just4moms.netExciting News Every Mom Should Know…

By Romi Herron for The Courier-News April 6, 2012 6:56PM

Benjamin Bergeson, 5, of St. Charles, Ill., hunts for eggs during the Adaptive Spring Holiday Egg Hunt at Kenyon Woods Middle School in South Elgin, Ill., on Thursday, April 5, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |

storyidforme: 28366236 tmspicid: 10299320 fileheaderid: 4744167 Article Extras

SOUTH ELGIN — while searching for plastic eggs in a field might be fun for lots of kids, it’s often overwhelming for those with special needs, according to Jen Borrowman, superintendent for Fox Valley Special Recreation Association.

So for the second year in a row, the South Elgin Parks and Recreation Department worked with the association to provide an alternative egg hunt, with the event drawing more than 30 participants Thursday at Kenyon Woods Middle School here.

“Our original egg hunt is held in a cow pasture across the street,” said Kim Wascher, superintendent of South Elgin Parks and Recreation. “We noticed a lot of people in wheelchairs, and with walkers, and we saw how those with disabilities were affected.”

It was difficult for children with special needs to reach eggs on the ground, and the lack of boundaries was uncomfortable for those with autism, Borrowman said. in addition, crowds of other children competing for eggs were stressful for those with special needs.

So they designed the alternative event to fit the disabilities of children ages 3-12 in a quiet, indoor setting.

“We brought in hay bales to raise the eggs, and then they can grasp them without having to get down on the ground,” Borrowman said. “We have a sand table that we filled with beans and rice, a shredded paper roll, and we bring in groups of just five or 10 kids.”

Jim Reuter, parks and recreation department director, said volunteers made the event a success. South Elgin High School Honor Society, local Girl Scouts, and community members all contributed, he said.

The alternative egg hunt program was geared to give participants with special needs an event their siblings also could enjoy, Borrowman added. Therapeutic recreation was applied to promote hand-eye coordination, sensory encouragement and socializing as well.

South Elgin resident Kelley Ehman said her son Brett, 14, is autisic. They attended the egg hunt with Brett’s sisters, Paige and Meghann, both 8.

“This is our second year coming here, and we also go to the special-needs night for the carnival, which I think has been about 11 years,” she said. “These programs are nice because the family gets to do things together. with the egg hunt at Kenyon Woods, we couldn’t all go.”

People News

If President Barack Obama intends to put Georgia in play this fall, he’ll have to write the entire check for the effort.

According to the March 31 disclosure filed by the Democratic Party of Georgia, the organization is barely keeping its head above water. It raised $140,966 over the last three months, and spent $133,312.

It has $149,095 in cash on hand. But the bottom line would be much more bleak, were it not for nearly $40,000 from state House Democrats, mostly in $2,000 checks.

Among the party’s expenditures was $10,000 paid to Tasso Knight, a retired union lobbyist, who served as lobbyist for the state party at the Capitol this year. the payment became part of an argument over finances among ranking Democratic leaders this winter.

Democrats have their main fund-raiser for the year on April 28. It will feature the Rev. Joe Lowery and former new Mexico governor Bill Richardson.

By comparison, the Republican Party of Georgia had its main fundraiser during the reporting period. the state GOP raised $375,869, and spent $290,890, according to its disclosure report.

Most contributions have corporate origins, but a few small ones stand out. for instance, the Committee to Elect Kevin Levitas gave $1,250 to the state GOP. Levitas, of Atlanta, served as a Democrat in the state House before leaving the chamber in 2010. His father is a former Democratic congressman.

The state GOP had $929,361 in cash on hand as of March 31.again, this isn’t all that much. By himself, state Sen. Don Balfour, R-Snellville, has $740,513 in cash on hand.

Consider it more proof that, in this era of super PACs, statewide parties now occupy a much diminished role.

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.

A few months back, I watched the documentary ‘Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead‘ – which followed an overweight man as he completed a 60-day juice fast to gain back his health.

The film showed Joe Cross as he travelled around the U.S., subsisting purely on fruit and vegetable juice for all three meals a day. Admittedly, the day after I watched it, I set out to juice. I didn’t own a juicer so I opted to pile my fruits and veggies into a blender with water and puree until it was drinkable. I was expecting worse, but the taste was actually pretty good. And the fiber kept me full for a surprising amount of time.

But how long did my juice fast last? About two meals. I started craving ‘real foods,’ which meant my juicing experience was short-lived. But, for others, they see it as worth staying the course.

According to a recent article on MSN Health there’s been a recent surge in juice fasting as a means of get-thin-quick dieting – something we don’t view as a healthy approach to weight loss. this view was only further solidified after speaking with DietsInReview.com’s registered dietitian, Mary Hartley, RD.

“I’m on board with Dr. Madelyn Fernstom’s position that ‘cleaning out’ or ‘detoxing‘ your digestive system is completely unnecessary,” says Mary. “Fernstom says a healthy digestive system does not need a rest, and ‘that fiber is nature’s Roto-Rooter.’”

Mary also weighed in on whether or not juicing is a healthy practice for any length of time.

“A one-day fast is harmless, although there is no evidence that it benefits the body. And because calories are severely limited during a fast, you won’t get the nutrients you need, which may create an electrolyte imbalance if prolonged,” she says. ”after a day or so of basically not eating, the body starts to break down protein from the muscles and organs to convert it to glucose to feed the central nervous system. because muscle is metabolically active tissue, wastage leads to lower calorie requirements, which can promote weight gain in the long run. Food deprivation may also lead to overeating when food is available again.”

But one of the reasons many people turn to juicing is to ensure that they’re getting enough fruits and vegetables in their diet. Mary says we need 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables a day depending on our overall calorie requirements. But that instead of fasting, we should begin eating a balanced diet of wholesome foods. she also issues a warning that pregnant and lactating women, growing children, insulin-dependent diabetics, and people taking certain medications should never fast.

In addition to these concerns, there’s no scientific evidence that juice fasting reduces the risk of cancer, boosts the immune system, aids digestion, or results in any kind of permanent weight loss, as some claim. And it should also be known that juice fasting can also cause:

• A persistent need to use the restroom

• Quick weight loss that comes back just as quickly

• Fatigue in the short-term

• Decline in muscle mass in the long-term

• Yo-yo dieting effect

So while this new ‘fad’ diet may be alive in well in among the weight and health conscious, we would recommend considering all of the pros and cons before pursuing a juice-only diet, as there are a number of risks tied to the practice. Based on research and evidence on this topic, I’ll be holding off on purchasing a juicer for myself as the supposed benefits just don’t seem worth it.

Also Read:

Nicole Richie’s Pre-Wedding Juice Fast

Beginner’s Guide to Juicing: Benefits of Fresh Juice

How to Safely Start a Juice Cleanse at Home

April 12th, 2012

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Magic center Dwight Howard was diagnosed by a doctor in Los Angeles with a herniated disc in his lower back, a team spokesman said.

Howard sat out the Magic’s 109-81 loss to the Atlanta Hawks Friday night, the fifth game he’s missed in Orlando’s last seven outings.

Magic spokesman Joel Glass said Howard was examined by Dr. Robert Watkins after Howard flew out there earlier Friday for a second opinion for what had previously be called back spasms since he injured his back at the end of March.

There is no timetable for his return and it will be based on how he responds to treatment.

Howard is scheduled to fly back to Orlando on Saturday.

The Magic are now 1-4 without him this season.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy says Howard was in pain following the team’s practice Thursday and the coach wasn’t optimistic he’ll be ready to play at Cleveland Sunday or against Philadelphia on Monday.

The Magic entered Friday tied in place in the Eastern Conference with Atlanta, though the Hawks hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. they remained in the same spot following the loss.

With his fifth missed regular-season game Howard set a new personal high for missed games in a season. he missed four games last season. Prior to this season Howard had only missed two games in his career due to injury. the rest were either because of illness or suspension.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –School choice programs tailored for children with special needs offer educational options to families in eight states

nearly 30,000 students with special needs are participating in 10 publicly funded private school choice programs designed for children with special needs in eight states, according the Promise of Special needs Scholarships, released today by the Alliance for School choice.

the Promise of Special needs Scholarships chronicles the stories of eight families whose lives have been transformed by special needs scholarship programs.

Among the amazing students who have their stories profiled are:

Lexie, an Arizona student with autism, cerebral palsy, and mild mental retardation, who attends private school thanks to a law named in her honor. Lexie’s mom recounts how Lexie has learned to understand and use sign language.

Eric, a young man with an auditory process disorder, who is one of nearly 23,000 students thriving thanks to the John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program in Florida.

Carson, the namesake of the Carson Smith Special needs Scholarship, who can now tell his parents that he loves them.

Aaron, an Arizona student with autism who participates in Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarships Accounts Program, where Aaron’s parents use his education dollars to attend a specialized private school.

in addition to profiling students and families that participate in special needs school choice programs, the Promise of Special needs Scholarships features the nation’s premiere data on the growth of enrollment, momentum of programs and legislative initiatives, and increasingly strong accountability standards.

“As school choice programs continue to help thousands of families across the nation, children with special needs are becoming an increasingly large pool of its beneficiaries,” said Malcom Glenn, national director of communications for the Alliance. “Support for special needs programs, including the three that were enacted last year, is broad and growing each day, and we’ll see even more support as people learn just how these programs are transforming the lives of children.”

School choice programs specifically designed for children with special needs exist in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah, with Arizona and Ohio each operating two programs. in total, 10 programs serve 29,158 students.

Download a copy of the Promise of Special needs here.

SOURCE Alliance for School choice

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. all rights reserved

When sensitive skin keeps you from pampering and protecting it, don’t give up. try out a brand that is on a whole new level of natural: Sevani Botanica.

Sevani’s product line is formulated by a licensed holistic aesthetician that has spent more than 20 years in the all-natural beauty business. Founder and developer Sheryl Gibbs has seen the corporate beauty world shutting out consumers who want a truly natural product that works. take a closer look at that organic body product before slathering it on, and compare with Sevani’s eco-friendly, vegan, nontoxic, and chemical- and cruelty-free formulas.

With Sevani’s beauty products, even the most temperamental skin types can enjoy the benefits of luxurious cr

MSNBC's Thomas Roberts fills in for Tamron Hall as he reports on the death of new Hampshire Police Chief Michael Maloney, who was shot just days before he was set to retire. Roberts is later joined by new York Times reporter Michael Schmidt as they …
See all stories on this topic »

One Survivalist Singles member, Mtexplorer2, says “a woman wearing a backpack in her profile picture is an automatic 10.”

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — for people who spend every day preparing for disaster — whether it’s a 2012 apocalypse, a nuclear meltdown, an economic collapse, a hurricane or a tsunami — it can be hard to find a compatible partner.

Canning venison, shooting firearms, living off the grid and creating manure from human waste just aren’t traditional interests many people look for when browsing mainstream dating sites like eHarmony or Match.com.

That’s why a site called Survivalist Singles has entered the online dating scene, catering specifically to this niche community of "preppers," "survivalists" and "doomsdayers."

Survivalist Singles, which officially launched in 2010, boasts the slogan, "Don’t face the future alone." its ranks are growing — quadrupling to about 1,640 members from around 400 at the end of 2010.

Members of the site range widely in their doomsday beliefs, said Andrea Burke, a 45-year-old middle school art teacher from Montana who took over the site from its previous owner last summer.

"Most will agree that something is brewing that may change life as we know it, whether it be a collapse of the economy, an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) or other natural or government disaster," Burke said.

The site is free for now, but Burke is planning to charge a $5 monthly membership fee so she can generate income from her project. She is considering using a slogan like, "find love for less than the price of a box of bullets" to draw in paying members.

For female preppers interested in finding a man, the site is a dating goldmine. There are currently about two men for every woman on the site (which is a big disparity compared to a site like Match.com, where there’s a roughly even split), and the average member is over 50.

The most popular book among members is James Wesley Rawles’ "Patriots," about a group of Christians who must survive an economic meltdown that throws the country into complete chaos and leads to a second civil war. "SHTF" (When s*** hits the fan) and "TEOTWAWKI" (The end of the world as we know it) are common acronyms members include on their profiles, said Burke.

One user, who goes by the screenname Mtexplorer2 but preferred that his real name not be used, said he tried many mainstream dating sites but was always turned down by potential matches as soon as they found out he was a survivalist. Survivalist Singles lets him put everything out in the open, he said, and women only contact him if they have similar beliefs or appreciate his lifestyle.

"It’s hard to connect with someone who doesn’t have a similar mindset. You can’t explain why your truck is packed like you’re always ready for an expedition — they don’t get it," he said. "But when you meet another survivalist, you start talking about all this stuff and the women look at you like you have a million dollars in the bank."

His profile lists many conventional hobbies and interests like hiking, camping and eating Mexican food. But it also mentions his "extensive background with firearms for defense and hunting." And that he has an alternative water source, likes to go to thrift stores to find gadgets that don’t use electricity, and cans venison so he’ll have meat "if the grid goes down and there are no freezers."

His idea of an attractive woman is someone who is physically fit and loves the outdoors. "I’m not looking for someone wearing a designer dress and purse — I want someone who looks wholesome, and a woman wearing a backpack in her profile picture is an automatic 10," he said.

Because he lives in the mountains of Montana, distance has been a problem. He has met only one woman face-to-face out of more than 20 he has corresponded with on the site. After she visited him in Montana, they decided to just remain friends.

Distance is one of several issues cited by another member, Larissa Kama, 42, who goes by the screenname nwredhead. Kama has a "bug-out bag" full of gear near her front door in case disaster strikes, but she considers herself less "hardcore" than many of the men she has encountered on the site.

"I’ve come across a lot of freaks who live in a hole in the ground, who message me and say, ‘Run, run to me — I’m a mile underground in the middle of Nebraska," said Kama, who lives in Portland, Ore. "I don’t want to hide down in a bunker for the rest of my life. I’m really okay with the outside world — we’re not facing any end-of-world scenario yet, so I want to live in this moment."

Some members, though, have already found love on the site. Nate Tammaro, whose screenname was Iron Ranger, found his soul mate, or "twin flame," only two days after joining Survivalist Singles. they live six hours away from each other so they have only met in person twice, but Tammaro plans to move to Missouri to be with her this summer.

"When we met, we immediately knew there was no one else for us — it was the sentence-finishing type of love," said Tammaro. The relationship has changed his outlook on prepping: Tammaro now believes his calling is to help others find their way once the "end of the world as we know it" arrives. "I’m optimistic about the future now that I’ve found love," he said.

Others on the site aren’t just looking for love. A 44-year-old female user with the screenname Arnold, for example, states on her profile that she is looking for a survival group in addition to a man. One skill she would bring to the table, she noted, is making "humanure." this involves converting human excrement into fertilizer — which may be necessary in case a disaster strikes and there is no running water.

Aside from Survivalist Singles, several other dating sites are popping up for preppers. PrepperDating.com was started last year and has about 70 members. And Kwink.com, a site that lets singles join niche dating communities, like "health nuts" and "Jesus freaks" is also advertising a community for "doomsday preppers" and "doomsdayers."

"Spend your remaining days with someone that shares your instinct to prepare and survive the end of the world as we know it," Kwink’s site says. "Don’t use those generic dating sites that can’t cater to your core trait. The Doomsday dating community is your place to connect, share and grow with similar people." 

Earlier this month, Census Bureau data from the post-depression period was made publicly available for the first time in 72 years. Personal records of 132 million Americans who participated in the 1940 census can now be accessed online.

You can now peruse records for every home in the country and find out who lived where, what they did, and where they came from. for those documenting family history, there is a glorious amount of information. and the online archive is also a great starting point for people curious about the lives lived by parents and grandparents.

To give you an idea of how much things have changed, back in 1940, the most populous state was new York, which had more than 13 million residents. In 2010, California has taken the lead with over 37 million people filling its borders, and pushing new York down to number three.

With all of this newly released information at our fingertips, it is an ideal time to do some digging. and what we find could be the impetus for a bit of travel to locations previously not considered.

Suppose you find where your grandparents lived in 1940. Wouldn’t it be interesting to explore the spot 72 years later? Additional research can provide you with photographs and drawings of what the area looked like back then, and help you pinpoint the churches, post offices, libraries, schools, and local markets they used. Armed with a trusty map, a journey to the old homestead can be a history lesson for younger family members and perhaps even a nostalgic moment.

Expect big changes along the way. many sites probably look nothing like they did when your ancestors stood in the same spots decades ago. my father took my mother back to North Dakota in an attempt to locate the farm he was raised on back in the 30s and 40s. it took a while to find the area because 70 years of change altered many places my dad remembered. But the journey was half the fun. Eventually they found that the familiar fields were replaced by highways. But, along the way, they also got a chance to relive some fond memories at his old high school.

Maybe in your searches into your family history you will discover where your parents first met, went on their first date, or planned their wedding. Searching for the locations of proposals, weddings, first dates, and special events of all kinds can add to the fun of your trip.

We have a family tree on my father’s side that goes back to 1640 and places our ancestors as fur trappers in Quebec, Canada. my father has traveled there to investigate graveyards in various areas in search of more ancient relatives and to take in the countryside that was once home to his great-great-great grandfather. as is the case with most locations, the many quaint towns and shops and their friendly inhabitants add to the ambiance and enhance the experience. your retirement travels can feel more meaningful when the destination holds personal significance far beyond just a spot on the map.

Dave Bernard is not yet retired but has begun his due diligence to plan for a fulfilling retirement. with a focus on the non-financial aspects of retiring, he shares his discoveries and insights on his blog Retirement–only the Beginning.