled A Profile of Older Americans noted that one in every eight Americans is considered an "older adult" (65+ years). The older adult population is at greater risk for disease as a result of decreased levels of exercise and poor dietary and/or lifestyle choices; a combination of moderate physical activity and increased consumption of fruit and vegetables has been reported to dramatically reduce an adult's risk for many chronic diseases. "Gardening is one of the most popular home-based leisure activities in the United States and has been reported as the second most common leisure activity, after walking, of adults older than age 65 years", the researchers noted.
To find out more about the health and attitudes of older adult who garden, Sommerfeld and colleagues designed a survey based on the Life Satisfaction Inventory A (LSIA), a tool that measures five components of quality of life: ''zest for life,'' ''resolution and fortitude,'' ''congruence between desired and achieved goals,'' ''physical, psychological, and social self-concept,'' and ''optimism.'' Additional multiple choice questions were asked to determine respondents' level of physical activity, perceptions of overall health and well-being, as well as to gather demographic information. The survey was posted on a university homepage for one month. Responses were gathered from 298 participants who differentiated themselves as gardeners or nongardeners by responding positively or negatively to the simple question ''do you garden?''
The researchers found significant differences in overall life satisfaction scores, with gardeners receiving higher mean scores (indicating more positive results) on the LSIA. Sommerfeld, Zajicek, and Waliczek explained: "More than 84% of gardeners agreed with the statement, ''I have made plans for things I'll be doing a month or a year from now'' compared with only 68% of nongardeners." Significant differences between gardeners and nongardeners were also noted in the ''energy level'' statement, ''I feel old and somewhat tired''. Gardeners disagreed with the statement at a rate of 70.9%, whereas 57.3% of nongardeners disagreed with the statement.
Older adults who garden also reported a higher level of daily physical activity compared to nongardening respondents. Over three times as many nongardeners (14.71%) considered themselves to be "quite inactive.", while only 4.43% of gardener said the same. "Almost twice as many gardeners (38%) considered themselves to be "very active" compared with only 19.6% of nongardeners", noted the study.
More than 75% of gardeners who participated in the survey rated their health as either ''very good'' or ''excellent'. Gardeners also reported eating more fruit and vegetables because of their exposure to gardening. "These factors, in conjunction with higher physical activity, result in healthier lifestyles and increased quality of life", the researchers wrote.
The study presents strong evidence that gardening can be an effective way for older adults to increase life satisfaction while also increasing physical activity. "In a time when older adults are living longer and enjoying more free time, gardening offers the opportunity to fulfill needs created by changing lifestyles. Gardening provides participants with opportunities to reconnect with themselves through nature and a healthy activity to enhance their quality of life", Sommerfeld concluded.
The study also found that older adults who participate in gardening may be more likely to eat their veggies.
Studies have shown that poor nutrition is one of several factors responsible for mortality and morbidity in the elderly and is comparable to deaths caused from cigarette smoking. "Although older adults tend to report a higher intake of fruit and vegetables than other age groups, over half of the U.S. older population does not meet the recommendation of five daily servings of fruit and vegetables." They added that several previous research studies confirmed that gardening is one way to increase individuals' fruit and vegetable intake.
The objectives of the study were to examine and compare fruit and vegetable consumption of gardeners and nongardeners, and to investigate differences in fruit and vegetable consumption of long-term gardeners compared with newer gardeners. To collect the information, an online survey was posted on a web site for one month; 261 questionnaires were completed by adults aged 50 years and older.
"Our results support previous studies that indicated gardeners were more likely to consume vegetables when compared with nongardeners. Interestingly, these results were not found with regard to fruit consumption", stated Waliczek, corresponding author of the study. The responses also showed that the length of time an individual reported having participated in gardening activities seemed to have no relationship to the number of vegetables and fruits they reportedly consumed. "This suggests that gardening intervention programs late in life would be an effective method of boosting vegetable and fruit consumption in older adults."
The number of hours per week individuals spent gardening did not appear to be a factor in vegetable and fruit consumption; the researchers observed that this indicates that even older adults with limited time or abilities—those who spend less time gardening—may consume greater quantities of vegetables and fruits than their nongardening counterparts.
Finally, the survey results showed that a person's reason for gardening had no relationship with the quantity of vegetables and fruit consumed, implying that programs designed to encourage older adults to participate in gardening need not exclusively promote the health benefits derived from gardening, but may appeal to a range of personal motives.


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Brendan Coyle is a British actor. He won the Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for The Weir in 1999.
He also played Nicholas Higgins in the miniseries North & South, Robert Timm ins in the first three series of Lark Rise to Candle ford, and more recently Mr Bates, the valet, in Down ton Abbey, which earned him a nomination for a Prime time Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
© 2020 BQOTD. All rights reserved.


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I have finished the first book in my new series. This series takes place in fictional Brilliant Minnesota and has ties to the Fuchsia Minnesota Series. The name of it is The Penderghast Puzzle Protectors and hopefully it will be out in February of 2016.
My characters live in the Penderghast neighborhood of Brilliant Minnesota. The neighborhood has something strange going on and it takes all the neighbors and more, led by Jezabelle, to solve the puzzle. It seems the founders of Brilliant left a mystery that no one knew existed until recent years. There are twists and turns and subplots and quirky characters of all ages. I will let you know more over the next few weeks.
For me, it was hard beginning a new series while continuing my Fuchsia Series. I am invested in my Fuchsia characters. I love Granny (Hermiony Vidalia Criony Fiddlestadt) and I know who she is. Writing has become easier when it comes to my Fuchsia characters because their flaws, their quirkiness and their secrets have been developed, although not all the way. I am sure there are some surprises coming in the next Fuchsia Series mystery.
When I wrote the first Fuchsia Mystery I did it on a lark never thinking it would be published or become a series. Starting the Brilliant Minnesota Series leaves me with trepidation. Can I pull off more characters, a totally different community and different story? I don't yet know where all my characters are leading me. It is like birthing a baby. You love that little baby when it is born but the love grows as the baby grows and you see its traits and the baby's personality grow with it. It happens the same way with the characters in a book. An author learns who each character is by sitting down at the keyboard and birthing that character.
For me, it was hard as my mind kept coming back to Granny. I wanted Jezabelle to be a little quirky but a little different, a little younger and a little more grounded. I found myself at times writing Granny. I had to go back and change it. There is only one Hermiony Vidalia Criony Fiddlestadt.
When I start a story and a plot, I have an idea but I let my writing and my imagination go. I don't usually know who my characters are or how many they are in the book, and I don't know who the villain is going to be until I am well into the book. I am not an in-the-box plot person and at times it gets me in trouble. After it is written I have to go back and polish it and change any inconsistencies. Having said that, I find that who murdered who and who is the villain surprises me sometime.
It is finished, in the hands of editors and publishers and it will be those hands that tells me if I have a book or a start-all-over again story. It will be you,the readers,that tell me if my new series will make you laugh and lead you down a road, out of reality for a short time, giving you a respite from the weary world.


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June 21, 1956
Transcribed by Elsie Sampson
Fifty-five years ago, when the writer was a small 10-year-old boy, his father, Thomas Morgan Gregory, familiarly known as "Dopher" Gregory, and we confess we do not know just how he got the nickname, used to be a great hunter. He disdained the shotguns of that day and time, declaring there was no marksmanship involved in hunting with a shotgun. He was the "finest" shot with an old cap and ball rifle we ever knew. He seldom shot a squirrel except through the head, saying that the head had but little meat and that there was less waste in shooting a squirrel through the head. We recall that two years earlier than the event we are about to relate, our father, "Pappie" to the writer and his two brothers and seven sisters, went out to try to shoot a hawk on a high hill about 1 1/2 miles N. of our little country home. A neighbor boy went along with our father. This boy of 1899, now about 66 years old, told the writer of that "hawk shooting" visit to the high hill which is on "Scanty Branch," in front of the present home of Mrs. Rom Evetts. After watching for hours, the hawk refused to alight at the nest in a high tree on the south slope of the high hill. Finally "Pappie" came to the conclusion that the hawk was not going to alight at the nest. Raising that long and trusty rifle, he fired at the oncoming hawk while the big fowl was in full flight. At the crack of the rifle, the bird began to somersault through the air down, down toward the floor of the valley, hundreds of feet below the nest. Finally the hawk came to the ground, dead and shot through its body by our Father, who lived perhaps a hundred years too late. He would have been a pioneer had he lived a century earlier.
Two years after the "hawk" episode our "Pappie" announced to his first-born, the writer, that he was going on a hunting trip to that section of the dividing ridge between the waters of Peyton's Creek and Dixon's Creek, known as the "Muttonbluff Spring." This name caught our fancy and we wanted to know what this meant. Our father informed the 10-year-old son that he might accompany his "Pappie" that day to the scene of the "Muttonbluff Spring." This was a great trip to the boy who was possessed even then of a lot of curiosity as to how things and places received this name or that or the other. "Pappie" did not say, "accompany," but he said, "You can go with me."
We set out early, to climb Mace's Hill, just above our father's little home, go through the "Gap" and then into another valley about half a mile northeast of our boyhood home. Then we climbed another ridge, the one that lay between the waters of Peyton's Creek and Dixon's Creek. We walked carefully along the pathway that lay on top of the dividing ridge going steadily northward above the Morgan Gregory home, the Jim Dillehay home and other homes on the upper end of the Dickerson Branch. Next we gazed down into the John Dillehay Hollow and then we came to the Ben Gregory farm, on which the "Muttonbluff Spring" was located 55 years ago.
We reached the vicinity of the spring, to find a number of bluffs on both sides of the spring. There were some bluffs that perhaps served as a sort of breastworks for men to hide behind and take shots at approaching enemies. The spring itself was only a few feet from the top of the dividing ridge, and sent its waters eastward toward Peyton's Creek. In the summer time or dry weather, the stream dwindled and got smaller and smaller until it finally disappeared from sight. In rainy weather the stream came out down by the old Walton McDonald home, about three and a half miles northwest of Pleasant Shade.
To the northward the path around the top of the dividing ridge continued until it came to a sort of break or gap just above the present Ebenezer Baptist church. To the southwest the ridge was described as above set out, starting within about 100 yards of the old Ambrose Gregory home, and something less than a half mile from the writer's childhood home. It is about three miles from the starting point northward to the "Muttonbluff Spring."
The name "Muttonbluff Springs," is said to have been originated during the Civil War by certain Southern guerrillas, who used the spring as their source of water for themselves and their horses. Among the guerrillas who are said to have used the location for a sort of rendezvous we are informed that the most noted was Buck Smith,. Others using the same place as a sort of "hideout" during the Civil War days are said to have been: Vitt Hogg, Jack Curlee, El Williams, a man named Calhoun and perhaps Ellis Harper. The origin of the name of the spring that still flows on is said to have been on account of the guerrillas' stealing sheep, carrying them to the spring and there barbequing them over hot embers or coals until the mutton was cooked sufficiently. This is the story we received first from our "Pappie."
We recall another incident connected with that first visit of ours to the "Muttonbluff Spring." This had to do with the large number of names that had been carved on the many beech trees near the spring. We recall that the names were numerous and some of them were of men whom we had never heard. The dates were 1861, 1862, and 1863. We do not recall any dates as late as 1864 when the cause of the Confederacy was waning and the Northern armies were becoming stronger by the month.
We visited the old spring on June 12th, just a week ago. The old high hills are in many respects as they were in 1901 when we first saw the "Muttonbluff." We drove our car to the home of the late Tilford Gregory, parked it there, climbed the high hill by his spring which he has piped to the vicinity of his house, and a little later stood on the dividing ridge and gazed down into the Dickerson Hollow. From the top of the ridge, we turned north and soon came to the old spring, our first trip to this place in 42 years. We were accompanied by our friend and brother, Oakley Cook. We spent some time looking over the scenes of more than two score years ago.
As we said, the old spring was located in our boyhood days on the farm of the late Ben Hawkins Gregory, a first cousin of our father, Tilford was a son of Ben Hawkins Gregory and his wife, the former Clemency Massey, who has been dead only a comparatively short time. Her other son, Marshall Gregory, now lives in the old Gregory home. This farm or part of it was once the property of Johnson Anderson, who was born in Virginia in 1798. The older Anderson married Dililah Gregory, a sister of one of our great-grandfathers, Major Gregory. Dililah was the only daughter of our great-great-grandfather, Jeremiah Gregory. But just why any parents wanted to name their daughter for the "old gal" that betrayed Samson in the Bible, we confess we do not know. Our people called her "Dillie," but the census record has her name spelled "Dilila." We may be doing this distant relative of ours an injustice in referring to her as Dililah, but we want to be perfectly fair to her. Dillie and Johnson and their son, Burton, resided on the Ben Gregory farm over 106 years ago. Dililah was born in North Carolina in 1792, being six years older than her husband who was born in 1798. Their children, so far as we have them listed, were: Lee, Burton, born in 1830; Gort Anderson, married a Glasgow; Bill or William Anderson; and Jim Anderson killed on Defeated Creek by his wife, who used an axe on her husband. Gort Anderson was the father of: Tilda, married Jim Dickerson; Polly Ann, no additional information; Em Anderson, no additional informaion; and Brice Anderson. Lee Anderson, son of Johnson and Dilila Anderson, had two sons, Taylor and Jeff Anderson. Sons of Taylor Anderson were: Bud Anderson, Bill Anderson, Sam Anderson and Lum Anderson.
Mrs. Matilda Anderson Dickerson was the wife of the late James Dickerson, born in 1849 and a star route mail carrier by the home of the writer in his early boyhood days. Jim Dickerson was the father of a number of sons and daughters, who still live. Jim Dickerson was one of the smartest men we ever knew. One of his grandsons, Dewey Dickerson, married our youngest sister, Grace.
But to return to our trip last week to the "Muttonbluff Spring." We lived in the year 1914 only about a mile and a quarter from the spring, on the farm of Hudson Ellis Porter. We were teaching school that year at Kittrell's school house, on Little Peyton's Creek, about a mile northwest of Pleasant Shade. The school has been abandoned because of the loss of students and because of the consolidation of certain schools.
But to come back to my visit of 42 years ago to the "Muttonbluff." My father had borrowed my horse and rubber-tired buggy for a brief time. I had told him that Mai, my wife, and I would walk to our father's home and bring the horse and buggy home. We left our little home that Saturday morning in the spring of 1914 and climbed to the top of the big hill to the southwest of where the writer then lived. We had then one child, our son, Lawrence, who was then about 17 months old. I carried him in my arms up the big, long hill and led the way, the wife of our youth being quite active and strong, following as we went toward our old home a distance of approximately five miles. Our wife, who had never before traveled that wilderness pathway, was jolly and lively as we walked along without a care in the world. We were young then and did not tire easily. As the writer led the way, he referred to the events of Civil War days and pointed out the many inscriptions then to be seen on beech trees near the spring. We believe we paused at the spring long enough to get a good drink of cold water. We continued "around the ridge" until we came to the head of the George Oldham Hollow where we descended into the valley, down which we went till we reached Scanty Branch, which we crossed and then climbed the dividing ridge between Scanty Branch and the Young Branch, on which we were born on July 8, 1891 and where our old childhood home then stood and where it stands today. We reached our home, only slightly tired from our walk of about five miles and carrying a "youngen" of nearly a year and a half of age. Our numerous sisters were expecting their oldest brother and little family, one of them, our sister, Anna, now dead, running to the top of the hill above the old home and seizing our son and bearing him triumphantly toward the place that had been home in our childhood.
Since the above was written, we are of the opinion that we were in error in the statement above that we had not been back to the "Muttonbluff" since 1914. It now appears that our good preacher friend, Elder F. W. Lambert, and the writer some years ago, paid a visit to the spring one afternoon, following our going home with one of the brethren for "dinner," which is the mid-day meal for dwellers among the hills.
We hope a little later to continue this story and give some account of Buck Smith, his various escapades and his death at the early age of 20 years; of El Williams and others who "hid out" around the "Muttonbluff," nearly a hundred years ago.


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Metro Rhythm will be kicking off the new year with a very special reading on Friday, January 27, at 7:30 p.m. As always, the event will be held at Blue Angel Wines in Williamsburg, and it is free and open to the public.
Pulitzer Prize winner Mark Strand will read to launch his new collection of prose poems, Almost Invisible. And alongside him will be four recent or current MFA students: John James, Lizzie Harris, JC Longbottom, and Hilary Dobel.
It promises to be a very exciting night and a major event in the poetry calendar for 2012! You won't want to miss it.
Mark Strand is the author of thirteen books of poems. He is also the author of a book of stories and three volumes of translations, and the editor of a number of anthologies (including 100 Great Poems of the Twentieth Century). He has received many honors and awards for his poems, including a MacArthur Fellowship, the Pulitzer Prize (for Blizzard of One), the Bollingen Prize, and the Gold Medal for Poetry from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1990 he was appointed Poet Laureate of the United States. He teaches at Columbia University.
John James holds an M.F.A. in poetry from Columbia University, where he received an Academy of American Poets Prize. His poems, essays and reviews have appeared or are forthcoming in Boston Review, The Los Angeles Review, DIAGRAM, Washington Square, and elsewhere. He teaches at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky.
Lizzie Harris was born on the Tohono O'odham reservation in southern Arizona and was raised on Pennsylvania's coasts. She currently teaches creative writing to returning veterans. She lives in Gowanus.
Nothing annoys JC Longbottom so much as someone who arrives in a shabby, poorly decorated carriage.
Hilary Dobel was born and raised in Seattle, and her mother still wishes she wore less flannel. Her poetry most recently appeared in Lana Turner and is forthcoming in next winter's Ploughshares, and she is currently working on a translation of Juan José Saer's novel, The Clouds. She lives in a nebulously-defined area of New York known as Morningside Heights.
We'll see you on the 27th. Don't forget to RSVP on Facebook!


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In addition to boxing, Salita, 25, is something of a juggler, balancing his commitment to Chabad Orthodoxy with his training regimen, and the relative looseness of the sporting world with the stringency of religious practice. Having lost his mother when he was a teenager, the immigrant from Ukraine took refuge in boxing, and in the welcoming arms of Chabad. As it turns out, the worlds are closer than they initially appear: The boxer's religious minder, Israel Liberow (who travels with Salita, cooks his kosher meals when the two are on the road and gives him the priestly blessing before each fight), is a closet fanatic of the sweet science.
Salita — pale, baby-faced, his cheeks still ringed with acne — makes for an unlikely-looking fighter, but any discomfort he projects in the course of daily life instantly vanishes in the ring, where he morphs into an agile, lithe warrior. Hutt's film is not always clear on the details of religion or of boxing; it never explains how Chabad differs from mainstream Orthodoxy, nor does it so much as hint that Salita switching promoters, to Lou DiBella from the legendary Bob Arum, might be anything other than a positive development. What it does do is capture the restless energy of Salita, comfortable at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn's Crown Heights and in the hip-hop-heavy culture of boxing. Salita drives the streets of Brooklyn bobbing his head to Matisyahu, and when the black-hatted reggae star appears at one of his fights, the two Orthodox men bump chests. "You're representing, D!" Matisyahu says. Orthodox Judaism co-opting aspects of hip-hop culture and making it its own; two Chabadniks comfortable in worlds defined and dominated by black men.
"Orthodox Stance" lacks any of the pizzazz that Salita shows in the ring — one wishes that the film itself would get up on the top rope and pump its fist occasionally — but it provides an ideal opportunity to watch another unlikely, Chabad-fueled star in action. It is also a testament to the possibilities of American life; as Salita's Chabad rabbi points out, Salita's belief in the promise of his newfound country is what convinced the boxer that being Orthodox was no contradiction in the first place.
This story is reprinted with permission from The Forward.


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Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Posted by Pencil Pocket at 13:09
Labels: illustration, sketchbook
10 comments:
My brother love the last one (the ox)ReplyDelete
love seeing sketches...these are superb.ReplyDelete
lovely facial expressionsReplyDelete
nice sketches! your animals have such personality!ReplyDelete
beautiful sketches!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous25 May 2010 at 21:48
These are wonderful, nice lines.ReplyDelete
your drawings are just lovely! I really love your lines and shading strokes. Inspiring!ReplyDelete
Hi Kirstie! I just stumbled across your blog, and i loooove your illustrations, especially these animals! Ben :)ReplyDelete
so very awesome. love your sketches!ReplyDelete
wow. wonderful lines! your work is gorgeous.ReplyDelete
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We are so stoked about this sewing meme contest. Its one of our favorite because its so funny! Let's be honest, some of these things make you so mad when you're sewing what else is there to do BUT laugh about it? Laughter is the best medicine, right?
This year WE wanted to participate in all the fun too so we made up our own sewing memes and we hope you like them as much as we do!!! This might even give you a little insight into each of us and our sense of humor!
|Sweet Brown is a fave around "the office"
And one for the kids...
Apparently....I really like grumpy cat! lol.
|Who doesn't love Arrested Development?
|She made this one special for Tiffany <3
|PSA: https://db.tt/OWBJnklj
|Note the sneak peek ;) We're so tricky!
So that's it! You have until 8pm EST to get your sewing memes made and posted to our wall! We will choose a winner later tonite....or maybe even tomorrow! lol. So anways, you have 2 hours left! These things take about 5 min to make in paint or there are "meme generators" that you can google! Can't wait to see all the entries!
The CKC Staff
The CKC Staff


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The QGSSSA Hockey season runs from 20 July 2019 until 14 September 2019.
Parents/guardians are required to complete the online registration and consent for their child via the school website.
Please complete the online web form including each sport that your child may undertake for the year. The web form generates a school consent form which is to be completed, signed and placed in the tray on the counter in the Extra-Curricular Office in room D101.
QGSSSA Hockey is using a smartphone app as the main means of communication between coaching staff, players and parents/guardians. Team App keeps member contact details private and no members can communicate with each other through the app.
To download, go to https://teamapp.com/app
Players must pay an annual levy for bus transport to venues outside Brisbane, equipment, administration costs, uniforms, umpires, trophies and gifts for coaches. All prior levies and subject fees are required to be finalised before commencing the 2019 season.
2019 games and competition dates are as follows:
St Hilda's School
Clayfield College
Please refer to Sport this Week for up-to-date information on times and venues.
Students must attend 75 per cent of training sessions to be eligible for a pocket.
It is the players' responsibility to arrange their own transport to and from the venue, with the exception of transport to venues outside of Brisbane.
Hockey is run entirely by volunteers. To help with field set up, QGSSSA morning teas, coaching or managing, please contact the Master in Charge.
An end of season presentation dinner is held for QGSSSA Hockey. Details regarding confirmed venue and ticket availability will be advised once the season begins. Tickets are sold at the B Block Finance Counter and must be purchased by the closing date to enable catering numbers to be finalised. Once ticket sales are closed no further tickets will be available for purchase.
© The State of Queensland (Department of Education)
Trading Name: Education Queensland International CRICOS Provider Number: 00608A


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Scholastic, 2008. 978-0545055741.
Winner of the 1997 Coretta Scott King Book Award
Synopsis: Greg 'Slam' Harris knows how to hoop. He's a powerhouse ball player that has his eye set on the NBA. But his teachers can't seem to dig it, always getting on his case about his grades, about how he could do better. Then he starts to see the other side, starts to see what it looks like when you can't make it, when you have to face not being on top. Turns out, life is a game and he doesn't have the ball.
Why I picked it up: Meyers was a popular author among many of my library school peers and his work came to me highly recommended.
Why I finished it: I had a really hard time getting into this book, not because of the subject matter, but because it was written in dialect, mirroring the way we speak. It gives the reader a sense of the narrator and how he views the world around him, but it makes for somewhat annoying reading material. I found myself gleaning the story mostly from context, which also made it difficult to get into the book. The sports writing was enjoyable: I'm a huge hoops fan – mostly college ball – and it was intriguing to me to have the game set up from the players perspective and to have insight on the lingo they use for the plays and the ball. I like first person narratives because they tend to be more 'reliable' and we have a better feel for the characters and their emotions. I can totally understand Slam's frustrations at being bothered about his grades and his performance off the court. I've been haggled about needing an attitude adjustment, about needing to 'do the right thing'. And yeah, some of that comes from being a teen and being in situations where you don't think anyone understands you. But as a reader, we see that Slam has potential; we want him to wake up and realize that there's a little more going on than just the stuff happening to him. Whether or not a wake-up call will stick is hard to say, but if it comes from the right place, it can make all the difference. If you like books that read like you talk, then I'd recommend it. If you're like me and you know you're going to be slogging through it, perhaps one of Meyers other works will be a better choice.
Other related materials: Hoops by Walter Dean Meyers; Game by Walter Dean Meyers; Monster by Walter Dean Meyers; Kick by Walter Dean Meyers and Ross Workman; Scorpions by Walter Dean Meyers; Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Meyers; The Jericho Trilogy by Sharon M. Draper; We Beat the Street: How a Friendship Pact Lead to Success by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, and Sharon M. Draper; True Legend by Mike Lupica; The Crossover by Kwame Alexander; Ball Don' Lie by Matt de la Peña; Boy21 by Matthew Quick; Night Hoops by Carl Deuker; Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson


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If you were to run Speedtest on your mobile device, you'd likely find that your WiFi connection isn't quite what you pay for. A new study by Ookla, the team behind Speedtest, note who the biggest offenders are, as well as which providers may be giving you more bang for your buck. We also find information on where not to live if you enjoy great Internet connectivity.
Basing their findings on percentage of what was promised versus overall download data metrics, Ookla has compiled a list of domestic Internet providers. Smaller players like Midcontinental Communications and Earthlink were found to provide quite a bit more than promised, with Midcontinental offering an 8% boost. Larger players like Verizon FIOS, Time Warner, and Comcast were found to offer roughly what they promised to.
As you slip down the scale, you ay notice your provider popping up, suggesting your problems with Internet speeds aren't unique. AT&T U-Verse offers roughly 10% less than they sell you, while the AT&T Internet Service — a legacy offering — is twice as worse at 19%. Verizon's legacy Internet is equally terrible, delivering about 23% less than what customers are paying for. The worst? Clear Wireless, which gives you a staggering 41% dip in performance versus what they sell you on.
Similarly, we find the study highlighting which cities see the biggest swings. If you live in Trenton, New Jersey — you're in luck. Citizens there get about 9% more than they pay for, while Poughkepsie, New York sees a 5% uptick. Sierra Vista, Arizona has an 8% overage for data speed transfers, while Grand Forks, Minnesota matches them. If you rely on Internet, stay out of Idaho — Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Idaho Falls all see 40%-plus speed drops, with Idaho Falls being the worst at a 50% slide.
The data was cobbled together from "tens of millions" of speed tests run via the Internet or apps, as well as survey of 646,404 users. The data was compiled over the past 12 months, giving a vast sampling to appreciate here. If you're experiencing a diminished service from your Internet provider, it might be time to shop around.
Source: Ookla


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Scientists have been 'dumbfounded' at the infection-killing ability of the ancient 10th Century cure, after a series of tests in Britain and the US during the past year
A stomach-churning potion from the Dark Ages could be the death of the modern day Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, according to researchers who claim that the ancient treatment outperforms conventional antibiotics.
Scientists have been "dumbfounded" at the killing ability of the potion – an ancient cure for eye infections dating back to the 10th Century – after a series of tests in Britain and the US during the past year.
That the Anglo-Saxon recipe, which includes wine, garlic, and bile from a cow's stomach, could hold the key to defeating MRSA came about after a chance discussion between experts at the University of Nottingham last year.
During a meeting of academics interested in infectious diseases, Dr Christina Lee, an expert in Old English, told microbiologists about Bald's Leechbook – an Anglo-Saxon medical textbook kept in the British Library which contains remedies for treating infections and other ailments.
Dr Lee translated a recipe for treating styes – an infection of an eyelash usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus – and the past year has seen researchers painstakingly recreate it and test it on MRSA.
The thousand-year-old remedy has proven to be an "incredibly potent" antibiotic, according to lead researcher Dr Freya Harrison, a microbiologist from the University of Nottingham.
Read the full article here »
Re-blogged from www.independent.co.uk


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Reinforcement is the twentieth episode of Armada. It first aired in the United States on January 23, 2003 on Cartoon Network.
Scavenger introduces the Autobots to Blurr, the Autobot who nobody really gets along with.
Another day at the office wherein the Autobots battle the Decepticons for a Mini-Con. From the Autobots' base, the kids watch (with Billy and Fred also there this time). Demolishor finds the Mini-Con. Cyclonus, in a rare moment of competence, blasts away Red Alert's attempt to snipe at Demolishor. But just as the Decepticons teleport home, the Mini-Con is blasted from Demolishor's hands by a new Autobot, who Scavenger introduces as Blurr. Blurr activates the Mini-Con panel, who turns out to be Incinerator. Returning home from victory, the Autobots are greeted by the kids, who show interest in their new friend Blurr, who barely acknowledges the kids. Later, Incinerator makes beepy conversation with the Street Action Mini-Cons. The five kids try to start conversation with Blurr, but are sidetracked by the topic of Fred's big fat stomach. When Hot Shot arrives, Blurr leaves. Carlos and Billy give chase and Blurr almost mistakes them for the enemy. Hot Shot tries to break through Blurr's tough guy persona, and Blurr explains that he doesn't need to have a personality. The Decepticons detect the activation of a new Mini-Con and head out. Demolishor takes extra caution to not lose the Mini-Con at the last minute as he did last time. And Megatron barely registers that the two captured panels containing the components of the Skyboom Shield have started to resonate. The Decepticons arrive at the general location where the Mini-Con (Downshift) has already activated and begun to run laps around a human-made racetrack. The Autobots show up soon after and try to intercept the Mini-Con. Hot Shot and Blurr give chase, while the rest of the Autobots and Decepticons get into a standing firefight. On the track, Hot Shot and Blurr have conflicting direction, and impact each other a few times. Blurr, however, is unresponsive. Smokescreen uses his Mini-Con Liftor to blast away Starscream, Sideways, and Cyclonus. Blurr and Hot Shot have to stop and combine with their Mini-Cons to overcome the chasm interrupting the racetrack. On the other side of the track, Blurr, in car mode, begins to rotate rapidly, blowing away Cyclonus and blowing the Mini-Con into the empty stands. Blurr opens up fire on the Mini-Con, causing it to fall beneath the stands where Hot Shot catches it, to Blurr's confusion. Cyclonus yanks the Mini-Con away and the Decepticons retreat. At the Autobot base, the kids scold Hot Shot for not getting along with Blurr. Hot Shot heads to apologize to Blurr, who appreciates the sentiment and concedes that he was unaware that the Mini-Cons were more than just tools, and that he doesn't interact with others very smoothly. Hot Shot and Blurr give each other respect knuckles like the first episode, and everybody is happy they made a new special friend. On the moon, Megatron returns with Downshift to discover that Dirt Boss and Mirage have unlocked on their own, and they combine to form the Skyboom Shield.
In the episode
English dub changes
Characters (In order of appearance):
Hot Shot, Smokescreen, Scavenger, Optimus Prime, Red Alert,
Megatron, Starscream, Sideways, Cyclonus, Demolishor,
Rad, Carlos, Billy, Fred, Alexis,
Blurr, Incinerator, Street Action Mini-Con Team, Mirage, Swindle, Liftor, Jolt, Downshift, Dirtboss
Blurr: Arrogance and pride, a tragic combination, it causes a bot to make mistakes - like this.
Red Alert: Sorry to break up the party.
Fred: Too radical.
Fred: Hey, do you happen to have a website I could check out?
Fred: Oh, you're hard as steel. I still have some work to do on this bad boy.
Billy: Geez, sometimes I'm sure the guy leaves his brains at home.
Carlos: You know you're not gonna shape up until you stop scarfing up all that junk.
Billy: Yea, like that will ever happen.
Alexis: He's an eating machine.
Animation and/or technical glitches
- Incinerator, relative to Blurr, shrinks visibly between his first appearance and the epilogue.
Continuity errors
- Seconds after calling his Mini-Con Liftor, Smokescreen calls his Mini-Con "Long Arm" which is possibly a mistake. Possibly he was just referring to his crane weapon as a "long arm", as that's a fitting description.
Real-world references
- None known.
Miscellaneous trivia
- Why were the kids blameing Hot Shot? Blurr was the one to blame losing the Mini-Con. Besides, Blurr was trying to shoot it, not to mention he could have esaily shot Cyclonus down.


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This page contains a listing of past events in the forestry sector. The focus is on forestry events in Ireland and the United Kingdom, but also listed are a selection of events taking place in Europe and elsewhere. Please note that some of the links may no longer work. You will find the current and future forestry events listed here.
2017 Events
- 13-30 Nov. UKFS Principles – Plans into Practice Workshops. ICF and FC England are offering this one-day workshop at various venues in mid to late November. Details here
- 24 or 25 Nov. Realising the value of broadleaf woodland workshop. Forestry Commission and Small Woods workshop. Ironbridge. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
ukor call 01952 432769.
- 25 Nov – 03 Dec. National Tree Week. Details here
- 29 Nov. Towards a Common Countryside Policy: a national conference organised by Confor. Westminster, London. Details here
- 30 Nov. RICS Rural Conference, Preston. RFS members can attend at the RICS member rate. Quote voucher code VHR0000663 when booking. Details here.
- 30 Nov. Deer Awareness Day. Bury St Edmunds. The Deer Initiative
- 05 Dec. RICS Rural Conference Wales. Llandrinod Wells. Details here
Links to the events pages for the main forestry organisations in Ireland:
- Irish Timber Growers Association
- COFORD events
- FORESTRY.IE – Events Calendar
- Society of Irish Foresters' events
- Teagasc Forestry events
Links to the events pages for the main forestry organisations in the UK:
- Institute of Chartered Foresters
- Royal Forestry Society
- Royal Scottish Forestry Society
- Confor
- Forest Research
- Arboricultural Association


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Yards and homes are not suitable environments for a wasp nest, especially since wasps can get disturbed easily and sting. This is why it's for your best to remove a wasp nest if there is one in or around your home. Here are some tips on how to remove a wasp nest effectively!
Identifying a Wasp Nest
Before you do anything, make sure what you're dealing with is in a fact a wasp's nest. Before you tackle the nest, it's important to know what species of wasp are you dealing with.
- Paper wasps are large with long legs and bodies. Their bodies are dark brown in color with black wings. Their nest is large and exposed and looks somewhat like an upside down umbrella. It's made from plant material, but appears to be made from paper, and it has open combs with cells.
- Yellow jackets have a body that is usually black and yellow or black and white in color. They build paper-looking nests in protected areas, like cavities in the ground or wall voids.
- Hornets are the largest type of wasp. The bald-faced hornet is the most common and it is easy to identify it since it has white markings on its head and thorax. They also build paper-like nests in tree trunks and wall cavities.
Places to Inspect
If you are constantly harassed by wasps when you're outside in your yard, or you are discovering wasps inside your home, it's most likely that the nest is near. The first place to look is around the outside of your home and in obvious places in your yard like branches of the trees. Sometimes it's hard to spot a wasp's nest since they usually build them in sheltered areas. If you can't locate a nest but continue to have a wasp problem, you should call a pest control professional for further investigation.
The Dangers of a Wasp Nest Close to a Home
Wasps can be extremely dangerous, especially for people who are allergic to their stings. Unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times, which makes them even more undesirable to have around. If you're allergic to wasp stings, we highly recommend you refrain from attempting to handle wasp nest removal on your own.
Tips on How to Get Rid of Wasps
If you decide to attempt to remove a wasp nest on your own, make sure to follow these tips:
- Wear protective clothing and a mask.
- If you're using a pesticide spray, make sure to obtain a professional opinion before using it.
- Nests built inside your home and structures are hard to remove as well as dangerous. If you don't know how to remove a wasp nest properly, that can cause problems since they can chew their way into the interior of the house. In this case, you should call a professional to remove the nest.
- When you use sprays for a wasp nest, it's necessary to repeat the process twice or even more times until you're certain the nest has been destroyed.
Calling a professional should be your first option when you notice a wasp nest since they can be extremely dangerous if you disturb their nest and try to remove it yourself.
Proudly serving the greater Chicagoland area in Illinois and southeast Wisconsin, the professional exterminators at Aerex Pest Control understand the habits of different species of wasps and use that knowledge when developing a wasp control program that is best suited to your home and your particular problem. Our technicians are professional, state certified, licensed applicators. Call today for your free consultation 847-255-8888 or click here for a free quick quote.


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Daily Archives: April 19, 2010
Big Break: Serving With Others For Haiti Relief
We were assigned to haiti meal packing on Wednesday afternoon. I had asked a few ppl on the beach to come help us and many seemed unwilling to come.. even thought the weather was poor and there weren't that many out that day..
As we were walking back onto the property to just go help (they told us to try inviting spring breakers with us and then come back if you didn't have anyone) I prayed asking God to show us IF there really was someone to come with us.. I even saw Amanda (a RPI student) run down the beach looking!
On our way in.. there were 4 guys trying to get in to the Edgewater(the hotel/resort where the conference was).. and being told no.. I quickly asked "Bro, we're going to pack meals for haiti on Edgewater, wanta come with us?!" The first guy said wow that sounds like fun! the other 3 were less excited.. but When I told this guy Cypres he could still come just him the others were in! We all walked together to the conference center.. Standing there almost brought me to tears! there were people working to make meals and at the same time a guy asking who wanted aprons.. I watched as these 3 spring break girls (who came with UCONN girls) looked around embarrassed at first realizing that they were half dressed while many actually had clothes on! watching further you could see how they wanted to turn around and leave, but one of the UCONN girls smiled and said come on lets get hairnets and clean our hands.. the guy at the front "offered" an apron "IF they wanted it".. which of course they did! .. just after this.. I realized I saw this so I could help our four spring break guys.. they put their beers down and looked around uncomfortably and I immediately grabbed the hand santi stuff and started putting it in their hands and passing hair nets.. John even offered them aprons!
We ended up letting Jason and John take on the guys and the girls all went together to work at one table.. There was pumpin music blasting and we all got super into screaming random things in excitement when we finished a box or 2! I was overwhelmed at the love these spring breakers experienced and the acceptance that I saw the body of christ displaying! This scene of the Big Breakers welcoming and loving on spring breakers while serving like Jesus is definitely one that I will not forget! I wish you all could have been with me to experience this!
Big Break: Really?! It Is And Can Be Natural To Talk About Jesus!
As we were playing ultimate Frisbee 2 guys named Jake and Joe were on the team with me(Ellen) and Amanda (and a couple UCONN students too). It was a close game but we won by 1 point! yay!
After the game Amanda, myself, 2 UCONN girls and these 2 guys Jake and Joe sat with us. I asked question about them and before we knew it I was talking through spiritual things.. I learned Jake's parents are going through a divorce and that he was Lutheran until his parents stopped going when he was maybe 10.. Joe's dad's brother is a reverend and his aunt is budist! I mentioned how we were using tools to ask spring breakers questions about spiritual things and even asked if any of them had a chance to talk about sprititual things on campus during the year… they said no! I turn briefly and Amanda had already gone to her bag and whipped out the Soularium (to which the RPI students keep calling it a "game" .. haha.. we're still working on that.. ) The guys engaged with us and when asked on a level of 0-10 what's their desire to know God.. (after telling them they couldn't pick 0 because they were already talking to us about spiritual things!) they both said 6 and 8! I told my story and presented the gospel! I did bring out the KGP (Knowing God Personally booklet)to ask which circle they were (the point of decision in the booklet) and Jake said he had been trying to get to the circle on the right (a life submitted to Christ) … after sharing he didn't have to "work at it" the gospel was presented and I challenged them to make a decision for themselves!
The BIGGEST win for me was when Amanda and I were walking back to the van.. she said she learned something huge about this.. the guys STILL wanted to talk after presenting the Gospel.. she had thought it would have been awkward to just go back to talking after all that.. but it wasn't and she realized how "natural" talking about Jesus can be! I'm so honored that I had this opportunity to see Amanda realize an important life lesson! When you're a follower of Christ, it's normal to talk about Jesus!
Jason and "God Space" on Big Break 2010
On Tuesday night Jason went out with some UCONN students to share the gospel. The group prayed a few times to connect with spring breakers and didn't see anyone really respond.. a bit discouraged they went to the Waffle House and "hung out"; while hanging out.. God Space (relational space for spiritual content- also a great book we've read with students) was created as they sat and talked amongst themselves. One of the UCONN students named Becky had a ton of reservations about the week and even more specifically why things weren't biblical.. like why is it really "wrong" to get drunk.. what's the big deal? Jason came over for lunch on Thursday and he told us the story of creating space for God to uncover what it was in Becky's heart.. she hadn't really trusted Jesus with her life! What ended up happening was Jason and the other UCONN students went through the Knowing God Personally with Becky.. at first she was embarrassed and didn't want to "do the prayer" with the group. But later that night she went on the balcony and cried.. and told Jesus she desired to know him and the following day read the prayer with one of her roommates! Jason engaged with someone who said "I'm a christian" and yet wasn't completely surrendered.. and he used God Space to engage and see someone trust Christ! We're so proud of him and the UCONN students with him!