Cabarrus County Community Advisory Boards for the Aging are undermanned

Concord, NC- According to the county clerk to the board of commissioners, Megan Smit, the commissioners discussed planning for an aging population among other topics at a retreat late last month. The commissioners use planning retreats to prepare for the coming year of municipal work. During the retreat the commissioners discussed revenues, funding for education, and in one of the longest presentations, the ever changing demographics of the region. 

 

According to a report prepared for the retreat's agenda, "Natural aging plus population growth equals rapid growth in elderly population." Census data from 2010 suggests that Cabarrus County is aging at a comparable rate to the rest of the nation, but the county's median age is three years higher than neighboring Mecklenburg County. When asked about the commissioner's plan to handle the dynamics of an aging population, Smit responded that the commissioners were considering the data while working on the new budget that will be finalized sometime this summer. 

Although the county provides a number of services for aging residents, numerous programs have experienced delays processing new applications. 

The message callers hear at the county's Adult Services line (704-920-1400) mentions longer than normal delays in obtaining nutrition and Medicaid support, benefits that many aging residents depend on. According to Charlotte's NPR member station, WFAE, the county is taking up to ninety days to respond to applications for assistance, the state mandates action within thirty.

The county, via the board of commissioners, is responsible for appointing citizens to the Nursing Home Care Community Advisory Committee and the Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee. The state mandates that members of these trained, volunteer-based committees act as advocates and liaisons between patients and facilities. Although the Nursing Home Care Community Advisory Committee has no regulatory power, members visit care facilities, help file complaints and turn in regional reports regarding the well-being of residents to the commissioners, and to the Department of Health and Human Services, . 

Community advisory committees offer a voice to elderly residents, but both aforementioned committees have suffered from long time vacancies. The county allows for eight appointed members on each committee, but the minutes from the board's meetings reveal between four and eight positions have been vacant every month since 2012.

The county clerk says the commissioners are actively working to fill these seats. The state allows the assistant secretary for aging (DHHS) to appoint members to these committees if a county's board of commissioners have left a seat vacant for three months or more.

The regional ombudsman, Laurie Abounader, said that she is always looking for volunteers to fill these vacant seats.Residents of the county who are interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact her.

Local oil painter, Paul Keysar on display

Concord, NC- As a young man Paul Keysar studied oil painting at the Pennsylvania School of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. There, at the oldest art school in America,  Keysar enjoyed a rigorous curriculum with an acute focus  on technique. In his third year the artist yearned for a new experience with the arts and went to study under Carolyn Egeli, a landscape and portrait artist in Southern Maryland, the area he grew up in. The beautiful landscape of the area, creeks emptying into the Potomac River in quiet rural settings, inspired the artist to combine his original love of the figure with paintings of the land around him.

The cost of living in Maryland, and family ties in North Carolina, brought Keysar to the Charlotte region where he maintains a work space at Concord's Clearwater Artist Studios. A young man with a young family, the artist is concerned that, "The arts are the first to go and the last to return when the economy goes down." But he contends that, "People's lives are enriched by the arts," and he works every day he can to promote them. 

Keysar's work has paid off, he has made some lovely contributions to the local art community. In January of this year the painting of his son, Jacob, appeared on the cover of Carolina Arts. The artist's work is currently displayed at the Cabarrus Arts Council in the exhibit, Human Nature. In July of this year the artist will be premiering his show of regional oil paintings at the UNCC, Student Union Art Gallery, in an exhibit entitled: While the City Sleeps.

The artist's most recent work from the "Night" series is of a Christmas tree-lot in the area. The scene depicts an utterly Southern motif, an RV parked in front of a snow-free lot, offering Christmas trees for sale. Lit only by the artificial light of a streetlamp, the painting encourages the viewer to place himself at the artist's vantage point. "The light, moonlight and artificial, shines in the darkness to reveal what is hidden. It brings the viewer into the scene, calms the fear, gives warmth to the coldness." The artist recalls roaming his friend's farms in childhood, relaxing in the cool evenings by running streams and the, "Feeling of uncertainty the night brings and the way man adds light to settle the fears that can come with it."

The effect of artificial light and other human influence is often present in Keysar's work. The recent series of paintings, "Conquest" reveals man's relationship with the earth, "Man's hand is everywhere, his dominance is apparent." The influence for the "Conquest" series arose from a painting of the artist's friend in a field. The man holds a gun he has never fired in a work titled Green. Much of the work in the "Conquest" series requires the viewer to transmit his or herself into the artist's world, to perceive the land in its barely touched state. 

The artist offers classes locally and he wants aspiring artists to know, "If you want to be a better painter draw, draw, draw."

Amazon reviewers agree, the toy Atmosphere is dangerous

Amazon reviewers agree, the toy Atmosphere is dangerous

By Renee Fox

Okay, I admit it. I let my son, who may or may not have ADHD, watch Sponge Bob Square Pants on Nickelodeon sometimes. This means that about two or three times a week he comes up to me in the kitchen while I am listening to National Public Radio and doing the dishes or writing a blog on the counter and asks me if I we can go to a store to buy a certain product.

I abhor this! That is why we appreciate services like Netflix and PBS, they feature quality programs with limited or nonexistent commercial breaks. Unfortunately, I also feel inclined to give into my 6 year-old boy's pleas to watch Sponge Bob a couple of times a week, usually when I need the 30 minutes to accomplish something, anything!

There is something adorable about my boy's eloquence when describing a toy he saw advertised on Nickelodeon, even though it makes me cringe. He tugs on my arm with an urgency and begs me to, "see what the Amazon kids say" about wonderfully unique inventions that seem to offer a revolution in play. So I minimize my work and indulge him, typing possible spellings of words that I thought were already listed in Webster's a certain way.

My son has seen me impulse shop Online before, we did most of our Christmas shopping for the family on Amazon and Etsy last year. I find it relieves a lot of stress to select products after reading numerous reviews. This is especially true when buying toys.

We all remember the disappointment experienced after realizing a toy is not as exciting as its advertisement made it seem. Product reviews give parents a way to save kids from this heartache and  protect their wallets.

That is why I feel it is necessary to comment on a product that my son and I saw advertised on Nickelodeon, the toy Atmosphere.

Atmosphere offers a kid unspeakable joy, it is a sphere shaped hovering ball! How long have we dreamed of an affordable ($22.98) and exciting craft capable of hovering. There are 45 reviews and 24 are "1 star," resulting in an average of "2 stars." I acknowledge the small sampling, but the reviewers offer fairly shocking stories of the toy's danger.

Amazon user, Kari L. had this to say, "This product HURTS! In order to catch the AtmoSphere while it's in motion. you have to grab it by the frame. And if your fingers get anywhere near the propellers, the pain is VERY sharp and intense." She was not the only reviewer who felt this way, M. Alver said, "the way it is designed is much too dangerous for children" and that if it were to come too close to one's hair, "the blade will not just get tangled in the hair, but will continue rotating until it pulls the hair completely out."

 I did not buy the toy after discovering a spontaneous consensus among the reviewers, this toy is hurting the kids that play with it. So why is Nickelodeon advertising it? Why wouldn't they, they know we will all put our kids in front of Sponge Bob two or three times a week and that a percentage of us dopes will buy these unvetted toys for insistent children.

Tensions mount after Durham teen's death in police custody

Tensions mount after Durham teen's death in police custody

Summary of article By Paul A. Specht and Mark Schultz

23 November 2013

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/11/23/3401848/memorial-for-durham-teen-who-died.html

In Durham, North Carolina at least 150 protesters gathered on Friday night to demand answers in the death of Jesus Huerta. On Tuesday night the 17-year-old was shot and killed while in the back seat of a police car. The police department has revealed only that Huerta was arrested for second-degree trespassing.

There have been numerous civilian deaths at the hands of police officers across the state this year. Three of these deaths have occurred in Durham's jurisdiction.

The protesters want the details of the investigation released, the department will not reveal additional details until the State Bureau of Investigation completes an investigation.

The protest on Friday night began peacefully, but when young men in hoodies and masks joined the others the police began using batons and tasers. A few young teens were arrested and a few police cars were damaged.

Although it is unclear what happened in this case, many in the community are weary of the recent tendency to shot first and ask questions later.
Durham City Councilman Eugene Brown, warns, “It almost appears we’re looking at a pattern here, and it’s very sad."

It is unfortunate that the facts are not yet available to the public. Any police department involved in a shooting should reveal what training the officers received and review typical procedures.

AltSchool

As the country debates Common Core Standards, teacher pay, standardized tests, even school lunches; the AltSchool in San Francisco is striving to broaden the conversation surrounding education in the 21st century.

AltSchool is a private school designed by former Google employee, Max Ventilla. Although the tuition can cost $19,000 a year, Ventilla offers financial aid and educational opportunities unavailable in most public schools.

The school caters to students who are categorized as advanced, hyperactive, or who otherwise benefit from the unique class structure. The children are divided into general age groups, 5-7 and 8-10, and instructed by certified teachers, usually one for every eight students.

On touch screen computers, provided by the schools, students manage their time and weekly task lists with help from the teachers.

In its first year, no one knows how successful AltSchool will be; although, there are plans for expansion and parents of untraditional students are excited about this new learning experience.

As the mother of a child diagnosed with ADHD, I find the principles and goals of AltSchool inspiring. Most public schools do not have the resources or know-how to educate kids with specific needs. Many kids with ADHD require one-on-one attention and unique programs to highlight their strengths and eliminate their weaknesses.

Charter schools and private schools that learn from the successes of AltSchool (and other alternatives) may inspire a new approach to education that will be local, sustainable, and better for our children.

Perhaps large public schools are a relic of 20th century, ill-equipped to meet our needs. If so, we will likely see many more technologists and unconventional educators enter the playground.

http://techcrunch.com/2013/11/29/aardvark-founder-is-trying-to-turn-education-on-its-head-with-altschool/

Rob Ford...Oh the mockery!

From the Canadian Press Megan Leach delivers a video mash-up of late night talk shows hosts cracking jokes about the Toronto mayor, Rob Ford. 

In the era of digital and social media there has never been a worse time to be imbrued in political scandal. Every press conference leads to a new apology, a new accusation lurks behind every camera lens.

Ford hopes his city will understand the stress he has been under. The city council has made it clear, it is too much stress to run their city. 

Whether you watched Online or tuned into Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert; we all had a laugh at the expense of the beleaguered mayor. Comedians can be said to represent us, I wish for the late and beloved Chris Farley to come back for one more ghostly and hilarious season on Saturday Night Live.

Late night TV hosts mock Rob Ford's latest outbursts

http://news.nationalpost.com/category/news/#ooid=k4N2tlNzrUBL8wS6gxnzKlIsdyi6uDJj,UxcWVhaDpzLy_8VogIky2k8S68UI0bDq

http://news.nationalpost.com/category/news/#ooid=k4N2tlNzrUBL8wS6gxnzKlIsdyi6uDJj,l4MTY5aDrCarpEUkCPJmwU2--WGRJuOz